Walt Davis

For the triple jumper, see Walter Davis (athlete). For the 1980s basketball player, see Walter Davis (basketball). For other people with similar names, see Walter Davis.

Walter Francis "Buddy" Davis (January 5, 1931 – November 17, 2020) was an American athlete. After winning a gold medal in the high jump at the 1952 Olympics he became a professional basketball player.^[1]

Walt Davis

Davis at the 1952 Olympics
Personal information
Born	(1931-01-05)January 5, 1931 Beaumont, Texas, U.S.
Died	November 17, 2020(2020-11-17) (aged 89) Port Arthur, Texas, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight	205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school	Nederland (Nederland, Texas)
College	Texas A&M (1949–1952)
NBA draft	1952: 2nd round, 13th overall pick
Drafted by	Philadelphia Warriors
Playing career	1953–1958
Position	Power forward / center
Number	12
Career history
1953–1958	Philadelphia Warriors
1958	St. Louis Hawks
Career highlights and awards
2× NBA champion (1956, 1958)
Career statistics
Points	1,558 (4.8 ppg)
Rebounds	1,397 (4.3 rpg)
Assists	231 (0.7 apg)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference
Medals Athletics Representing  United States 1952 Helsinki High jump

Despite contracting polio at age nine and being unable to walk for three years, Davis had a standout athletic career at Texas A&M University and later won Olympic gold in the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, with a leap of 2.04 metres (6 ft 8+1⁄4 in).^[1]

The Philadelphia Warriors selected the 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) Davis in the second round of the 1952 NBA draft. He spent five seasons with the Warriors and St. Louis Hawks, averaging 4.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.^[2]

Davis was Inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1964^[3] and to the Texas Track and Field Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2016.

Davis died on November 17, 2020, in Port Arthur, Texas at age 89.^[4]

Career statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field goal percentage	3P%	3-point field goal percentage	FT%	Free throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high
†	Won an NBA championship	*	Led the league

NBA

Source^[2]

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	MPG	FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	PPG
1953–54	Philadelphia	68	23.1	.367	.644	6.4	.9	5.9
1954–55	Philadelphia	61	12.6	.385	.729	3.4	.6	2.9
1955–56†	Philadelphia	70	15.7	.369	.688	3.9	.8	4.6
1956–57	Philadelphia	65	19.2	.407	.698	4.7	.8	6.6
1957–58	Philadelphia	35	10.7	.341	.667	2.5	.5	3.0
1957–58†	St. Louis	26	11.0	.357	.776	3.3	.4	4.9
Career		325	16.4	.377	.695	4.3	.7	4.8

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	MPG	FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	PPG
1956†	Philadelphia	10*	6.9	.455	.500	2.8	.3	2.3
1957	Philadelphia	2	18.5	.308	1.000	7.0	.5	6.0
1958†	St. Louis	9	7.3	.379	.833	3.0	.3	3.6
Career		21	8.2	.391	.773	3.3	.3	3.2