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William Warren Bradley, also known as Bill Bradley, is an American politician and former professional basketball player. He played for the New York Knicks for ten years and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1983. He was also a three-term Democratic U.S. Senator from New Jersey and ran for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in 2000.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | William Warren Bradley |
| Nicknames | Dollar Bill, The Secretary of State, Mr. President, The White O |
| Date of Birth | July 28, 1943 |
| Place of Birth | Crystal City, Missouri |
| Height | 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) |
| Education | Princeton University, Oxford University (Rhodes Scholar) |
| NBA Draft | 1965, 1st round, 2nd pick |
| NBA Team | New York Knicks |
| NBA Career | 1967-1977 |
| NBA Championships | 2 |
| Points per Game | 12.4 |
| Rebounds per Game | 3.2 |
| Assists per Game | 3.4 |
| Hall of Fame Induction | 1983 |
| Jersey Number Retirement | 1984 |
| Post-NBA Career | U.S. Senator from New Jersey (1979-1997), Democratic Candidate for President (2000) |
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What You'll Learn
Bill Bradley's career stats
Bill Bradley was a star at Crystal City High School, where he scored 3,068 points in his scholastic career, was twice named All-American, and was elected to the Missouri Association of Student Councils. He received 75 college scholarship offers but chose to attend Princeton University.
During his time at Princeton, Bradley was an NCAA AP All-America selection for three consecutive years from the 1962-63 through 1964-65 seasons. In 1964, he was the captain of the U.S. Olympic basketball team, which won the gold medal in Tokyo, Japan. In 1965, Princeton finished third in the NCAA Tournament, and Bradley was named the Most Outstanding Player. That same year, he scored 58 points in a game against Wichita State, setting a record for the most points scored in a men's NCAA basketball game. He finished his college career with 2,503 points, averaging 30.2 points per game.
After graduating from Princeton, Bradley played one season of professional basketball in Europe with Olimpia Milano, leading them to the 1966-67 European Championship. He then returned to the United States and joined the New York Knicks in the 1967-68 season. He spent his entire ten-year professional career with the Knicks, winning NBA titles in 1970 and 1973. He was selected as an NBA All-Star in 1973, averaging a career-best 16.1 points per game.
Overall, Bradley averaged 12.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game during his professional career. He retired from basketball in 1977 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1983.
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Bill Bradley's career timeline
Bill Bradley began playing basketball at the age of nine. He was a star at Crystal City High School, where he scored 3,068 points in his scholastic career, was twice named All-American, and was elected to the Missouri Association of Student Councils. He received 75 college scholarship offers, but declined them all to attend Princeton University.
At Princeton, Bradley was an NCAA AP All-America selection for three consecutive years from the 1962-63 seasons through 1964-65. In 1964, he was the captain of the U.S. Olympic basketball team, winning a gold medal at the games in Tokyo, Japan. In 1965, he was the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament, when Princeton finished third. That year, he also scored 58 points playing for Princeton in a game against Wichita State, setting a record for the most points scored in a men's NCAA basketball game.
After graduating from Princeton, Bradley attended Oxford University on a Rhodes Scholarship. While at Oxford, he played one season of professional basketball in Europe for Olimpia Milano in the Italian league, leading them to the 1966-67 European Championship.
In December 1967, Bradley joined the New York Knicks, having missed the preseason and several weeks of the 1967–68 season. He spent his entire ten-year professional basketball career with the Knicks, winning NBA titles in 1970 and 1973. He was selected as an NBA All-Star in 1973 when he averaged a career-best 16.1 points per game.
Bradley retired from basketball in 1977 and was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1983. He went on to serve as a United States Senator for New Jersey from 1979 to 1997 and was an unsuccessful candidate for the 2000 Democratic presidential nomination.
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Bill Bradley's political career
Bradley's early life and basketball career had already demonstrated a commitment to public service and social issues. He used his fame as a basketball player to engage with journalists, government officials, academics, and social activists. He worked as an assistant in the Office of Economic Opportunity in Washington, D.C., and taught in Harlem's street academies.
In 2000, Bradley sought the Democratic nomination for President of the United States but faced strong competition from Al Gore, the then-Vice President. Bradley's campaign focused on principles and policies, and he presented himself as a markedly different choice from Gore. However, he withdrew after the Super Tuesday primaries, crediting his loss partly to the interest in Republican rival John McCain.
Following his Senate career, Bradley served as a contributor to CBS News and a visiting scholar at several universities. He also became a managing director at Allen & Company LLC and joined the advisory boards of various organisations. He has authored several New York Times bestselling books on American politics and economics and hosted the radio show "American Voices."
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Bill Bradley's early life and education
Bill Bradley, born on July 28, 1943, in Crystal City, Missouri, is a former basketball player who had a Hall of Fame career before becoming a politician. Bradley began to play basketball at age nine and became one of the best players in Missouri high school basketball history. He excelled academically and was an all-state basketball player in high school. He was offered 75 college scholarships but declined them all to attend Princeton University on a basketball scholarship.
At Princeton, Bradley, a forward, was a playmaker and high scorer, averaging 30.1 points a game during three seasons. He led the team to three straight Ivy League titles, earning All-American recognition each time. He was the first basketball player to win the Amateur Athletic Union's Sullivan Award for the amateur athlete of the year (1965). He won a gold medal as a member of the 1964 Olympic basketball team and was the Most Outstanding Player of the 1965 NCAA Tournament, when Princeton finished third.
After graduating in 1965, he attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, delaying a decision for two years on whether or not to play in the NBA. While at Oxford, Bradley played one season of professional basketball in Europe and eventually decided to join the New York Knicks in the 1967–68 season, after serving six months in the Air Force Reserve.
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Bill Bradley's awards and achievements
Bill Bradley is a two-time NBA champion, having won titles with the New York Knicks in 1970 and 1973. He was also a key player in the Olimpia Milano team that won the 1966-67 European Championship. Bradley was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1983.
Bradley was an exceptional basketball player from a young age. He began playing at the age of nine and became one of the best players in Missouri high school basketball history. He was twice named All-American and was elected to the Missouri Association of Student Councils. He received 75 college scholarship offers but chose to attend Princeton University, where he excelled. He was a three-time NCAA AP All-America selection and, in 1965, was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament. That same year, he scored 58 points in a game against Wichita State, setting a record for the most points scored in a men's NCAA basketball game. He also led Princeton to three straight Ivy League titles.
In 1964, Bradley was captain of the U.S. Olympic basketball team, which won a gold medal in Tokyo, Japan. He was the first basketball player to win the Amateur Athletic Union's Sullivan Award for the top amateur athlete in the United States in 1965.
After graduating from Princeton, Bradley was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship and studied at Oxford University. He later played for the New York Knicks, with whom he won his two NBA titles. He was selected as an NBA All-Star in 1973 and averaged a career-best 16.1 points per game.
Bradley retired from basketball in 1977 and was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1983. He went on to serve as a United States Senator from New Jersey from 1979 to 1997 and was a candidate for the Democratic Party's nomination for president in the 2000 election. He has also received several honorary degrees and awards, including the Presidential Citizens Medal awarded by President Joe Biden in 2025.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, he was inducted in 1983.
Bill Bradley was a star player at Crystal City High School and received 75 college scholarship offers. He went on to play for Princeton University, where he set a record for the most points scored in a men's NCAA basketball game with 58 points. He also led the Olimpia Milano team to the 1966-67 European Championship. As a member of the New York Knicks, he won two NBA Championships in 1970 and 1973. He was also an Olympic gold medalist in 1964 and was named NCAA Player of the Year in 1965.
After retiring from basketball in 1977, Bill Bradley pursued a career in politics. He served as a United States Senator from New Jersey from 1979 to 1997 and was re-elected in 1984 and 1990. He also ran for the Democratic nomination for President in the 2000 election.
Bill Bradley currently hosts American Voices, a weekly show on SiriusXM radio that celebrates the goodness of the American people. He has also written seven books on basketball, politics, culture, and economics, including "Life on the Run", "Time Present, Time Past", and "The New American Story".
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