Nikola Andrew Lalich (May 8, 1916 – May 11, 2001)[1] was a Serbian American[1] professional basketball player. He played for the Youngstown Bears in the National Basketball League (NBL) during the 1945–46 season.[2] He was a star college basketball player at Ohio University in the 1930s, where he earned a bachelor's degree in industrial arts. Later, Lalich earned a master's degree from Columbia University in New York. His younger brother, Pete Lalich, played four seasons in the NBL and one game in the BAA.

Nick Lalich

Lalich in 1944
Personal information
Born	(1916-05-08)May 8, 1916 Lorain, Ohio
Died	May 11, 2001(2001-05-11) (aged 85) Baltimore, Maryland
Nationality	American
Listed height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Career information
High school	East Technical (Cleveland, Ohio)
College	Ohio (1935–1938)
Playing career	1938–1946
Position	Guard
Career history
1938–1942	Cleveland May Co.
1945–1946	Youngstown Bears

Nick Lalich also served with the Office of Strategic Services (OSS; predecessor of CIA) during World War II, helping to rescue and evacuate approximately 550 downed Allied fliers during Operation Halyard, without losing a single life or plane.[1][3] He later worked for the CIA in Greece from 1952 to 1957.[1]

References

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