Bill Edwards (basketball)
William Allen Edwards | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 28, 1971 |
| Occupation | Professional basketball player (retired) |
| Known for | Playing as small forward and power forward; winning Italian Cup (1999), French Cup and Foreign MVP (2001), German Cup (2005) |
William Allen Edwards (born August 28, 1971) is a retired American professional basketball athlete. Measuring , he occupied the roles of both small forward and power forward. Throughout his career, he was often referred to by the moniker "Dollar Bill" Edwards. He competed across multiple international circuits, securing several honors such as the Italian Cup in 1999, the French Cup along with the Foreign MVP award in 2001, and the German Cup in 2005.
College career
Edwards showcased his collegiate basketball talents at Wright State University, representing the Wright State Raiders and establishing himself as one of the program's standout players. In 1993, he earned the distinction of Summit League Player of the Year.
Professional career
Although not selected in the NBA draft, Edwards initiated his professional journey with the Sioux Falls Skyforce in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), where he was honored on the CBA All-Rookie First Team in 1994. He had brief stints with the Philadelphia 76ers during the 1993–94 season before embarking on a prominent 12-year tenure in European basketball. His European career included participation in the EuroLeague while playing for Greek team PAOK (1999–2000) and competing in the FIBA SuproLeague with French side ASVEL (2000–01).
National team career
Edwards was part of the senior men's Team USA squad that secured a bronze medal at the 1998 FIBA World Championship.
Personal life
He is father to Bill Edwards Jr., a former standout at Middletown High School, who committed to play collegiate basketball at Penn State in 2009, and Vincent Edwards, who played professionally in the NBA after a college career at Purdue.
Career pro stats (national domestic leagues)
| Season | League | Team | GP | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–94 | CBA | Sioux Falls Skyforce | 52 | 35.2 | 20.2 | 7.1 | 2.3 |
| 1993–94 | NBA | Philadelphia 76ers | 3 | 14.7 | 2.0 | 4.7 | 1.3 |
| 1994–95 | LBA | Scaligera Verona | 27 | 36.1 | 19.6 | 9.0 | 1.1 |
| 1995–96 | LBA | Cagiva Varese | 34 | 37.4 | 23.3 | 7.2 | 0.8 |
| 1996–97 | GBL | AEK Athens | 34 | 35.9 | 17.8 | 6.6 | 2.7 |
| 1997–98 | LBA | Calze Pompea Roma | 25 | 35.4 | 20.5 | 5.1 | 2.0 |
| 1998–99 | LBA | Kinder Bologna | 15 | 29.4 | 14.3 | 4.6 | 1.2 |
| 1999–00 | GBL | PAOK Thessaloniki | 26 | 35.8 | 15.3 | 5.9 | 2.0 |
| 2000–01 | Pro A | ASVEL Villeurbanne | 19 | 33.8 | 19.0 | 5.2 | "0.0" |