Bill Rafferty: The Best Basketball Player You’ve Never Heard Of

Bill Rafferty was one of the best basketball players you’ve never heard of. He was a 6’8″ shooting guard who could shoot, pass, and rebound with the best of them.

Bill Rafferty: The Best basketball player You’ve never heard Of

Bill Rafferty is one of the best basketball players you’ve never heard of. A 6’8″ forward from Brooklyn, NY, Rafferty was a superb all-around player who could score, rebound, and play defense with the best of them.

Rafferty starred at George Westinghouse High School leading his team to the city Championship game in his senior year. He then played two years at Division II Queens College, averaging 21 points and 10 rebounds per game

Rafferty’s professional career began in earnest when he was drafted by the New York Nets in the fifth round of the 1977 NBA draft He played two seasons with the Nets, averaging 4 points and 2 rebounds per game

In 1979, Rafferty made his way to the Italian League, where he enjoyed great success with the teams he played for. In eight seasons in Italy, Rafferty won five league championships and was named MVP of the Italian League Finals three times. He was also named one of FIBA’s 50 greatest players in 1991.

Rafferty’s story is an inspiration to anyone who has ever been told they’re not good enough. He proved that hard work and dedication can overcome any obstacle.

Bill Rafferty’s Early Life and Career

Bill Rafferty was born in 1951 in Queens, New York. He was a Standout Player at St. John’s University, and was drafted by the New York Knicks in 1973. He played briefly for the Knicks before being traded to the Boston Celtics where he spent the majority of his career. Rafferty was a key member of the Celtics’ 1984 NBA Championship team, and he retired from the NBA in 1986.

Despite his accomplishments, Rafferty is not nearly as well-known as other players from his era such as Magic Johnson Larry Bird and Michael Jordan Nevertheless, he is considered by many to be one of the best basketball players of all time.

Bill Rafferty’s College Career

Bill Rafferty was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1952. He played collegiate basketball at the University Of Pennsylvania from 1970 to 1974. He was a part of the Quakers’ team that won the Ivy League championship and reached the NCAA tournament’s Sweet Sixteen in 1971. Rafferty was named an All-Ivy League player three times and was a two-time All-American. He is Penn’s All-time leading scorer, with 2,alion 1648 points. Upon graduation, he was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the 1974 NBA Draft However, he never played in the NBA, opting instead to play professionally in Italy.

Bill Rafferty’s Professional Career

Bill Rafferty played professionally for fourteen seasons, from 1966 to 1980. He was an All-Star six times, and was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 1975. He played for three different teams during his career, the Boston Celtics the Detroit Pistons and the Milwaukee Bucks He was a member of two NBA Championship teams, the Celtics in 1968 and the Pistons in 1974. Rafferty retired from basketball in 1980 with career averages of 20.2 points and 8.1 assists per game

Bill Rafferty’s Later Life and Career

Bill Rafferty was one of the best basketball players of his generation, but he never got the attention that he deserved. He played for small schools and wasn’t on any major national teams, so he was never in the spotlight. Nevertheless, he had a very successful career, both in college and in the NBA.

Rafferty’s later life was not as successful as his basketball career He struggled with alcoholism and drug addiction and he was never able to get his life back on track. He died in 2016, at the age of 56.

Bill Rafferty’s Legacy

Bill Rafferty was one of the best Basketball Players of his generation. A 6’8″ Power Forward he played for the University of North Carolina from 1976 to 1980. He was a member of the gold-medal winning United States Olympic team in 1980, and he helped lead the Tar Heels to the NCAA championship in 1982.

Rafferty’s professional career was cut short by injuries, but he left an indelible mark on the game of basketball He was known for his superb shooting touch, his unselfish play, and his infectious love of the game.

Rafferty passed away in 2014, but his legacy lives on through the many people who were inspired by his passion for basketball.

Bill Rafferty’s Place in History

Bill Rafferty was one of the best basketball players of his generation. A three-time All-American, he was a member of the gold-medal winning United States Olympic team in 1976. He played Professional Basketball for eight years, mostly in the European leagues. After his playing career ended, he coached at the collegiate and professional levels.

Rafferty was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004. He is one of only a handful of players to have their jerseys retired by two different teams: the Boston Celtics for whom he played four seasons, and Siena College, where he coached for 14 seasons.

Bill Rafferty’s Influence on the Game

Bill Rafferty was one of the best basketball players you’ve never heard of. He was a 6’5″ guard who played collegiately at the University of Notre Dame in the early 1970s. He was drafted by the Indiana Pacers in the 1974 NBA Draft but he never played a game in the NBA.

Despite never playing in the NBA, Rafferty had a profound impact on the game of basketball He was one of the first players to utilize the behind-the-back pass, which is now a staple of the modern game. He was also an excellent shooter and a superb passer. His influence on the game can still be seen today.

Bill Rafferty’s Impact on Today’s Players

Bill Rafferty was one of the best basketball players you’ve never heard of. A 6’4″ guard from Brooklyn, New York, Rafferty was a star at Fordham University from 1955 to 1959. After being drafted by the New York Knicks in the 1959 NBA draft Rafferty went on to have a successful career in the American Basketball Association (ABA).

In his 10 seasons in the ABA, Rafferty was a three-time All-Star and won two championships with the Oakland Oaks. He was also named the ABA Rookie of the Year in 1960 and was one of the league’s most popular players.

After his playing career ended, Rafferty became a successful basketball coach at both the collegiate and professional levels. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1997.

Although he is not as well-known as some of his contemporaries, Bill Rafferty’s impact on today’s game cannot be understated. He was one of the first true Shooting Guards in Pro Basketball and helped pave the way for today’s superstar guards like Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade His scoring prowess, Court Vision and leadership helped define an era of basketball and make him one of the game’s all-time greats.

Bill Rafferty’s Future

Bill Rafferty was always good at basketball He played on varsity in high school and was one of the top scorers in his conference. But it wasn’t until he went to college that he started to get serious attention from scouts.

Rafferty played for a small school in Upstate New York and he quickly became one of the best players in the country. He averaged over 20 points per game as a junior, and he was named a first-team All-American.

After his junior year, Rafferty was drafted by the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers. He spent two years with the Sixers, but he didn’t get much playing time He was then traded to the San Diego Clippers, where he spent four seasons as a backup point guard

Rafferty’s career seemed to be winding down, but then something unexpected happened. In his early 30s, Rafferty started to develop into a star player He averaged 15 points per game for the Clippers in his first season as a starter, and then he helped lead them to the NBA Finals in his second season.

Rafferty’s story is an amazing one, and it’s one that shows that it’s never too late to chase your dreams.