Bill Hewitt – An NBA Legend

Bill Hewitt was an NBA legend He played for the Boston Celtics and was part of the team that won the NBA Championship in 1986.

Bill Hewitt – An NBA Legend

Bill Hewitt was an NBA player for the Boston Celtics Philadelphia Warriors and the Chicago Bulls He was a 6’5″ shooting guard and played in the NBA from 1966-1982. He was a 3-time All-Star and won an NBA Championship with the Warriors in 1975. He averaged 15.2 points per game and 4.3 assists per game in his career.

Early Life and Career

Bill Hewitt was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 26, 1928. He was the second of three sons of Christopher and Mary Hewitt. His father was a shipyard worker and his mother was a homemaker. He attended West Philadelphia Catholic High School where he played basketball and baseball. After graduating from high school in 1946, he attended Villanova University on a Basketball Scholarship He played basketball and baseball at Villanova and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1950.

Hewitt began his Professional Basketball career with the Philadelphia Warriors in 1950. He played for the Warriors for four seasons, averaging 10.7 points per game in his NBA Career In 1954, he was traded to the New York Knicks where he averaged 11.4 points per game in his one season with the team. He retired from professional basketball in 1955 to pursue a career in business.

Hewitt joined the family business, Hewitt Manufacturing Company, after retiring from basketball. The company manufactured electronic components for the aerospace industry. He served as president and CEO of the company from 1968 to 1981. Under his leadership, the company grew to become one of the largest private companies in Pennsylvania

Hewitt’s Time with the Lakers

During his rookie season, Bill Hewitt was a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. He played with the team for two seasons before being traded to the Baltimore Bullets.

Later Career and Retirement

In the 1969-70 season, his last in the NBA, Hewitt averaged 8.6 points and 6.7 rebounds in just under 24 minutes a game. He played in every game that season and started 36 of them. He averaged double figures in scoring six times during his career, with a high of 16.4 points per game in 1961-62. In retirement, he coached boys’ basketball at St. Monica Catholic high school in Santa Monica California from 1976 to 1988, compiling a record of 213-76. His teams won four league championships and one California state championship (1982).

Bill Hewitt’s Legacy

Bill Hewitt was one of the most talented and respected players in the NBA. A 6’9″ forward, he was known for his all-around game and his leadership on and off the court. He played for the Los Angeles Lakers for 12 seasons, helping them to win five NBA championships He was also a two-time All-Star and was named to the All-NBA First Team in 2010. After his playing career, he became an Assistant Coach for the Lakers and then Head Coach of the Brooklyn Nets He is currently a commentator for NBA TV.

Hewitt’s NBA Statistics

In his 13 seasons in the NBA, Bill Hewitt averaged 11.4 Points per game 3.2 rebounds per game and 3.1 assists per game He was a member of the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 1955.

Honors and Awards

During his fourteen seasons in the NBA, Bill Hewitt was selected for nine All-Star teams and was named to the All-NBA first team six times. He was also named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 1963. After he retired from playing, Hewitt became a broadcaster for the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers In 1996, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Personal Life

Bill Hewitt was born on October 28, 1958, in Chicago, Illinois. He is the only son of William and Juanita Hewitt. His mother worked as a schoolteacher and his father was a Baptist minister. Hewitt has two older sisters, Deborah and Cheryl. He grew up in the Chicago suburb of Maywood, Illinois.

See Also

-List of National Basketball Association career assists leaders
-List of National Basketball Association career steals leaders
-List of National Basketball Association players with most assists in a game
-List of National Basketball Association players with most steals in a game

References

-Hewitt, Bill. “basketball legend Bill Hewitt.” NBA.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2017.
-BillHewitt32. “Legendsprofile: Bill hewitt.” YouTube. YouTube, 25 Apr. 2016. Web. 09 Feb. 2017
[email protected] “BillHewitt.” NBA 2K17 MyTEAM Player-Build, Stats, Badges, & Analysis | 2KMTCentral. N.p., 06 Feb. 2017