Paul Westphal

1.1. Childhood and Education

Westphal attended Aviation High School in Redondo Beach from 1966 to 1969, where he began to hone his basketball skills. He then pursued his college education and continued his basketball career at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Playing as a guard for the Trojans from 1970 to 1972, Westphal quickly established himself as a standout player. During the 1971 season, USC achieved a remarkable 24-2 record, setting a new winning percentage record for the Trojans. In the 1972 season, he served as an All-American team captain, leading the Trojans with an average of 20.3 points per game while also contributing 5.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game, earning him a selection to the All-America 2nd team by the Associated Press. His impressive collegiate performance made him a top prospect for the professional leagues.

2.1. Boston Celtics (1972-1975)

The 1972 NBA draft saw the Boston Celtics select Westphal as the tenth overall pick. In his rookie season, his role was limited, averaging 4.1 points per game during the regular season and 3.9 points per game in the playoffs. However, he gradually integrated into the team's rotation. By the 1973-74 season, Westphal was a full part of the rotation, contributing to the Celtics' 1974 NBA Championship win. His performance continued to improve, and by the 1974-75 season, he was averaging 9.8 points per game. After three seasons with the Celtics, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns for Charlie Scott and two second-round draft picks, a move that would prove pivotal for his career.

2.2. Phoenix Suns (1975-1980)

Westphal's transfer to the Suns marked a significant turning point in his career. In his first season with the team, he blossomed into an ace player, dramatically improving his statistics to average 20.5 points, 5.4 assists, and 2.6 steals per game, a substantial increase from his previous performance. His leadership helped the Suns achieve a 42-40 record, making their first playoff appearance in six years and subsequently advancing to their inaugural NBA Finals against his former team, the Boston Celtics.

The 1976 NBA Finals, particularly Game 5, is often cited as "the greatest game ever played" in NBA history. In a thrilling triple-overtime contest, Westphal played a critical role. With seconds remaining in the second overtime, and the Suns trailing by one point, Westphal famously exploited a loophole in the NBA rules. He called a timeout the Suns did not possess, resulting in a technical foul that gave the Celtics a free throw but also allowed the Suns to inbound the ball from half-court. This strategic move enabled Garfield Heard to hit a jump shot that forced the game into triple overtime. Although the Suns ultimately lost Game 5 by a score of 128-126 and the series 2-4, Westphal's daring play became a legendary moment, leading the league to amend its timeout rules in subsequent seasons.

Following the Finals appearance, Westphal continued his stellar performance. Despite the Suns missing the playoffs in the 1976-77 season with a 34-48 record, Westphal averaged 21.3 points and 5.7 assists, earning his first All-NBA First Team selection and his first All-Star appearance. In the 1977-78 season, he recorded a career-high 25.2 points per game, and the Suns achieved 49 wins, returning to the playoffs. Westphal's peak coincided with the Suns' first "golden era," as they reached 50 wins for the first time in the 1978-79 season and extended that to 55 wins in the 1979-80 season. Westphal himself earned four consecutive All-NBA team selections and continued to be an All-Star during this period.

2.3. Seattle SuperSonics (1980-1981)

Before the 1980-81 season, Westphal was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for Dennis Johnson. His tenure with the SuperSonics was brief and impacted by injuries, as he was limited to just 36 games due to a stress fracture in his right foot. After the season, he became a free agent, and although Seattle held the right of first refusal, they were unable to reach terms on a new contract.

2.4. New York Knicks (1982-1983)

After missing the majority of the 1981-82 season due to injury, Westphal signed with the New York Knicks in late February 1982. He experienced a resurgence in the 1982-83 season, averaging 10 points and 5.5 assists. His performance earned him the NBA Comeback Player of the Year award, and he played a key role in helping the Knicks qualify for the NBA playoffs.

2.5. Return to Phoenix and Retirement (1983-1984)

In September 1983, Westphal returned to the Phoenix Suns, signing a two-year contract. However, his second stint with the team was short-lived, as the Suns waived him in October 1984. Following this, Paul Westphal officially retired from his professional playing career.

3.1. College Coaching

Westphal's coaching journey began in 1985 at Southwestern Baptist Bible College (now Arizona Christian University) in Phoenix. In his sole season there, he guided the team to a respectable 21-9 record. He then moved to Grand Canyon University, also in Phoenix, where he coached for two seasons. In 1988, he led Grand Canyon to a remarkable achievement, capturing the NAIA national title.

He later returned to the college ranks in April 2001, taking on the head coaching position at Pepperdine University. In his first season with the Waves men's basketball team during the 2001-02 season, Westphal steered them to a 22-9 record and tied with the nationally ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs for the WCC title. The team received an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament, where they lost to Wake Forest 83-74 in the first round. This marked the only postseason appearance during his five-year tenure at Pepperdine. He concluded his time with the Waves with an overall record of 74-72, before being dismissed on March 15, 2006, after a 7-20 season in 2005-06.

3.2. NBA Coaching

Westphal's primary impact as a coach came in the National Basketball Association, where he served as a head coach for three different franchises.

3.3. Assistant Coaching and Executive Roles

Beyond his head coaching duties, Westphal also served in various assistant coaching and executive capacities. On June 28, 2007, the Dallas Mavericks hired him as an assistant coach under head coach Avery Johnson. When Johnson was replaced by Rick Carlisle, Westphal transitioned from coaching to an executive role, becoming the executive vice-president of basketball operations for the Mavericks in October 2008, working under Donnie Nelson. For the 2014-15 season, Westphal joined the Brooklyn Nets as an assistant coach under new head coach Lionel Hollins, who had previously served as Westphal's assistant in Phoenix. Westphal left the Nets in January 2016 when Hollins was fired.

5.1. Family and Beliefs

Paul Westphal was married to Cindy Westphal, and together they had two children. He was known to be a devout Christian, openly sharing his faith.

5.2. Illness and Death

In August 2020, it was publicly announced that Paul Westphal had been diagnosed with brain cancer. He bravely battled the illness but ultimately succumbed to it on January 2, 2021, at the age of 70, in Scottsdale, Arizona. His passing was widely mourned by the basketball community.

6.1. Individual Awards and Achievements

Throughout his playing career, Westphal was recognized for his exceptional talent. He was selected for the NBA All-Star Game five times, and earned a place on the All-NBA First Team three times (in 1977, 1979, and 1980), along with one All-NBA Second Team honor in 1978. After overcoming injury, he was named the NBA Comeback Player of the Year in the 1982-83 season. In his collegiate years, he was part of the AP All-America 2nd Team in 1971. As a coach, he led Grand Canyon University to an NAIA National Championship in 1988, demonstrating his ability to achieve success both as a player and a leader.

6.2. Hall of Fame and Team Honors

In recognition of his immense contributions to basketball, Paul Westphal was enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player on September 6, 2019. His impact on the Phoenix Suns franchise was further solidified when his jersey number, 44, was retired by the team, and he was inducted into the Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor. Additionally, his collegiate alma mater, the University of Southern California, also honored him by retiring his number, 25, a rare distinction that speaks to his enduring legacy across multiple levels of the sport.

7.1. Player Statistics

Paul Westphal's professional playing career statistics illustrate his consistent scoring and playmaking abilities.

7.2. Head Coaching Record

Paul Westphal's head coaching record includes both his collegiate and NBA tenures, showcasing his leadership abilities across different levels of basketball.