Elbert J. "Al" Butler (July 9, 1938 – July 12, 2000) was an American
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...
player who played four seasons in the
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...
(NBA).
Born in
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham ( ) is a city in the north central region of Alabama, United States. It is the county seat of Jefferson County, Alabama, Jefferson County. The population was 200,733 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List ...
,
he played basketball for
East High School in
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in and the county seat, seat of government of Monroe County, New York, United States. It is the List of municipalities in New York, fourth-most populous city and 10th most-populated municipality in New York, with a populati ...
, before playing collegiately for
Niagara University
Niagara University (NU) is a private Catholic university in the Vincentian tradition in the census-designated place Niagara University, New York, in the town of Lewiston near Niagara Falls. It is run by the Congregation of the Mission and ...
.
He was named to the
1961 National Invitation Tournament All-Star team by the
Associated Press
The Associated Press (AP) is an American not-for-profit organization, not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City.
Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association, and produces news reports that are dist ...
, despite Niagara losing its only game, 68–71 against
Providence.
He was selected by the
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics ( ) are an American professional basketball team based in Boston. The Celtics compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NBA), Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), ...
in the second round (17th pick overall) of the
1961 NBA draft. He played for the Celtics (1961),
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, shortened and more commonly referred to as the New York Knicks, are an American professional basketball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Manhattan. The Knicks compete in the Na ...
(1962–64) and
Baltimore Bullets (1964–65) in the NBA for a total of 234 games.
He started for the Knicks for
Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game
Wilt Chamberlain set the single-game scoring record in the National Basketball Association (NBA) by scoring 100 points for the Philadelphia Warriors in a 169–147 win over the New York Knicks on March 2, 1962, at Hershey Sports Arena i ...
, scoring 8 points.
Butler was the last player to ever wear the number 22 for the Celtics, as they would retire it in honor of
Ed Macauley in 1963.
Butler played in the
Eastern Professional Basketball League (EPBL) for the Trenton Colonials, Harrisburg Patriots and
Wilkes-Barre Barons
The Wilkes-Barre Barons were a basketball team from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
The Barons played between 1933 and 1980 in different United States, American sports league, leagues. The team won 11 titles during this time, including while playin ...
from 1964 to 1970.
He won an
EPBL championship with the Barons in 1969.
Butler was selected to the All-EPBL Second Team in 1966.
[
Butler died of cancer on July 12, 2000.]
Career statistics
NBA
Source
Regular season
References
External links
*
1938 births
2000 deaths
American men's basketball players
Baltimore Bullets (1963–1973) players
Boston Celtics draft picks
Boston Celtics players
Deaths from cancer in the United States
Harrisburg Patriots players
New York Knicks players
Niagara Purple Eagles men's basketball players
Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball)
Point guards
Basketball players from Rochester, New York
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