Sharman was a standout in baseball and basketball at the University of Southern California. He was a basketball All-American and the Pacific Coast Conference Most Valuable Player in both 1949 and 1950. As a pro, Sharman played both NBA basketball and minor league baseball. A fierce competitor with a deadly outside shot, Sharman helped to make the Boston Celtics a powerhouse of the 1950s. After his playing days, Sharman became the only coach to win professional championships and Coach of the Year honors the same season in three different leagues: the ABL with the Cleveland Pipers in 1962, the ABA with the Utah Stars in 1971, and the NBA with the Boston Celtics in 1972. He finished his professional coaching career with 509 regular season wins and 62 playoff victories with three titles. Sharman served as the LA Lakers General Manager, and then President, through 1990. He was named as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.