William R. "Billy" Knight (born June 9, 1952 in Braddock, Pennsylvania) is an American former professional basketball player who most recently served as the Executive Vice President and General Manager of the National Basketball Association's Atlanta Hawks from 2003–08.
Knight grew up in Braddock, a suburb of Pittsburgh, where he attended Braddock High School. A 6'6" guard/forward, he then attended the University of Pittsburgh, where, along with Mickey Martin and Kirk Bruce, he led the Panthers to the East Regional Finals at the 1974 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, where they lost to eventual NCAA Champion North Carolina State. Knight spent eleven seasons, from 1974–85, in the ABA and NBA as a member of the Indiana Pacers, Buffalo Braves, Boston Celtics, Kansas City Kings, and San Antonio Spurs. He scored 13,901 points in his ABA/NBA career and appeared in two All-Star games. Prior to joining the Hawks organization in 2002, Knight worked as a front office executive with the Pacers and the Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies.
On May 7, 2008, Knight stepped down as Hawks GM. When announcing his resignation from the team he stated that he had left the Hawks "in much better shape than it was in when I took over."
Famous quotes containing the words billy and/or knight:
““How old is she, Billy boy, Billy boy?
How old is she, charming Billy?”
Past six, past seven,
Past twenty and eleven,
She’s a young thing, and cannot leave her mother.””
—Unknown. Billy Boy (l. 21–25)
“The Knight of the Doleful Countenance.”
—Miguel De Cervantes (1547–1616)