Bill Cartwright

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Bill Cartwright shooting a basket.

Bill Cartwright as Bulls head coach.

James William "Bill" Cartwright (born July 30, 1957 in Lodi, California) is a former NBA basketball player, a 7'1" (2.16 m) center who played 16 seasons for the New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls and Seattle SuperSonics, helping the Bulls capture consecutive championships in 1991, 1992 and 1993. He attended Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove, California, and played college basketball at the University of San Francisco.

Cartwright carried more of a scoring load with the Knicks, twice averaging better than 20 points. But he played more of a supporting role for the Bulls, who had plenty of firepower with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.

As a member of the Knicks, he made his only NBA All-Star Game appearance in his rookie year of 1979-80.

After his retirement, Cartwright tried his hand at coaching, and took over the Bulls' 37 games into the 2001-02 season, going 17-38 after the team's 4-23 start under Tim Floyd and Bill Berry. The Bulls finished 21-61 on the year, and the following season Cartwright was promoted from interim head coach to permanent head coach. In 2002-03 the Bulls finished 30-52, but Cartwright lasted only 14 games into the 2003-04 season — going 4-10 — before being fired. Pete Myers and finally Scott Skiles coached the Bulls immediately following Cartwright's tenure.

In 2004, the New Jersey Nets hired Cartwright as an assistant coach.

As a member of the Bulls, he took an elbow to the throat during a game with their rivals, the Detroit Pistons. As a result of a damaged larynx, he now has a slightly hoarse voice. Cartwright claims to know who did it, but he has declined to say who is responsible.