Billy Ray Bates facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Billy Ray Bates

Personal information
Born	(1956-05-31) May 31, 1956 (age 69) Kosciusko, Mississippi, U.S.
High school	McAdams (McAdams, Mississippi)
Listed height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight	211 lb (96 kg)
Career information
College	Kentucky State (1974–1978)
NBA Draft	1978 / Round: 3 / Pick: 47th overall
Selected by the Houston Rockets
Career history
1978–1980	Maine Lumberjacks
1980–1982	Portland Trail Blazers
1982	Washington Bullets
1983	Los Angeles Lakers
1983–1984	Ohio Mixers
1983	Crispa Redmanizers
1984–1986	Fribourg Olympic
1986	Crispa Redmanizers
1986–1987	Charleston Gunners
1986–1988	Ginebra San Miguel
Career highlights and awards
3× PBA champion (1983 Reinforced Filipino, 1983 Open, 1986 Open) 2× PBA Best Import of the Conference (1983 Reinforced Filipino, 1983 Open) CBA Rookie of the Year (1979)

Billy Ray Bates (born May 31, 1956) is a retired American professional basketball player. He played as a shooting guard. Bates is known for his exciting style of play. He was a fan favorite in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also became a legend in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Bates played for teams like the Portland Trail Blazers, Washington Bullets, and Los Angeles Lakers. He also played in other countries. These included Switzerland, Mexico, Uruguay, and especially the Philippines. In the Philippines, he played for the Crispa Redmanizers and Ginebra San Miguel. Many consider him one of the best foreign players in PBA history.

Billy Ray Bates's NBA Journey

Billy Ray Bates was one of nine children. He grew up in Mississippi and played basketball at McAdams High. Later, he played college basketball for Kentucky State University.

The Houston Rockets picked him in the 1978 NBA draft. But he was cut from the team before the season began. He then joined the Maine Lumberjacks in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). There, he was named the CBA Rookie of the Year in 1979. He also won the slam dunk competition. Bates was famous for breaking at least four backboards in the CBA.

In February 1980, Bates signed with the Portland Trail Blazers. He quickly became a fan favorite. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 210 pounds, he was known for his amazing slam dunks. His energetic playing style thrilled the crowds. He once scored 40 points in just 32 minutes. Another time, he scored 35 points in 25 minutes. The NBA even named him Player of the Week during his first season.

Bates was especially good in the playoffs. He averaged 25.0 points per game in the 1980 playoffs. In the 1981 playoffs, he averaged 28.3 points per game. This is still a record for the Trail Blazers franchise.

Despite his exciting play, Bates faced challenges. He was known for his dunks and rebounding. However, the league felt he needed to improve other skills. In September 1982, after three seasons, he was cut by the Trail Blazers.

Bates played briefly for the Washington Bullets in the 1982–83 season. He appeared in 15 games. He then had a short tryout with the Los Angeles Lakers. He played in four games for them. After this, he never played in the NBA again. His average of 26.7 points per game in the playoffs is the highest ever for a player who was not a starter.

PBA Legend: The Black Superman

Billy Ray Bates joined the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) in the mid-1980s. His arrival changed the league greatly. In his first game with the Crispa Redmanizers, Bates amazed the crowd. He showed off incredible moves against the strong Great Taste Coffee team.

In that game, Bates scored 64 points. He made 20 of 25 two-point shots (80%). He also made 5 of 6 three-point shots (83%). He added 12 rebounds and five assists. His opponent, Norman Black, also scored 59 points. Crispa won the game 120–119. Bates showed off his accurate jump shot and powerful dunks.

Bates's 64 points were remarkable because Crispa already had many star players. They did not necessarily need a high-scoring import. But Bates brought a new level of excitement. Many of his points came from powerful dunks. He helped start a new era for PBA imports. Even his coach, Tommy Manotoc, known for defense, changed his strategy to fit Bates's strengths.

One writer, Bobby Factura, said Bates did for the PBA what Julius Erving did for the NBA. He revolutionized the slam dunk. Bates could hang in the air longer than defenders. Then he would powerfully dunk the ball. He also excelled at fastbreak plays and long-range shots. He averaged an amazing 64.5 percent from the field.

Bates's scoring and exciting style made him very popular in the Philippines. He was called the Black Superman. A shoe company even made shoes named "Black Superman" after him. Bates loved this and told everyone back home about his success.

He once told The Oregonian newspaper: "Those people, they loved me. There, I was like Michael Jordan. I could have anything I wanted."

Bates won the 1983 Best Import award. He helped the Crispa Redmanizers win two championships that year. Three years later, in 1986, Bates and Michael Hackett helped Ginebra win its first PBA title. He returned to Ginebra in 1987. He led all imports with an average of 54.9 points per game. His last time with Ginebra was in 1988. He played with future Celtics star Kevin Gamble. However, he was not in good shape and played only four games. Many people still consider Billy Ray Bates one of the greatest imports in PBA history.

In his four seasons in the PBA, Bates averaged an all-time league high of 46.2 points in 98 games.

Bates also played in Switzerland for the FIBA EuroLeague club Fribourg Olympic. He played in the U.S. with the World Basketball League. He also spent seasons in Mexico and Uruguay.

Life Beyond the Court

Billy Ray Bates was born the eighth of nine children. His parents were sharecroppers in Mississippi. He grew up helping to pick cotton, string beans, and corn. His father passed away when Billy Ray was seven years old.

During his time with the Portland Trail Blazers, Bates was part of advertising campaigns. One campaign showed him with a milk mustache. He was very popular with fans. His jersey number, 12, was a common choice for kids in local basketball leagues.

In 2009, Bates worked for a large grocery supply company. He then worked as a floor technician for a recycling company in New Jersey. Billy Ray Bates and his wife, Beverly, have been married for over 20 years. He also has a daughter, Jennifer, who lives in Switzerland.

To this day, Bates is highly praised as the best import to have played in the Philippine Basketball Association. In October 2011, the PBA honored him. They inducted him into their Hall of Fame. Bates traveled to the Philippines for the ceremony. He said he hoped to work as a basketball coach in his "second home." He later became a skills coach for the AirAsia Philippine Patriots in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL).

Career Statistics

NBA Regular Season

NBA Playoffs

PBA Career Statistics

See also

In Spanish: Billy Ray Bates para niños