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San Antonio Spurs: 25 Best Players To Play For The Spurs

By Phil Watson

Apr 24, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; A general view of the AT&T center before the game between the Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; A general view of the AT&T center before the game between the Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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LANDOVER, MD - CIRCA 1977: Billy Paultz #5 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots against the Washington Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1977 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Paultz played for the Spurs from 1975-80 and 1983. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Billy Paultz
LANDOVER, MD – CIRCA 1977: Billy Paultz #5 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots against the Washington Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1977 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Paultz played for the Spurs from 1975-80 and 1983. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Billy Paultz /

29. <strong>How acquired:</strong> Trade, New York Nets, Sept. 7, 1975; Free agent, April 6, 1983.. C. 1975-80, 1983. Billy Paultz. 15. player

Billy Paultz was an ABA All-Star when the San Antonio Spurs landed The Whopper in a September 1975 trade from the New York Nets in exchange for Rich Jones, Bob Warren, Chuck Terry and Kim Hughes.

Expensive. But worth it.

SAS_15_PAULTZ
SAS_15_PAULTZ /

Paultz was an All-Star again in 1976, leading the ABA in blocks in 1975-76. After the Spurs went to the NBA as part of the 1976 merger between the leagues, he was fifth in the NBA in blocks in 1977-78.

In January 1980, Paultz was traded to the Houston Rockets in exchange for John Shumate and a third-round pick in 1980.

He returned to the Spurs as a free agent in April 1983, leaving in September of that year to sign as a veteran free agent with the Atlanta Hawks. The Spurs received a third-round pick in 1985 as compensation.

In parts of six seasons in San Antonio, Paultz averaged 14.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.1 blocks in 30.7 minutes per game, shooting .504/0-for-3/.712.

Paultz averaged 15.8 points and 14.4 rebounds per game as a senior at St. John’s, where he played his final two collegiate seasons after transferring from a JUCO.

Selected in the seventh round out by the San Diego Rockets in the 1970 NBA Draft, Paultz instead opted to sign with the Nets, who had acquired his rights from the Virginia Squires in an August 1970 trade.

He was a two-time All-Star in New York and was part of the Nets’ 1974 ABA title team.

Paultz’s return to the Spurs came about after he was waived by Houston in April 1983. In September 1984, he signed with the Utah Jazz as a veteran free agent and retired after he was waived in September 1985.

He was seventh in ABA history with 5,406 rebounds, third with 751 blocked shots and an average of 2.3 blocks per game and 10th with an average of 11.1 rebounds per game.

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