Walter Davis, a well-known former NBA player and star of the University of North Carolina basketball team, has sadly passed away at the age of 69. He died of natural causes while he was visiting his family in Charlotte, North Carolina. Davis had a remarkable career, being part of the gold medal-winning United States team at the 1976 Olympic Games. Notably, he was also the uncle of Hubert Davis, who is currently the coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels.
During his college years, Davis showed immense talent, averaging 15.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game over four seasons. His skills carried over to the NBA, where he experienced great success. Davis spent an impressive 11 seasons playing for the Phoenix Suns. In his rookie season in 1977-78, he was honored as the NBA Rookie of the Year. He also received recognition as a six-time All-Star throughout his career.
In a total of 1,033 career games with the Suns, Denver Nuggets, and Portland Trail Blazers, Davis showcased his abilities, maintaining an average of 18.9 points, 3.8 assists, and 3.0 rebounds. His outstanding performance on the court earned him the distinction of having his jersey number, 6, retired by the Suns in 1994. Walter Davis will undoubtedly be remembered for his remarkable contributions to the basketball world, both as a player and as a beloved member of the Tar Heel family.