Paul Westphal
(Born 1950)
Hall of Fame Induction: 2019
Card Shown:
2014-15 Panini Preferred
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Position: PG/SG
Height: 6’4″
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Paul Westphal played college basketball at the University of Southern California (USC) and then enjoyed a successful 12-year NBA career. He played for the Boston Celtics, where he won an NBA title, but he is perhaps best remembered as a leader on the Phoenix Suns teams of the late 1970s.
After a distinguished playing career, Paul coached at the college and professional levels. In 1987-88, he led the Grand Canyon University Antelopes to the NAIA national title and finished his two-year stint at GCU with a 63-18 record. Westphal also coached the Phoenix Suns to a Western Conference title in 1992-93.
Awards and Honors
- Westphal played his college basketball at the University of Southern California (USC), where he was selected to the NCAA AP All-America Second Team in 1970-71. His number 25 jersey was retired by the Trojans in 2007.
- In his second year in the league, Paul won the 1974 NBA Championship with a Boston Celtics team that included Dave Cowens, John Havlicek, and Jo Jo White.
- In 1975-76, Westphal led the Phoenix Suns to the Western Conference title. The Suns lost to his former team, the Celtics, in a Finals series that included a triple-overtime loss in Game 5 that some remember as the greatest game that was ever played.
- Paul was a five-time NBA All-Star, earning the honor each year from 1977 through 1981.
- Westphal was the 1982-83 NBA Comeback Player of the Year.
Points of Interest
- Westphal was the 10th overall selection by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 1972 NBA Draft.
- Paul ended his 12-year NBA career with averages of 15.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. His best year was in 1977-78 when he averaged 25.2 points and 5.5 assists per game and finished sixth in the balloting for Most Valuable Player.
- After his playing career, Westphal had a long and distinguished career as an NBA coach from . He was an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns for four years before becoming head coach for another four years. Paul also coached for the Seattle SuperSonics, Dallas Mavericks (assistant), Sacramento Kings, and Brooklyn Nets (assistant).
- In 1992-93, Paul coached the Suns to a 62-20 record and a trip to the NBA Finals. That Phoenix team included Charles Barkley, Kevin Johnson, and Danny Ainge. They lost in six games to the Chicago Bulls who were led by Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.
- Westphal has also been inducted into the USC Hall of Fame, the Pac 12 Hall of Honor, and the Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor.
Statistics
Paul Westphal Statistics
provided by Basketball-Reference.com