Last Updated on April 14, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
Walter Davis was a distinguished American professional basketball player, celebrated for his exceptional scoring ability and smooth playing style.
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)
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