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Even on the second day of 2021, unfortunately, the first death of an illustrious person in sports is reported. This Saturday Paul Westphal is dead, historical player, coach and member of the Hall of Fame Basketball who in the 90’s had as rival in an NBA Finals with Michael Jordan.
One-time NBA champion playing for the Celtics in the 1970s, but first remembered with the Phoenix Suns, Westphal had just been introduced to the immortal compound in 2019 and Springfield, Massachusetts.
Why did Paul Westphal die?
Journalist Mike Lupica reported that Paul Westphal died of brain cancer at the age of 70, with whom he had a very close relationship.
Who was Paul Westphal?
Considered one of the most consistent guards on the move in the 1970s, Paul Westphal played 12 seasons in the NBA distributed among the Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics, Seattle Sonics and New York Knicks, earning five All-Star Game nominations and four-time All-NBA Ideal Team nominations.
his unique title as a basketball player won it in 1973-74 season with the Celtics in a career with 930 games between the regular season and the playoffs; then he became a coach, a role in which he spent a decade with Phoenix, Seattle and Sacramento.
Westy will not be immortalized just because he plays basketball. He will be remembered for the way he lived his life and for the way he treated others.
Rest in peace, Westy ????
– Phoenix Suns (@Suns) January 2, 2021
The final that Westphal lost to Jordan
Undoubtedly, his most memorable stage was the first with the Suns, being the leader of that remembered team of 1992-1993. It was his first year as head coach after he was an assistant and led the Arizona team to the finals, with Charles Barkley as MVP. That’s where it would end falling into the hands of Michael Jordan, the Chicago Bulls.