| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1948-07-30)July 30, 1948 (age 77) River Edge, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Listed weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | River Dell (Oradell, New Jersey) |
| College |
|
| NBA draft | 1970: 7th round, 103rd overall pick |
| Drafted by | San Diego Rockets |
| Playing career | 1970–1985 |
| Position | Center /power forward |
| Number | 5 |
| Career history | |
| 1970–1975 | New York Nets |
| 1975–1980 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 1980–1983 | Houston Rockets |
| 1983 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 1983–1984 | Atlanta Hawks |
| 1984–1985 | Utah Jazz |
| Career highlights | |
| |
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 13,099 (11.7 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 8,959 (8.0 rpg) |
| Blocks | 1,457 (1.5 bpg) |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
William Edward Paultz (born July 30, 1948) is an American former professionalbasketball player who played in theNational Basketball Association (NBA) and in the now defunctAmerican Basketball Association (ABA). Nicknamed "the Whopper",[1] He was a 4-timeABA All-Star andled the ABA in blocks in1976.
Born inRiver Edge, New Jersey, Paultz played high-school basketball atRiver Dell Regional High School inBergen County.[2][3] Paultz played college basketball atCameron Junior College and then atSaint John's University, and was selected in the seventh round of the1970 NBA draft by theSan Diego Rockets and by theVirginia Squires in the 1970 ABA Draft. Paultz opted to sign with the Squires. On August 11, 1970, the Squires traded his rights to theNew York Nets in exchange for a draft choice and cash.[4]
As a rookie, Paultz made his first postseason appearance in the1971 ABA Playoffs with theNew York Nets, during which he averaged 20.2 points, 15 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game.[5] On December 17, 1971, Paultz scored 27 points and set a Nets' franchise record by pulling down 33 rebounds in a 90–83 victory over theDallas Chaparrals.[6][7][8] He spent his first five seasons, all of which resulted in trips to the playoffs, with the ABA Nets (including an appearance in1972 ABA Finals, which theIndiana Pacers won in six games), and was a key player in their1973–74 ABA championship season. He was then traded to theSan Antonio Spurs where he made four consecutive appearances in the playoffs from 1976 to 1979.
Although Paultz moved with a bulky stiffness, he was a very heady player.
During the middle of the1979-1980 season, San Antonio traded Paultz to theHouston Rockets, and due to the trade, he managed to play 84 games during an 82-game NBA season. The next year, Paultz teamed withMoses Malone to make the1981 NBA Finals. In Game 1 of the series, Paultz scored 14 points and grabbed 7 rebounds, during a 98–95 loss to the Celtics (who would win the series four games to two).[9] During the1982–83 season without Malone, and with the Rockets in last place, he was placed onwaivers and picked up by the playoff-bound Spurs. In 1984, he was a late season pickup by the playoff boundAtlanta Hawks. He finished his career with theUtah Jazz in 1985.
A four-time ABAAll-Star, Paultz led the ABA in blocked shots during the1975–76 season with an average of 3.0 blocks per game and a league-leading total of 253 blocked shots.[10]
About his play, Paultz stated, "I have realized that I'm not an overpowering typecenter. I don't really know what my category is. I have always been the type of player that can do a little bit of everything."