Who was Bud Grant? Exploring NFL coach’s relation with NBA

Bud Grant has passed away at the age of 95. Grant had a long history of both coaching and playing football, but he was also in the NBA.

Grant served as head coach of the Minnesota Vikings for 18 years. He led the team to four Super Bowl appearances and one league championship. Grant was also a football player whose career lasted from 1951 to 1956.

It's interesting that the football legend was also in the NBA. After leaving the University of Minnesota, Grant was drafted both by the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL and the Minneapolis Lakers in the NBA.

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Bud Grant played in the NBA for two seasons

Bud Grant was the 47th overall pick in the 1950 NBA draft. He was drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers, the team that was founded just three years before the draft.

Grant appeared in 35 games during his rookie season, averaging 2.6 points per game on 36.5% shooting. Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 195 pounds, the Lakers played at the forward spot.

Grant was drafted by the Lakers, who later on relocated to Los Angeles (Image via Getty Images)

The rookie ended up winning a championship in his first season with the team. In the 1950 NBA Finals, the Lakers defeated the Syracuse Nationals in six games. Grant played in all six games, averaging 5.5 points.

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In his second season in the NBA, Bud Grant also averaged 2.6 points, but his shooting percentage was much lower, as he only converted 28.8% of his shots. The forward also added 1.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game to his averages.

Grant wanted to play for the Lakers since he enjoyed being in Minnesota. Furthermore, Sid Hartman, a close friend of his, was the general manager of the team.

The Lakers forward appeared in six games in the 1951 playoffs as well. Unfortunately, the Rochester Royals ended up knocking the Lakers out in the second round by winning the series 3-1. This was Grant's final season in the league.

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Grant's football career

After two seasons in the NBA, Grant decided to end his professional basketball career and start playing football. He played for the Philadelphia Eagles during the 1951 NFL season as well as in 1951.

When Grant's contract with the Eagles expired, he joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played in the CFL until 1957, when he was named head coach of the Blue Bombers.

Grant was both player and head coach for the Blue Bombers (Image via Getty Images)

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Bud Grant had a lot of success as head coach, winning the NFL championship and Coach of the Year award in 1969. He was also named the best coach in the CFL in 1965 and won four Grey Cup titles with the Blue Bombers.