Walter Davis, who starred with the UNC men’s basketball team from 1973 through 1977, died Thursday morning in Charlotte due to natural causes, the program announced. He was 69 years old.
Davis, originally from Pineville, N.C., scored 1,863 points, grabbed 670 rebounds and totaled 409 assists in his Tar Heel career. He earned All-ACC honors twice, and led Carolina to an ACC Tournament title and national runner-up finish as a senior in 1977.
But Davis is perhaps best known for his famous buzzer-beating shot against Duke in 1974, which sent the game to overtime and capped off an eight-point comeback in the final 17 seconds of regulation.
Walter Davis (No. 24 in white) shoots his iconic buzzer-beater against Duke in 1974. (Image via UNC Athletic Communications)
“It is one of the most iconic moments in college basketball,” the program wrote in a statement on Thursday, “and, even as a freshman, cemented [Davis’] place in Carolina Basketball history.”
The Phoenix Suns selected Davis No. 5 overall in the 1977 NBA Draft, and he would win Rookie of the Year honors the following season. He played 16 seasons in the league and was a five-time NBA All-Star. The Suns have since retired his No. 6 jersey.
Even 50 years after arriving in Chapel Hill, Davis remained connected to the UNC program: his nephew, Hubert, is the program’s head coach.
Hubert’s predecessor, Roy Williams, issued a statement through the program on Thursday after Davis’ death.
“This is a sad, sad day with the passing of Walter Davis, one of our all-time great basketball players and an even nicer person,” said Williams. “Coach Smith and Coach Guthridge used to rave about how much fun it was to coach Walter. I got to watch him as a fan and loved getting to know him later. The big shot to end the ‘eight points in 17 seconds’ game against Duke will stay with us forever as will many other fantastic moments. Walter is a truly great Tar Heel.”
Carolina legend Phil Ford also shared thoughts on Davis’ passing in a statement.
“Walter and I knew each other for 50 years. We met when I was a senior in high school and I was coming up to Carolina as a recruit at football games. Walter, Tommy LaGarde and Mitch Kupchak were my hosts and we just became great friends. When we were in school together he and I were best friends. He was the best man at my wedding and I was the best man at his.
Throughout the last 50 years, we’ve remained in contact with each other and were best friends to each other. He loved me and I loved him. He was a great, great, great guy that happened to be a great basketball player. I’ve always said he could have been selected MVP in the 1975 ACC Tournament just as much as I was.
I am going to miss him dearly. I’m happy I got to see him a couple of weeks ago in Chapel Hill, but this is very hard. I would like to believe he’s in a better place right now but I’m going to dearly miss my friend. I don’t know anybody that says bad things about Walt. I’m getting calls from people all around the country – John Lucas, Scott May, Quinn Buckner, David Thompson. Everybody thought the world about Walt, just like all of us Carolina players and fans did.
I’m blessed we were teammates and friends and I thank God I had him in my life all these years.”
Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications
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