At the very beginning of 2021, I heard that Paul Westphal had died at the age of 70, and I don’t especially like to dwell upon my own mortality, despite the fact that my buddy, Lawrence, seems to not want me to forget that I am “70.”
Also, Mr. Westphal did not play for any of my favorite basketball teams—high school, college, or professional—and did not coach any of them either!
And, when he helped coach the Dallas Mavericks, I just never noticed him doing anything special!
But, for some reason, I found the January 3, 2021, newspaper article about his “passing” and some key ele-ments of his life that I had tucked away in a box of junk that I had told myself I might someday need, or at least read.
I believe strongly in the power of God and that He is in total control, but I like to sometimes say to folks, “Well, that was DESTINY!” (definition: predetermined course of events, sometimes called “fate,” governed by an irresistible power {GOD} or agency)
So, for whatever reason I thumbed through the box today, I found the article, written by Beth Harris, that was titled, “College, NBA Legend Could Do It All.” I think I had set it aside as a result of that headline, because I had never been a big fan or thought that he “could do it all”—that was “Dr. J” or the “Big Dipper” or “Meadowlark Lemon.” But, I did read the article and several more on the “net,” and I have changed my mind!
PAUL DOUGLAS WESTPHAL, born on November 3, 1950, in Torrance (suburb of Los Angeles), lived and exemplified what former Phoenix Suns owner, Jerry Colangelo, stated upon his passing from brain cancer. “…..All he accomplished as a player and as a coach…… Off the court he was a gentleman, a family man, a great moral character. He represented the Suns the way you want every player to represent your franchise.”
As a high schooler at Aviation High School in Redondo Beach, California, Paul was named the 1968 California Interscholastic Federation Player of the Year as a Senior.
Paul Westphal played his college basketball at the University of Southern California from 1968—1972. He wore jersey #25, and that number hangs from the “rafters” of the Galen Center. He was All-Pac 8 for all three varsity years he played at USC and is in their Athletic Hall of Fame. In 1971, this 6’ 4” guard led the Trojans to 24 wins and only 2 losses. The next year, he returned to lead them with a 20.3 scoring average and All-American honors.
1972—He was taken in the 1st round of the NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics and stayed with them for three years (being a key “come off the bench player” and helping them win an NBA Title in 1974) before being traded to Phoenix, the team that “retired” his jersey!
1976—Westphal (fivetime All-Star guard and three-time All-NBA First Team selection) helped the Suns reach their first ever NBA Finals (averaging 21 points per game), matching up with his old team, the Celtics! He also later played for Seattle and the Knicks. For his career, he averaged 1.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 15.6 points per game.
In 1993, he guided the Phoenix Suns to the NBA Finals and was also later the Head Coach at Seattle and Sacramento. His earlier college coaching stints were with Southwestern Baptist Bible College, Grand Canyon, and Pepperdine.
In 2018, the College Basketball Hall of Fame inducted him, and in 2019, Westphal entered (as a player) the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Back in 1982-1983, he had been voted “Comeback Player of the Year,” after having been hit hard and limited by several severe injuries.
Let me conclude with a defining moment in the basketball life of the player, known by his friends as “WESTY.” GAME 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics: Westphal made several key plays to push the game—often called the greatest in play-off history—to TRIPLE OVERTIME. Then, the “ever-thinking-ahead” leader, said to “Call the time-out.” (which forced a free-throw but gave the Suns the ball at half-court and set up the opportunity to tie the game, which they did!) As the Suns owner remembered, “That was ‘thinking right on the spot right at the moment!’”
I am glad I saved that clipping about Paul Westphal.
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