- Billy Paultz
William Edward "Bill" Paultz (born
July 30 ,1948 inRiver Edge, New Jersey [Skevin, Tom. "A Nets fan reminisces", "The Record (Bergen County) ",January 27 ,2004 . "I go back to when Billy Paultz of River Edge was a rookie. I was surprised in the 1970-71 season when I saw that the 6-foot-11 Whopper didn't even jump center - the much shorter Sonny Dove did."] ) is a retired American professionalbasketball player.He played professional ball both in the
National Basketball Association and in the now defunctAmerican Basketball Association . His nickname was "The Whopper", and he stands 6 feet 11 inches tall.As a
rookie , Paultz made his first playoff appearance in 1970-1971 with theNew York Nets . He spent his first five seasons, all in the playoffs, with the ABA Nets, and was a key player in their1974 championship season. He was then traded to theSan Antonio Spurs where he made four appearances in the playoffs, including one in an ABA championship final from1975 –1979 .Although Paultz moved with a bulky stiffness, he was a very heady player. He was traded to the
Houston Rockets , where he played for two and a half seasons, and he teamed withMoses Malone to make the 1980-81 finals. During the 1982-83 season, (without Malone), and with the Rockets in last place, he was placed onwaivers and picked up by the playoff-bound Spurs. In1984 , he was a late season pickup by the playoff boundAtlanta Hawks He finished his career with theUtah Jazz in1985 .A three time ABA
all-star , Paultz led the ABA in blocked shots during the1975 -1976 season.About his play, Paultz stated, "I have realized that I'm not an overpowering type center. I don't really know what my category is. I have always been the type of player that can do a little bit of everything."
Paultz played organized basketball at
River Dell Regional High School inBergen County, New Jersey . [ [http://basketball-reference.com/players/p/paultbi01.html Billy Paultz player profile] , Basketball Reference. AccessedDecember 5 ,2006 .]References
External links
* [http://www.remembertheaba.com/TributeMaterial/Paultz.html Paultz bio]
* [http://www.basketballreference.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=PAULTBI01 Career statistics]
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