Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here is the detailed profile of Dave Budd:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: David L. Budd
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born on October 28, 1938 – Passed away on January 1, 2023 (84 years old at the time of his death)
  • Hometown: Woodbury, New Jersey, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 meters)
  • Weight: 235 pounds (107 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 7 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 15 (US)
  • Number: 16, 20
  • Position: Power forward / Small forward
  • High School: Woodbury High School (Woodbury, New Jersey)
  • College: Wake Forest University (Demon Deacons) (1957–1960)
  • NBA Draft: 1960, undrafted (signed as a free agent)
  • Teams Played For:
    • New York Knicks (1960–1965)
  • Championship Rings: None
  • Kids: Information about children is not widely documented.
  • Siblings: Information about siblings is not widely available.
  • Highlights:
    • College Career: Dave Budd was a standout player at Wake Forest University, known for his toughness and versatility on the court.
    • NBA Career: Budd played his entire five-year NBA career with the New York Knicks, serving as a reliable forward known for his defensive skills and rebounding.
    • Legacy: Budd is remembered as one of the NBA’s dependable role players during the early 1960s. His dedication and team-first attitude made him a respected figure among his teammates and fans.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Dave Budd’s player archetype was that of a skilled scoring forward, a mid-century combo forward who blended efficient inside finishing with strong rebounding and a polished enough all-around game to contribute as either a frontcourt scorer or a supporting piece. At Wake Forest and later with the Knicks, he operated offensively as a forward who could score efficiently from the floor rather than as a pure volume shooter, and his best NBA season reflected that with a .493 field-goal percentage in 1962-63. Defensively, he fit more as a solid positional frontcourt defender and rebounder than as a true stopper, using size and effort to hold his ground around the paint. Physically, Budd was listed at 6-foot-6 and 205 pounds, giving him sturdy size for his era and enough strength to spend time at forward and, in certain matchups, help in the middle. His overall play style comes across as fundamentally sound and team-oriented: a productive rebounder, efficient scorer, and steady frontcourt player whose value was built on skill, touch, and reliable interior work rather than flash. (Basketball Reference)

Sources:

Basketball-Reference — Dave Budd Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and More
Sports Reference — Dave Budd College Stats
NBA.com — Dave Budd
NBC Sports Philadelphia — A perfect storm: How Wilt’s night came to be