Ackerman had a brief stint in college basketball, playing for the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds in the 1950-51 season. After being drafted by the New York Knicks in the second round of the 1953 NBA draft, he joined the team and appeared in 28 games during the 1953-54 season.
Instead of relocating his family to Boston, he decided to retire from professional basketball. Ackerman then embarked on a new path, establishing a landscaping business that he successfully managed for over four decades. His landscaping venture became his primary focus, allowing him to build a fulfilling career outside of basketball.
Don Ackerman passed away on July 9, 2011, at the age of 80. The cause of his death has not been disclosed publicly. Ackerman, known for playing as a point guard, had a career that included stints in the NBA as well as playing for the Manchester British-Americans. He wore the number 3 jersey during his playing days.
Don Ackerman died on July 9, 2011 SOURCE: Quora Following his NBA career, Don Ackerman continued his basketball journey by joining the Manchester British-Americans. While further details about his time with the team are not available, it demonstrates his continued passion for the sport even after his professional career in the NBA. The loss of Ackerman in 2011 marked the end of a life dedicated to basketball, leaving behind a legacy as a talented player who contributed to the sport at various levels.
Don Ackerman is estimated to have had a net worth of more than $100,000 at the time of his death. During that era, the average salary for basketball players ranged from $4,000 to $5,000 per year. However, it is worth noting that there were a few exceptions to this average, with players like Tom King of the Detroit Falcons earning the highest salary in the league.
Don Ackerman started a landscaping business after retirement. SOURCE: Quora Over the years, the salaries of NBA players have seen significant growth. According to a source tracking salary inflation, the average NBA player salary in the 1990-91 season was slightly below $1 million. Since then, salaries have experienced a substantial increase, reaching approximately $8.5 million for the 2021-22 season. This significant rise demonstrates the growth and financial success of the NBA, offering players higher earning potentials compared to previous decades.
Don Ackerman was a basketball player for the New York Knicks during the 1950-51 NBA season. In that season, he appeared in 28 games and had average contributions of 1.5 points, 0.5 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game. His shooting percentages were 26.9% from the field and 66.7% from the free-throw line. Ackerman's statistics reflected a limited role on the team, and he was not among the top scorers or key contributors in the league during that time.
Don Ackerman played under jersey number 3. SOURCE: National Basketball Retired Players Association During the 1950s, the NBA was dominated by big men such as centers and forwards who were leading in scoring and guiding their teams to championships. The Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics emerged as the prominent teams of the era, although the Lakers had not yet relocated to Los Angeles.
The competition was fierce, with a total of 17 teams in the league at the beginning of the 1950-51 season. However, to streamline operations, the NBA restructured and formed two divisions, Eastern and Western, with a reduced number of 11 teams. New additions included Minneapolis, Rochester, Syracuse, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, and St. Louis.
In the 1950-51 NBA season, the Minneapolis Lakers finished with the best record in the league, compiling a 44-24 win-loss record. George Mikan, a prominent player for the Lakers, led the league in scoring with an impressive average of 28.4 points per game.
Despite their regular-season success, it was the Rochester Royals who emerged as the champions that season. In a thrilling NBA Finals series, the Royals defeated the New York Knicks in a seven-game series, securing the championship title.
After retiring from basketball, Don Ackerman ventured into the landscaping business, which he successfully ran for over four decades. Moving on to the NBA draft of the 1950s, it was the fourth annual draft of the league and the first one held after the Basketball Association of America (BAA) was rebranded as the NBA.
It's worth noting that the draft process during that era differed significantly from the present-day NBA draft. There were no televised broadcasts, lottery picks, or early entry rules. Furthermore, the draft itself held less significance, as many players either signed as free agents or went undrafted.
The Boston Celtics selected Chuck Share from Bowling Green State University as the first overall pick in the 1950 NBA draft. The Philadelphia Warriors utilized the territorial pick to select Paul Arizin from Villanova University. Noteworthy players chosen in this draft included Bob Cousy, who was drafted by the Tri-Cities Blackhawks in the third round, and George Yardley, who was selected by the Fort Wayne Pistons in the first round.
