John Laskowski

John Laskowski grew up in South Bend, Indiana, where he starred at St. Joseph High School as a forward and established himself as one of the state's premier players. His scoring ability and basketball IQ made him an immediate target for Bob Knight's inaugural recruiting class at Indiana University.

Wearing #31, Laskowski was a dangerous offensive weapon for the Hoosiers. His ability to create his own shot and knock down jumpers from the perimeter gave Indiana a dimension that complemented the program's physical, defense-first identity. As a standout sixth man, his ability to spark the team off the bench earned him the famous nickname "Super-Sub." He was a key contributor to the 1973, 1974, and 1975 Big Ten Championship teams.

After his college career, Laskowski was selected 32nd overall in the 1975 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls — he was also drafted by the ABA's Kentucky Colonels. He spent two seasons with Chicago, playing alongside teammates like Jerry Sloan and Artis Gilmore. In his debut season he averaged 9.2 points per game over 71 games, and earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors in 1975–76. Over 118 career NBA games he averaged 7.1 points per game.

Following his playing career, Laskowski moved seamlessly into media and business, spending over 30 years as a basketball commentator for Indiana University and the Big Ten Network. He also held roles with the IU Alumni Association and Marsh Insurance, and authored a book. Today he is a Culver's franchise owner and operator in Bloomington, Indiana.

In 1999, John Laskowski was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame — recognition of a career that spanned from the hardwood of South Bend to the bright lights of the NBA and beyond.