Bill Cartwright facts for kids
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Cartwright in 2011
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 30, 1957 Lodi, California, U.S. |
| High school | Elk Grove (Elk Grove, California) |
| Listed height | 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) |
| Listed weight | 245 lb (111 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | San Francisco (1975–1979) |
| NBA Draft | 1979 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3rd overall |
| Selected by the New York Knicks | |
| Pro career | 1979–1995 |
| Coaching career | 1996–2013 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1979–1988 | New York Knicks |
| 1988–1994 | Chicago Bulls |
| 1994–1995 | Seattle SuperSonics |
| As coach: | |
| 1996–2001 | Chicago Bulls (assistant) |
| 2001–2003 | Chicago Bulls |
| 2004–2008 | New Jersey Nets (assistant) |
| 2008–2012 | Phoenix Suns (assistant) |
| 2013 | Osaka Evessa |
| 2014 | Mexico |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As player:
As assistant coach:
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| Career statistics | |
| Points | 12,713 (13.2 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 6,106 (6.3 rpg) |
| Assists | 1,390 (1.4 apg) |
James William Cartwright (born July 30, 1957) is a famous American basketball player and coach. Standing at 7 feet 1 inch (2.16 meters) tall, he played as a center for 16 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Bill Cartwright is best known for helping the Chicago Bulls win three championships in a row from 1991 to 1993. He also played for the New York Knicks and Seattle SuperSonics. After his playing career, he became a coach for several teams, including the Bulls.
Contents
Growing Up: Bill Cartwright's Early Life
Bill Cartwright was born on July 30, 1957, in Lodi, California. His parents are James and Marie Cartwright. He played basketball for the Elk Grove Thundering Herd in high school. His coach was Dan Risley.
High School Success in Basketball
With Bill on the team, Elk Grove High School had an amazing season in 1973–1974, winning every game. They were named the best high school basketball team in California in both 1974 and 1975. In 1975, Elk Grove won the NorCal Tournament of Champions. Bill was named California High School State Basketball Player of the Year in 1974 and 1975. He was also named California High School Sports Athlete of the Year in 1975. Bill Cartwright graduated from Elk Grove High School in 1975.
College Basketball Career
After high school, Bill Cartwright played college basketball at the University of San Francisco. He was recognized as a top player, earning "second-team All-American" honors in 1977 and 1979. This means he was considered one of the best college players in the country.
Bill Cartwright's College Records
During his time at the University of San Francisco (USF), Bill was part of one of the tallest starting lineups in college basketball history. He became the all-time leading scorer for the USF Dons. On average, he scored 19.1 points and grabbed 10.2 rebounds per game. Bill led his team to the NCAA tournament three times. They reached the "Sweet Sixteen" (the round of 16 teams) in both 1978 and 1979.
Professional Basketball Career
Bill Cartwright was a top pick in the 1979 NBA draft. He was chosen third overall by the New York Knicks.
Playing for the New York Knicks (1979–1988)
In his first season with the Knicks, Bill was chosen for the NBA All-Star Game. This was his only All-Star appearance. He scored more than 20 points per game in his first two seasons. However, a series of foot injuries caused him to miss almost two full seasons. After these injuries, the Knicks drafted another tall player, Patrick Ewing. Bill Cartwright then played less for the Knicks.
Winning Championships with the Chicago Bulls (1988–1994)
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In 1988, Bill Cartwright was traded to the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls needed a strong center, and Bill fit that role perfectly. He became the starting center for the Bulls during their amazing run of three straight NBA championships. These wins happened in 1991, 1992, and 1993.
During the 1992–93 season, Bill had a tough moment when he was accidentally hit in the throat during a game. This injury affected his voice, making it sound hoarse. After the 1993 season, Michael Jordan retired from the Bulls. The team made it to the playoffs in 1994 but lost. Bill then left the team.
Final Season with the Seattle SuperSonics (1994–1995)
Bill Cartwright signed with the Seattle SuperSonics for his last season. He played in 29 games before retiring from playing basketball in 1995.
Coaching Career Highlights
A year after he stopped playing, Bill Cartwright returned to the Bulls as an assistant coach in 1996. He helped the team win two more NBA championships in 1997 and 1998.
Becoming a Head Coach
After the Bulls' championship era ended, Bill became the head coach for the team in 2001. He coached the Bulls for a couple of seasons before moving on. He also worked as an assistant coach for the New Jersey Nets and Phoenix Suns.
Coaching Internationally
In 2013, Bill Cartwright took on a new challenge. He was hired to coach the Osaka Evessa team in Japan. He helped turn the team around, leading them to win many more games. In 2014, he also coached the Mexico men's national basketball team.
Personal Life
Bill Cartwright is married to his junior high school sweetheart, Sheri. They have four children: Justin, Jason, James, and Kristin. They also have two grandchildren. Bill earned a college degree in sociology and later a master's degree in organization development. In 2016, he became a director at the University of San Francisco.
Bill enjoys listening to doo-wop music from the 1950s and 1960s. He also plays the guitar and collects transistor radios as hobbies.
See also
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 2000 points and 1000 rebounds
