Last Updated on April 17, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here is detailed information about Butch Carter:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Clarence Eugene “Butch” Carter
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born June 11, 1958
  • Hometown: Springfield, Ohio, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m)
  • Weight: 180 lbs (82 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 6 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 14 (US)
  • Number: 12, 21
  • Position: Shooting Guard / Small Forward
  • High School: Middletown High School (Middletown, Ohio)
  • College: Indiana University (1976–1980)
  • NBA Draft
    • Year: 1980
    • Pick: 37th overall
    • Team: Los Angeles Lakers
  • Teams Played For
    1. Los Angeles Lakers (1980–1981)
    2. Indiana Pacers (1981–1983)
    3. New York Knicks (1983)
    4. Philadelphia 76ers (1984–1985)
  • Championship Rings
    • NBA Championships: None
  • Kids: Not widely documented publicly.
  • Siblings:
    • Cris Carter (Younger Brother): Hall of Fame wide receiver in the NFL, known for his time with the Minnesota Vikings.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Butch Carter’s player archetype was that of a physical scoring guard, a sturdy backcourt scorer who leaned on strength, shot-making, and straight-line offensive pressure more than finesse playmaking. At Indiana and later in the NBA, he was described as a strong 6-foot-5 guard with a scorer’s mentality and unusually efficient shooting for his position, which made his offensive role most natural as a secondary creator and perimeter scorer who could punish defenses with jumpers and decisive drives. Defensively, Carter fit more as a solid, physical backcourt body than a specialist stopper, using his size to hold ground against guards and wings rather than relying on elite quick-twitch disruption. His overall play style was built around toughness, polished scoring instincts, and a reliable shooting base, giving him the profile of a compact, attack-minded shooting guard who could bring offense without needing to run the team full time.

Fun Facts

  • Coaching Career: After his playing days, Butch transitioned into coaching and became the head coach of the Toronto Raptors (1998–2000), where he played a key role in the early development of the franchise.
  • Player Development: Known for helping players like Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady during their formative NBA years.
  • Post-NBA Career: Butch has been involved in various business ventures and occasionally appears in basketball-related media.

Sources:

Mark Montieth — Butch Carter Part 1
Los Angeles Times — Butch Carter
Basketball Reference — Butch Carter Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more