Tony Jaros

{{Short description|American basketball player}}

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

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Tony Jaros

| image =

| width =

| caption =

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 3

| weight_lb = 185

| birth_date = {{birth date|1920|02|22}}

| birth_place = Minneapolis, Minnesota

| death_date = {{death date and age|1995|04|22|1920|02|22}}

| death_place =

| nationality = American

| high_school = Edison (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

| college = Minnesota (1942–1946)

| career_start = 1946

| career_end = 1951

| career_number = 26, 13

| career_position = Small forward / shooting guard

| years1 = 1946–1947

| team1 = Chicago Stags

| years2 = 1947–{{nbay|1950|end}}

| team2 = Minneapolis Lakers

| highlights =

• 2× BAA/NBA champion (1949, 1950)
• NBL champion (1948)
• Third-team All-American – Helms (1946)

| bbr =jarosto01

}}

Anthony Joseph Jaros (February 22, 1920 – April 22, 1995) was an American professional basketball player who won two championships with the Minneapolis Lakers, one in the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and one in the newly-formed National Basketball Association (NBA).

A {{convert|6|ft|3|in|m|adj=on}} forward/guard from the University of Minnesota, Jaros played four seasons (1946–1947; 1948–1951) in the Basketball Association of America/National Basketball Association as a member of the Chicago Stags and Minneapolis Lakers. He averaged 5.4 points per game in his BAA/NBA career and won two league championships with the Lakers. He also spent one season in the National Basketball League with the Lakers (1947–1948), winning the NBL title that season.

Image:Minneapolis neighborhood Marshall Terrace (52230299634).jpg

Jaros went to Edison High School in Northeast Minneapolis, and later owned a well-known bar in that neighborhood that bears his name to this day. Tony Jaros' River Garden bar is home of the "Greenie," a very strong lime-flavored drink made with vodka. The drink was invented more than 50 years ago, and was originally sold informally at softball games by Jaros' son Tommy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the bar began selling "make-your-own-Greenie" kits for customers to make at home during lockdown when the bar was closed. The kits have continued as a St. Patrick's Day offering.{{cite web |url=https://minnesotasnewcountry.com/this-minnesota-bar-offers-up-its-unique-greenie-recipe-for-st-patricks-day/ |title=This Minnesota Bar Offers Up Its Unique Greenie Recipe For St. Patrick’s Day |last=Shea |first=Paul |date=March 10, 2024 |website=98.1 - Minnesota's New Country |publisher= |access-date=2025-02-04}} The bar has several photos of Jaros, as well as one of his last NBA pension checks, framed on the wall.