Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here is the detailed information about Tom McMillen, a former NBA player and politician:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Charles Thomas McMillen
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born on May 26, 1952
  • Hometown: Elmira, New York, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 11 inches (211 cm)
  • Weight: 215 pounds (98 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 feet 0 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 17 (US)
  • Number: Wore jersey numbers 20, 54, and 40
  • Position: Power Forward / Center
  • High School: Mansfield High School in Mansfield, Pennsylvania
  • College: University of Maryland (1970–1974)
  • NBA Draft: Selected in the 1st round (9th overall pick) in the 1974 NBA Draft by the Buffalo Braves
  • Teams Played For:
    • Buffalo Braves (1975–1976)
    • New York Knicks (1976–1978)
    • Atlanta Hawks (1978–1983)
    • Washington Bullets (1983–1986)
  • Championship Rings: None in the NBA
  • Kids: Not publicly available
  • Siblings: Not publicly available

Player Archetype / Play Style

Tom McMillen’s player archetype was a skilled high-post big, the kind of forward-center who blended size with polish rather than overpowering force. At 6-foot-11 and 215 pounds, he had legitimate frontcourt length, but his game leaned more toward timing, touch, and feel than pure bruising physicality. Defensively, he fit best as a positional interior presence who used anticipation, size, and sound positioning to contest plays and hold up around the paint instead of playing as a pure shot-blocking enforcer. Offensively, his role was that of a smart complementary scorer who could finish inside, hit a jump shot, and keep the ball moving within a team structure; that reads clearly from both his production and his own description of his strengths as “head fakes,” “positioning,” “aggression,” “a fine jump shot,” and an appreciation for “playing a team game.” His play style was cerebral, efficient, and fundamentally sound, giving teams a floor-spacing, mid-post, and connective big-man option long before that profile became especially fashionable. (The Washington Post)

Sources:

University of Maryland Athletics — Maryland Record Breakers: Tom McMillen
Los Angeles Times — The Senate Can Wait: McMillen Still Making NBA Contribution
Basketball-Reference — Tom McMillen Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more