NEW YORK (AP) – Sidney “Sonny” Hertzberg, an original member of the New York Knickerbockers and the leading scorer for the Boston Celtics in the 1949-50 season, died at his home in Woodmere, N.Y. He was 82.

Hertzberg died Monday, a Knicks spokesman said. His daughter, Lois Nevitt, told the New York Daily News the cause was heart failure.

Hertzberg had a stellar career at City College, where he was a teammate of longtime Knicks coach Red Holzman. The 5-foot-9 guard scored a team-high 14 points in the Knicks’ first home game in 1946.

He later played for the Washington Capitols and the Celtics, then was a scout and assistant coach for the Knicks.

Hertzberg went on to become managing director of Bear Sterns, an investment banking and brokerage firm.

Hertzberg is survived by his wife, Irene, a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law and four grandchildren.

AP-ES-07-26-05 1239EDT