Bill Thieben

William Bernard Thieben (1935–2021) was a professional basketball player from Suffolk County, New York who played college ball at Hofstra University. Drafted by the Fort Wayne Pistons in the 1956 NBA draft, he played for that franchise across two seasons — Fort Wayne in 1956–57 and Detroit in 1957–58 after the team relocated. Before his professional career, Thieben drew attention at Sayville High School, where he scored 48 points in a single game against Northport in February 1952, setting a school record that has since been tied.