Walter Davis, a five-time NBA All-Star whose number was retired by the Phoenix Suns, has died. He was 69.
Davis was a college star at North Carolina, where he played for the late Dean Smith. Water Davis’ death was announced Thursday by North Carolina, where Davis’ nephew Hubert Davis is the head basketball coach.
Walter Davis died Thursday morning of natural causes while visiting family in Charlotte, North Carolina, the school said in a statement.
Davis was drafted fifth overall by Phoenix in 1977 and became the NBA’s Rookie of the Year after averaging 24.2 points per game. He played 11 of his 16 professional seasons with the Suns, who retired with the sixth overall pick.
Davis moved to Denver for three seasons and Portland for one before returning to the Nuggets in 1992–93, his final year.
In college, Davis was virtually unstoppable as he led one of the best programs in the game. He helped the Tar Heels win the NCAA title game in 1977, where they lost to Marquette.
Other North Carolina assistant trainer and head trainer Roy Williams spoke Smith and assistant trainer Bill Guthridge “ were pleased with how important fun Walter was guiding. I watched him as a fan and enjoyed getting to know him later.”
Davis ranks 10th in scoring in Tar Heels history. His 106 double-digit games are fourth all-time in North Carolina history, trailing only Phil Ford, Sam Perkins and Tyler Hansbrough.
Ford said he and Davis were best friends almost from the moment they met nearly 50 years ago. “He was best man at my wedding and I was best man at his,” Ford said in a statement.
“ He loved me and I loved him, ” Ford lasted. “He was a great, great, great guy who turned out to be a great basketball player.”
Davis, of Pineville, N.C., is part of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. In 2002, he was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary platoon.
