Billy McKinney (basketball) facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 5, 1955 Waukegan, Illinois, U.S. |
| High school | Zion-Benton (Zion, Illinois) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Listed weight | 160 lb (73 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Northwestern (1973–1977) |
| NBA Draft | 1977 / Round: 6 / Pick: 115th overall |
| Selected by the Phoenix Suns | |
| Pro career | 1978–1985 |
| Career history | |
| 1978–1980 | Kansas City Kings |
| 1980 | Utah Jazz |
| 1980–1983 | Denver Nuggets |
| 1983–1984 | San Diego Clippers |
| 1985 | Chicago Bulls |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 3,823 (8.0 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 677 (1.4 rpg) |
| Assists | 1,661 (3.5 apg) |
William Mervin McKinney III (born June 5, 1955) is an American former professional basketball player. He was also a radio broadcaster and is now the mayor of Zion, Illinois. People called him "The Crazed Hummingbird" because he was very quick on the court.
Contents
Billy McKinney's Life and Career
Early Life and College Basketball
Billy McKinney was born on June 5, 1955. He grew up in Zion, Illinois. He went to Zion-Benton High School and played basketball there.
After high school, he attended Northwestern University. He played for the Wildcats basketball team. He was their top scorer for 35 years. In 2012, another player named John Shurna broke his record. Billy McKinney also earned a degree in education from Northwestern.
Playing in the NBA
From 1978 to 1986, Billy McKinney played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played for several teams during his career.
His teams included the Kansas City Kings, Utah Jazz, and Denver Nuggets. He also played for the San Diego Clippers. His last team was the Chicago Bulls.
During his NBA career, he scored an average of 8.0 points per game. He also made 3.5 assists per game. An assist is when a player passes the ball to a teammate who then scores.
After Playing Basketball
After his playing days, Billy McKinney continued to work in basketball. He held many important roles.
He was an Assistant Vice President for the Chicago Bulls. He also worked as the Director of Player Personnel for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Later, he became Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Detroit Pistons.
He also served as Executive Vice President for the NBA's Seattle SuperSonics. He held the same position for the WNBA's Seattle Storm. Before becoming mayor, he was a radio announcer for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
In 2008, he joined the Milwaukee Bucks as their Director of Scouting. In 2015, he was promoted to Vice-President of Scouting.
Becoming Mayor
In April 2019, Billy McKinney was elected as the mayor of Zion, Illinois. This is the city where he grew up.
Honored by Northwestern
On March 2, 2024, Northwestern University honored Billy McKinney. They retired his jersey number, 30. This means no other player on the team will wear that number again. It is a special way to recognize his great achievements.
See also
In Spanish: Billy McKinney para niños
