Teófilo Cruz
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | January 8, 1942 Santurce, Puerto Rico | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | August 30, 2005 (aged 63) Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Puerto Rican | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 230 lb (104 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||||
| College | New York University (1961–1962) Seattle University (1962–1965) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| NBA draft | 1965: 6th round, 55th overall pick | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Drafted by | Los Angeles Lakers | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 1957–1982 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Center | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1957–1964 | Cangrejeros de Santurce | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1965–1966 | Picadero Damm | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1966–1969 | Cangrejeros de Santurce | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1969–1970 | Racing Club Mechelen | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1970–1976 | Cangrejeros de Santurce | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1977–1978 | Indios de Canóvanas | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1979 | Mets de Guaynabo | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1980 | Cardenales de Río Piedras | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1981–1982 | Taínos de Mayagüez | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Stats at Basketball Reference | |||||||||||||||||||||
| FIBA Hall of Fame | |||||||||||||||||||||
Medals
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Teófilo "Teo" Cruz Downs (January 8, 1942 – August 30, 2005) was a Puerto Rican professional basketball player. After playing college basketball, Cruz played in Puerto Rico's top-level league, the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) with Cangrejeros de Santurce, Indios de Canóvanas, Mets de Guaynabo, Cardenales de Río Piedras, and Taínos de Mayagüez. Cruz also played in Spain with Picadero Damm, and in Belgium with Racing Club Mechelen.
Cruz was also a member of the senior Puerto Rican national basketball team, and he represented Puerto Rico in five Summer Olympic Games, from 1960 to 1976, making him the first athlete to do so. On March 1, 2007, he became an International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Hall of Famer.