By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Paul Westphal has been diagnosed with brain cancer, specifically glioblastoma, his longtime friend Mike Lupica revealed via a post on Twitter.
Coming out of USC back in 1972, Westphal launched his professional career after being picked 10th in the NBA draft. The 1974 championship with the Boston Celtics highlighted his playing days also including five straight All-Star appearances between 1977 and 1981, and three All-NBA first-team nods. His #44 has since been retired by the Phoenix Suns.
After his stints with the Celtics, Suns, Seattle Supersonics, and New York Knicks moved on to a coaching career stretching from 1985 to 2016. As an NBA head coach for the Suns, Supersonics and the Sacramento Kings guided his players to 318 wins and 597 games.
Westphal, 69, was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.
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