Top Ten Saddest NBA Deaths
Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American basketball player. He was born on August 21, 1936 in Philadelphia and died on October 12, 1999 in Los Angeles due to heart failure.Wilt Chamberlain set the books by scoring the most points scored in a single game (100), most rebounds in a game (55), and most consecutive field goals (18).
He played for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, and the Los Angeles Lakers. His biggest rival was former Boston Celtics center Bill Russell, but they are also good friends. He won 2 NBA Titles, 1 with the 76ers and one with the Lakers. ...read more.
What a loss to the world of basketball. Even in his late 50's, he looked like he could still play at an NBA level, possibly the most perfect human specimen ever.
That sucks, it is sad when great people die. I wonder how good he was at the time when he was alive?
He died in 1999 due to heart failure, which shocked the world. He was 63 years old.
Peter Press Maravich, known by his nickname Pistol Pete, was an American professional basketball player. Believe it or not, he was playing a pick up basketball game RIGHT before he died, which was in 1988. He was only 40 years old. Why did he die so soon?
Moses Eugene Malone was an American basketball player who played in both the American Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association from 1974 through 1995. The center was named the NBA Most Valuable Player three times and was a 12-time NBA All-Star and an eight-time All-NBA selection. A 3 time MVP. One of the greatest giants of the game.
George Lawrence Mikan Jr., nicknamed Mr. Basketball, was an American professional basketball player for the Chicago American Gears of the National Basketball League and the Minneapolis Lakers of the NBL, the Basketball Association of America and the National Basketball Association. Greatest big man of his era, but hardly made any money at all. Died almost penniless, what a tragedy.
The first giant the NBA. He led the Minneapolis Lakers to 5 championships. He was 80 years old.
Nathaniel Thurmond was an American basketball player who spent the majority of his 14-year career in the National Basketball Association with the Golden State Warriors. He played the center and power forward positions. RIP big guy, both Kareem and Wilt said that he was the best they played against with the exception of each other, with Wilt meaning that Nate was better than Russell, and Kareem meaning that he was better than Hakeem. High praise indeed.
His best single-game rebound total was 42- only Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain ever had single game rebound totals that were higher.
He actually died 2 days ago.
One of the tallest players in NBA History. I don't think he even had to jump to dunk.
Darryl Dawkins was an American professional basketball player, most noted for his days with the National Basketball Association's Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets, although he also played briefly for the Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz late in his career. He was one of the best dunkers of all time. In fact, he was able to break the backboards.
Kobe Bryant (1978 - 2020) was an American retired professional basketball player. He played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. Kobe Bryant has won 5 NBA championships with the Lakers and was the all-time leading scorer in Lakers franchise history. ...read more.
Leonard Kevin "Len" Bias was a first-team All-American college basketball forward at the University of Maryland. The fact that he died before he ever played (of an overdose on cocaine: Don't do drugs, kids) will have one of the greatest "What If" questions in NBA history
