PLAYER PROFILE

DUTCH DEHNERT

STATISTICS & HISTORY

Henry “Dutch’ Dehnert did not play basketball in either high school or college. He began playing professionally at age 19. Dehnert was never flashy or a top scorer, but even as a youngster he possessed an amazing intuitiveness for the game. Dehnert attracted attention to his special skills as key performer on two consecutive Pennsylvania State Basketball League  championship teams, with Nanticoke in 1919-20 and with Scranton the following season. Like all players of the era, Dehnert led a nomadic existence for his first five seasons before he signed was signed to an exclusive contract by New York Celtics’ owner Jim Furey in 1922. Dehnert became an instrumental figure on the Celtics’ teams that dominated basketball for most of the decade. Dehnert looked bulky and even a bit awkward in appearance, but in reality was surprisingly agile and a skilled ball handler. His playing style was deceptively calm and he remained outwardly cool under pressure. On offense, he crouched in the pivot with his back to the basket, effectively directing the team’s plays. Never a good shooter, Dehnert scored most of his points from directly under the basket. He excelled as a rebounder and passer and as the acknowledged best defender in the game, always guarded the opponent’s best scorer.  Dehnert’s career with the Celtics covered the glory years in the 1920’s  all the way through the draining Depression-era barnstorming of the 1930’s. Dehnert turned to coaching in the 1940s with some success. As coach of the Detroit Eagles, he won the 1941 World Professional Tournament. He also won two National League division titles (1944-45 and 1945-46) as coach of Sheboygan. In 1946-47, Dehnert was hired to coach the Cleveland Rebels in the newly formed Basketball Association of America, but was fired at mid-season. Dehnert was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969.

 

DUTCH DEHNERT Height: 6:01 Weight: 195 College: None
Henry George Dehnert Jr. Born: Apr 5, 1898 Died: Apr 20, 1979 Hometown: New York, NY
Uncle of Robert Dehnert REGULAR SEASON RECORD
Year Team League     GA FGM  FTM   FTA  PCT.  AST  PTS AVG
1917-18 Danbury/Jersey CityNorwalk IBL 21 31 22 84 4.0
1917-18 Wilkes BarreNanticoke PSL 18 13 29 55 3.1
1918-19 Newark Turners Indep
1918-19 Ansonia Indep
1918-19 Downey Shipyard Indep
1919-20 Nanticoke PSL 28 48 51 113 .451 9 147 5.3
1919-20  Bridgeport IBL 12 11 26 48 4.0
1919-20 Utica NYSL 13 25 31 81 6.2
1919-20 De NeriNorth PhiladelphiaBridgeport EBL 7 10 12 29 .414 3 32 4.6
1919-20 Thompsonville IL 5 16 0 32 6.4
1920-21 Philadelphia EBL 1 2 0 4 4.0
1920-21 Scranton PSL 33 60 78 20 198 6.0
1920-21 Thompsonville IL 15 53 32 138 9.2
1920-21 Johnny Beckman All Stars Indep
1920-21 Original Celtics Indep
1921-22 Original Celtics Indep
1921-22 ScrantonNew York EBL 29 41 39 86 .453 24 121 4.2
1922-23 New York Celtics MBL 12 17 19 53 4.4
1923-24 Original Celtics Indep
1924-25 Original Celtics Indep
1925-26 Original Celtics Indep
1926-27 New York NLN 17 17 44 78 4.6
1926-27 Brooklyn ABL 37 46 78 170 4.6
1927-28 New York ABL 49 92 49 233 4.8
1927-28 Utica All-Utica Indep
1928-29 Cleveland ABL 40 52 70 174 4.4
1929-30 Cleveland ABL 56 58 95 211 3.8
1930-31 ClevelandToledo ABL 34 32 43 107 3.1
1931-32 Original Celtics Indep
1932-33 Original Celtics Indep
1933-34 Original Celtics Indep
1933-34 Plymouth PSL 1 0 1 1 1.0
1934-35 New Britain Jackaways ABL 6 5 9 19 3.2
1934-35 Original Celtics Indep
1935-36 Original Celtics Indep
1936-37 Original Celtics Indep
1937-38 Original Celtics Indep
1938-39 Original Celtics Indep
Major League Totals 433 629 727 1985 4.6
PLAYOFF RECORD
Year Team League     GA FGM  FTM   FTA  PCT.  AST  PTS AVG
1919-20 Nanticoke PSL 4 0 6 6 1.5
1920-21 Scranton PSL 1 1 1 3 3.0
1920-21 Thompsonville IL 1 3 0 6 6.0
1920-21 Scranton WS 5 4 16 24 4.8
1921-22 New York EBL 2 0 3 3 1.5
1926-27 Brooklyn ABL 3 2 9 13 4.3
1927-28 New York ABL 6 5 9 19 3.2
1928-29 Cleveland ABL 4 6 8 20 5.0
1929-30 Cleveland ABL 5 7 4 18 3.6
Major League Totals 31 28 56 112 3.6
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