Walt Piatkowski
American basketball player (1945–2025)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Walter Piatkowski Jr. (June 11, 1945 – August 18, 2025) was an American professional basketball player in the American Basketball Association (ABA). He played college basketball for the Bowling Green Falcons.
Piatkowski as a junior at BGSU. | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 11, 1945 Toledo, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | August 18, 2025 (aged 80) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Woodward (Toledo, Ohio) |
| College | Bowling Green (1965–1968) |
| NBA draft | 1968: 8th round, 99th overall pick |
| Drafted by | San Francisco Warriors |
| Position | Power forward |
| Number | 34, 43 |
| Career history | |
| 1968–1970 | Denver Rockets |
| 1971–1972 | The Floridians |
| Career highlights | |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
A 6'8" forward, Piatkowski began his career at Toledo Woodward High School then starred at Bowling Green State University, where he was a Converse Honorable Mention All-American in 1968.[1] He then played in the American Basketball Association from 1968 to 1970 as a member of the Denver Rockets. He received ABA All-Rookie Team honors with the Rockets in 1969 after averaging 12.2 points per game.[2] When the Rockets acquired Spencer Haywood the next season, Piatkowski saw his playing time drop, and in 1970, he briefly retired to work as a teacher. He returned to the ABA in the fall of 1971 as a member of The Floridians, but he was waived just a month into that season. He later became a salesman with a paper company.[3] He was Polish American.[4]
Piatkowski's son Eric played basketball at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln; was drafted into the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1994 as the 15th overall pick by the Indiana Pacers; and played 14 years in the NBA, mostly with the Los Angeles Clippers.[3]
Walt Piatkowski died on August 18, 2025, at the age of 80.[5]
Career statistics
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
ABA
Source[6]