Willie Naulls
Encyclopedia
William Dean "Willie" Naulls (born October 7, 1934 in Dallas, Texas
) is a retired American
basketball
player. A 6'6" power forward
/center
, he played professionally in the National Basketball Association
from 1956 to 1966.
While attending San Pedro High School
in San Pedro, California he was named as California Mr. Basketball
in 1952.
After becoming an All-American playing at UCLA
, Naulls was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks
in 1956. He spent just 19 games with the Hawks, however, before being traded to the New York Knicks
, with whom he would spend the prime of his career. He averaged a double-double (19.3 points per game, 10. 7 rebounds per game) during his seven-year tenure with the team, and he appeared as an NBA All-Star
four times. While with the Knicks, Naulls was also the first African-American player to be named captain of a major professional sports team.
During the 1962-63 NBA season
, the Knicks traded Naulls to the San Francisco Warriors
, who then traded Naulls to the Boston Celtics
. Naulls would spend his last three professional seasons with the Celtics, winning three NBA Championship rings in the process. He was a member of the 1964-1965 Celtics team that was named one of the ten best teams in the NBA at the 50th anniversary of the association. Upon retiring in 1966, he had tallied 11,305 career points and 6,508 career rebounds.
On February 24, 2005, Naulls, Campy Russell
, and Kenny Walker
were honored by the Knicks during their "Hardwood Classics Night."
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
) is a retired American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. A 6'6" power forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
/center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
, he played professionally in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
from 1956 to 1966.
While attending San Pedro High School
San Pedro High School
San Pedro High School is a public high school in the Los Angeles Unified School District and is located in the San Pedro portion of the city of Los Angeles, California. In 2003, the school celebrated its 100th Anniversary....
in San Pedro, California he was named as California Mr. Basketball
California Mr. Basketball
Each year the California Mr. Basketball award is given to the person chosen as the best high school boys basketball player in the U.S. state of California.Many have gone on to play in the NBA....
in 1952.
After becoming an All-American playing at UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
, Naulls was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
in 1956. He spent just 19 games with the Hawks, however, before being traded to the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, with whom he would spend the prime of his career. He averaged a double-double (19.3 points per game, 10. 7 rebounds per game) during his seven-year tenure with the team, and he appeared as an NBA All-Star
National Basketball Association All-Star Game
The National Basketball Association staged its first All-Star Game in the Boston Garden on March 2, 1951. From that year on, the game has matched the best players in the Eastern Conference with the best players in the Western Conference....
four times. While with the Knicks, Naulls was also the first African-American player to be named captain of a major professional sports team.
During the 1962-63 NBA season
1962-63 NBA season
The 1962–63 NBA season was the 17th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Boston Celtics winning their 5th straight NBA Championship, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals.- History :...
, the Knicks traded Naulls to the San Francisco Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, who then traded Naulls to the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
. Naulls would spend his last three professional seasons with the Celtics, winning three NBA Championship rings in the process. He was a member of the 1964-1965 Celtics team that was named one of the ten best teams in the NBA at the 50th anniversary of the association. Upon retiring in 1966, he had tallied 11,305 career points and 6,508 career rebounds.
On February 24, 2005, Naulls, Campy Russell
Campy Russell
Michael Campanella Russell , nicknamed Campy, is a former professional basketball player in the NBA. He played the forward position for the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks for nine years and played in the 1979 NBA All-Star Game.Before joining the NBA, Russell was a star player at the...
, and Kenny Walker
Kenny Walker
Kenneth "Kenny" "Sky" Walker is a former professional basketball player, primarily for the New York Knicks of the NBA. Walker played college basketball at the University of Kentucky. He is currently a radio host for WVLK in Lexington, Kentucky.-College career:After being named Mr...
were honored by the Knicks during their "Hardwood Classics Night."
External links
- Career stats at basketball-reference.com
- Where Are They Now? at nba.com
- UCLA Bruins sports - Men's basketball media guide