WASHINGTON (AP) — Basketball Hall of Famer Wes Unseld, who led Washington to its only NBA championship, has died at age 74. He died Tuesday after a series of health issues, most recently pneumonia, according to his family.
Unseld was a 6-foot-7, 245-pound center who dominated as a rebounder and led Washington’s team — then known as the Bullets — to the 1978 NBA championship, earning Finals MVP honors. He played all 13 of his seasons with the franchise, then became its coach and general manager.
Unseld and Wilt Chamberlain are the only two players to win NBA Rookie of the Year and MVP honors in the same season. Unseld did it in 1969.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says Unseld was one of the most consequential players of his era.
