Former University of North Carolina and NBA All-Star Walter Davis reportedly passed away quietly on Thursday, November 2, while visiting his family in North Carolina. He was 69 years old.
Walter Davis's cause of death is said to be of natural causes. The uncle of UNC head coach Hubert Davis was known as one of the best shooters in Carolina basketball history and is a member of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, the UNC Men's Basketball official website noted.
Davis was also a member of the USA Men's basketball team that won the gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics. He was selected to be part of the team by Dean Smith, who also happened to be his mentor at the University of Carolina.
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Davis Tar Heels run
Walter Davis' stats as a UNC Tar Heel alone show why he was a star player during his prime. He compiled an impressive 1,863 points and 670 rebounds and dished 409 assists.
However, Davis is best known for the 25-foot shot at the buzzer he made against the Duke Blue Devils in 1974 that forced the game into overtime. The Tar Heels went on to win that game, the New York Post reported.
Michael Jordan's hero
Davis was one of the rare players that former Tar Heel Michael Jordan singled out as one of his heroes growing up.
RIP Walter Davis, the 1978 NBA Rookie of the Year and 6x NBA All-Star who averaged 20 points per game over his first 11 seasons. Davis was one of Michael Jordan’s idols and inspirations, as he was a senior at UNC when MJ was in 8th grade. MJ on David Thompson and Walter Davis: pic.twitter.com/st2dfDi3W3
— Jack M Silverstein (@readjack) November 2, 2023
Davis' success in the NBA
Davis would continue his outstanding play in the NBA after getting drafted by the Phoenix Suns as the fifth overall pick of the 1977 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-6 player made six NBA All-Star appearances and is a two-time All-NBA Second team member.
Things went sour between Davis and the Suns due to a drug-related issue, but both sides eventually settled their differences. Walter Davis jersey no. 6 was retired by the Suns in 1994. Also, in 2004, "Sweet D" was enshrined in the Suns' Ring of Honor. The Phoenix Suns honored Davis following word of his death via CNN.
We are heartbroken by the passing of Suns legend Walter Davis, the franchise’s all-time leading scorer and a member of our Ring of Honor.
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) November 2, 2023
‘Sweet D’ was one of the game’s best, a prolific scorer whose smooth playing style and ‘velvet touch’ endeared him to generations of our… pic.twitter.com/Ai9pmafJYt
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