Last Updated on July 23, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
Walter Davis was one of the smoothest scorers of his generation, combining effortless athleticism with a polished offensive game that made him a constant threat from anywhere on the court. Over a long NBA career, he earned widespread respect for his scoring ability and became one of the most accomplished players in the history of the Phoenix Suns.
Player Profile
- Full Name: Walter Pearl Davis
- Nationality: American
- Date of Birth: September 9, 1954
- Place of Birth: Pineville, North Carolina, USA
- Date of Death: November 2, 2023
- Place of Death: Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
- Height: 6 feet 6 inches (198 cm)
- Weight: 193 pounds (88 kg)
- Wingspan: 6 feet 7 inches
- Position: Shooting Guard / Small Forward
- Jersey Number: 6
- High School: South Mecklenburg High School, Charlotte, North Carolina
- College: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (North Carolina Tar Heels)
- NBA Draft: Selected by the Phoenix Suns in the 1st round (5th overall) of the 1977 NBA Draft
- NBA Teams Played For:
- Phoenix Suns (1977–1988)
- Denver Nuggets (1988–1991)
- Portland Trail Blazers (1991–1992)
- Career Highlights:
- 6× NBA All-Star (1978–1983)
- NBA Rookie of the Year (1978)
- 2× All-NBA Second Team (1981, 1982)
- Phoenix Suns retired his No. 6 jersey in 1994
- Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024
- Family: Walter Davis was the uncle of Hubert Davis, the head coach of the University of North Carolina men’s basketball team
Player Archetype / Play Style
Walter Davis was a smooth scoring wing—part pure shooter, part slasher, part secondary creator—who made his name as an efficient perimeter scorer rather than a ball-dominant engine; defensively, he had the size and instincts to handle standard wing assignments and play solid team defense, even if offense was the clearer driver of his value; offensively, he thrived on pull-up jumpers, fast-break lanes, and easy-flow half-court scoring, using a quick first step, polished mid-range game, and natural touch to pile up points without looking rushed. At 6-foot-6 and 193 pounds, Davis had ideal two-guard size for his era, and his game was often described as smooth, sleek, and effortless, which matched the way he moved and scored. In sum, his style was that of an elegant, high-IQ scoring guard-forward who could glide into shots, fill lanes in transition, and carry offense with skill and rhythm more than brute force. (NBA)
Scouting Report
Walter Davis had one of those offensive games that never looked rushed, even when defenders knew exactly where he wanted to go. The first thing you notice is how effortlessly he created separation without relying on excessive dribbling. A subtle shoulder fake, a smooth change of pace, or one long stride into the mid-range was usually enough to open space for a jumper that came out with remarkable balance. He was equally comfortable curling off screens, attacking from the wing, or working from the post against smaller guards, and once he got into rhythm, the defense often felt like it was reacting a step behind every possession. To me, what made him special wasn’t simply the scoring volume but the efficiency with which he found quality shots. He rarely wasted movement. As a passer, he wasn’t an offensive conductor, but he consistently punished hard doubles by finding cutters or making the simple kick-out before the weak-side defense could recover. The trade-off came on the defensive end, where his physical tools suggested more disruption than he consistently provided. He could stay in front when fully engaged and possessed the length to contest jumpers without fouling, yet there were stretches where his off-ball focus drifted, allowing cutters to slip behind him or shooters to relocate into open space. That’s where roster construction mattered. Place him beside a lead playmaker capable of initiating the offense and strong defensive communicators who handled the toughest perimeter assignments, and Davis could spend more possessions doing what he did best: hunting scoring opportunities from multiple levels without carrying every responsibility on both ends. It’s easy to overlook how advanced his footwork was because it appeared so natural, but so many of his clean looks came from winning the battle before he even gathered the ball. Stylistically, his game shared similarities with Allan Houston’s polished shot-making and economical movement, while flashes of his smooth, balanced scoring package also echoed George Gervin, though Davis relied a little more on face-up rhythm than extraordinary reach around the basket.
Fun Facts
- After retiring from playing, Davis served as a broadcaster for the Denver Nuggets and later as a scout for the Washington Wizards.
Sources: NBA.com — Walter Davis | Guard | Phoenix Suns; Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame — Walter Davis; Basketball-Reference — Walter Davis Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and More