Art Heyman was a skilled NBA shooting guard and small forward whose scoring ability, physical wing play, and competitive edge stood out during the 1960s with the New York Knicks, Cincinnati Royals, and Philadelphia 76ers. A versatile perimeter scorer with a polished mid-range game and strong rebounding instincts, Heyman brought toughness and offensive versatility to every team he represented.

Here is the detailed information about Art Heyman, a former NBA player:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Arthur Bruce Heyman
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born on June 24, 1941 (passed away on August 27, 2012, at the age of 71)
  • Hometown: New York City, New York, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 5 inches (196 cm)
  • Weight: 205 pounds (93 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 6 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 13 (US)
  • Number: Wore jersey numbers 4, 5, 15, and 40
  • Position: Shooting Guard / Small Forward
  • High School: Oceanside High School in Oceanside, New York
  • College: Duke University (1960–1963) – Duke Blue Devils
  • NBA Draft: Selected as the 1st overall pick in the 1963 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks
  • Teams Played For:
    • New York Knicks (1963–1965)
    • Cincinnati Royals (1965)
    • Philadelphia 76ers (1965–1966)
  • Championship Rings: None in the NBA
  • Kids: Not publicly available
  • Siblings: Not publicly available

Player Archetype / Play Style

Art Heyman’s player archetype was that of a rugged scoring wing, a hard-nosed perimeter-forward hybrid who mixed shot-making, rebounding, and physical edge in an era that rewarded toughness. Defensively, he was more of a competitive, body-up matchup player than a pure shutdown specialist, using strength and attitude to battle wings and forwards. Offensively, Heyman operated as a featured scorer who could attack from the mid-range, score around the basket, and carry a major share of the load, while his 6-foot-5, 205-pound frame gave him the build to play through contact and hold his own on the glass. His overall play style blended skill with aggression, making him an intense, emotional, high-impact scorer whose game stood out as much for its force and rebounding grit as for its polish.

Scouting Report

Art Heyman played with the mentality of a forward trapped in a guard’s body, and that edge shaped almost every possession. He wasn’t interested in floating around the perimeter waiting for clean opportunities. He wanted contact. What stands out is how aggressively he attacked gaps without over-dribbling, using strong shoulders and sharp changes of direction to get defenders on their heels before finishing through them or pulling up from the mid-range. His offensive game thrived when the ball kept moving because he had a knack for timing cuts behind ball-watching defenders and arriving at the rim just as passing lanes opened. There was a physical confidence to everything he did. He welcomed post seals against smaller guards, fought for offensive rebounds and rarely looked uncomfortable taking contested shots if he believed he had established position first. Defensively, that same competitive streak was obvious. He worked through screens instead of conceding switches, stayed engaged chasing wings away from their preferred spots and didn’t shy away from making possessions uncomfortable with body contact long before the catch. The trade-off was that his aggression occasionally carried him out of structure. He could become so focused on winning an individual battle that help responsibilities arrived a fraction late, and his shot selection sometimes reflected the same mindset, favouring difficult attempts over simpler kick-out reads once he had committed to an attack. I’ve always thought his best basketball came alongside a true playmaking guard who could organise the offence while allowing him to function as an attacking secondary scorer, physical cutter and defensive tone-setter rather than asking him to orchestrate possessions himself. His style shares elements with John Havlicek in the constant movement and willingness to score without monopolising the ball, although Heyman relied more on strength than endurance, while there were also flashes of Paul Pressey’s ability to use size and toughness on the perimeter to create advantages that weren’t necessarily built on explosive athleticism.

Notes:

  • Similar players to Art Heyman include Bob Cousy.

Sources:

GoDuke — Remembering King Arthur
Basketball-Reference — Art Heyman Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
Sports Reference — Art Heyman College Stats
GoDuke — Duke Set to Renew On-Court Rivalry With Michigan