Arnie “Stilts” Risen is in some ways a throwback — he was a 6’9” center back when that height was abnormally tall. But he was a tough son-of-a… gun that would have fit in well in any era.
Risen died over the weekend in Beachwood, Ohio, at age 87.
He was a big man in the era of George Mikan, who made a mark as feisty and tough. He was a four time All-Star and a two-time NBA champion (1951 the with Rochester Royals, 1957 with the Boston Celtics) who averaged 14 points and 12 boards a game for his career, and in 1949 led the NBA in field goal percentage.
The Ohio State graduate (he took the Buckeyes to consecutive Final Fours) was inducted into the Hall of fame in 1998.