Billy Paultz

Last updated
Billy Paultz
Personal information
Born (1948-07-30) July 30, 1948 (age 75)
River Edge, New Jersey, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school River Dell (Oradell, New Jersey)
College
NBA draft 1970: 7th round, 103rd overall pick
Selected by the San Diego Rockets
Playing career1970–1985
Position Center / power forward
Number5
Career history
1970–1975 New York Nets
1975–1980 San Antonio Spurs
1980–1983 Houston Rockets
1983 San Antonio Spurs
1983–1984 Atlanta Hawks
1984–1985 Utah Jazz
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points 13,099 (11.7 ppg)
Rebounds 8,959 (8.0 rpg)
Blocks 1,457 (1.5 bpg)
Stats   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

William Edward Paultz (born July 30, 1948) is an American former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and in the now defunct American Basketball Association (ABA). Nicknamed "the Whopper", [1] He was a 4-time ABA All-Star and led the ABA in blocks in 1976.

Contents

Early life and collegiate career

Born in River Edge, New Jersey, Paultz played high-school basketball at River Dell Regional High School in Bergen County. [2] [3] Paultz played college basketball at Cameron Junior College and then at Saint John's University, and was selected in the seventh round of the 1970 NBA draft by the San Diego Rockets and by the Virginia Squires in the 1970 ABA Draft. Paultz opted to sign with the Squires. On August 11, 1970 the Squires traded his rights to the New York Nets in exchange for a draft choice and cash. [4]

Professional basketball

As a rookie, Paultz made his first postseason appearance in the 1971 ABA Playoffs with the New York Nets, during which he averaged 20.2 points, 15 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. [5] On December 17, 1971, Paultz scored 27 points and set a Nets' franchise record by pulling down 33 rebounds in a 90-83 victory over the Dallas Chaparrals [6] [7] [8] . He spent his first five seasons, all of which resulted in trips to the playoffs, with the ABA Nets (including an appearance in 1972 ABA Finals, which the Indiana Pacers won in six games), and was a key player in their 1973–74 ABA championship season. He was then traded to the San Antonio Spurs where he made four consecutive appearances in the playoffs from 1976 to 1979.

Although Paultz moved with a bulky stiffness, he was a very heady player.

During the middle of the 1979-1980 season, San Antonio traded Paultz to the Houston Rockets, and due to the trade, he managed to play 84 games during an 82-game NBA season. The next year, Paultz teamed with Moses Malone to make the 1981 NBA Finals. In Game 1 of the series, Paulitz scored 14 points and grabbed 7 rebounds, during a 98-95 loss to the Celtics (who would win the series four games to two). [9] During the 1982–83 season without Malone, and with the Rockets in last place, he was placed on waivers and picked up by the playoff-bound Spurs. In 1984, he was a late season pickup by the playoff bound Atlanta Hawks. He finished his career with the Utah Jazz in 1985.

A four-time ABA All-Star, Paultz led the ABA in blocked shots during the 1975–76 season with an average of 3.0 blocks per game and a league-leading total of 253 blocked shots. [10]

About his play, Paultz stated, "I have realized that I'm not an overpowering type center. I don't really know what my category is. I have always been the type of player that can do a little bit of everything."

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rick Barry</span> American former basketball player (born 1944)

Richard Francis Dennis Barry III is an American retired professional basketball player who starred at the NCAA, American Basketball Association (ABA) and National Basketball Association (NBA) levels. Barry ranks among the most prolific scorers and all-around players in basketball history. He is the only one to lead the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), ABA, and NBA in points per game in a season. He ranks as the all-time ABA scoring leader in regular season and postseason (33.5) play, while his 36.3 points per game are the most in the NBA Finals history. Barry was also the only player to score at least 50 points in a Game 7 of the playoffs in either league until Stephen Curry and Jayson Tatum both reached that mark in 2022. He is one of only four players to be a part of a championship team in both leagues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julius Erving</span> American former basketball player (born 1950)

Julius Winfield Erving II, commonly known by the nickname Dr. J, is an American former professional basketball player. Erving helped legitimize the American Basketball Association (ABA), and he was the best-known player in that league when it merged into the National Basketball Association (NBA) after the 1975–1976 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kentucky Colonels</span> American basketball team 1967-1976

The Kentucky Colonels were a member of the American Basketball Association (ABA) for all of the league's nine years. The name is derived from the historic Kentucky Colonels. The Colonels won the most games and had the highest winning percentage of any franchise in the league's history, but the team did not join the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the 1976 ABA–NBA merger. The downtown Louisville Convention Center was the Colonels' venue for their first three seasons before moving to Freedom Hall for the remaining seasons, beginning with the 1970–71 schedule.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virginia Squires</span> Basketball team in Roanoke, Virginia

The Virginia Squires were a basketball team based in Norfolk, Virginia, and playing in several other Virginia cities. They were members of the American Basketball Association from 1970 to 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Gervin</span> American basketball player (born 1952)

George Gervin, nicknamed "the Iceman", is an American former professional basketball player who played in both the American Basketball Association (ABA) and National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Virginia Squires, San Antonio Spurs, and Chicago Bulls. Gervin averaged at least 14 points per game in all 14 of his ABA and NBA seasons, and finished with an NBA career average of 26.2 points per game. In 1996, Gervin was named as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, and in 2021, Gervin was named as one of the 75 greatest players in NBA history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Artis Gilmore</span> American basketball player (born 1949)

Artis Gilmore Sr. is an American former professional basketball player who played in the American Basketball Association (ABA) and National Basketball Association (NBA). Gilmore was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on August 12, 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elvin Hayes</span> American basketball player (born 1945)

Elvin Ernest Hayes, nicknamed "the Big E", is an American former professional basketball player and radio analyst for his alma mater Houston Cougars. He is a member of the NBA's 50th and 75th anniversary teams, and an inductee in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Known for both his offensive and defensive prowess, Hayes is often regarded as one of the best power forwards in NBA history. Hayes is also known for his longevity, being third all-time in NBA minutes played, and missing only nine games during his 16-season career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caldwell Jones</span> American basketball player (1950–2014)

Caldwell "Pops" Jones Jr. was an American professional basketball player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mel Daniels</span> American basketball player and coach (1944–2015)

Melvin Joe Daniels was an American professional basketball player. He played in the American Basketball Association (ABA) for the Minnesota Muskies, Indiana Pacers, and Memphis Sounds, and in the National Basketball Association for the New York Nets. Daniels was a two-time ABA Most Valuable Player, three-time ABA Champion and a seven-time ABA All-Star. Daniels was the All-time ABA rebounding leader, and in 1997 was named a unanimous selection to the ABA All-Time Team. Daniels was enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maurice Lucas</span> American basketball player and coach (1952–2010)

Maurice Lucas was an American professional basketball player who played in the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was a four-time NBA All-Star and won an NBA championship with the Portland Trail Blazers in 1977. He was named to the ABA All-Time Team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zelmo Beaty</span> American basketball player (1939–2013)

Zelmo "Big Z" Beaty was an American basketball player. He played eight seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and four in the rival American Basketball Association (ABA). A three-time ABA All-Star, Beaty was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ron Boone</span> American basketball player (born 1946)

Ronald Bruce Boone is an American former professional basketball player. He had a 13-year career in the American Basketball Association (ABA) and National Basketball Association (NBA). Boone set a record for most consecutive games played in professional basketball history with 1,041 and claims to have never missed a game from when he started playing basketball in the fourth grade until his retirement. Boone is the current color commentator on Utah Jazz broadcasts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Netolicky</span> American basketball player

Robert Netolicky is a retired American basketball player. A 6'9" power forward/center, he played professionally in the now–defunct American Basketball Association (ABA) from 1967 to 1976. Netolicky was a four–time ABA All–Star and two–time ABA Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Lacey</span> American basketball player

Samuel Lacey was an American basketball player. He spent the majority of his career with the Royals/Kings franchise. Lacey was selected as an all-star while playing for the Kings in 1975, and eventually had his number 44 retired by them.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Roundfield</span> American basketball player (1953–2012)

Danny Thomas Roundfield was an American professional basketball player. The 6'8" forward/center graduated from Detroit's Chadsey Senior High School in 1971. On the collegiate scene, Roundfield was twice selected to the All-Mid-American Conference Team for Central Michigan University; he was also the 1975 MAC Player of the Year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willie Sojourner</span> American basketball player

Willard Leon Sojourner was an American collegiate and professional basketball player and international coach. He played collegiately at Weber State University and went on to a professional career, winning a championship with the New York Nets and playing overseas.

Levern Tart was an American basketball player.

The 1973–74 New York Nets season was the seventh season in the ABA basketball New York Nets franchise. The Nets won their first ABA Championship against the Utah Stars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ABA–NBA merger</span> Merger of American basketball leagues

The ABA-NBA merger was a major pro sports business maneuver in 1976 when the American Basketball Association (ABA) combined with the National Basketball Association (NBA), after multiple attempts over several years. The NBA and ABA had entered merger talks as early as 1970, but an antitrust suit filed by the head of the NBA players union, Robertson v. National Basketball Ass'n, blocked the merger until 1976.

William G. Schaeffer is a former American basketball small forward in the American Basketball Association (ABA) for the New York Nets and Virginia Squires. He also was a member of the Allentown Jets in the Eastern Pennsylvania Basketball League. He played college basketball at St. John's University.

References

  1. ↑ Roe, Bob (March 1985). "A Pete Rose by Any Other Name Would Play as Sweet". Orange Coast Magazine . 11 (3): 138. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
  2. ↑ Billy Paultz player profile, Basketball Reference. Accessed December 5, 2006.
  3. ↑ Skevin, Tom. "A Nets fan reminisces", The Record , January 27, 2004. "I go back to when Billy Paultz of River Edge was a rookie. I was surprised in the 1970–71 season when I saw that the 6-foot-11 Whopper didn't even jump center – the much shorter Sonny Dove did."
  4. ↑ RememberTheABA.com Virginia Squires detailed year by year notes page Archived May 14, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ 1970-71 New York Nets
  6. ↑ Chaparrals vs Nets, December 17, 1971 | Basketball-Reference.com
  7. ↑ "NETS BEAT CHAPS AS PAULTZ STARS". December 18, 1971. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Buck Williams has the most rebounds for the New Jersey Nets in a game, with 27 boards against the Warriors on February 1, 1987. StatMuse". statmuse. statmuse. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  9. ↑ 1981 NBA Finals Game 1: Houston Rockets at Boston Celtics
  10. ↑ Billy Paultz Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com, Basketball Reference. Accessed January 8, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.