Willie McCarter

Willie J. McCarter (July 26, 1946 – April 18, 2023) was an American basketball player. He was a 6'3" (1.90 m) 175 lb (79 kg) guard. He played at Drake University, averaging 19.9 ppg in three seasons.^{[citation needed]} He was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 12th pick in the 1969 NBA draft, and played three seasons with the Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers.

Willie McCarter

McCarter in 1971
Personal information
Born	(1946-07-26)July 26, 1946 Gary, Indiana, U.S.
Died	April 18, 2023(2023-04-18) (aged 76) Jackson, Michigan, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight	175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
High school	Theodore Roosevelt (Gary, Indiana)
College	Drake (1966–1969)
NBA draft	1969: 1st round, 12th overall pick
Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers
Playing career	1969–1973
Position	Shooting guard
Number	15, 17
Career history
As player:
1969–1971	Los Angeles Lakers
1971–1972	Portland Trail Blazers
1973	Grand Rapids Tackers
As coach:
1979–1982	Detroit
Career highlights and awards
2× First-team All-MVC (1968, 1969) No. 15 retired by Drake Bulldogs
Career NBA statistics
Points	1,090 (7.0 ppg)
Rebounds	248 (1.6 rpg)
Assists	304 (2.0 apg)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference

After his NBA career ended in 1972, he became the coach at Harper Creek High School in Battle Creek, Michigan.^[1] In January 1973, he signed to play with the Grand Rapids Tackers of the Continental Basketball Association, playing only when it did not conflict with his coaching.^[2] McCarter later served as head coach at the University of Detroit Mercy for three seasons from 1979 to 1982, replacing Smokey Gaines after Gaines was hired as the head basketball coach at San Diego State University.

On September 23, 2005, McCarter suffered the first of three strokes within nine months. With the help of his doctors, he recovered.^[3]

In February 2009, Drake University retired his No. 15 Bulldogs jersey.^[4]

McCarter's younger brother Andre also played in the NBA.^[5]

McCarter died in Jackson, Michigan, on April 18, 2023, at the age of 76. His lifelong friend and former teammate, Dolph Pulliam, was at McCarter's bedside when he died.^[6]

Career playing 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

NBA

Source^[7]

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	MPG	FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	PPG
1969–70	L.A. Lakers	40	21.5	.378	.717	2.1	2.3	7.7
1970–71	L.A. Lakers	76	18.0	.417	.597	1.6	1.7	7.1
1971–72	Portland	39	15.7	.401	.673	1.1	2.2	6.2
Career		155	18.3	.402	.656	1.6	2.0	7.0

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	MPG	FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	PPG
1970	L.A. Lakers	5	2.8	.429	1.000	.6	.6	1.4
1971	L.A. Lakers	12	19.3	.355	.167	2.2	1.4	4.6
Career		17	14.5	.361	.286	1.7	1.2	3.6

Head coaching record

Statistics overview

Season	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Postseason
Detroit Mercy Titans (Midwestern City Conference) (1979–1982)
1979–80	Detroit Titans	14–13
1980–81	Detroit Titans	9–18	1–5	6th
1981–82	Detroit Titans	10–17	6–6	5th
Detroit:		33–48 (.407)	7–11 (.389)
Total:		33–48 (.407)
National champion         Postseason invitational champion         Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion       Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion       Conference tournament champion