It is the university of North Carolina who broke the news on his social networks : Walter Davis died today of natural causes at age 69.
“Walt” was a legend A Cnotably leading his university to the NCAA final and scoring no less than 1,863 points under the orders of the equally legendary Dean Smith, who also led him during Team USA’s gold medal at the Montreal Olympics in 1976 .
Olympic Champion and Rookie Of The Year!
In the NBA, Walter Davis was best known for his eleven-season stint at Phoenix. Named an All-Star six times in Arizona, he was also elected Rookie of the Year in 1978, in addition to being named to an All-NBA Team twice. Also passed by Denver and Portland at the end, the 5th choice of the 1977 Draft averaged 18.9 points, 3.8 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals in his career.
Best scorer in the history of Suns (15,666 points), who retired his number #6, this elegant and efficient fullback/winger was capable of memorable hot shots. Like that evening in March 1979, where he scored 40 points and the winning basket against the Supersonics, future NBA champions who would eliminate him in the conference final a few weeks later. His best run in the playoffs (like in 1984 and 1991).
| Walter Davis | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 1977-78 | PHX | 81 | 32 | 52.6 | 83.0 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 1.4 | 3.5 | 0.3 | 24.2 | |
| 1978-79 | PHX | 79 | 31 | 56.1 | 83.1 | 1.4 | 3.3 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 3.2 | 1.9 | 3.7 | 0.3 | 23.7 | |
| 1979-80 | PHX | 75 | 31 | 56.3 | 0.0 | 81.9 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 3.2 | 0.3 | 21.5 |
| 1980-81 | PHX | 78 | 28 | 53.9 | 41.2 | 83.6 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 3.9 | 2.5 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 0.2 | 18.0 |
| 1981-82 | PHX | 55 | 22 | 52.3 | 18.8 | 82.0 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 3.0 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 0.1 | 14.4 |
| 1982-83 | PHX | 80 | 31 | 51.6 | 30.4 | 81.8 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 2.5 | 5.0 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 19.0 |
| 1983-84 | PHX | 78 | 33 | 51.2 | 23.0 | 86.3 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 5.5 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 0.2 | 20.0 |
| 1984-85 | PHX | 23 | 25 | 45.0 | 30.0 | 87.7 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 4.3 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 15.0 |
| 1985-86 | PHX | 70 | 32 | 48.5 | 23.7 | 84.3 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 2.9 | 5.1 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 3.1 | 0.0 | 21.8 |
| 1986-87 | PHX | 79 | 34 | 51.7 | 25.9 | 86.2 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 3.1 | 4.6 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 0.1 | 23.6 |
| 1987-88 | PHX | 68 | 29 | 47.3 | 37.5 | 88.7 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 4.1 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 0.0 | 17.9 |
| 1988-89 | DEN | 81 | 23 | 49.8 | 29.0 | 87.9 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 15.6 |
| 1989-90 | DEN | 69 | 24 | 48.1 | 13.0 | 91.2 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 17.5 |
| 1990-91 * | All Teams | 71 | 21 | 46.8 | 30.6 | 91.5 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 2.6 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 13.0 |
| 1990-91 * | DEN | 39 | 27 | 47.4 | 30.3 | 91.5 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 18.7 |
| 1990-91 * | POR | 32 | 14 | 44.6 | 33.3 | 91.3 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 6.1 |
| 1991-92 | DEN | 46 | 16 | 45.9 | 31.3 | 87.2 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 9.9 |
| Total | 1033 | 28 | 51.2 | 27.2 | 85.1 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 2.5 | 0.1 | 18.9 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
