Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
Here is the detailed profile of Al Butler:
Player Profile
- Full Name: Albert “Al” Butler
- Nationality: American
- Age: Born on July 9, 1938 – Passed away on April 8, 2000 (61 years old at the time of his death)
- Hometown: Rochester, New York, USA
- Height: 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 meters)
- Weight: 180 pounds (82 kg)
- Wingspan: 6 feet 3 inches
- Shoe Size: Size 12 (US)
- Number: 22 (Boston Celtics), 3 (New York Knicks), 20 (Baltimore Bullets)
- Position: Shooting guard / Point guard
- High School: Madison High School (Rochester, New York)
- College: Niagara University (1958–1961)
- NBA Draft: 1961, 2nd round, 17th overall pick by the Boston Celtics
- Teams Played For:
- Boston Celtics (1961–1962)
- New York Knicks (1962–1964)
- Baltimore Bullets (1964)
- Championship Rings: None
- Kids: Information about children is not widely documented.
- Siblings: Information about siblings is not publicly available.
Player Archetype / Play Style
Al Butler’s player archetype was that of a scoring point guard: a lead guard who could run the offense but also carry real shot-making responsibility, especially given his strong scoring output at Niagara and his 14.7 points per game season with the New York Knicks. At 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds, he had solid backcourt size for his era, and his defensive role was most naturally as a point-of-attack guard defender matching up with opposing ball-handlers. Offensively, Butler profiled as a primary or secondary creator rather than a pure table-setter, blending perimeter scoring with competent playmaking, and his overall play style looks like that of a poised, score-first floor general who could handle, initiate, and keep pressure on a defense without being solely dependent on volume passing. (Basketball Reference)
Sources:
Basketball-Reference — Al Butler Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
Niagara University Athletics — Niagara Announces First All-Century Team
Sports Reference CBB — Al Butler College Stats