Former Suns center Neal Walk dead at 67
Oct 5, 2015 - 7:51 PM PHOENIX (AP) Neal Walk, a tough center on the early Phoenix Suns teams who became an inspirational speaker after losing the use of his legs, has died at age 67.The Suns confirmed his passing in a statement on Monday.
''We were saddened last night to learn of the passing of Neal Walk, an integral member of the most successful Suns teams in our franchise's early years,'' the Suns said in the statement. ''The Suns will always remember and appreciate the many contributions Neal made, both on the court with his scoring ability and tenacious rebounding, and later as a community ambassador and photo archivist with the team.''
Walk lost the use of his legs in a surgery to remove a tumor from his spine in 1987.
Phoenix drafted Walk as the No. 2 pick overall in 1969 after losing the coin flip with Milwaukee to draft Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor).
''My answer to the coin toss,'' he once told azcentral sports, ''was always, `I didn't toss it and I didn't make the call. I just play basketball.'''
Walk averaged 20.2 points and 12.4 rebounds in the 1972-73 season. Charles Barkley is the only other Sun to top the 20-point, 10-rebound average.
The 6-foot-10 Walk also played for the New Orleans Jazz and New York Knicks in his eight-year NBA career.
Walk, who had a standout college career at Florida, averaged 12.6 points and 7.7 rebounds in his NBA career. In five seasons with the Suns, he averaged 14.7 points and 8.9 rebounds.
Then-Suns owner Jerry Colangelo, who as general manager had drafted Walk, created a community relations job for him. Walk gave inspirational talks and established camps for disabled athletes.
''No matter how a person came across their malady, people with maladies have hearts and souls and feelings, and they're capable,'' Walk said in one of his speeches.
In 1999, Walk became as photo archivist for the team, a job he held until 2012.
According to an obituary on azcentral sports, Walk received the Gene Autry Courage Award in 1995 and was invited to the White House after being named ''wheelchair athlete of the year'' in 1990. He was inducted into the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.
Walk is survived by his wife, Georgia, and a brother.
No one has shouted yet.
Be the first!
Be the first!
Related News
- Should we be worried that people with the Phoenix Suns can “feel the frustration with Durant”? Dec 26
- Suns vs. Mavs Final Score: Phoenix continues to struggle, lose 128-114 to Dallas Dec 26
- Suns JAM Session Podcast: Suns (14-15) vs. Mavs Post Game Podcast Dec 26
- Open Thread: Mavericks vs. Suns Dec 25
- Game Preview: Struggling Suns face struggling Mavericks in Christmas Day showdown Dec 25
- Stephen’s Study: Scouting Udoka Azubuike’s minutes against the Sacramento Kings Dec 25
- The Beal gamble isn’t paying off Dec 24
- Suns Week 9 Stock Exchange: Udoka gives us hope while coaching and three-point shooting do not Dec 24
- Suns Injury Update: Bradley Beal wants to be ready to go for Christmas Dec 23
- Vogel: “I’m not doing a good enough job in making sure [Eric Gordon]’s involved in the offense” Dec 23
- The Phoenix Suns have gone ice-cold from beyond the arc at a time when they can’t afford to do so Dec 23
- Suns vs Kings Final Score: The Kings break the Suns, 120-105 Dec 23