Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here is the detailed information about Joe Meriweather, a former NBA player:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Joseph Patrick Meriweather
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born on October 26, 1953 (passed away on October 13, 2013, at the age of 59)
  • Hometown: Phenix City, Alabama, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 10 inches (208 cm)
  • Weight: 215 pounds (98 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 11 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 17 (US)
  • Number: Wore jersey numbers 50, 5, 15, and 52
  • Position: Power Forward / Center
  • High School: Central High School in Phenix City, Alabama
  • College: Southern Illinois University (1972–1975)
  • NBA Draft: Selected in the 1st round (11th overall pick) in the 1975 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets
  • Teams Played For:
    • Houston Rockets (1975–1976)
    • Atlanta Hawks (1976–1977)
    • New Orleans Jazz (1977–1979)
    • New York Knicks (1979–1981)
    • Kansas City Kings (1981–1985)
  • Championship Rings: None in the NBA
  • Kids: Not publicly available
  • Siblings: Not publicly available

Player Archetype / Play Style

Joe Meriweather’s player archetype was that of a mobile, defense-first interior big: a lean 6’10” center/power forward who made his value felt more through rim protection, rebounding, and activity around the paint than through polished shot creation. Defensively, he fit best as a weak-side shot blocker and back-line helper who could contest at the rim, clean the glass, and use his length and timing to disrupt finishers. Offensively, his role was more functional than featured, built around finishing inside, scoring on put-backs, running the floor, screening, and converting close-range chances rather than stretching the floor or operating from the perimeter. His physical traits stood out for the era—long, wiry, and notably quick for a near-seven-footer—which helped him cover ground and play with good vertical pop. In sum, Meriweather played like an agile rim-running big whose style centered on defense, energy, interior finishing, and opportunistic scoring.

Sources:

Basketball-Reference — Joe Meriweather Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
The Draft Review — Joe Meriweather
Wikipedia — Joe C. Meriweather