Last Updated on April 15, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here is the information about Ray Felix:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Raymond Darlington Felix
  • Nickname: Not widely documented
  • Nationality: American
  • Date of Birth: December 10, 1930
  • Hometown: New York City, New York, USA
  • Height: 6 ft 11 in (211 cm)
  • Weight: 235 lbs (107 kg)
  • Wingspan: Not publicly available
  • Shoe Size: Not publicly available
  • Jersey Number (College and NBA):
    • #— — LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds men’s basketball (number not consistently recorded)
    • #3 — Baltimore Bullets
    • #3 — New York Knicks
  • Position: Center
  • High School: Metropolitan Vocational High School (New York)
  • College: LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds men’s basketball
  • NBA Draft:
    • Team: Baltimore Bullets
    • Year: 1953
    • Pick: 1st Round, 1st Overall
  • Player Archetype: Traditional interior anchor center
  • Primary Offensive Role: Low-post scorer and interior finisher
  • Defensive Role: Rim protector and paint anchor
  • Play Style: Physical, paint-oriented big man focused on rebounding, interior scoring, and shot deterrence
  • Handedness / Shooting Hand: Right-handed
  • Athletic Profile: Strong frame with size advantage; functional mobility typical of early-era centers, not reliant on speed
  • Recruiting Status: Not formally ranked (pre-modern recruiting era)
  • Draft Status Detail: First overall pick; highly productive collegiate big with size scarcity value in early NBA
  • Injury Status Category: No major career-defining injuries widely documented
  • Career Stage: Retired
  • Comparison Style: Early-era traditional center in the mold of physical interior bigs who prioritized rebounding and paint presence
  • Teams Played For:
    • Baltimore Bullets (1953–1954)
    • New York Knicks (1954–1962)
  • Championship Rings: 0
  • Parents: Not publicly available
  • Children: Not publicly available
  • Siblings: Not publicly available
  • Retirement Age: 31
  • Retirement Year: 1962

Ray Felix’s player archetype was that of a traditional interior anchor, operating as a true center whose value came from controlling the paint on both ends. Defensively, he functioned as a rim protector and positional anchor, using his 6’11” frame and strength to contest shots and secure rebounds, while offensively he worked primarily as a low-post scorer, finishing around the basket and converting high-percentage looks. His physical traits—size, strength, and reach—defined his impact more than speed or agility, and his play style reflected the era: direct, physical, and interior-focused, built around rebounding, post positioning, and disciplined paint defense rather than perimeter versatility.

Fun Facts

  • Ray Felix was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1953-54 after an impressive debut season with the Baltimore Bullets.
  • He was one of the first prominent African-American players in the NBA and broke barriers during a segregated era.

Sources:
NBA.com — Ray Felix Player Bio
APBR.org — Ray Felix Historical Profile
The Draft Review — 1953 NBA Draft