Mel Payton

Mel Payton

Personal information
Born	(1926-07-16)July 16, 1926 Martinsville, Indiana
Died	May 12, 2001(2001-05-12) (aged 74) Carmel, Indiana
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight	185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school	Martinsville (Martinsville, Indiana)
College	Tulane (1947–1951)
NBA draft	1951: 2nd round, 18th overall pick
Selected by the Philadelphia Warriors
Playing career	1951–1953
Position	Small forward
Number	18, 16
Career history
1951–1952	Philadelphia Warriors
1952–1953	Indianapolis Olympians
Career NBA statistics
Points	595 (5.4 ppg)
Rebounds	396 (3.6 rpg)
Assists	126 (1.1 apg)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference

Melvin Eugene Payton (July 16, 1926 – May 12, 2001) was an American professional basketball player born in Martinsville, Indiana. A 6'4" forward, Payton attended college at Tulane University. He played for four years for the Tulane Green Wave, averaging 11.8 points per game. Payton was selected in the second round (19th pick overall) of 1951 NBA draft by the Philadelphia Warriors. He played one season with the Warriors before being traded to the Indianapolis Olympians in exchange for Don Lofgran. Payton played 111 games in his two-year career, scoring 595 points, grabbing 396 rebounds, and playing 1,895 minutes.

Career statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field goal percentage	3P%	3-point field goal percentage	FT%	Free throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

NBA

Source

Regular season

Year	Team	MPG	GP	FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	PPG
1951–52	Philadelphia	45	10.5	.386	.750	1.8	1.0	2.9
1952–53	Indianapolis	66	21.6	.357	.745	4.7	1.2	7.1
Career		111	17.1	.363	.746	3.6	1.1	5.4

Playoffs

Year	Team	MPG	GP	FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	PPG
1952	Philadelphia	3	6.0	.500	1.000	1.0	.3	1.3
1953	Indianapolis	2	18.0	.412	.875	3.0	.0	10.5
Career		5	10.8	.421	.900	1.8	.2	5.0