Walt Budko
Baltimore Bullets Player-Coach | NBA Player & Coach | 1948 BAA First-Round Pick
Walt Budko was born on July 30, 1925, in Kearney, New Jersey. He played college basketball at Columbia University before the Baltimore Bullets selected him with the 6th overall pick in the 1948 BAA Draft.
Budko played 4 seasons in the BAA/NBA and spent most of his professional playing career with Baltimore. During the 1950-1951 season, he was named interim head coach of the Bullets while continuing to play for the team.
Budko coached 29 games and finished with a 10-19 record. The Baltimore coaching job became his only head coaching position in the BAA or NBA.
Coach Budko passed away on May 25, 2013, at the age of 87.
- Overall Coaching Record: 10-19
Coaching Career
Walt Budko started the 1950-1951 season as a player for the Baltimore Bullets under head coach Buddy Jeannette.
On January 18, 1951, Baltimore fired Jeannette after a 14-23 start and named Budko the interim head coach. Budko remained an active player while coaching the team.
Budko went 10-19 over the final 29 games. The Bullets finished with a 24-42 record, placed fifth in the Eastern Division, and missed the playoffs.
The 29-game stint became Budko’s only head coaching experience in the NBA.
Notable Players Coached
- Paul Hoffman
- 1948 BAA Champion
- 1948 BAA Rookie of the Year
- Chick Halbert
- 1947 All-BAA Second Team