Walt Hazzard, who played on John Wooden's first NCAA championship team at UCLA and helped win a gold medal for the United States in 1964, has died, his family said. He was 69.
Hazzard's family said he passed away Friday afternoon at UCLA's Ronald Reagan Medical Center. He had been recuperating there for an extended period due to complications following heart surgery, the family said.
Hazzard had a 10-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers, Seattle Supersonics, Atlanta Hawks, Buffalo Braves and Golden State Warriors. He twice reached the NBA Finals with the Lakers, the team that picked him in the first round of the 1964 NBA draft.
He returned to UCLA to coach the Bruins between 1984 and 1988. The team went 77-47 in his four seasons, as the Bruins won the 1985 NIT and reached the NCAA tournament in 1986-87.
Hazzard came to UCLA from Overbrook High School in Philadelphia, where he led the school to an 89-3 record and two city championships in his three varsity seasons.
As a senior co-captain and point guard in 1963-64, Hazzard led the Bruins to a 30-0 season and the school's first NCAA title. He averaged 18.6 points per game and was named most outstanding player of the 1964 NCAA Tournament.
UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero and men's basketball coach Ben Howland remembered Hazzard for his numerous contributions to the school and its basketball program and offered their best wishes to his family.
"Walt was one of the pillars of UCLA's first championship team in men's basketball," Howland said. "He was a great player and an outstanding coach at UCLA. He is a huge part of the Bruin legacy, and he left life-long memories for the Bruin faithful."
After his senior season at UCLA, Hazzard was chosen for the United States men's team that won gold at the 1964 Tokyo Games.
In 10 NBA seasons, he averaged 12.6 points and 4.9 assists per game. He averaged 24 points and 6.2 assists per game for Seattle in 1967-68.
Hazzard is survived by his widow Jaleesa, who was a Bruin song girl during UCLA's 1963-1964 season, and four adult sons. Details for a funeral service were pending Friday.
Hazzard's family said he passed away Friday afternoon at UCLA's Ronald Reagan Medical Center. He had been recuperating there for an extended period due to complications following heart surgery, the family said.
Hazzard had a 10-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers, Seattle Supersonics, Atlanta Hawks, Buffalo Braves and Golden State Warriors. He twice reached the NBA Finals with the Lakers, the team that picked him in the first round of the 1964 NBA draft.
He returned to UCLA to coach the Bruins between 1984 and 1988. The team went 77-47 in his four seasons, as the Bruins won the 1985 NIT and reached the NCAA tournament in 1986-87.
Hazzard came to UCLA from Overbrook High School in Philadelphia, where he led the school to an 89-3 record and two city championships in his three varsity seasons.
As a senior co-captain and point guard in 1963-64, Hazzard led the Bruins to a 30-0 season and the school's first NCAA title. He averaged 18.6 points per game and was named most outstanding player of the 1964 NCAA Tournament.
UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero and men's basketball coach Ben Howland remembered Hazzard for his numerous contributions to the school and its basketball program and offered their best wishes to his family.
"Walt was one of the pillars of UCLA's first championship team in men's basketball," Howland said. "He was a great player and an outstanding coach at UCLA. He is a huge part of the Bruin legacy, and he left life-long memories for the Bruin faithful."
After his senior season at UCLA, Hazzard was chosen for the United States men's team that won gold at the 1964 Tokyo Games.
In 10 NBA seasons, he averaged 12.6 points and 4.9 assists per game. He averaged 24 points and 6.2 assists per game for Seattle in 1967-68.
Hazzard is survived by his widow Jaleesa, who was a Bruin song girl during UCLA's 1963-1964 season, and four adult sons. Details for a funeral service were pending Friday.
