Bill Cartwright facts for kids
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Cartwright in 2025
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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 an American former professional basketball player and coach. He was a very tall player, standing 7 feet 1 inch (2.16 meters) tall. He played as a center for 16 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played for the New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, and Seattle SuperSonics. Bill helped the Chicago Bulls win three championships in a row from 1991 to 1993.
He went to Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove, California. Later, he played college basketball for the San Francisco Dons. After his playing career, he became a head coach for the Chicago Bulls, the Osaka Evessa in Japan, and the Mexico men's national basketball team. He also worked as an assistant coach for several years in the NBA.
Contents
Bill's Early Life and High School Basketball
James William Cartwright was born on July 30, 1957, in Lodi, California. His parents were James and Marie Cartwright.
In high school, Bill played basketball for the Elk Grove Thundering Herd. Their coach was Dan Risley. With Bill on the team, they had a perfect season in 1973–1974. 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. In 1975, he was also named California High School Sports Athlete of the Year.
Bill was considered a top high school player, just like other famous players such as Darryl Dawkins and Bill Willoughby. He graduated from Elk Grove High School in 1975.
College Basketball Journey
Bill Cartwright played college basketball at the University of San Francisco (USF). He was recognized as one of the best college players in 1977 and 1979. During the 1978–79 season, USF had a very tall starting lineup. Bill, who was 7'1", played center. Wallace Bryant was 7'0" and played power forward. Guy Williams was 6'10" and played small forward.
Bill became the all-time leading scorer for the San Francisco Dons. He averaged 19.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. He led San Francisco to the NCAA tournament three times. They reached the first round in 1977 and the "Sweet Sixteen" (a later round) in both 1978 and 1979.
Bill's Professional NBA Career
Playing for the New York Knicks (1979–1988)
The New York Knicks chose Bill Cartwright as the third overall pick in the 1979 NBA draft. In his first season, he was chosen to play in the 1980 NBA All-Star Game, which was his only All-Star appearance. He scored more than 20 points per game in his first two seasons with the Knicks.
Bill played in at least 77 games in his first five seasons. However, he then had a series of foot injuries. These injuries caused him to miss the entire 1984–1985 season. After that season, the Knicks drafted another great center, Patrick Ewing. Bill's foot problems continued, and he only played in two games during the 1985–1986 season. When he returned for the 1986–1987 season, he and Ewing often played together. But by the 1987–1988 season, Bill was mostly playing from the bench.
Winning Championships with the Chicago Bulls (1988–1994)
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On June 15, 1988, Bill Cartwright was traded to the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls also received two draft picks in exchange for Charles Oakley and two draft picks. The Bulls needed a strong center. They also had a rapidly improving power forward named Horace Grant.
Bill became the starting center for the Bulls during their amazing run of three NBA championships in a row. These championships happened in 1991, 1992, and 1993. During the 1992–93 season, Bill got hit in the throat during a game. This injury fractured his voice box, called the larynx. It left him with a hoarse voice.
After the 1993 championship, Michael Jordan retired from basketball for a while. The Bulls still made the 1994 NBA playoffs. However, they were eliminated in a close Game 7 by the Knicks. After this season, Bill left the team as a free agent.
Short Time with the Seattle SuperSonics (1994–1995)
After leaving the Bulls, Bill Cartwright signed with the Seattle SuperSonics. He played in only 29 games for the Sonics. He then retired from playing basketball after the 1994–95 NBA season.
Bill's Coaching Career
A year after he stopped playing, Bill Cartwright joined the Bulls again. He became an assistant coach under Phil Jackson for the 1996–97 NBA season. He was part of the coaching staff for the championship-winning teams in 1997 and 1998.
After the 1997–98 season, the Bulls team changed a lot. Many key players like Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen left. Bill took over as head coach of the Bulls 27 games into the 2001–02 season. The team had a tough start, but Bill helped them improve. The Bulls finished the 2002–03 season with 30 wins and 52 losses. However, Bill was fired after only 14 games into the 2003–04 season.
In 2004, the New Jersey Nets hired Bill as an assistant coach. In 2008, he became an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns. The Suns' general manager, Steve Kerr, hired Bill to help coach their big players like Shaquille O'Neal and Amar'e Stoudemire.
In January 2013, Bill was hired to coach Osaka Evessa in Japan. He helped turn the team around. When he arrived, they had lost many games. With Bill as coach, the team won 17 of their last 28 games. He did not return the next season because he wanted to be closer to his family in Chicago.
In September 2014, Bill was hired as the head coach of the Mexico men's national basketball team. He was replaced a few months later.
Bill's Life Outside of Basketball
Bill Cartwright married his junior high school sweetheart, Sheri. They have four children named Justin, Jason, James, and Kristin. He also has two grandchildren.
He earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from USF. Later, in 1998, he earned a master's degree in organization development from the same university. In 2016, Bill became the director of university initiatives at USF.
Bill enjoys doo-wop music from the 1950s and 1960s. His hobbies include playing the guitar and collecting transistor radios.
Images for kids
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Cartwright in 2025
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Bill Cartwright playing for the Chicago Bulls in 1991.
See also
In Spanish: Bill Cartwright para niños
