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Honored this year on the Madison Square Garden Walk of Fame, Gallatin was described as the NBA’s original “Iron Man” and was a central figure, literally and figuratively, of coach Joe Lapchick’s Knicks teams that dominated the Eastern Division in the NBA’s early days, winning titles in 1951, ‘52 and ‘53.
He played for New York from 1948-57, at one point appearing in 610 consecutive games, a Knicks record that has stood for almost 60 years. He averaged 12.7 points and 9.7 rebounds as a Knick and finished his career with the Pistons in 1957-58.
As a 6-6 center, Gallatin was considered one of the young NBA’s top rebounders, earning All-NBA honors twice. He was an All-Star seven times. He still ranks fourth on the team’s all-time rebounding list with 5,935.
He later served as coach of the St. Louis Hawks and the Knicks, winning the NBA’s first Coach of the Year award with the Hawks in 1963.
He was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in 1991.
