Last Updated on July 28, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Bailey Howell was one of the NBA’s most reliable forwards of the 1950s and 1960s, producing with remarkable consistency through his polished scoring, strong rebounding, and fundamentally sound play. A Hall of Famer and NBA champion, he starred for multiple franchises before playing an important supporting role on the Boston Celtics’ title-winning teams.

Here’s the detailed information on Bailey Howell:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Bailey E. Howell
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: 86 years old (Born on January 20, 1937)
  • Hometown: Middleton, Tennessee, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 7 inches (201 cm)
  • Weight: 210 lbs (95 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 8 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 15 (US)
  • Number: 18 (with the Boston Celtics), also wore 8 and 19 with other teams
  • Position: Power Forward / Small Forward
  • High School: Middleton High School in Middleton, Tennessee
  • College: Mississippi State University
  • NBA Draft: 1959 NBA Draft, 1st round, 2nd overall pick by the Detroit Pistons
  • Teams Played For:
    • Detroit Pistons (1959–1964)
    • Baltimore Bullets (1964–1966)
    • Boston Celtics (1966–1970)
    • Philadelphia 76ers (1970–1971)
  • Championship Rings: 2 NBA Championships with the Boston Celtics (1968, 1969)
  • Kids: Information on children is not widely publicized
  • Siblings: Information on siblings is not widely publicized

Player Archetype / Play Style

Bailey Howell’s player archetype was that of a versatile scoring power forward, a frontcourt player who paired dependable inside production with enough touch and mobility to impact the game beyond simple paint finishes. At 6-foot-7, he had a strong, athletic build that helped him rebound in traffic, hold position around the basket, and play through contact, while his offensive role centered on efficient scoring from close range, second-chance work, and a polished face-up game for his era. Defensively, he operated as a sturdy interior forward who cleaned the glass, matched up physically, and brought steady effort rather than flashy playmaking, and his overall style was built on consistency, toughness, and two-way reliability. Howell was not a volume-dominant creator in the modern sense, but he was the kind of skilled, high-motor forward who could fit beside stars and still deliver real scoring and rebounding value on winning teams.

Scouting Report

Bailey Howell had a gift that doesn’t always jump off old film until you start watching possessions instead of highlights: he arrived exactly where the rebound or scoring chance was going to be. That wasn’t luck. He constantly nudged defenders off balance before the shot went up, earned inside position with subtle footwork and then finished plays with soft hands and outstanding touch around the basket. The interesting thing is that he rarely wasted motion. One hard dribble, a pivot into space, a quick turnaround or a short face-up jumper was usually enough because he recognised when the defence had already conceded an advantage. He could punish switches with deep post seals, but he was just as comfortable floating into the high post, catching on balance and attacking whichever foot the defender exposed. Defensively, he relied on anticipation more than explosiveness. He rotated early to cut off drives, boxed out with real intent and consistently completed possessions by securing the ball rather than chasing spectacular blocks. The trade-off was that exceptionally quick forwards could force him into uncomfortable recoveries if they stretched the floor and attacked off the dribble before help arrived, and he wasn’t built to spend entire games defending in open space. Still, that’s almost missing the point. His value came from making the simple play at exactly the right moment over and over again. Put him next to a creative lead guard and a physical centre willing to occupy rim protectors, and Howell becomes incredibly difficult to account for because he instinctively finds the gaps left behind by defensive rotations. To me, his game sits somewhere between Jack Twyman and Paul Silas. Twyman’s polished scoring instincts are there, but Howell also shared Silas’s relentless understanding of rebounding angles and the quiet, possession-by-possession discipline that gradually tilts games in his team’s favour.

Sources:

Basketball-Reference — Bailey Howell Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame — Bailey Howell
NBA.com — Season Review: 1967-68