Samuel Balter Jr. (October 15, 1909 – August 8, 1998) was an American basketball player who won a gold medal at the 1936 Summer Olympics.

As a Jew, he had some hesitation about playing in the Olympics hosted by Hitler's Germany, but was persuaded when he was assured by Avery Brundage that there would be no Nazi propaganda at the games.

The game was low scoring, as it was played outdoors in a converted tennis stadium with clay courts that had become somewhat muddy after a heavy rain, making dribbling and ball handling difficult.

Irving Maretsky, a member of the Canadian team they played in the final game, noted that the American's height advantage was a key component in their victory, as at the time the rules required each score to be followed by a jump at center court.

The wet court also made rapid passing and dribbling difficult, making height more of a factor than speed or ball handling.