Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here is the detailed information about Mel Davis:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Melvin “Mel” Davis
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born November 9, 1950
  • Hometown: New York City, New York, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 6 inches (198 cm)
  • Weight: 220 pounds (100 kg)
  • Wingspan: Approximately 6 feet 10 inches (208 cm)
  • Shoe Size: 14 (US)
  • Jersey Number: 31, 20
  • Position: Power Forward
  • High School: Boys High School, Brooklyn, New York
  • College: St. John’s University (1969–1973)
  • NBA Draft: 1973, 1st round, 14th overall pick by the New York Knicks
  • Teams Played For:
    • New York Knicks (1973–1976)
    • New York Nets (ABA, 1976)
    • International basketball teams in Italy and France (after NBA career)
  • Championship Rings: None
  • Kids: Information on his children is not widely available.
  • Siblings: Information on his siblings is not widely available.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Mel Davis’s player archetype was that of an undersized interior forward who blended rebounding, toughness, and mid-range scoring, bringing the mentality of an enforcer in college before settling into more of a finesse-oriented frontcourt role as a pro. At St. John’s he was described as a “scoring and rebounding machine,” and that profile fits his offensive role well: he was most effective working around the paint, cleaning up misses, finishing plays, and supplying secondary scoring rather than functioning as a primary creator. Defensively, Davis projected as a physical team defender and glass-worker whose value came from effort, positioning, and willingness to battle bigger bodies, even if his 6-foot-6, 220-pound frame left him a bit undersized for full-time power-forward work in the NBA. Put together, his play style was rugged, productive, and workmanlike, built more on strength, activity, and rebounding instincts than on flash. (NBA)

Sources:

St. John’s Athletics — St. John’s Men’s Basketball History and Great Names
Legends of Basketball — HOOP DU JOUR: A GAME GROWS IN BROOKLYN
Basketball-Reference — Mel Davis Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more