07/24/2026
Butch Beard 🏀
Selected 10th overall in the 1969 NBA Draft out of Louisville, Beard enjoyed a 9-year NBA career with the Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Seattle SuperSonics, Golden State Warriors, and New York Knicks. While he wasn’t a prolific scorer, he was a smart playmaker, tough defender, and respected veteran who could control the pace of a game.
His finest season came in 1971–72 with the Cleveland Cavaliers, when he averaged:
🏀 15.4 PPG
🎯 6.7 APG
💪 4.1 RPG
That season also earned him the only NBA All-Star selection of his career.
Beard later became the starting point guard for the 1974–75 Golden State Warriors, helping orchestrate one of the biggest upsets in NBA history. Led by Rick Barry, the Warriors stunned the basketball world by sweeping the heavily favored Washington Bullets in the NBA Finals to capture the franchise’s first championship in California.
Career Highlights
⭐ NBA All-Star (1972)
🏆 NBA Champion (1975)
⭐ NBA All-Rookie First Team (1970)
🎓 Consensus First-Team All-American (Louisville)
🏀 No. 15 jersey retired by Louisville
Over 605 NBA games, Beard averaged:
• 9.3 PPG
• 3.6 APG
• 3.4 RPG
After his playing career, Beard remained involved in basketball as both a coach and broadcaster, continuing to contribute to the game he loved.
He may not be mentioned among the all-time great point guards, but teammates and coaches valued his intelligence, leadership, and willingness to do whatever the team needed.
How many of you remember Butch Beard’s championship run with the 1975 Warriors? 👇
