Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here is the detailed information about Willie Naulls, a former NBA player:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: William Dean Naulls
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born on October 7, 1934 (passed away on November 22, 2018, at the age of 84)
  • Hometown: Dallas, Texas, USA (raised in San Pedro, California)
  • Height: 6 feet 6 inches (198 cm)
  • Weight: 225 pounds (102 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 7 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 15 (US)
  • Number: Wore jersey numbers 6, 12, and 71
  • Position: Power Forward / Center
  • High School: San Pedro High School in San Pedro, California
  • College: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) (1953–1956)
  • NBA Draft: Selected in the 2nd round (9th overall pick) in the 1956 NBA Draft by the St. Louis Hawks
  • Teams Played For:
    • St. Louis Hawks (1956)
    • New York Knicks (1956–1962)
    • San Francisco Warriors (1962–1963)
    • Boston Celtics (1963–1966)
  • Championship Rings: 3 NBA championships with the Boston Celtics (1964, 1965, 1966)
  • Kids: Not publicly available
  • Siblings: Not publicly available

Player Archetype / Play Style

Willie Naulls’ player archetype was that of a scoring forward with interior toughness, essentially an athletic frontcourt scorer who could rebound, run the floor, and carry major offensive responsibility while still bringing strong effort on the glass. Defensively, he fit as a physical forward who used strength, mobility, and competitiveness to battle around the paint, rebound his position, and hold up as a rugged team defender in an era that demanded constant interior play. Offensively, his role was much larger than that of a mere finisher, as he could operate as a primary or secondary scorer, produce from the mid-range and inside, and pressure defenses with his activity and volume scoring, which showed up clearly during his high-scoring Knicks years. Physically, Naulls was a well-built 6-foot-6 forward with a strong frame, good athleticism, and enough quickness to play bigger than many wings while still moving fluidly in transition. Overall, his play style blended scoring punch, rebounding, toughness, and mobile frontcourt versatility, making him one of the more productive two-way forwards of his generation.

Sources:

Basketball-Reference — Willie Naulls Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
UCLA Athletics — Willie Naulls (1986) – Hall of Fame
NBA.com — Knicks Name Willie Naulls First African-American Captain in a Major Pro Sport