Bill Sharman Former professional basketball player and coach Date of Birth: 25.05.1926 Country: USA

Biography of Bill Sherman

Former professional basketball player and coach, five-time champion of the National Basketball Association (NBA), Bill Sherman graduated from the University of Southern California. From 1944 to 1946, he served in the Navy. In 1950, Sherman was selected in the second round of the NBA draft by the Washington Capitals. A year later, he transferred to the Boston Celtics, where he formed a defensive duo with Bob Cousy. From 1950 to 1955, Sherman also played professionally for the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball club (now the Los Angeles Dodgers).

As a member of the Boston Celtics, Sherman won the NBA championship four times, participated in the All-Star Game eight times, and was named to the NBA All-Star Team seven times. In 1961, Bill ended his playing career, having played 711 games in the NBA, making 2,779 rebounds, 2,101 steals, and scoring 12,665 points in a total of 11 seasons.

In 1966, Sherman began his coaching career by leading the San Francisco Warriors. In the 1970-1971 season, he led the Utah Stars to victory in the American Basketball Association championship. The following year, he took over the Los Angeles Lakers and led them to their first NBA championship in over ten years. Sherman himself was named NBA Coach of the Year. He coached the Lakers until 1976.

In 1976, Sherman was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player, and in 2004, as a coach. He is one of only three individuals to be included in both categories, along with John Wooden and Lenny Wilkens. On October 29, 1996, Sherman was named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history.