He was known for passing the ball for the assist on Warriors teammate Wilt Chamberlain's final score en route to his NBA record 100-point game.

[2] Ruklick was born in Chicago, but he moved to an orphanage in Princeton, Illinois, after his mother was diagnosed with tuberculosis when he was 11.

[2] Ruklick was selected by the Philadelphia Warriors in the second round of the 1959 NBA draft with the ninth overall pick.

[2] Averaging only 3.5 points and eight minutes per game in his career as a backup to Chamberlain,[4][10] he asked to be traded in order to play more.

[2] Ruklick lived in Evanston, and frequently attended Northwestern games while reporting for the Aurora Voice.