Hall of Fame player and coach Passes Away at 87
Springfield, Mass. - The basketball community is mourning the death today of Bill Sharman, a long time player and coach who passed away this morning at his home in Redondo Beach, California.
“Bill was one of a kind, an amazing coach, player and an even better person,” said John Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “He impacted the lives of so many of his teammates and players through out his life. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends during this difficult time.”
Sharman was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1976. He was a standout athlete at the University of Southern California, where he was a two-time All-Pacific Coast Conference selection and Conference MVP. After his tenure at USC, he later went on to spend ten seasons with the Celtics. Teaming up with legendary point guard Bob Cousy, becoming one of the NBA’s most formidable and championship-laden backcourt duos. In 1996 he was selected as one of the 50 greatest players of the NBA’s first 50 years. Sharman later went on to coach for fifteen seasons and was the first coach to win championships in three different pro leagues. He was inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach in 2004.