PBA STATS | BILLY RAY BATES

BILLY RAY BATES

PBA IMPORT

KENTUCKY STATE THOROBREDS

1983 - 1988

1978 NBA DRAFT

RD 3 | 47TH OVERALL - HOUSTON ROCKETS

1979 - 80 | PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS - 11.3PPG, 1.8RPG, 1.9APG, 0.9SPG, 16 GAMES

1980 - 81 | PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS - 13.8PPG, 2.0RPG, 2.5APG, 1.1SPG, 77 GAMES

1981 - 82 | PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS - 11.1PPG, 1.4RPG, 1.5APG, 75 GAMES

1982 - 83 | WASHINGTON / LA LAKERS - 6.5PPG, 1.0RPG, 0.7APG, 0.7SPG, 19 GAMES

BEST IMPORT | 2 - 1983 REINCON, 1983 OPENCON

CHAMPIONSHIPS | 3 (1983 - GRAND SLAM)

Before arriving in the Philippines, Billy Ray Bates dazzled in the NBA with the Portland Trail Blazers, becoming a playoff sensation and crowd favorite with his high-flying dunks and explosive scoring. But it was in the PBA where “The Black Superman” became a legend.

Bates joined the PBA in 1983 with Crispa, immediately transforming the league with his jaw-dropping athleticism, aerial artistry, and incredible efficiency. He captured two Best Import awards in his debut year—1983 Reinforced Conference and 1983 Open Conference—while powering Crispa to a double-title run. His hang time, powerful slams, and long-range accuracy elevated the local game and revolutionized how imports were perceived.

In 1986, Bates teamed up with fellow import Michael Hackett to give Ginebra San Miguel its first-ever championship, becoming an instant folk hero. He averaged a staggering 54.9 points per game in 1987, solidifying his mythical status among Filipino fans. Known as much for his charisma as his game, Bates was immortalized with his own “Black Superman” shoe line and tales of celebrity-like treatment during his stay.

Despite a turbulent end to his PBA run, Billy Ray Bates remains arguably the most electrifying import in league history—a cultural icon who left a slam-dunking legacy that still echoes through Philippine basketball lore.

BILLY RAY BATES STATS

SOURCES:

This is not official. Information credit comes from the following sources: PBA, The PBA Hardcourt Annual, the defunct PBA Online website, the Real GM website, Philippine Basketball Reference, PBA Archives, PBA Records and Oddities, Edmon 1974, and Wikipedia.