Former NBA level guard Gus Williams, who helped lead the SuperSonics to their solely title in 1979, died Wednesday at age 71, in line with Seattle Times.
No explanation for loss of life has been launched for the Mount Vernon, N.Y., native.
Williams, who earned the nickname “The Wizard” for his scoring and pace, was residing in a Baltimore care facility on the time of his loss of life following a stroke he suffered in February 2020.
Williams’ final recognized public look was at a Mariners recreation at T-Cell Park the place the group honored the SuperSonics on June 1, 2019. 40th Anniversary of their NBA Championship in a pregame ceremony – which included his Seattle teammates Dennis Autry, Fred Brown, Tom LaGarde, Jack Sikma, Wally Walker and coach Lenny Wilkens.
“His vitality was at all times so optimistic and his humorousness was at all times there,” Walker mentioned. “He received together with all people. It was at all times enjoyable with Gus and a number of laughs.
“He had a number of phrases that had been simply humorous. One among his was, “There have been solely two sorts of individuals, the short and the lifeless.” And naturally, he was the short. He was lightning fast and quick, each, and he was a one man quick break. He took the ball and weaved his method by means of visitors. He was simply so quick. Nobody ever caught him.
Two years prior, Williams attended the 2017 WNBA All-Star Sport. and posed for a photograph with Brown and former Warriors president Rick Welts at Seattle’s KeyArena.
Williams spent six seasons with the SuperSonics, and the group retired his No. 1 jersey throughout a recreation towards the Denver Nuggets at KeyArena on March 26, 2004.
Williams performed two seasons with Golden State after the Warriors chosen him within the second spherical, twentieth general, out of USC within the 1975 NBA draft.
The Trojans retired his No. 10 jersey in 2016.
Williams averaged 26.7 factors throughout Seattle’s 1979 title run. and appeared on the quilt of Sports activities Illustrated that yr.
Williams made waves when he sat out your entire subsequent season as a result of a contract dispute with Seattle.
He returned for the 1981-82 season and averaged a career-high 23.4 factors per recreation en path to being named the NBA Comeback Participant of the Yr.
Williams was a two-time NBA All-Star and earned a 1982 All-NBA First Staff choice.
