Bill Sharman

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Lore & Background

Sharman was an All-American basketball player at the University of Southern California (USC). He played under Naismith Hall of Fame head coach Sam Barry. Sharman was selected twice as the Most Valuable Player in the Pacific Coast Conference. Two of his teammates at USC were future Hall of Fame coaches Alex Hannum and Tex Winter. Sharman played a total of ten seasons for the Celtics. He led the team in scoring for consecutive seasons (1955 to 1959), averaging over 20 points per game during three of those seasons. The Celtics were in the playoffs every season Sharman was with the team (1951 to 1961). Sharman won four NBA championships with the Celtics.

In Their Own Story

The chemistry between Sharman and Bob Cousy was the engine behind Boston's success, but Sharman brought a unique calmness and precision to the game. In 1951, following the collapse of his previous team, the Washington Capitols, Sharman arrived in Boston via a complex transaction involving Chuck Share that owner Walter A. Brown later called heavily lopsided in favor of the Celtics. Once in green and white, Sharman dominated the scoring charts for five straight years. His 93.2% free throw percentage in 1958–59 was a feat of such accuracy that it stood as the league record for nearly two decades. Beyond scoring, he held an NBA playoff record with 56 consecutive made free throws. On the court, he was known as 'Battling Bill,' a nickname that stuck even after his rookie days, reflecting his relentless competitive spirit. He played in eight All-Star games, scoring double figures in seven of them, proving his consistency at the highest level.

Reader's Guide

Sharman was drafted by the Washington Capitols in the second round of the 1950 NBA draft. Following the disbanding of the Capitols, Sharman was selected by the Fort Wayne Pistons in the NBA's dispersal draft. Sharman wound up as part of a transaction or series of transactions in 1951 that sent Chuck Share to the Pistons, with Sharman, Bob Brannum, and Bob Harris going from the Pistons to the Boston Celtics. Sharman played a total of ten seasons for the Celtics. He led the team in scoring for consecutive seasons (1955 to 1959), averaging over 20 points per game during three of those seasons. The Celtics were in the playoffs every season Sharman was with the team (1951 to 1961). Sharman won four NBA championships with the Celtics.

Did You Know?

• Sharman was the first North American sports figure to win a championship as a player, coach, and executive.
• Sharman is credited with introducing the now-ubiquitous morning shootaround.
• Sharman coached the 1971–72 Los Angeles Lakers to an NBA record 33-game win streak and a then-record regular season 69–13 win–loss mark.
• Sharman was a 15-letter athlete at Porterville High School, excelling in basketball and baseball, competing in track, and winning the state amateur tennis title.