George Dempsey (basketball)

{{short description|American basketball player (1927–2017)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}

{{Infobox basketball biography

| position = Point guard

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| weight_lb = 190

| number = 19, 5, 3

| birth_date = {{birth date|1929|07|19}}

| birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

| death_date = {{death date and age|2017|10|7|1929|07|19}}

| high_school = Merchantville
(Merchantville, New Jersey)

| college = The King's College (New York)

| draft_year = 1951

| draft_round = 7

| draft_pick = 68

| draft_team = Philadelphia Warriors

| career_start = 1954

| career_end = 1959

| years1 = {{nbay|1954|start}}–{{nbay|1958|end}}

| team1 = Philadelphia Warriors

| years2 = {{nbay|1958|end}}

| team2 = Syracuse Nationals

| highlights =

• NBA champion (1956)

| stat1label = Points

| stat1value = 1,574 (5.0 ppg)

| stat2label = Rebounds

| stat2value = 1,125 (3.6 rpg)

| stat3label = Assists

| stat3value = 711 (2.3 apg)

| bbr = dempsge01

}}

George P. Dempsey (July 19, 1929 – October 7, 2017) was an American professional basketball player.

Born in Philadelphia, Dempsey moved to Merchantville, New Jersey, and played for the 1947 Merchantville High School team that won the New Jersey Group II state championship.Callahan, Kevin. [https://www.nba.com/sixers/dicken-brothers-enjoy-best-times-and-worst-times-0 "The Dicken Brothers Enjoy Best of Times, and Worst of Times"], Philadelphia 76ers, June 18, 2017. Accessed August 18, 2020. "Dempsey, who will be 88 in July, was born in Philadelphia, but his family moved to Merchantville. In 1947, he led the Merchantville High School team to the New Jersey Group II state championship over Weehawken."[http://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/document/15%20%20Group%20Basketball%20Past%20Champions.pdf NJSIAA Group Basketball Past Champions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321021933/http://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/document/15%20%20Group%20Basketball%20Past%20Champions.pdf |date=2015-03-21 }}, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 24, 2015.

Dempsey played as a guard for The King's College for five seasons from 1954 to 1959. He then played in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Philadelphia Warriors and Syracuse Nationals. He averaged 5.0 points per game in his career and won a league championship with Philadelphia in 1956.

Dempsey was a resident of Pennsauken Township, New Jersey, until his death in 2017.Narducci, Marc. [https://web.archive.org/web/20151225043420/http://articles.philly.com/2000-05-05/sports/25618833_1_crutch-captain-jv "Back On The Field After A Frustrating Time Haddon Heights Shortstop And Captain Brent Dempsey Remained A Leader Despite Missing Seven Games."], The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 5, 2000. Accessed December 24, 2015. "George Dempsey played five years in the NBA, retiring after the 1958–59 season. 'I've always emphasized team,' said George Dempsey, 70, who lives in Pennsauken."