Walter Davis
The smooth-scoring Suns legend known as 'Sweet D' and 'The Greyhound.'
Walter Pearl Davis (September 9, 1954 – November 2, 2023) was an American professional basketball player who played as a forward/guard for 15 years in the NBA, spending the majority of his career with the Phoenix Suns. A six-time NBA All-Star, two-time All-NBA Second Team member, and the 1978 NBA Rookie of the Year, Davis was known for his smooth style and was called "Sweet D" during his college years at North Carolina. The Suns retired his No. 6 jersey in 1994, and he was enshrined in the team's Ring of Honor in 2004. In 2024, it was announced that Davis would be posthumously inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Quick Facts
- Born
- 9 September 1954
- Birthplace
- Pineville, North Carolina, U.S.
- Died
- 2 November 2023
- Place of death
- Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
- High school
- South Mecklenburg (Charlotte, North Carolina)
- College
- North Carolina (1973–1977)
- Draft round
- 1
- Draft pick
- 5
Lore & Background
Davis made an immediate impact after being selected with the fifth pick of the 1977 NBA draft, playing in 81 games and averaging a career-high 24.2 points per game in his first season. He won the 1978 Rookie of the Year Award and earned second team All-NBA honors. Over his first ten seasons, Davis averaged over 20 points per game six times and earned trips to six All-Star Games. On February 25, 1983, he set an all-time NBA record by scoring his first 34 points before finally missing a shot, making his first 15 field goals and converting four straight free throws. During the 1984 NBA Playoffs, he led the Suns to the Western Conference Finals, averaging 24.9 points, 6.7 assists, and 2.7 rebounds through 17 games before Phoenix was eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers. Davis' 15,666 points during his time with the Suns is the 2nd most in franchise history.
Reader's Guide
Walter Davis is defined by his exceptional scoring ability and smooth style. As a forward/guard, he averaged 18.9 points, 3.8 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game over his NBA career. His arc includes winning the 1978 Rookie of the Year Award, earning six All-Star selections, and being named to the All-NBA Second Team twice. Defining moments include his record-setting 34-point streak without a miss on February 25, 1983, and leading the Suns to the Western Conference Finals in the 1984 NBA Playoffs. Davis' later years with the Suns were marred by recurring back problems and a drug scandal; in 1987, he testified on illegal drug use by other Suns players in exchange for immunity from prosecution, having twice entered rehabilitation clinics for cocaine addiction. After leaving the Suns in 1988, he played for the Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers before finishing his career back in Denver in 1991. Davis later served as a broadcaster for the Nuggets and as a scout for the Washington Wizards.
Did You Know?
- Davis was the youngest of 13 children born between 1937 and 1954.
- Davis was the uncle of UNC men's head coach Hubert Davis, who also played for UNC and in the NBA.
- He was posthumously inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on October 12–13, 2024.
- Davis' 15,666 points with the Suns is the 2nd most in franchise history, behind Devin Booker who surpassed him in 2025.
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