Last Updated on April 14, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here’s a detailed profile of Mel Counts:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Melvyn Neil Counts
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born October 16, 1941,
  • Hometown: Coos Bay, Oregon, USA
  • Height: 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
  • Weight: 230 lbs (104 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)
  • Shoe Size: Size 15 (US)
  • Jersey Number: #21, #24, #27, #31
  • Position: Center / Power forward
  • High School: Marshfield High School (Coos Bay, OR)
  • College: Oregon State University
  • NBA Draft: 1964, 1st round (7th overall) by the Boston Celtics
  • Teams Played For:
    • Boston Celtics (1964–1966)
    • Baltimore Bullets (1966–1967)
    • Los Angeles Lakers (1966–1970, 1973–1974)
    • Phoenix Suns (1970)
    • Philadelphia 76ers (1970–1972)
    • New Orleans Jazz (1974)
  • Championship Rings: 2 (1965, 1966 with the Boston Celtics)
  • Personal Life:
  • Kids: Mel Counts has three children: son Brent Counts and two daughters, Julie Counts and Kristen Counts.
  • Siblings: Mel Counts has a younger brother, Jerry Counts.

Mel Counts’ player archetype was a classic reserve big with some early stretch-center traits: a 7-foot, 230-pound center/power forward whose value came from size, rebounding, interior presence, and a softer shooting touch than most big men of his era. Defensively, he fit best as a paint-oriented backup who used length and size to battle on the glass, hold position around the rim, and soak up minutes in conventional frontcourt coverages rather than switch-heavy assignments. Offensively, his role was mostly complementary, finishing plays inside, screening, and supplying secondary scoring, but he also had enough range to punish defenses that ignored him, with contemporaries noting he could “hurt you at times with his outside shooting.” Physically, Counts brought legitimate NBA center dimensions and enough mobility to play both frontcourt spots when needed. Put together, his play style was that of a steady, good-shooting rotational big: not a primary hub, but a useful frontcourt piece who could rebound, space a bit by the standards of the time, and give teams reliable minutes behind star centers.

Fun Facts

  • Mel Counts is remembered for being a solid backup center, especially during his time with the Celtics, contributing to their championship runs.
  • He was known for his height and ability to shoot from long range, which was unusual for a center at the time.
  • After his basketball career, he became a real estate agent in Oregon.

Sources:

Basketball-Reference — Mel Counts Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
From Way Downtown — The Book on NBA Players, 1970
CelticsBlog — Which of the many great Boston draft day hauls was the best in franchise history?