Across Arizona, those touched by the career and generosity of spirit of Paul Westphal are mourning his death. The Phoenix Suns announced the passing of the Hall of Fame guard, five-time All-Star, and Arizona Christian University benefactor on Saturday.
Westphal, who passed at the age of 70, had been diagnosed with brain cancer in August 2020.
“Westy will forever be remembered as a prominent Valley sports legend both on and off the court,” Suns managing partner Robert Sarver said in a statement Saturday. “He built an illustrious career as both a player and a coach. His legacy ranks among the most quintessential basketball icons of all time.
Westphal was the 1968 California Interscholastic Federation Player of the Year as a senior playing for Aviation High School in Redondo Beach. After graduating from Aviation, Westphal played three seasons at USC (freshmen weren’t allowed to play on the varsity), earning All-Pac-10 honors in all three, including two First Team selections. He helped lead the Trojans to a 24-2 mark in 1971. USC retired Westphal’s jersey number 25 and he was inducted into their Athletic Hall of Fame on May 17, 1997. The Pac-10 also honored Westphal, electing him to the Pac-10 Hall of Honor on March 15, 2008.
He was the 10th overall pick in the 1972 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics. After three seasons in Boston, including a championship ring in 1974, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns. In 1976, Westphal helped the Suns reach their first-ever Finals appearance, where they played the Celtics. Some have deemed Game 5 of that series as the greatest game ever played in basketball. In addition to being a five-time All-Star selection, from 1977 to 1981, Westphal earned three All-NBA First Team selections and one Second Team honor. Later, he returned to the Finals in 1993 as head coach of the Phoenix Suns. He began his coaching career in 1985 with Southwestern Baptist Bible College, now Arizona Christian University where he compiled a 21–9 record.
In 1988, after three years in the college ranks, Westphal became an assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns. In 1992 he succeeded Cotton Fitzsimmons as head coach of the Suns. The Suns made it to the Finals in his first season as a coach, but eventually lost to the Chicago Bulls in six games. He went on to coach with the Seattle Supersonics, Pepperdine University, Dallas Mavericks, and Sacramento Kings.