NBA player and coach Paul Westphal dies at 70

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

Westphal was drafted 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.

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

After his playing career, Westphal entered as a coach, starting at several small colleges. His 1988 Grand Canyon College team won the NAIA National Championship. He then joined the NBA as an assistant coach with the Suns.

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

Westphal was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.

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

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

CNN’s Dakin Andone contributed to this report.



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