Rudy Larusso

Rudolph A. "Rudy" LaRusso (November 11, 1937 – July 9, 2004) was an American professional basketball player who was a five-time All-Star in the National Basketball Association. Known for his physicality and competitive spirit, he was nicknamed "Brutus" and "Roughhouse Rudy."

Born in Brooklyn, New York, LaRusso was Jewish, the son of a Jewish mother and an Italian father. He attended James Madison High School in Brooklyn, where he won All-City honors and was later inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame. He went on to Dartmouth College, where in 1959 he grabbed 32 rebounds in a game against Columbia, tying an Ivy League record. He set Dartmouth records for rebounds in a season (503) and career (1,239), and was twice named All-Ivy League.

LaRusso was selected by the Minneapolis Lakers in the second round of the 1959 NBA draft out of Dartmouth. On November 26, 1959, he recorded 15 points and 20 rebounds in a 114–95 loss to the Cincinnati Royals. He played eight years with the Minneapolis and Los Angeles Lakers franchise, followed by two seasons with the San Francisco Warriors.