Walt Piatkowski
Walter Piatkowski, Jr. (born June 11, 1945) is a retired American professional basketball player.
 Piatkowski as a junior at BGSU. | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 11, 1945 Toledo, Ohio |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Woodward (Toledo, Ohio) |
| College | Bowling Green (1965–1968) |
| NBA draft | 1968 / Round: 8 / Pick: 99th overall |
| Selected by the San Francisco Warriors | |
| Position | Power forward |
| Number | 34, 43 |
| Career history | |
| 1968–1970 | Denver Rockets |
| 1971–1972 | The Floridians |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
A 6'8" forward, Piatkowski began his career at Toledo Woodward High School then starred at Bowling Green State University, where he was a Converse Honorable Mention All-American in 1968.[1] He then played in the American Basketball Association from 1968 to 1970 as a member of the Denver Rockets. He received ABA All-Rookie Team honors with the Rockets in 1969 after averaging 12.2 points per game.[2] When the Rockets acquired Spencer Haywood the next season, Piatkowski saw his playing time drop, and in 1970, he briefly retired to work as a teacher. He returned to the ABA in the fall of 1971 as a member of The Floridians, but he was waived just a month into that season. He later became a salesman with a paper company.[3] He is Polish American.[4]
Piatkowski's son Eric Piatkowski played basketball at the University of Nebraska; was drafted into the NBA in 1994 as the 15th overall pick by the Indiana Pacers; and played 14 years in the NBA, mostly with the Los Angeles Clippers.[3]
References
- BGSU Men's Basketball 2009-10. 87. Retrieved on August 31, 2010.
- Walter Piatkowski. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved on August 31, 2010.
- Chris Baker. "Clippers watching rising son". Los Angeles Times. October 31, 1994. Retrieved on August 31, 2010.
- "Archives". Los Angeles Times.