Bill Cartwright

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Cartwright's journey began in Lodi, California, where he led Elk Grove High School to an undefeated 1973–1974 season and back-to-back NorCal Tournament of Champions titles. A consensus second-team All-American at the University of San Francisco, he graduated as the Dons' all-time leading scorer with averages of 19.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. In his first NBA season with the Knicks, he made his only career All-Star appearance. His tenure in New York was marred by foot injuries that caused him to miss the entire 1984–1985 season and limited him to two games in 1985–1986, even as Patrick Ewing joined the team. Upon joining the Bulls on June 15, 1988, he became the starting center for their first three titles. During the 1992–93 season, a severe injury occurred when his larynx was fractured by an elbow from Indiana Pacers; he underwent multiple surgeries by Robert Sataloff to restore his voice.

In Their Own Story

The trade on June 15, 1988, marked a turning point for Chicago. The Bulls sent forward Charles Oakley and two draft picks to acquire Cartwright, valuing the need for a center alongside the rapid development of Horace Grant. For five seasons, Cartwright anchored the paint as Michael Jordan ascended to superstardom. He played through significant adversity, most notably in 1993 when he suffered a fractured larynx against Indiana. Despite multiple surgeries and a permanently hoarse voice, he remained on the roster for the championship run. When Michael Jordan retired following the third title, Cartwright helped guide the team to the 1994 playoffs, where they were eliminated in a controversial Game 7 by the Knicks. Departing as an unrestricted free agent, he joined the Seattle SuperSonics for his final season, playing just 29 games before retiring.

Reader's Guide

Cartwright's post-playing career mirrored his on-court resilience and adaptability. He returned to Chicago one year after retirement as an assistant coach under Phil Jackson, winning championships in 1997 and 1998. Following the departure of Jordan and Scottie Pippen, he took over as interim head coach 27 games into the 2001–02 season, posting a 17–38 record after starting 4–23 under predecessor Tim Floyd. He was promoted to permanent head coach for 2002–03 (30–52) but was fired 14 games into 2003–04 with a 4–10 record. His coaching path extended globally and domestically: he served as an assistant for the New Jersey Nets and Phoenix Suns, where he worked under Steve Kerr to coach Shaquille O'Neal and Amar'e Stoudemire. In 2013, he revitalized Osaka Evessa in Japan's bj League, turning a losing record into a winning streak before leaving to be closer to family. He later coached the Mexico men's national team in 2014.

Did You Know?

• Cartwright attended Elk Grove High School, where the team went undefeated in the 1973–1974 season.
• He holds the record as the all-time leading scorer for the University of San Francisco Dons.
• During the 1992–93 season, Cartwright's larynx was fractured by an elbow, requiring multiple surgeries to restore his ability to speak clearly.
• In college, he played on one of the tallest starting lineups in history alongside 7'0" Wallace Bryant and 6'10" Guy Williams.
• Cartwright is an avid collector of transistor radios and plays guitar as a hobby.