NBA player and coach Paul Westphal dies at age 70

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Westphal died after a battle with brain cancer, according to USC, where he played from 1969 to 1972. He survived his wife Cindy, two children and grandchildren.

Westphal was projected by the Boston Celtics as the 10th pick in the 1972 NBA Draft, according to USC. He won an NBA title with the Celtics in 1974.

Along it 12-year career in the NBA, also played for the Phoenix Suns, Seattle SuperSonics and New York Knicks. In each of the five years he spent with the Suns, Westphal averaged at least 20 points per game. He was named to five consecutive All-Star teams between the 1976-77 and 1980-81 seasons.
Playing for the Boston Celtics, Paul Westphal took a hit against the Washington Bullets in 1975.

After his playing career, Westphal became a coach, starting with several small colleagues. His 1988 Grand Canyon College team won the NAIA National Championship. Then he moved to the NBA as an assistant coach at the Suns.

He spent 10 seasons as head coach for three different NBA teams, including the Suns – whom he coached in the 1993 NBA Finals – SuperSonics and the Sacramento Kings.

Westphal was introduced to the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.

“His toughness, skill and intellect made him a key contributor to the 1974 Boston Celtics championship team and a perennial All-Star with the Phoenix Suns,” Silver said.

“He will be remembered for his generosity, leadership and love of the game, which defined his many years in the NBA,” Silver added. “We extend our deepest condolences to Paul’s wife, Cindy, and their family.”

CNN’s Dakin Andone contributed to the report.

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