Bill Sharman
(1926-2013)
Hall of Fame Induction: 1976
Card Shown:
2003-04 Upper Deck Legends
Legendary Signatures
Position: SG
Height: 6’1″
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Bill Sharman was a winner at all levels of professional basketball in which he participated. As a player, Sharman won four NBA championships with the Boston Celtics dynasty. He was a pure shooter who teamed with Bob Cousy to form one of the greatest backcourts in NBA history. Bill was known for his meticulous preparation, both mental and physical, that helped him to become an NBA great.
During his coaching career, Bill coached three teams to championships. Later, he was an executive for the Los Angeles Lakers during their five championships in the 1980s. During two of those titles Sharman was the general manager and for the other three he was president of the Lakers. All told, as a player, coach, and executive, Bill played a key role on twelve championship teams.
Awards and Honors
- After high school, Bill served for two years in the Navy before enrolling at the University of Southern California at the age of 21. At USC, Sharman averaged 18.6 points per game as a senior and was named an All-American.
- Sharman was an an NBA All-Star eight times in his eleven-year basketball career. He was named the 1955 All-Star Game Most Valuable Player
- Bill won four NBA championships with the Boston Celtics in 1957, 1959, 1960, and 1961. Sharman led the Celtics in scoring during the first two championship seasons. Other Hall of Fame players on those Celtics dynasty teams included Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Tom Heinsohn, Andy Phillip, Frank Ramsey, Arnie Risen, K.C. Jones, and Sam Jones.
- Between 1953 and 1960, Sharman was named All-NBA First Team four times and All-NBA Second Team three times. He averaged 17.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game over the course of his NBA career.
- In 1996, Bill was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
Points of Interest
- In high school in Porterville, California, Bill lettered in football, baseball, basketball, tennis, and track.
- Afraid that professional basketball might fail financially, Sharman kept his options open by agreeing to a $12,000 contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1950. Although he never played a major league game, Bill was in the dugout for the historic playoff game between the Dodgers and the New York Giants when Bobby Thompson hit the “shot heard ’round the world” that propelled the Giants to the National League pennant. Later, Sharman signed with the Washington Capitols, who had drafted him in the second round of the 1950 NBA Draft, for $9,000.
- Sharman was a pure shooter who had an incredibly accurate one-handed set shot standing on both feet. His pinpoint shooting was reflected in his free throws as well. Bill led the league in free throw percentage seven times in a nine-year period between 1953 and 1961. His best mark was 93.2% in 1958-59.
- After his playing career ended, Bill became a top basketball coach. He led his teams to three championships in three different leagues. In 1962 he led the Cleveland Pipers to the championship of the fledgling American Basketball League (ABL). In 1971 he led the Utah Stars, with Zelmo Beaty, to the ABA title. And finally, in 1972, Sharman led the Los Angeles Lakers (with Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, and Gail Goodrich) to the NBA championship and he was named NBA Coach of the Year.
- Sharman was one of only three people to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as both a player (1976) and a coach (2004). The other two people to be honored in both categories were Lenny Wilkens and John Wooden.
Statistics
Bill Sharman Statistics
provided by Basketball-Reference.com