Former NBA Participant Joe Wolf Lifeless at 59

Former standout school basketball star Joe Wolf, who performed 11 seasons within the NBA earlier than turning into a coach, has died. He was 59.

Wolf’s demise was introduced on Thursday, Sept. 26 by the Milwaukee Bucks group, the place he was at the moment a coach for the NBA workforce’s G-League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd.

“The Milwaukee Bucks and Wisconsin Herd are deeply saddened by the surprising passing of Herd assistant coach and Kohler native Joe Wolf,” the group stated in an announcement. “All through his life, Joe touched many lives and was a extremely revered, adored and devoted coach and participant throughout the NBA. His well-regarded expertise was instrumental for the Bucks and Herd over eight years with the group, together with as a participant and coach.”

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported that Wolf died of a coronary heart assault.

The newspaper as soon as voted in 2005 that Wolf, a Kohler, Wis., native was the best highschool basketball participant within the state’s historical past. Throughout his time at Kohler Excessive College, Wolf helped lead his faculty to 3 state championships in 1980, 1982, and once more in 1983.

Wolf was recruited to play basketball at North Carolina by famed head coach Dean Smith, the place he performed his freshman season alongside basketball legend Michael Jordan. Smith later named Wolf a workforce captain, because the 6-foot-11 energy ahead went on to ultimately common 15.2 factors per recreation by his senior yr.

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The school standout was chosen No. 13 general by the Los Angeles Clippers within the 1987 NBA Draft and went on to play 11 seasons throughout the league for the Denver Nuggets, the Charlotte Hornets, the Portland Path Blazers, the Orlando Magic, the Boston Celtics, in addition to his hometown Milwaukee Bucks.

After his NBA profession, Wolf grew to become a coach. He first labored as an assistant coach at William & Mary and UNC Wilmington for one season earlier than becoming a member of a number of groups as a coach within the G-League, the NBA’s developmental league. He coached for the Idaho Stampede and the Colorado 14ers earlier than getting known as as much as the NBA to work as an assistant coach for the Bucks and later the Brooklyn Nets.

“Off the court docket, Joe was a beloved brother, uncle, buddy and group chief,” the Bucks stated in an announcement on Thursday. “We ship our deepest condolences to Joe’s household and mates. The Bucks and Herd will at all times be grateful to Joe for his arduous work and dedication to our group. He will likely be missed.”