NBA

Slick Watts (1951–2025), beloved Seattle SuperSonics player

Slick Watts was a fan-favorite basketball player of the 1970s best known for his tenure with the Seattle SuperSonics, his skills on the court, and his distinctive headbands.

Junior Bridgeman (1953–2025), Milwaukee Bucks co-owner

Junior Bridgeman was a former NBA player who went on to become a successful entrepreneur, owner of Ebony and Jet magazines, and co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Gus Williams (1953–2025), Seattle SuperSonics All-Star 

Gus Williams was a 12-year NBA veteran and two-time All-Star with the Seattle SuperSonics who helped lead the team to victory in the 1979 NBA Finals.

Chad Posthumus (1991–2024), Canadian basketball player

Chad Posthumus was a Canadian basketball player who played for the Winnipeg Sea Bears, among others, in the Canadian Elite Basketball League. 

Bob Love (1942–2024), Chicago Bulls great

Bob Love was a three-time All-Star forward for the Chicago Bulls who later became the team’s goodwill ambassador.

Jerrod Mustaf (1969–2024), Maryland basketball star

Jerrod Mustaf was a star basketball player at the University of Maryland who had a brief career with the New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns, as well as overseas teams. 

Dikembe Mutombo (1966–2024), Hall of Fame NBA shot-blocker

Dikembe Mutombo was an NBA star known for his towering height and his shot-blocking skills.

Al McCoy (1933–2024), longtime Phoenix Suns broadcaster

Al McCoy was a sports broadcaster best known for his 51 years as the play-by-play announcer for the Phoenix Suns, the longest tenure in NBA history. 

Mitchell Wiggins (1959–2024), Houston Rockets shooting guard

Mitchell Wiggins was a shooting guard for such NBA teams as the Houston Rockets and Chicago Bulls, as well as the father of current Golden State Warriors star Andrew Wiggins.

Alvin Attles (1936–2024), Golden State Warriors Hall of Famer 

Alvin Attles was a longtime NBA player, coach, executive and basketball Hall of Famer who spent more than 60 years with the Golden State Warriors.

Nick Mileti (1931–2024), founder of the Cleveland Cavaliers

Nick Mileti was an attorney, author, and businessman who was founder of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers and former owner of the MLB’s Cleveland Indians. 

Waraire Boswell (1975–2024), fashion designer to NBA stars 

Waraire Boswell was a fashion designer known for his bespoke designs for NBA icons like LeBron James and . 

Pat Williams (1940–2024), co-founder of the Orlando Magic

Pat Williams was a longtime basketball executive who helped lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a championship and eventually became co-founder of the Orlando Magic.

Joe “Jellybean” Bryant (1954–2024), WNBA coach & father of Kobe Bryant

Joe “Jellybean” Bryant was a former NBA player with the Philadelphia 76ers, a WBNA coach, and the father of NBA superstar . 

Jerry West (1938–2024), three-time NBA Hall of Famer

Jerry West was a three-time NBA Hall of Famer widely considered one of the best to ever play, as well as a successful executive who helped launch the career of iconic pro ballers like . 

Chet Walker (1940–2024), Hall of Fame NBA forward

Chet Walker was a 13-year veteran of the NBA, a Hall of Fame forward, and a seven-time All-Star who played with the Philadelphia 76ers and Chicago Bulls.

Drew Gordon (1990–2024), former Philadelphia 76ers forward

Drew Gordon was a power forward with such basketball teams as the Philadelphia 76ers, as well as the older brother of Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon. 

Bill Walton (1952–2024), Hall of Fame basketball player and announcer

Bill Walton was a Hall of Fame basketball player who won two championships with UCLA and two more after he joined the NBA, then became a star commentator after his playing days ended.

Darius Morris (1991–2024), former NBA point guard 

Darius Morris was a former NBA point guard who played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and others.0

Walt Wesley (1945–2024), former NBA player and Kansas Jayhawk 

Walt Wesley was a 10-year NBA veteran anda star player with the University of Kansas Jayhawks.

Robert Reid (1955–2024), Houston Rockets star in the 1980s

Robert Reid was a 13-year NBA veteran best known for his long tenure with the Houston Rockets, with whom he went to two NBA Finals.

Earl “The Twirl” Cureton (1957–2024), NBA “big man” and college star 

Earl “The Twirl” Cureton was an NBA player and college standout who excelled at the University of Detroit Mercy and played pro ball with the Philadelphia 76ers, Detroit Pistons, and others.

Dejan Milojević (1977–2024), Golden State Warriors assistant coach

Dejan Milojević was an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors and a former basketball star in Serbia, where he played for 15 years, winning three MVPs and three championships.

Herbert Kohl (1935–2023), former Senator and co-founder of Kohl’s 

Herbert Kohl was a businessman, politician, and philanthropist who was a former U.S. Senator, previous owner of the Milwaukee Bucks basketball team, and co-founder of Kohl’s department stores with his brother and father.0

Eric Montross (1971–2023), Tar Heels legend and NBA player

Eric Montross was an NBA basketball veteran and a member of the 1993 NCAA Championship-winning University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill Tar Heels team who came to be known as Bloody Montross after playing with a bleeding injury during a game against Duke University.

George McGinnis (1950–2023), Hall of Fame basketball great

George McGinnis was an ABA and NBA basketball player who led the Pacers to two ABA titles and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Johnny Green (1933–2023), four-time NBA all-star

Johnny Green was a four-time NBA All-Star who was a star player with the New York Knicks from 1959 to 1965, and who made the All-Star team his final time at the age of 37.

Walter Davis (1954–2023), Olympic gold medal-winning NBA star

Walter Davis was a basketball star at the University of North Carolina who later had six All-Star NBA appearances and won an Olympic gold medal with the 1976 USA men’s basketball team.  

Bobby “Bingo” Smith (1946–2023), Cleveland Cavaliers all-time great

Bobby “Bingo” Smith was an all-time great for the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers who was part of the Miracle of Richfield squad and had his number retired.

Terry Dischinger (1940–2023), Hall of Fame basketball player 

Terry Dischinger was a College Basketball Hall of Fame player, three-time NBA All Star, and Olympic gold medal winner who became a patent-holding orthodontist.

Brandon Hunter (1980–2023), former NBA forward 

Brandon Hunter was a standout basketball player at Ohio University who became a power forward in the NBA for the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic.

Tony Roberts (1928–2023), legendary Notre Dame broadcaster 

Tony Roberts was a longtime sports broadcaster who spent 26 years calling games for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team. 

Charles “Cotton” Nash (1942–2023), played in the NBA and MLB 

Charles “Cotton” Nash was a basketball star at the University of Kentucky in the 1960s who went on to play both basketball and baseball professionally.

Dick Groat (1930–2023), World Series champ with Pirates, Cardinals 

Dick Groat was a baseball and basketball player who won two World Series, with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the St. Louis Cardinals.

Willis Reed (1942–2023), all-time Knicks great

Willis Reed was an all-time New York Knicks great who helped his team win two NBA championships in the 1970s.

Chris Ford (1949–2023), Boston Celtics great

Chris Ford was a basketball player with the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons who scored the first three-point shot in NBA history.

Louis Orr (1958–2022), former NBA player and college basketball coach   

Louis Orr was a college basketball star at Syracuse University who played in the NBA and was a college basketball head coach.

Paul Silas (1943–2022), three-time NBA champion  

Paul Silas was a 3-time NBA champion and a head coach who was the first NBA coach of LeBron James.

Lucious Jackson (1941–2022), former Philadelphia 76ers star 

Lucious Jackson was a former NBA all-star with the Philadelphia 76ers who helped them win the 1967 NBA championship.

Bill Russell (1934–2022), Boston Celtics legend

Bill Russell was a legendary center for the Boston Celtics known for his defense who won five NBA MVP awards.

Mike Schuler (1940–2022), former NBA Coach of the Year

Mike Schuler  was a former NBA head coach for the Portland Trailblazers and the Los Angeles Clippers.

Lennie Rosenbluth (1933–2022), University of North Carolina basketball legend 

Lennie Rosenbluth was a legendary University of North Carolina basketball player who led the team to their first NCAA championship with a win over Kansas and Wilt Chamberlain.  

Caleb Swanigan (1997–2022), former Purdue basketball star 

Caleb Swanigan was a star power forward for the Purdue University men’s basketball team and was Indiana’s Mr. Basketball as a senior in high school.     

Bob Lanier (1948–2022), NBA great with Pistons and Bucks

Bob Lanier was a Basketball Hall of Famer who played center for the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks in the 1970s and ‘80s.

Sam Jones (1933–2021), Boston Celtics legend

Sam Jones was a legendary shooting guard for the Boston Celtics who helped them win 10 NBA Championships during his career.

Mark Eaton (1957–2021), Utah Jazz shot-blocking legend

Mark Eaton was a former 7-foot-4 shot-blocking defensive star with the Utah Jazz.

Elgin Baylor (1934–2021), Los Angeles Lakers Hall of Famer

Elgin Baylor was an NBA player and executive who was a superstar of the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1950s and ‘60s.

Paul Westphal (1950–2021), Basketball Hall of Famer

Paul Westphal was a five-time NBA All-Star who later became a head coach.

K.C. Jones (1932–2020), Celtics legend

K.C. Jones was the steady point guard for the Boston Celtics who helped lead the team to eight NBA titles as a player and then two more as the head coach.