Walt Bellamy
Inducted:
1993
Player Stats
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
Born
July 24, 1939
New Bern, North Carolina, U.S.
Died
November 2, 2013
College Park, Georgia, U.S.
Position
Center
College
Indiana (1958–1961)
Walt Bellamy was a dominant force from the moment he stepped onto an NBA court, producing one of the greatest rookie seasons in basketball history. As the first overall pick in 1961, he immediately made his mark by averaging over 31 points and 19 rebounds per game. A mobile and powerful center, Bellamy was known for his incredible efficiency and durability, playing at least 70 games in thirteen consecutive seasons.
His career spanned 14 years across several franchises, including the Baltimore Bullets, New York Knicks, and Atlanta Hawks. Before entering the professional ranks, he helped lead the United States to an Olympic gold medal in 1960. By the time he retired, he was one of the few elite players to surpass the 20,000-point and 14,000-rebound milestones. His consistent excellence as a premier big man earned him a place in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993.
Bellamy's Awards and Records
- Consensus second-team All-American (1961)
- First-team All-American – USBWA (1960)
- Second-team All-American – NEA (1960)
- Third-team All-American – UPI (1960)
- Averaged 20+ points for multiple seasons
NBA Records
- 4× NBA All-Star (1962–1965)
- NBA Rookie of the Year (1962)
- NBA Field Goal Percentage Leader (1962)
- Ranked among NBA career leaders in points and rebounds
NBA Teams
Chicago Packers / Zephyrs / Baltimore Bullets (1961–1965)
New York Knicks (1965–1968)
Detroit Pistons (1968–1970)
Atlanta Hawks (1970–1974)
New Orleans Jazz (1974)
National Team
United States
NBA Draft
1961: 1st round, 1st overall pick
Chicago Packers
Number Worn
8
NBA Stats
Seasons:
14 (1961–1975)
Game Played:
1,043
Points:
20,941 (20.1 ppg)
Rebounds:
14,241 (13.7 rpg)
Assists:
2,544 (2.4 apg)
Steal:
52
Blocks:
48
Field Goal(%):
51.6
Free Throw(%):
63.2