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Lakers Great And NBA Hall Of Famer Bill Sharman Passes Away

Bill Sharman

Bill Sharman, former Head Coach, General Manager, President and Special Consultant for the Lakers, passed away Friday morning at his home in Redondo Beach.  Sharman passed away peacefully surrounded by his wife Joyce and his family. In 1971-72, his first season with the Lakers, Sharman led the club to their first NBA championship in Los Angeles, a then-NBA record and current franchise record 69 wins, and compiled the longest winning streak in the history of professional sports (33 consecutive victories).  Sharman’s success that season earned him the NBA’s “Coach of the Year” award, and he would go on to lead the team until 1975-76.  After his coaching stint ended, Sharman transitioned to the Lakers front office, being named General Manager prior to the 1976-77 season and later becoming team president following the 1982 season. 

Sharman served for the past 23 years as a Special Consultant with the Lakers. “Today is a sad day for anyone who loves and cares about the Lakers,” said Lakers President Jeanie Buss“As our head coach, Bill led us to our first championship in Los Angeles, and he was an important contributor to the 10 championship teams that followed.  For the last 34 years, his importance to Dr. Buss and our family, and for the last 42 years to the Lakers organization, cannot be measured in words.  His knowledge and passion for the game were unsurpassed, and the Lakers and our fans were beneficiaries of that.  Despite his greatness as a player, coach and executive, Bill was one of the sweetest, nicest and most humble people I’ve ever known.  He was truly one of a kind.  On behalf of our organization, the Buss family, and the entire Lakers family, I send my condolences, prayers and love to Joyce and the Sharman family.”

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