RIP Paul Westphal

[The Bobster]

The championship of the HORSE competition (which was shown at halftimes all season long) was supposed to be Westphal and Peter Maravich. When Maravich tore up his knee prior to the showdown Westphal was named champion.

Maravich was replaced by a disguised Rick Barry who was working for CBS during the playoffs. Westphal then beat Barry in a free throw shooting contest.

[carey]

He was the coach when I became a Suns fan. Hell, an NBA fan. Prayers are with his family at this time. May his memory be a blessing.

[SunsRIt]

Westphal was the Steve Nash of my era. Sad to hear.

[The Bobster]

Westphal was the Steve Nash of my era. Sad to hear.

He really was - three time 1st Team All-NBA, 1-time 2nd Team, his arrival (along with Alvan Adams) the 1975-76 and 1978-79 Suns were two of my favorite teams. They were exciting, championship-caliber teams.

An indication of how competitive Westphal was - In 1977-78 and 1978-79 the NBA and CBS held a three-on-three eight-team tournament with each team consisting one a current NBA player, a former NBA player and a "show business celebrity." In 1977-78 the team of Westphal, Gus Johnson and actor Richard Hatch won the competition, in 1978-79 the team of Westphal, Sam Jones and comedian David Steinberg won.

[LazarusLong]

When Walter Davis was a rookie, he and Westphal combined for almost 50 pts a game.
They had a great perimeter rotation with Westy, Walter, Don Buse and Ronnie Lee.
And Mike Bratz, who struggled to get playing time, was a terrific deep shooter.
Larry Brown called that version of the Suns, "pretty to watch"

[DesertcoastPartDeux]

So many great Westphal moments, but that '93 Suns-Lakers "and everyone will say what a great series it was" moment lit this town on fire. RIP Westy

[Nodack]

That sucks.

[The Bobster]

Phoenix Suns named All-NBA 1st Team -

3x - Paul Westphal
2x - Jason Kidd, Steve Nash
1x - Charles Barkley, Connie Hawkins, Dennis Johnson

[Split T]

Phoenix Suns named All-NBA 1st Team -

3x - Paul Westphal
2x - Jason Kidd, Steve Nash
1x - Charles Barkley, Connie Hawkins, Dennis Johnson

I thought Amare snagged a 1st team one year at C

[Wally_West]

[Flagrant Fowl]

I'll always be a Cotton guy, but Westy was great as a player before my time and later as a coach. I took a personal moment of silence when I woke up and read the news.

I don't know how many of our current players really knew him or are in a place where they can really reflect on what 44 has meant to this franchise, but dammit, his passing is the kind of blessing that can help boost this team to heights that no one thinks are possible.

Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges are Ring of Honor hopefuls, so I hope they take an extra moment once in a while to think about the people who came before them and really put it all on the line for our collective glory.

[The Bobster]

My bad, he did in 2006-07. That's what I get for posting somebody else's list without double-checking it. Here's the correct list -

Most 1st Team All-NBA -

3x - Paul Westphal ('77, '79' 80), Jason Kidd ('99, '00, '01), Steve Nash ('05, '06, '07)
1x - Connie Hawkins ('70), Dennis Johnson ('81), Charles Barkley ('93), Amare Stoudemire ('07)

Also, most All-Star Games -

6x - Walter Davis ('78, '79, '80, '81' '84, '87), Steve Nash ('05, '06, '07, '08, 10, '12)
5x - Amare Stoudemire ('05, '07, '08, '09, '10)
4x - Connie Hawkins ('70, '71, '72, '73), Paul Westphal ('77, '78, '79, '80), Charles Barkley ('93, '94, '95, '96), Shawn Marion ('03, '05, '06, '07)
3x - Dick Van Arsdale ('69, '70, '71), Charlie Scott ('73, '74, '75), Tom Chambers ('89, '90, 91), Kevin Johnson ('90, '91, '94), Dan Majerle ('92, '93, 95), Jason Kidd ('98, '00, '01)

[Superbone]

[Wally_West]