Bailey Howell
A relentless forward known as 'Buckshot,' his blue-collar scoring in the paint powered two Boston Celtics championships in the 1960s.
Born 1937 (age 89)·American basketball player·Birthday: January 20·The Silent Generation
Biography
Bailey Howell's path to the NBA Hall of Fame was paved with sheer effort. From Middleton, Tennessee, to Mississippi State, where he became an All-American, Howell brought a workmanlike intensity to the professional game. Nicknamed 'Buckshot' for his deadly accuracy on close-range attempts and put-backs, he was not a flashy player but an exceptionally efficient one. His prime years with the Detroit Pistons and Baltimore Bullets established him as a consistent All-Star, but it was his trade to the Boston Celtics in 1966 that cemented his legacy. Slotting perfectly into the Celtics' machine, his rugged rebounding and reliable scoring were crucial ingredients in the team's 1968 and 1969 championship runs. Howell's career stands as a testament to the impact of fundamental skill and tireless hustle.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Bailey was born in 1937, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bailey Was Born
The biggest hits of 1937
#1 Movie
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Best Picture
The Life of Emile Zola
Bailey's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1937Born
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1942Started school
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1950Became a teenager
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1953Could drive
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1955Could vote
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1958Turned 21
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1967Turned 30
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1977Turned 40
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 50
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 60
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 70
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 80
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 89 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won two NBA championships as a key contributor for the Boston Celtics in 1968 and 1969.
- Selected as an NBA All-Star six times (1961–1964, 1966, 1967).
- Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1997.
- Averaged a double-double for his career with over 18 points and 9 rebounds per game.
- His jersey number 52 was retired by Mississippi State University.
Did You Know?
He was a three-time All-SEC selection at Mississippi State and led the conference in scoring twice.
Howell served in the U.S. Army after his rookie NBA season.
He was known for his distinctive high-arching shot, particularly effective from the corners.
After basketball, he owned and operated a successful lumber business in Tennessee.
“You get the ball close to the basket, you put it in. That's the job.”
