NBA Hall of Famer Dead at 74

NBA Hall of Famer Wes Unseld died June 2nd at age 74. After a battle with health issues, Unseld succumbed to pneumonia.

 Unseld has a slew of achievements during his basketball career with the Baltimore Bullets & Washington Bullets.

 After being selected as the 2nd overall pick in the 1968 NBA Draft out of University of Louisville, Unseld made an immediate impact. He was the NBA Rookie of the Year, on the All-NBA First Team and the league’s Most Valuable Player making him one of the best players in the NBA from his earliest days in the league.

 Unseld went on to win an NBA Championship with the Bullets in 1978 where he was also the NBA Finals MVP.

 After his playing career ended in 1981, he joined the Washington Bullets front office as a vice president. In 1988, he became the team’s head coach, but resigned in 1994 after compiling a record of 202-345. Two years later he became the team’s general manager.

 He was inducted to the NBA Hall of Fame in 1988 and named one of the league’s 50 Greatest Players of All-Time in 1996. His jersey number (#41) was retired by the now-Washington Wizards (formerly known as the Bullets) in 1981.

Unseld is survived by his wife Connie, daughter Kimberly and son Wes Unseld Jr. His son is currently an assistant coach with the NBA’s Denver Nuggets.

Marcus Harpring