According to a statement released by his family, Chris Ford, who passed away at the age of 74 and coached the Milwaukee Bucks for two seasons between 1996 and 1998, has passed away, know his cause of death
After Milwaukee signed the former Boston Celtics star player and coach to a three-year contract in the middle of the 1996-1997 season as a replacement for Mike Dunleavy, Larry Brown took over as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks.
“Chris was beloved by his family, friends, and teammates,” his family said in a statement. “He had a great love for his family, the city of Boston, the fans, and the entire Celtics family. He always showed humility and respect for all those that were fortunate enough to be a part of his life.”
NBA coach Chris Ford cause of death, obituary, age, family, wife, stats, net worth in 2023
George Karl took over as head coach of the Bucks after two seasons in which they finished with a combined record of 69-95. Despite the fact that both of Chris Ford’s teams improved their records from the previous season, at the time it was the shortest exit of any non-interim coach in the whole history of the franchise.
During the first two seasons of Ray Allen’s career in the NBA, Ford was Allen’s coach. During that time, Ford’s teams also featured Glenn Robinson and Vin Baker for one season each until Baker was transferred to Seattle in a three-team deal.
Chris Ford will be remembered for his contribution at Celtics
Ford was chosen for the position rather than Brendan Malone, who was the previous coach of the Toronto Raptors. However, the majority of NBA fans will remember Ford primarily in the context of his time spent with the Celtics organisation.
Ford, a graduate of Villanova University who was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in 1972, played for the Pistons for over six seasons but went on to win three championships as a member of the Boston Celtics. Later, he worked as an assistant coach under K.C. Jones for the championship teams that Boston won in 1984 and 1986.
While his family details were not known, he is said to have been married and had four children. The 6 feet 11 inch player had a height of $1.5 million.
He developed a passion for basketball at a younger age and as an amateur, he played high school basketball at Holy Spirit High School in Absecon, New Jersey and averaged a Cape-Atlantic League record 33 ppg as a senior and finished with 1,507 career points, which is still a school record.
He was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the 1972 NBA draf and rose through the ranks to be one of the most sought-after basketball players. Chris Ford was best known as the first player in NBA history to make a 3-pointer shot (on Friday, October 12, 1979).
In addition to coaching at the professional level, he spent 2 seasons (2001–2003) as head basketball coach at Brandeis University, a Division III school in Waltham, Massachusetts. Chris Ford died of a heart attack on January 17, 2023, at the age of 74 in Philadelphia.
In Memoriam: Chris Ford (1949-2023) pic.twitter.com/xRpv6GlH0E
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) January 19, 2023
Chris Ford starts as head coach for the Celtics
After that, Ford was hired as the head coach of the Celtics and served in that capacity for five seasons, from 1990 to 1995. During that time, he had a record of 222-188 until being dismissed in 1995.
When the 3-point line was introduced into the NBA in 1979, Ford is credited with making the first ever 3-point shot in NBA history. Following his tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks, Ford went on to have brief stints as head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers and the Philadelphia 76ers. He finished his head coaching career with a record of 323-376.
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