sportsboxd
HomeCommunityLibrarySign inCreate account
⌕Games, players, teams…↗
⌂Home◎Community⌕Library
sportsboxd
HomeCommunityLibrarySign inCreate account
⌕Games, players, teams…↗
⌂Home◎Community⌕Library
BC

Bill Cartwright

Retired

New York Knicks · C · 1× NBA All-Star · 1979-80 1st All-Rookie selection · 15 NBA seasons

Bill Cartwright recorded 1,087 NBA appearances across 15 seasons with New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder.

13.2

career pts/gm

6.3

career reb/gm

1.4

career ast/gm

963

career games

Career accomplishments

1× NBA All-Star1979-80 1st All-Rookie selection15 NBA seasons1,087 career appearances13,813 career points124 playoff appearancesCareer high: 38 pointsCareer high: 18 reboundsCareer high: 8 assists

Career honors stored from Basketball Reference

Team history

Five defining games

Start here

A researched consensus introduction to Bill Cartwright's defining games.

Editorial methodology and sources

Cross-checked Cartwright's official NBA profile and career highs, Knicks and Bulls histories, first-three-peat records, and verified archived box scores. The five balance his All-Star-caliber New York scoring and 1984 playoff production with the interior defense, efficiency, and veteran stability he supplied across Chicago's three championships.

  1. #1. Cartwright set his NBA career high with 38 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, including seven offensive, while shooting 14-of-26 and 10-of-11 at the line in New York's 97–88 road win over Dallas. NBA profile: Bill Cartwright career highs and honors · NBA official Knicks–Mavericks box score
  2. #2. Cartwright scored 25 points and collected 11 rebounds with a block and a steal as New York beat eventual champion Boston 116–102 in 1984 Eastern semifinals Game 3, helping push a classic series to seven games. NBA profile: Cartwright's Knicks playoff career · NBA official Celtics–Knicks East semifinals Game 3 box score
  3. #3. Cartwright opened the breakthrough 1991 Eastern Conference finals with 16 points and nine rebounds on 7-of-10 shooting as Chicago beat two-time defending champion Detroit 94–83, beginning the sweep that cleared its title path. Bulls history: Cartwright anchors the 1991 title breakthrough · NBA official Pistons–Bulls East finals Game 1 box score
  4. #4. Cartwright made all four field-goal attempts for 10 points, added four rebounds and a block, and committed only one turnover as Chicago won 115–104 at Portland in 1992 Finals Game 2 on the way to its repeat title. Bulls history: Cartwright's role on the repeat champions · NBA official Bulls–Trail Blazers Finals Game 2 box score
  5. #5. The 35-year-old Cartwright scored 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting with three rebounds, a steal, and no turnovers in Chicago's pivotal 97–94 road win over New York in 1993 Eastern finals Game 5, moving the Bulls within one win of the Finals. Bulls history: Cartwright's veteran leadership in the 1993 three-peat · NBA official Bulls–Knicks East finals Game 5 box score

Reviewed through 2026-07-18

Consensus #1

Regular Season
1983-84
DALLASMAVERICKS
NEW YORKKNICKS
Score hidden
MAR 27, 1984

Dallas Mavericks vs New York Knicks

38 PTS · 12 REB · 1 AST · 1 STL

Consensus #2

Eastern ConferenceSemifinals
1983-84
GAME2
NEW YORKKNICKS
BOSTONCELTICS
Score hidden
MAY 2, 1984

New York Knicks vs Boston Celtics

25 PTS · 11 REB · 1 AST · 1 STL · 1 BLK

Consensus #3

Eastern ConferenceFirst Round
1990-91
GAME1
DETROITPISTONS
CHICAGOBULLS
Score hidden
MAY 19, 1991

Detroit Pistons vs Chicago Bulls

16 PTS · 9 REB · 1 AST

Consensus #4

NBA Finals
1991-92
GAME2
PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS
CHICAGOBULLS
Score hidden
JUN 5, 1992

Portland Trail Blazers vs Chicago Bulls

10 PTS · 4 REB · 1 AST · 1 BLK

Consensus #5

Eastern ConferenceFirst Round
1992-93
GAME5
CHICAGOBULLS
NEW YORKKNICKS
Score hidden
JUN 2, 1993

Chicago Bulls vs New York Knicks

13 PTS · 3 REB · 1 AST · 1 STL

Single-game records

Career-high games

One verified indexed game for each major box-score category.

Career high · Points (38)

Regular Season
1983-84
DALLASMAVERICKS
NEW YORKKNICKS
Score hidden
MAR 27, 1984

Dallas Mavericks vs New York Knicks

38 PTS · 12 REB · 1 AST · 1 STL

Career high · Assists (8)

Regular Season
1986-87
BOSTONCELTICS
NEW YORKKNICKS
Score hidden
JAN 19, 1987

Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks

21 PTS · 13 REB · 8 AST · 1 STL

Career high · Rebounds (18)

Regular Season
1982-83
NEW YORKKNICKS
ATLANTAHAWKS
Score hidden
JAN 14, 1983

New York Knicks vs Atlanta Hawks

21 PTS · 18 REB · 3 AST

Career high · Steals (5)

Regular Season
1989-90
BOSTONCELTICS
CHICAGOBULLS
Score hidden
NOV 4, 1989

Boston Celtics vs Chicago Bulls

15 PTS · 9 REB · 4 AST · 5 STL · 1 BLK

Career high · Blocks (6)

Regular Season
1982-83
DETROITPISTONS
NEW YORKKNICKS
Score hidden
APR 5, 1983

Detroit Pistons vs New York Knicks

20 PTS · 8 REB · 2 AST · 1 STL · 6 BLK