Bernhard Borgmann Jr. (November 22, 1898 – November 11, 1978) was a professional basketball player and coach. Born in Haledon, New Jersey, he played for 17 years between 1919 and 1936, and is mostly known for his time with the Kingston Colonials and Original Celtics. Borgmann is regarded as the best offensive player of his era, leading various leagues in scoring 15 times in a 12-year span. He also served as the first coach of the Syracuse Nationals of the National Basketball League—now the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers—from 1946 to 1948. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1961. Borgmann also played as a middle infielder in the baseball minor leagues from 1928 to 1942, managed in the minors from until 1950, and scouted until 1974. He died in Hawthorne, New Jersey, where he had been a longtime resident. Borgmann was featured in the book Basketball History in Syracuse, Hoops Roots by Mark Allen Baker, published by The History Press in 2010. References External links Basketball Hall of Fame profile 1898 births 1978 deaths Allentown Wings players American Basketball League (1925–1955) coaches Baseball infielders Baseball players from New Jersey Basketball coaches from New Jersey Basketball players from New Jersey Chicago Bruins players College men's basketball head coaches in the United States Clifton High School (New Jersey) alumni Fort Wayne Hoosiers (basketball) players Guards (basketball) Houston Buffaloes managers Huntington Red Birds players Minnesota Twins scouts Muhlenberg Mules men's basketball coaches Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees Oakland Athletics scouts Original Celtics players Paterson Crescents players People from Haledon, New Jersey People from Hawthorne, New Jersey Player-coaches Portsmouth Red Birds players Rochester Red Wings managers Rochester Red Wings players Sacramento Solons managers Sacramento Solons players Saint Michael's Purple Knights men's basketball coaches Sportspeople from Passaic County, New Jersey St. Louis Cardinals scouts Syracuse Chiefs managers Syracuse Chiefs players