Brian Winters
A pure shooter whose number 32 hangs in the rafters.
Brian Joseph Winters (born March 1, 1952) is an American former basketball player and coach who played nine seasons in the NBA, including eight with the Milwaukee Bucks. He was selected 12th overall in the 1974 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers and made the NBA All-Rookie Team before being traded to the Bucks as part of the deal that sent Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the West Coast. Winters became a fan-favorite during the years the Bucks struggled immediately following that trade, and his number 32 was retired by the organization on October 28, 1983, making him the third player in franchise history to receive that honor.
Quick Facts
- Born
- 1 March 1952
- Birthplace
- Rockaway, New York, U.S.
- High school
- Archbishop Molloy (Queens, New York)
- College
- South Carolina (1971–1974)
- Draft round
- 1
- Draft pick
- 12
- Drafted by
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Career number
- 20, 32
Lore & Background
Winters' best years came from 1975–76 to 1979–80, when he averaged 18.7 points, 4.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game. On November 30, 1976, he scored a career-high 43 points in a 115–106 victory over the Trailblazers. The following season, on December 16, 1977, Winters scored 24 points and made a game-winning jumpshot during a 152–150 triple overtime win against the New York Knicks. On March 19, 1978, he scored 22 points and recorded a career-high 18 assists in a 117–106 victory against the Washington Bullets. In the first playoff series of his NBA career, on April 18, 1976, Winters scored 33 points and recorded 5 assists in a 107–104 Game 3 loss against the Detroit Pistons. His game declined in the 1982–83 season, when he shot a career-worst 43 percent from the field, after which he retired at 31 years of age.
Reader's Guide
Winters attended academic and athletic powerhouse Archbishop Molloy High School in Queens, New York, graduating in 1970. He played collegiately with the University of South Carolina, scoring 1,079 points over his career, though he was hampered by both a severe case of mononucleosis and a series of knee injuries. He was the 12th pick in the 1974 NBA draft, taken by the Los Angeles Lakers. As a player, his defining skill was his shooting stroke, earning praise from Michael Jordan as the best pure shooter. His career numbers—16.2 points and 4.1 assists per game—underscore his consistent production. After playing, he transitioned into coaching and scouting, working under Pete Carril, Lenny Wilkens, and with multiple NBA and WNBA teams. His most recent role has been as a talent scout for the Indiana Pacers since 2014.
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