Paul Philip Walther (March 23, 1927 – December 21, 2014) was an American professional basketball player.
Life Walther was born in Covington, Kentucky, as the third of six children to George A. and Rosalie Walther. He was a graduate of Covington Catholic High School. He was a 6'2" guard/forward at the University of Tennessee, where he was coached by Emmett Lowery. His playing career was split by World War II, when he served in the United States Navy. Walther returned in 1947. He was team captain at Tennessee during 1948–49, his final season there.
Walther played six seasons (1949–1955) in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Minneapolis Lakers, Indianapolis Olympians, Philadelphia Warriors, and Fort Wayne Pistons. He averaged 7.7 points per game in his career and appeared in the 1952 NBA All-Star Game.
After his basketball career, Walther worked 32 years for Merrill Lynch in Chicago.
Walther died on December 21, 2014, in Atlanta at the age of 87.
NBA career statistics
Regular season YearTeamGPMPGFG%FT%RPGAPGPPG1949–50Minneapolis 22 –.400.524 –.53.41949–50Indianapolis31 –.390.591 –1.57.01950–51Indianapolis63 –.336.6943.63.69.11951–52Indianapolis 5534.6.401.7504.52.512.21952–53Indianapolis6736.8.352.7464.23.110.71953–54Philadelphia6432.3.352.7044.03.46.61954–55Fort Wayne6812.1.348.6142.31.92.4Career37028.6.362.7083.72.67.7
Playoffs YearTeamGPMPGFG%FT%RPGAPGPPG1950Indianapolis6 –.293.474 –1.35.51951Indianapolis3 –.429.7331.73.05.71952Indianapolis242.5.500.8893.53.016.01953Indianapolis237.5.250.9414.02.013.01955Fort Wayne109.5.545.6112.0.83.5Career2318.2.377.7242.41.56.2
References