Gordon "Shorty" Carpenter (September 24, 1919 – March 8, 1988) was an American basketball player, and part of gold medal winning American basketball team at the 1948 Summer Olympics.

[1] Born in Ash Flat, Arkansas and nicknamed Shorty despite his 6-foot, 6 inch frame, Carpenter played his college basketball at the University of Arkansas, where he was an All-Southwest Conference performer in 1943.

He later played AAU basketball for both the Phillips 66ers and Denver Chevrolets, making AAU All-American teams each year from 1943 to 1947.

[2][3] He coached the United States men's national basketball team at the 1950 FIBA World Championship, winning the silver medal.

Following his playing career, he became a referee with the Big Eight Conference.