NBA Hall of Famer Paul Westphal has passed away, according to Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News (Twitter link).
Westphal, 70, was diagnosed with brain cancer in August.
During a playing career which lasted from 1972-84, Westphal played for the Celtics, Suns, SuperSonics and Knicks. He was a five-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA First Team selection. In his career, Westphal scored a total of 12,809 points for an average of 15.6 PPG, along with 3,591 assists for an average of 4.4 APG.
Westphal coached the Suns from 1992-95 and SuperSonics from 1998-2000. His last head coaching stint came with the Kings (2009-12). His last NBA assistant coaching stint was with the Nets from 2014-16. He had a 318-279 (.533) regular-season record as a head coach and 27-22 record in the playoffs. The Suns reached the NBA Finals in his first year as head coach.
Westphal was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.
Hoops Rumors offers its condolences to the Westphal family.
I remember his guarantee that the Suns were going to win the next 3 games of the series after falling back 2-0 to the Lakers. Was a great player for that franchise for a decade also.
RIP
Oh .. oh my he could shoot it.
Paul Westphal.
In today’s climate everything is taken as racism and if a brief part of this comment comes across as that… so be it.
I remember in my younger days of around 11, 12 years old, the grown men I’d be around at the playground courts would all rave about Westphal’s play at the time, saying, “Paul Westphal is the baddest white boy in the league!” He did have a flair with his game, but in great context of the game.
I remember me actually sometimes “being” Westphal as I played back then. That guy was really, really damn good. So ambidextrous. I would say his game even translates to today – a Lou Williams before Lou Williams, maybe.
We lost a good one. #RIP Paul Westphal
I’m so tired of the media blowing things out of proportion and I’m talking about racism. Look around, get out there, experience life. I play ball in the hood all the time and life is good- you treat people with respect they treat you with respect, you treat someone as a friend they might treat you as a friend. Sometimes all somebody needs is a chance and they’ll show you how cool they are. Of course there’s knuckleheads and that’s who the media focuses on. In fact there’s more Knuckleheads now than ever as population increases and cities get tighter and tenser. But people are good in this country don’t ever forget it. Media wants to create a shyt show and they’re doing a good job of it.
Yes jumpshot, Paul Westfall was the baddest white boy in the league. He and Pete Maravich had the handles and the shot and the vision. I throw Doug Collins in there too, probably missing tons of other guys. In fact you had to be bad to play in the NBA whether you were blue or red.
The Suns have only been to the NBA Finals twice – in ’76 when Westphal played for them and ’93 when he coached them. RIP.
Says a lot about Westphal. Nice stat .
My goodness Paul Westphal was such a humble amazing man. The guy could play yet you’d never know it talking to him and getting to know him. Extremely humble. Again I throw Doug Collins in here as well.. talking to him one time I told him he was “the shyt” when he was a player (before his knee gave out) and yet listening to him as an announcer you’d never know he was an incredibly talented, takeover the game kind of ball player. So I told him how I was impressed with his humbleness and he was very kind and thankful. Good men, very good men. Sad to hear of Westy’s passing and I pray that his family and wife are at peace.
Havlicek was the same way. First time I met him, in awe, at a banquet, I introduced myself and he goes, “Oh sure… who you working with now?” I’m blown away that he knows me and I’m tryna be a fan but he’s asking ME about basketball.
Westphal and those guys… icons, imo.
I wrote Havlicek a letter when I was a kid. He wrote me back.
I remember Westphal as a child. He was such an underrated coach with PHX. Also, he had the coolest first name last name in nba history. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. RIP coach! Thank you for letting Paxson be uncovered in G6 1993.
Charles Barkley said there’s only two people in the NBA he’d call honorable: Hakeem and Paul Westphal. RIP Paul Westphal.
Paul Westphal was the only Los Angeles Player of The Year who decided not to play foe Coach Wooden. Coach loved his game and always said that Paul was the one who got away.
RIP Trojan.
He was a really good player. Then proved he could coach. At his passing I’m reading a lot about the type of human he was and that says more than anything. Want to get choked up? Go on Twitter and find some reporter who tweeted photos of people visiting Westphal during his dying days. I had tears falling down my face. Moving.
Go look for Cameron Cox’s tweets about Paul Westphal. You’ll appreciate doing so.
Anyone with insight on the PHX/BOS//Westphal/Charlie Scott presumed rivalry? Why was Scott first in the HOF? I recall a tall and talented Scott but not really a dynamic one.
I never, ever questioned any of Red Auerbach’s moves but when he traded Westphal to Phoenix for Charlie Scott I went out of my mind. I knew, even in Paul’s rookie year when he seldom played, that this was a future star.
Wow I had forgotten he was traded for Scott. Man that was good. Paul was a great shooter and scorer. Became an all star in Phoenix. I remember him playing PG or SG. Definitely one of best of his era, IQ player. Didn’t know he turned down coach Wooden, nice. I’ve seen him hit some big shots. Even won comeback player of the yr as a Knickerbocker. Great player.
RIP player ….
link to nba.com
Rip