Hall of Famer Paul Westphal dies at 70
Paul Westphal was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019 after an illustrious career as a player and coach.
Beth Harris | The Associated Press
January 2, 2021 8:41 PM In Memoriam: Paul Westphal
Paul Westphal, a Hall of Fame player who won a championship with the Boston Celtics in 1974 and later coached in the league and in college, died Saturday. He was 70.
He died in Scottsdale, Arizona, according to a statement from Southern California, where Westphal starred in college. He was diagnosed with brain cancer last August.
A five-time All-Star guard, Westphal played in the NBA from 1972-84. After winning a championship with the Celtics, he made the finals in 1976 with Phoenix, where he was a key part of one of the most riveting games in league history. He also played for Seattle and the New York Knicks.
NBA Hall Of Famer Paul Westphal Has Reportedly Passed Away
Matt Hladik
Paul Westphal speaks at his Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
NBA legend and Basketball Hall of Famer Paul Westphal has passed away at the age of 70 after a battle with brain cancer, according to multiple reports.
Westphal, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019, was a first-round pick of the Boston Celtics out of USC in 1972. He went on to win a championship with the franchise in 1974.
Westphal would move on to play for the Phoenix Suns, Seattle SuperSonics and New York Knicks before retiring in 1984. During that time, he made five consecutive All-Star appearances from 1977-81 and and All-NBA first-team selection three times.
NBA Hall of Famer, Phoenix Suns legend Paul Westphal dies at age 70
By FOX 10 Staff article
CIRCA 1978: Paul Westphal #44 of the Phoenix Suns looks on against the Washington Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1978 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Westphal played for the Suns from 1975-80. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty
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PHOENIX - NBA Hall of Fame player and Suns icon Paul Westphal has died at the age of 70, the Phoenix Suns announced on Jan. 2.
Westphal, known as Westy, played for the Phoenix Suns from 1975 to 1980 and played a critical role for the team in the 1976 NBA Finals. He eventually rejoined the team as a coach from 1988 to 1995, spending a total of 14 seasons with the organization.
Relatives and relative strangers. A vicious virus united us with a prevailing sense of loss. It got to the point when we cringed every time the phone rang or we turned on the television, fearing that there would be news of yet another person passing away. This year has seen the deaths of legends and loved ones alike. Many across the country, and close to home, were claimed by COVID-19, while others succumbed to the ravages of illness or time. Others were children who barely had time to make their marks in this world.
As a rough year ends, The Sacramento OBSERVER takes a minute to reflect and acknowledge some of the many Blacks who died in 2020. They are gone, but not forgotten.
Fred Jeter | 12/31/2020, 6 p.m. K.C. Jones
K.C. Jones and the word âwinnerâ were always synonymous.
Mr. Jones, who helped his various basketball teams win an Olympic gold medal, two NCAA titles and 12 NBA crowns as both a player and a coach, died Friday, Dec. 25, 2020, at an assisted living facility in Connecticut.
Mr. Jones, who had Alzheimerâs disease, was 88.
The 6-foot-1 native of Taylor, Texas, was a brilliant defensive player, a solid scorer and will forever be linked to his close friend and teammate Bill Russell.
Mr. Jones and Mr. Russell led the University of San Francisco to 1955 and 1956 NCAA championships while, at one point, winning 55 straight games. While playing for the Dons, the two pioneered the lob pass and dunk that came to be known as the âalley oop.â