SEATTLE -- Former Phoenix Suns player and successful Seattle-area high school boys basketball coach Phil Lumpkin has died. Lumpkin was the boys basketball coach at O'Dea High School, which announced his death Monday on its Web site.
The Seattle Times reported that the 57-year-old Lumpkin didn't come to school or answer phone calls Monday morning. He missed work last week after being diagnosed with pneumonia.
Lumpkin started as coach at O'Dea in 1991 and led the Irish to 15 state tournament appearances. He won championships in 1993, 1997, 2004, 2005 and 2007 and reached the state title game on two other occasions.
Lumpkin played two seasons in the NBA after being a second-round pick of the Portland Trail Blazers in 1974. He played 48 games for the Blazers in 1974-75 and 34 games for the Phoenix Suns in 1975-76.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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