Walter Davis, whose smooth shooting propelled him to basketball stardom with the University of North Carolina and the Phoenix Suns, but who late in his career struggled with drug addiction, died on Thursday while visiting family in Charlotte, N.C.
Davis, a 6-foot-6 forward, played at North Carolina from 1973 to 1977 for Dean Smith, one of the most successful coaches in college history.
In one of Davis’s signature games, in March 1974, North Carolina was losing to Duke, 86-78, with 17 seconds left.
North Carolina went on to win in overtime, 96-92.
“I wasn’t trying to bank it in,” Davis, then a freshman, said afterward.
Persons:
Walter Davis, Davis, Dean Smith, Bobby Jones, Phil Ford, Mitch Kupchak, “, ” Davis, ”
Organizations:
University of North, Phoenix Suns, North, Tar Heels, Duke, After North
Locations:
University of North Carolina, Charlotte, N.C, North Carolina, After, After North Carolina