Mr. Billy Ray Bates is Alive and Well

Shaq and Charles Barkley Disagree on His Fate

Portland Trail Blazers, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

If you’ve ever seen Mr. Bill Ray Bates play basketball, you probably remember it. I first saw him as a forward with the Kentucky State University (KSU) basketball team, playing against Tennessee State University (TSU) at Kean Hall in Nashville. I was a basketball player at Fisk University, a mile away. We had no game one night, so my teammates and I decided to watch their game as a group.

Kean Hall — Facilities — Tennessee State University

We were a bit smug, as we had upset Tennessee State in the NCAA Division II playoffs in the same gym the previous year. Fisk and Tennessee State didn’t schedule each other then, as they considered us beneath them. We would never be back at Kean Hall as players. We walked in together and headed to an upper section of the gym.

Tennessee State was still a formidable team. Their young center, Bernard Bailey, was a talent who later became a friend. He replaced the three-time All-American Leonard “Truck” Robinson, who had gone on to play for the New York Knicks, where he would soon lead the league in rebounding. I didn’t know anything about the Kentucky State team, but I soon learned to keep an eye on Mr. Billy Ray Bates. Mr. isn’t an official part of his name, but I soon learned never to speak Mr. Bate’s name without putting a handle on it.

By the third quarter, KSU had a slight lead when they captured a defensive rebound and passed the ball to Mr. Bates around half-court near the right sideline. Tennessee State was hustling back on defense, and Mr. Bates casually pushed the ball up court, eventually angling toward the basket, seeing if anyone would cut him off. At no time was there less than two men between Mr. Bates and the basket, I expected at any moment he would pass the ball to one of his teammates when he suddenly rose up and flew over two defenders, ending the play with a thunderous one-handed dunk.

It took a moment for the crowd to comprehend what they had seen. First, there was silence, then a loud roar of appreciation, even though he was in an opponent's gym. One of my teammates, Stephen Lee, stood up and ran for no apparent reason to the lower level. Another bowed down as if he had seen the greatest. I vowed never to say the name of Billy Ray Bates without preceding it with the title, Mister.

Mr. Bates was drafted by the Houston Rockets in the 3rd round in 1978 but cut because his agent demanded guaranteed money. He ended up playing for the Maine Lumberjacks in the now-defunct Continental Basketball Association, where he won the league’s Rookie of the Year and the slam dunk competition in its All-Star game. Bates is credited with shattering at least four backboards in the Continental League before finally making it to the NBA.

After signing a 10-day contract with the Portland Trail Blazers in February 1980, the 6'4" guard quickly became a crowd favorite for his slam dunks and energetic playing style. He once scored 40 points in 32 minutes against San Diego and later 35 points in 25 minutes against the Dallas Mavericks. The league also took notice, naming him NBA Player of the Week towards the end of his rookie season. He averaged 25.0 ppg in the 1980 playoffs and 28.3 ppg in the 1981 playoffs. In September 1982, after three seasons in Portland, he was cut from the team. Bates later checked into a Portland hospital, allegedly for drug treatment.

Mr. Bates went on to the Philippines Basketball Association (PBA), where he scored 64 points in his first game. He electrified crowds with his tremendous dunks and three-point shooting. Mr. Bates 46.2 points over a four year career in the Philippines, earning the nickname “Black Superman” and having a pair of rubber shoes named after him.

“Those people, they loved me. There, I was like Michael Jordan. I could have anything I wanted. All I had to do was snap my fingers. I had my own condo, my own car and my own bodyguard with an Uzi. I had to fight off the women.” — Billy Ray Bates

The name Billy Ray Bates came up in the post-game discussion about playoff bench scoring.

Charles Barkley said, “Billy Ray Bates, man. I remember him. I wonder if he’s still alive?”

Kenny Smith chimed in about the tactlessness of the question.

Shaquille O’Neal added, “Unfortunately, he passed away.”

It turns out that Mr. Bates is alive though little of his current circumstances is known. I wish him well and am thankful for the basketball memory I’ll never forget.