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Related: About this forumWes Unseld, Hall of Famer instrumental in Washington's only NBA title, dies at 74
Obituaries
Wes Unseld, Hall of Famer instrumental in Washingtons only NBA title, dies at 74
By Dave Sheinin
June 2, 2020 at 10:02 a.m. EDT
Wes Unselds calling card during a Hall of Fame career in the National Basketball Association was not a majestic jump shot or a slick crossover dribble or a thunderous dunk it was the precise, bone-crushing picks he set on opposing defenders, inevitably freeing up one of his teammates for a score. His impact was measured less in points and rebounds than in bruises.
I dont know of anybody who ever set a meaner screen, former shooting guard Doug Collins of the rival Philadelphia 76ers once said of him.
Mr. Unseld, who died June 2 at 74, was the most important figure in the history of the franchise that morphed from the Baltimore Bullets to the Washington Bullets to the Washington Wizards. The cause was complications from pneumonia, the team announced. No other details were immediately available.
{snip}
Coming out of high school, he was recruited by the University of Kentuckys Adolph Rupp, one of the winningest coaches in college basketball, who was being pressured to integrate the schools all-white team. Mr. Unseld, who reportedly received racial threats, said he went instead to the University of Louisville in part to be closer to his father, who had suffered a heart attack. He was twice named an all-American at Louisville, graduating in 1968.
{snip}
Dave Sheinin
Dave Sheinin has been covering baseball and writing features and enterprise stories for The Washington Post since 1999. In 2019, he was awarded the Dan Jenkins Medal for Excellence in Sportswriting. Follow https://twitter.com/DaveSheinin
Wes Unseld, Hall of Famer instrumental in Washingtons only NBA title, dies at 74
By Dave Sheinin
June 2, 2020 at 10:02 a.m. EDT
Wes Unselds calling card during a Hall of Fame career in the National Basketball Association was not a majestic jump shot or a slick crossover dribble or a thunderous dunk it was the precise, bone-crushing picks he set on opposing defenders, inevitably freeing up one of his teammates for a score. His impact was measured less in points and rebounds than in bruises.
I dont know of anybody who ever set a meaner screen, former shooting guard Doug Collins of the rival Philadelphia 76ers once said of him.
Mr. Unseld, who died June 2 at 74, was the most important figure in the history of the franchise that morphed from the Baltimore Bullets to the Washington Bullets to the Washington Wizards. The cause was complications from pneumonia, the team announced. No other details were immediately available.
{snip}
Coming out of high school, he was recruited by the University of Kentuckys Adolph Rupp, one of the winningest coaches in college basketball, who was being pressured to integrate the schools all-white team. Mr. Unseld, who reportedly received racial threats, said he went instead to the University of Louisville in part to be closer to his father, who had suffered a heart attack. He was twice named an all-American at Louisville, graduating in 1968.
{snip}
Dave Sheinin
Dave Sheinin has been covering baseball and writing features and enterprise stories for The Washington Post since 1999. In 2019, he was awarded the Dan Jenkins Medal for Excellence in Sportswriting. Follow https://twitter.com/DaveSheinin
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Wes Unseld, Hall of Famer instrumental in Washington's only NBA title, dies at 74 (Original Post)
mahatmakanejeeves
Jun 2020
OP
KPN
(15,646 posts)1. The most impressive basketball play I ever
saw live and in person was by Wes Unseld. He stole a pass while his back was and had been to the defender. Seeing that and realizing he pinpointed the ball and its timing by watching the eyes of the player he was defending who, by the way was at least 6 or 7 feet or so away from him, just absolutely blew my mind. His back was still to the ball when he reached out and tapped it backhanded out of the air deftly to the floor, into his other hand as he turned and streaked up court.
Wes Unseld was a pleasure to watch. Rest In Peace Wes.
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)2. Not a big NBA fan, but I liked Unseld a lot. RIP
bluedigger
(17,086 posts)3. One of the all timers.
RIP