North Carolina basketball legend Walter Davis passes away at age 69

Some sad news came out of Chapel Hill this morning when the University of North Carolina announced the passing of legendary former Tar Heel basketball player Walter Davis. He was 69 years old.

Davis was a two-time All-ACC performer with North Carolina in the mid-1970s and went on to an illustrious pro hoops career, winning a gold medal on Team USA while garnering six All-Star Game appearances during his 11-year tenure with Phoenix as part of a 15-year career. He is also the uncle of current UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis.

Here was the news of Walter Davis’ passing, as reported by UNC Athletics.

“Walter Davis, an all-star at the University of North Carolina and in the NBA, a member of the United States gold-medal winning Olympic basketball team in 1976 and uncle of UNC head coach Hubert Davis, passed away this morning of natural causes while visiting family in Charlotte, N.C.”

The North Carolina website had more information and background on Davis and his connection with the Tar Heels. Take a look at that right here:

“Davis (69) was one of the best shooters in Carolina basketball history. A member of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, the Pineville, N.C., native was a two-time All-ACC honoree in 1976 and as a senior in 1977, when he led the Tar Heels to an ACC Tournament title and appearance in the NCAA championship game. He scored 1,863 points, grabbed 670 rebounds and had 409 assists playing for head coach Dean Smith.”

Davis certainly was a strong shooter for his time period. Of course, having played in the 70s, he didn’t have the three-point line to work with, but he was rare in the fact that he was a guard who shot north of 50% from the field. Such a feat was uncommon among guards before the 80s — or heck, well into the 90s. But he shot 57.% from the field and 77.8% from the free throw line as a senior, both terrific marks.

The bio blast continued, noting the anniversary of Davis’ finest moment in a UNC uniform.
 
“This season is the 50th anniversary of Davis’s 25-foot shot at the buzzer against Duke that capped an eight-point comeback in the final 17 seconds of regulation to send the game to overtime, where the Tar Heels won. It is one of the most iconic moments in college basketball and, even as a freshman, cemented his place in Carolina Basketball history. Davis won NBA Rookie-of-the-Year honors with the Phoenix Suns in 1978.”