The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have won 15 gold medals in the 18 tournaments they have participated in during the past 84 years, while the women have won 8 gold medals in the 10 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 44 years. Those of you who were looking forward to the 2020 Olympics opening ceremonies in Tokyo on July 24, 2020 will have to wait an extra 364 days, as the coronavirus caused a postponement until July 23, 2021. Due to the absence of college basketball since mid-March, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel decided to fill the void by trying to interview as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible so that you have something to read this summer while not watching the Summer Games. We continue our coverage by chatting with Jay Arnette about winning a gold medal in 1960. Today marks the 60th anniversary of Jay scoring 8 PTS vs. Uruguay in Olympic round-robin pool play.
You were a 1-time all-state basketball player at McCallum High School in Austin: why did you decide to stay in town for college at Texas? My senior year at McCallum I made all-state in both basketball and baseball and received a scholarship from Texas. I was born in Austin and grew up in a family that loved sports. They took me to Texas football/basketball/baseball games as well as the Texas Relays track meets. I had some other scholarship offers but never considered going anywhere but Texas.
In the 1960 NCAA tourney you scored 34 PTS in a 9-PT loss to Kansas: how on earth was your team able to make it into the postseason after going 4-20 the previous season? Our coach retired after my junior year and was replaced by Harold Bradley. 1 of our best players who was ineligible during our 4-20 season became eligible, plus we had a good junior college player transfer in to join our rising sophomore class.
You were named an All-American that year: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? I felt fortunate to receive such an outstanding honor.
You also led the SWC with a .347 AVG as an outfielder on the baseball team: which sport were you best at, and how did you like playing for manager Bibb Falk (whose .314 career AVG remains top-75 in MLB history)? I do not know which sport I was best at but I played more baseball than basketball. I played Little League baseball for 2 years (including the 1951 Little League World Series) and played organized baseball every year after that. I did not start playing organized basketball until the 8th grade.
That April you were drafted 9th overall by Cincinnati (3 spots behind Lenny Wilkens): did you see that as a validation of your college career, or the realization of a lifelong dream of reaching the NBA, or other? I loved playing baseball/basketball and running track: I even loved practicing! I was thrilled to be drafted by the Royals but never really had a lifelong dream of playing either pro baseball/basketball. I was fortunate to get the chance to play both sports but never thought of it as any kind of validation.
That summer you played for team USA at the Olympics: what did it mean to you to represent your country, and what did it mean to you to win a gold medal? Playing in the Olympics and representing my country was the highlight of my athletic career. It was 1 of the most emotional experiences that I have ever had. When we received our gold medals and heard the national anthem being played I believe that we all had tears in our eyes.
When you finally joined the Royals that fall you had several Olympic teammates on your roster: how did playing with guys like Bob Boozer/Jerry Lucas/Oscar Robertson/Adrian Smith in Cincinnati compare to playing with them in Rome? I enjoyed playing with them both in Rome as well as in Cincinnati but I got to know them much better in the NBA. I enjoyed seeing how skilled they each were when playing against the best basketball players in the world.
After getting your pharmacy degree you attended dental school and you later became an orthodontist for more than 30 years: how did you like being an orthodontist? When I came back from the Olympics I signed a contract with the LA Dodgers and played in their farm system for 4 years. After my 3rd year I tried out with the Royals and made the team. I played 1 more year of baseball and then went back to the Royals, although I never regained my shooting touch after not playing basketball for 3 years. I played 2½ years with the Royals and then went back to Texas to finish my pharmacy degree. After graduating from UT I went to dental school at Baylor in Dallas and then was accepted into the Baylor orthodontic program. I graduated in 1973 and practiced orthodontics for 34 years in Austin and loved it. I never could have found a better/more rewarding profession.
In 2010 you were inducted into the Hall of Fame: where does that rank among the highlights of your career? It was definitely a highlight of my career but it is hard to rank it because it was a team award rather than an individual award.
When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most? As a good husband/father/grandfather/orthodontist who loved his patients.
How are you enjoying retirement? Very much! My wife Betty and I were high school sweethearts and she is a great wife/mother. We also have 3 wonderful children/6 wonderful grandchildren.