Bill Sharman
Bill Sharman joined precise shooting to a long career in coaching and basketball management. His Hall of Fame recognition covered both playing and coaching.
Personality
Sharman built his playing reputation around preparation and shooting accuracy. The Basketball Hall of Fame describes the hours he spent practicing, and his seven seasons leading the NBA in free-throw percentage gave that work a measurable result. Alongside Bob Cousy in Boston, he formed a backcourt that contributed to four championships. His contribution included scoring from outside and a disciplined approach to the skills a guard had to repeat every night.
Under pressure
Sharman played through Boston’s rise from a contender to a championship team. The Celtics won four titles during his time there, with the first arriving after a double-overtime seventh game in 1957. His later coaching career brought a different responsibility: organizing the work of an entire roster. He coached the Lakers to the 1972 championship, after a season that included their 33-game winning streak and a 69-win regular-season record.
The arc
Born in Abilene, Texas, Sharman became a college basketball standout at Southern California and also played professional baseball in the minor leagues. His NBA playing career took him from the Washington Capitols to the Boston Celtics, where he spent a decade. After retiring as a player, he coached in several professional leagues. He later served in management with the Los Angeles Lakers, extending his involvement in basketball beyond the sideline.
Legacy
Sharman’s place in basketball history includes the morning shootaround, a light practice before game night that became familiar across the sport. He won championships as a player and a coach, and he entered the Basketball Hall of Fame in both categories. His career connected the Celtics’ early championship years with the Lakers’ later success. Sharman died on October 25, 2013; his contributions remained part of the game’s daily routines and historical record.
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