Bill Smith (basketball, born 1939)

William F. Smith (April 26, 1939 – September 13, 2023) was an American basketball player who played briefly in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Smith was drafted with the first pick in the fifth round of the 1961 NBA draft by the New York Knicks. He played in nine games for the Knicks in the 1961-62 NBA season and averaged 2.6 points per game, 0.7 assists per game and 1.8 rebounds per game.^[1] Smith died in Lavalette, New Jersey on September 13, 2023, at the age of 84.^[2]

Bill Smith

Personal information
Born	(1939-04-26)April 26, 1939 Jersey City, New Jersey
Died	September 13, 2023(2023-09-13) (aged 84) Lavalette, New Jersey
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight	190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school	New York Military Academy (Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York)
College	Saint Peter's (1958–1961)
NBA draft	1961: 5th round, 42nd overall pick
Drafted by	New York Knicks
Position	Guard / forward
Number	16
Career history
1961–1962	New York Knicks
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference

Career statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field goal percentage	3P%	3-point field goal percentage	FT%	Free throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

NBA

Source^[1]

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	MPG	FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	PPG
1961–62	New York	9	9.2	.242	.875	1.8	.8	2.6