Wes Unseld, Hall of Fame NBA Center Dies at 74

Wes Unseld, Hall of the Fame NBA center died at the age of 74 on June 2, Tuesday. His family said that Unseld was suffering from a number of health issues including pneumonia. The tenacious rebounder was among only two NBA players to have been named as the rookie of the year in the same season. His workmanlike approach led him to be chosen as one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history. Unseld’s proficiency in the game also led Washington to its only NBA championship.

His family announced the death of the sports stalwart that was released by the franchise for whom Unseld played for 13-seasons of his career. The NBA commissioner after hearing the news of Unseld's death said that "Wes Unseld was one of the most consequential players of his era. An NBA MVP and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer, Wes elevated the game by mastering the fundamentals. An NBA MVP and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer, Wes elevated the game by mastering the fundamentals.”

Wes NBA stints.

Unseld’s 6-foot-7stature was not ideal for the center. However, the 245 pounds (0.11 t) weight with a widebody was such a powerhouse that for a normal human, it looked like he could even block the sun. The natural scowling expression on his face was enough to make his opponents ill at ease.

The 13-seasons that he played with the Washington Bullets, which is now called the Washington Wizards, Unseld went to the NBA finals four times. He also led his team to win the 1978 title by defeating the Seattle SuperSonics and was named as M.V.P. of the series.

Unseld was one of the treasured teammates of the era. He was respected not only among his teammates, but also his opponents. He was the pillar of strength of the Washington Wizards franchise and his competitive spirit was all but incredible. Throughout his stint as NBA player, coach, and executive, Unseld set an example of professionalism, integrity & class. More than he was the centerpiece of his team all through his stint, he also worked for creating educational opportunities for children.

Unseld Career.

Unseld was, “one of the most consequential players of his era, and he elevated the game by mastering the fundamentals.” — the statement came from the N.B.A. commissioner, Adam Silver.

At the Seneca High School in Louisville, Ky, Unseld had already got a hang of the outlet pass. And when he was there in the NBA, he had literally championed the art. He would so amazingly grab a defensive rebound that it did not take time for him to get noticed.

Chamberlain & Unseld are the only players who have been named as the M.V.P. and rookie of the year in the same season — throughout NBA history. Unseld’s career average goes to 14.0-rebounds a game. During 1968-69, his rookie season, after Chamberlain, Unseld averaged 18.2. In the season, he was named among the five best players. Willis Reed who played on the opposite side of Unseld, in an interview said that “You always wanted to make sure you got a good night’s sleep before you played against him,” Reed said. “He was most consciously a rebounder — he could shoot, but he didn’t emphasize that part of his game — and felt that if he did his job right, by getting the defensive rebound and making the quick outlet pass, they would score quickly.”