Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 31, 2026

Walt Piatkowski

Walter Piatkowski Jr. was an American professional basketball player in the American Basketball Association (ABA). He played college basketball for the Bowling Green Falcons.

Last revised
Jul 31, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
491 w
Citations
7
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Walt Piatkowski
Piatkowski as a junior at Bowling Green
Personal information
Born(1945-06-11)June 11, 1945
Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
DiedAugust 18, 2025(2025-08-18) (aged 80)
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High schoolWoodward (Toledo, Ohio)
CollegeBowling Green (1965–1968)
NBA draft1968: 8th round, 99th overall pick
Drafted bySan Francisco Warriors
PositionPower forward
Number34, 43
Career history
1968–1970Denver Rockets
1971–1972The Floridians
Career highlights
  • ABA All-Rookie (1969)
  • 2× First-team All-MAC (1966, 1968)
  • Second-team All-MAC (1967)
Stats at Basketball Reference 

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.

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

Legend
  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

Source6

Regular season

Year Team GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG PPG
1968–69 Denver 77 23.6 .417 .329 .775 4.7 .6 12.2
1969–70 Denver 74 17.6 .402 .220 .768 3.4 .6 7.0
1971–72 Florida 6 4.7 .188 – – .3 .3 1.0
Career 157 20.1 .409 .288 .772 3.9 .6 9.3

Playoffs

Year Team GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG PPG
1969 Denver 7 28.7 .432 .111 .909 4.1 .9 15.3
1970 Denver 6 8.3 .500 .250 .500 1.8 .7 4.5
Career 13 19.3 .444 .154 .800 3.1 .8 10.3
References

References

  1. BGSU Men's Basketball 2009-10. 87. Retrieved on August 31, 2010.
  2. Walter Piatkowski. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved on August 31, 2010.
  3. Chris Baker. "Clippers watching rising son". Los Angeles Times. October 31, 1994. Retrieved on August 31, 2010.
  4. "Archives". Los Angeles Times.
  5. "BGSU Hall of Famer Walt Piatkowski Passes Away". BGSU Falcons. 22 August 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  6. "Walt Piatkowski ABA stats". Basketball Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 19 August 2023.