Jerry Sloan, the former coach of the Utah Jazz, has died at the age of 78.
Jerry Sloan, the former coach of the Utah Jazz that led them to the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998, has died at the age of 78 due to complications from Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia, the Jazz announced on Friday.
Before he was a coach for the Jazz, he was a player. Drafted No. 4 overall out of the small University of Evansville by the Washington Bullets in 1965, Sloan was traded to the expansion Chicago Bulls only a year into his career. As their point guard, Sloan made the All-Star Game twice and earned four All-Defensive Team honors. His No. 4 jersey is retired by the Bulls.
He held onto that one until he retired in 2011 as one of the winningest coaches in the history of basketball. With 1,221 total coaching victories, Sloan is fourth all time, trailing only Don Nelson, Lenny Wilkens and Gregg Popovich. Sloan was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2009, the same year as his former point guard, Stockton.
Sloan is widely considered among the greatest coaches in NBA history despite not winning a championship. Had his Jazz not run into Michael Jordan twice in the NBA Finals, they may very well have hoisted the trophy multiple times. Even without that feather in his cap, Sloan will be forever remembered for his numerous contributions to the game. The pick-and-roll system that he pioneered has grown into the basis of most modern offense in the NBA.
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