Paul Westphal, a basketball player in the Hall of Fame who won the championship with the Boston Celtics in 1974 and who later was a coach in the league and in college basketball, has died. He was 70 years old.
Los Suns de Phoenix confirmed Westphal’s death in a statement Saturday. No cause was offered, but Westphal had been diagnosed with brain cancer in August.
The Phoenix Suns announced on Saturday, January 2, 2021, that Westphal, in the Hall of Fame as a player, passed away at age 70.
A point guard who participated in five All-Star Games, Westphal played in the NBA from 1972 to 1984. After winning the championship with the Celtics, he reached the final in 1976 with Phoenix. Juice also for Seattle and New York.
At the end of his playing career, Westphal became a coach. He guided the Suns to the NBA Finals in 1993 and was also the coach of Seattle and Sacramento.
In college basketball he coached Southwestern Baptist Bible College (now Arizona Christian University), Grand Canyon, and Pepperdine.
He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.
He is survived by his wife Cindy and two children.
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