RIP Walter Davis (1954-2023)

Discussion of the league and of our favorite team.
User avatar
Charlie Smithy!
Posts: 1517
Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 3:01 pm

Re: RIP Walter Davis (1953-2023)

Post by Charlie Smithy! »

The Bobster wrote:
Thu Nov 02, 2023 2:03 pm
This one is especially tough. Paul Westphal and Walter Davis WERE Suns basketball to me as a kid. Along with Alvan Adams they were the backbone of the team in the late 70's.

Davis played with such enthusiasm and joy that we were all shocked when his drug problems came to light.

It was terribly sad the way his tenure with the Suns ended, but fortunately there was a mending of fences, much like with the Suns and Westphal and Barkley, who also left with bad feelings.

If you asked most people who grew up in the 70's who the most beloved Sun was it was easily Davis. R.I.P. Walter.
Bob, do you think he could have or would have had anything left in the tank as an off the bench microwave for us in 1993? Saw that he played with the Nuggets in 1992. Feels like it would have been a pretty awesome Capper for his career.

User avatar
The Bobster
Posts: 6850
Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2014 1:04 pm
Location: Phoenix, AZ

Re: RIP Walter Davis (1953-2023)

Post by The Bobster »

Charlie Smithy! wrote:
Thu Nov 02, 2023 2:18 pm
The Bobster wrote:
Thu Nov 02, 2023 2:03 pm
This one is especially tough. Paul Westphal and Walter Davis WERE Suns basketball to me as a kid. Along with Alvan Adams they were the backbone of the team in the late 70's.

Davis played with such enthusiasm and joy that we were all shocked when his drug problems came to light.

It was terribly sad the way his tenure with the Suns ended, but fortunately there was a mending of fences, much like with the Suns and Westphal and Barkley, who also left with bad feelings.

If you asked most people who grew up in the 70's who the most beloved Sun was it was easily Davis. R.I.P. Walter.
Bob, do you think he could have or would have had anything left in the tank as an off the bench microwave for us in 1993? Saw that he played with the Nuggets in 1992. Feels like it would have been a pretty awesome Capper for his career.
I don't think he was at the point with the organization where that would have been possible. Plus, that team was pretty well stocked as SF and SG (at least until Ceballos got hurt in the postseason).
Author of The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts
Available from Scarecrow Press at - https://rowman.com/ISBN/9780810890695

User avatar
BKinSJC
Posts: 429
Joined: Thu Apr 30, 2015 12:36 am
Location: Southern California

Re: RIP Walter Davis (1954-2023)

Post by BKinSJC »

I changed my avatar out of respect (and the old Sarver cartoon GOAT was feeling a bit dated anyways). That SI cover from his rookie year is how I’ll always remember Sweet D, young, happy, athletic, and nearly unstoppable as a scorer.

He had bad injury luck and even worse addiction problems that the organization obviously didn’t know how to help him with at the time, but he’ll always be on my short list of favorites from my early years as a fan. RIP.

User avatar
Nodack
Posts: 9697
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2014 6:50 pm

Re: RIP Walter Davis (1954-2023)

Post by Nodack »

He was before my time as a Suns fan. I’m sure I would have loved watching him play. I didn’t see what he died of. 69 seems too young.
In four years, you don’t have to vote again. We’ll have it fixed so good, you’re not gonna have to vote.

User avatar
Superbone
Posts: 35807
Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 11:44 am
Location: Phoenix, AZ

Re: RIP Walter Davis (1954-2023)

Post by Superbone »

"Too little, too late, too unbothered."
- Phoenix Suns 2023-2024 season motto.

"Be Legendary."

User avatar
LazarusLong
Posts: 3158
Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2014 6:58 pm

Re: RIP Walter Davis (1954-2023)

Post by LazarusLong »

On Feb. 25, 1983, Walter Davis set an all-time NBA record when he successfully scored his first 34 points against Seattle before finally missing a shot. He made his first 15 field goals and converted four straight free throws before missing a jumper with 55 seconds left in the game. Larry Costello had formerly held the record, having made all of his attempts on his first 32 points for the Syracuse Nationals in 1961.
Window is open again ... blue skies ahead?

User avatar
Uncle_Gene
Posts: 846
Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2014 6:07 pm

Re: RIP Walter Davis (1954-2023)

Post by Uncle_Gene »

I remember watching him against the Lakers back in the day. He had a smooth jumper and was a great scorer.

R.I.P. Walter !
Phoenix Suns 2024-25 NBA Champions !

User avatar
Superbone
Posts: 35807
Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 11:44 am
Location: Phoenix, AZ

Re: RIP Walter Davis (1954-2023)

Post by Superbone »

"Too little, too late, too unbothered."
- Phoenix Suns 2023-2024 season motto.

"Be Legendary."

User avatar
Superbone
Posts: 35807
Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 11:44 am
Location: Phoenix, AZ

Re: RIP Walter Davis (1954-2023)

Post by Superbone »

"Too little, too late, too unbothered."
- Phoenix Suns 2023-2024 season motto.

"Be Legendary."

User avatar
The Bobster
Posts: 6850
Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2014 1:04 pm
Location: Phoenix, AZ

Re: RIP Walter Davis (1954-2023)

Post by The Bobster »

Well, it was a year too late for him to enjoy it, but Walter Davis has been elected into the Hall fof Fame.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/398 ... fame-class

Still, I don't know what makes Michael Cooper and Chauncy Billups more HoF worthy than Tom Chambers and Kevin Johnson, except for team accomplishments.
Author of The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts
Available from Scarecrow Press at - https://rowman.com/ISBN/9780810890695

User avatar
Superbone
Posts: 35807
Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 11:44 am
Location: Phoenix, AZ

Re: RIP Walter Davis (1954-2023)

Post by Superbone »

Congrats to Sweet D posthumously. At least his family can celebrate his life once again.

And I agree with you on Chambers and KJ.
"Too little, too late, too unbothered."
- Phoenix Suns 2023-2024 season motto.

"Be Legendary."

User avatar
MightyMoog
Posts: 595
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2014 4:59 pm

Re: RIP Walter Davis (1954-2023)

Post by MightyMoog »

The Bobster wrote:
Sat Apr 06, 2024 10:20 am
Well, it was a year too late for him to enjoy it, but Walter Davis has been elected into the Hall fof Fame.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/398 ... fame-class

Still, I don't know what makes Michael Cooper and Chauncy Billups more HoF worthy than Tom Chambers and Kevin Johnson, except for team accomplishments.
A DPOY and a finals MVP.

I think Chambers and KJ will get in eventually. KJ just needs people to forget all his cringe behavior first.

User avatar
Charlie Smithy!
Posts: 1517
Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 3:01 pm

Re: RIP Walter Davis (1954-2023)

Post by Charlie Smithy! »

If Karl Malone is in...🫠🫠🫠🥹🥹🥹😬😬😬🤢

User avatar
Shabazz
Posts: 7491
Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 11:16 pm

Re: RIP Walter Davis (1954-2023)

Post by Shabazz »

The Bobster wrote:
Sat Apr 06, 2024 10:20 am
Well, it was a year too late for him to enjoy it, but Walter Davis has been elected into the Hall fof Fame.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/398 ... fame-class

Still, I don't know what makes Michael Cooper and Chauncy Billups more HoF worthy than Tom Chambers and Kevin Johnson, except for team accomplishments.
I had this same thought when Billups got selected for the HOF. I watched both KJ and Billups and KJ was twice the player Chauncey was. Bad injury luck, team success (KJ didn’t have the benefit of playing in the awful 2000s EC) and the creepy stuff are the only reasons Billups is in the HOF instead.
Last edited by Shabazz on Tue Apr 09, 2024 1:31 am, edited 2 times in total.

User avatar
specialsauce
Posts: 7930
Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2014 8:45 pm

Re: RIP Walter Davis (1954-2023)

Post by specialsauce »

Shabazz wrote:
Mon Apr 08, 2024 3:10 pm
The Bobster wrote:
Sat Apr 06, 2024 10:20 am
Well, it was a year too late for him to enjoy it, but Walter Davis has been elected into the Hall fof Fame.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/398 ... fame-class

Still, I don't know what makes Michael Cooper and Chauncy Billups more HoF worthy than Tom Chambers and Kevin Johnson, except for team accomplishments.
I had this same thought when Billios got selected for the HOF. I watched both KJ and Billups and KJ was twice the player Chauncey was. Bad injury luck, team success (KJ didn’t have the benefit of playing in the awful 2000s EC) and the creepy stuff are the only reasons Billups is on the HOF instead.
Might as well put Derek Fisher in the HOF.

Ridiculous. So diluted any more.

User avatar
Shabazz
Posts: 7491
Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 11:16 pm

Re: RIP Walter Davis (1954-2023)

Post by Shabazz »

specialsauce wrote:
Mon Apr 08, 2024 3:55 pm
Shabazz wrote:
Mon Apr 08, 2024 3:10 pm
The Bobster wrote:
Sat Apr 06, 2024 10:20 am
Well, it was a year too late for him to enjoy it, but Walter Davis has been elected into the Hall fof Fame.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/398 ... fame-class

Still, I don't know what makes Michael Cooper and Chauncy Billups more HoF worthy than Tom Chambers and Kevin Johnson, except for team accomplishments.
I had this same thought when Billios got selected for the HOF. I watched both KJ and Billups and KJ was twice the player Chauncey was. Bad injury luck, team success (KJ didn’t have the benefit of playing in the awful 2000s EC) and the creepy stuff are the only reasons Billups is on the HOF instead.
Might as well put Derek Fisher in the HOF.

Ridiculous. So diluted any more.
I don’t think Chauncey doesn’t deserve to be there, but the HOF always seems to weigh team success much more heavily than individual brilliance. And team success is very much luck-based, except for the truly great players.

User avatar
The Bobster
Posts: 6850
Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2014 1:04 pm
Location: Phoenix, AZ

Re: RIP Walter Davis (1954-2023)

Post by The Bobster »

Shabazz wrote:
Mon Apr 08, 2024 4:26 pm
specialsauce wrote:
Mon Apr 08, 2024 3:55 pm
Shabazz wrote:
Mon Apr 08, 2024 3:10 pm
The Bobster wrote:
Sat Apr 06, 2024 10:20 am
Well, it was a year too late for him to enjoy it, but Walter Davis has been elected into the Hall fof Fame.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/398 ... fame-class

Still, I don't know what makes Michael Cooper and Chauncy Billups more HoF worthy than Tom Chambers and Kevin Johnson, except for team accomplishments.
I had this same thought when Billios got selected for the HOF. I watched both KJ and Billups and KJ was twice the player Chauncey was. Bad injury luck, team success (KJ didn’t have the benefit of playing in the awful 2000s EC) and the creepy stuff are the only reasons Billups is on the HOF instead.
Might as well put Derek Fisher in the HOF.

Ridiculous. So diluted any more.
I don’t think Chauncey doesn’t deserve to be there, but the HOF always seems to weigh team success much more heavily than individual brilliance. And team success is very much luck-based, except for the truly great players.
Let's put it this way - if the Lakers had drafted Larry Nance instead of the Suns and he had been playing PF for the on those teams, he'd be in the HoF by now. A lot of people probably won't agree, but Nance was a better player than Worthy.
Author of The Basketball Draft Fact Book: A History of Professional Basketball's College Drafts
Available from Scarecrow Press at - https://rowman.com/ISBN/9780810890695

User avatar
In2ition
Posts: 12987
Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 1:35 pm

Re: RIP Walter Davis (1954-2023)

Post by In2ition »

I wonder how things would have been different if the Suns won the coin flip? It's possible that Kareem would have stayed in Phoenix his whole career and the Suns would have become the NBA standard.
"When we all think alike, nobody is thinking" - Walter Lippmann
"Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have the exact measure of the injustice and wrong which will be imposed on them." ~ Frederick Douglass

User avatar
Superbone
Posts: 35807
Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 11:44 am
Location: Phoenix, AZ

Re: RIP Walter Davis (1954-2023)

Post by Superbone »

In2ition wrote:
Tue Apr 09, 2024 8:15 am
I wonder how things would have been different if the Suns won the coin flip? It's possible that Kareem would have stayed in Phoenix his whole career and the Suns would have become the NBA standard.
Fun to think about. I'd love to check out that alternate reality world! (In before AIG recommends NBA 2K.)
"Too little, too late, too unbothered."
- Phoenix Suns 2023-2024 season motto.

"Be Legendary."

User avatar
BKinSJC
Posts: 429
Joined: Thu Apr 30, 2015 12:36 am
Location: Southern California

Re: RIP Walter Davis (1954-2023)

Post by BKinSJC »

Superbone wrote:
Tue Apr 09, 2024 10:40 am
In2ition wrote:
Tue Apr 09, 2024 8:15 am
I wonder how things would have been different if the Suns won the coin flip? It's possible that Kareem would have stayed in Phoenix his whole career and the Suns would have become the NBA standard.
Fun to think about. I'd love to check out that alternate reality world! (In before AIG recommends NBA 2K.)
I think Kareem eventually has the same issues with Phoenix that he did with Milwaukee, as far as feeling too culturally dry. Kareem/Goodrich/Van Arsdale/Silas is a very good core for that era, though, and might have won a ring or two along the way.

Post Reply