Walter Berry (basketball)

Last updated

Walter Berry
Personal information
Born (1964-05-14) May 14, 1964 (age 60)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school Benjamin Franklin
(New York City, New York)
College
NBA draft 1986: 1st round, 14th overall pick
Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers
Playing career1986–2002
Position Power forward
Number21, 6, 15, 14, 12, 9, 8
Career history
1986 Portland Trail Blazers
19861988 San Antonio Spurs
1988–1989 New Jersey Nets
1989 Houston Rockets
1989–1990 Basket Napoli
1990–1991 Atlético Madrid Villalba
1991 Aris
1992Basket Napoli
1992–1993 Olympiacos
1993–1994 PAOK
1994–1995 Iraklis
1995–1996Olympiacos
1997Aris
1997–1998 Polti Cantù
1998–1999PAOK
1999–2000 Union Olimpija
2000 Makedonikos
2000–2001 Aurora Basket Jesi
2001–2002 Panteras de Miranda
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points 2,882
Rebounds 971
Assists 292
Stats at NBA.com  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Stats at Basketball Reference
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing Flag of the United States.svg  United States
FIBA U19 World Cup
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1983 Palma de Mallorca Under-19

Walter Berry (born May 14, 1964) is an American former professional basketball player. After spending three seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), he had a very successful career in various leagues around Europe and the EuroLeague. Berry played the power forward position. Berry, who originated from New York City, New York, was nicknamed "The Truth", early in his playing career. He was inducted into the Greek Basket League Hall of Fame in 2022. [1]

Contents

College career

Berry's retired St. John's # 21 jersey. St. John's retired numbers 21,21,21, and 24.jpg
Berry's retired St. John's # 21 jersey.

Berry played college basketball for his hometown college, St. John's University, with the then called St. John's Redmen. At St. John's he won the John Wooden Award, the Big East Men's Basketball Player of the Year award, plus the USBWA College Player of the Year award in 1986, after averaging 23 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. Berry, nicknamed, "The Truth", was also the second leading scorer on St. John's 1985 Final Four team.

Professional career

NBA

Berry was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 14th overall pick in the 1986 NBA draft. He only played 7 games for the Blazers before he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Kevin Duckworth. He spent three seasons in the NBA, from 1986 to 1989, with the Trail Blazers, Spurs, New Jersey Nets, and Houston Rockets. However, he did not get along with some of his coaches, including Mike Schuler while with the Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Brown (San Antonio Spurs) and Willis Reed (Nets). [2] He was released by the New Jersey Nets, after failure to conform to team policy. [3] He holds NBA career averages of 14.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.

Europe

In 1989, Berry went to Italy, where he played for Italian LBA League club Paini Napoli. After that, he spent much of his career playing in Greece, in the Greek Basket League and the EuroLeague, where he forged a reputation as one of the most savvy scorers, with a wide variety of shots and ways of scoring.

Later career

Berry would continue to play basketball for Jayson Williams' NBA Charity Team. He joined Jayson Williams at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, where Williams' NBA charity team played exhibition games.[ citation needed ]

NBA career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

Regular season

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
1986–87 Portland 702.7.7501.0001.00.10.30.01.9
1986–87 San Antonio 564528.0.529.000.6485.41.90.60.717.6
1987–88 San Antonio 735626.3.563.6005.41.50.80.917.4
1988–89 New Jersey 291719.2.468.6834.00.70.30.48.9
1988–89 Houston 401420.0.541.500.7133.81.40.50.98.8
Career20513223.7.539.200.6384.71.40.60.714.1

Playoffs

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
1988 San Antonio 3031.3.540.000.8007.02.01.70.722.0
1989 Houston 4014.3.500.8752.31.30.50.38.3
Career7021.6.526.000.8264.31.61.00.414.1

References