TORONTO, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Subject: PRO BASKETBALL NOTE
Date: Monday, December 24, 2001 4:40:50 PM EST
Toronto Raptors assistant coach Stan Albeck was listed in stable condition Monday at after suffering a stroke moments before the a game against the Miami Heat Sunday night.
"Coach Albeck suffered a serious stroke that has presently left him paralyzed on the right side and unable to speak significantly," said team physician Dr. Douglas Richards. "We hope for further recovery over the next couple of days and weeks."
Albeck, 70, was talking to Raptors center Eric Montross just before his team took the court when he slumped over in a chair. He was carried off on a stretcher and transported by ambulance to a hospital. Albeck was conscious at the time he left the arena.
A former head coach with Cleveland, San Antonio, New Jersey and Chicago, Albeck has served as an assistant under Lenny Wilkens for the past six seasons, including two with Toronto. His most successful stint came with the Spurs, who won division titles in each of his three seasons.
Albeck owns a 307-265 NBA coaching record and a 209-117 mark at the college level, where he spent 14 seasons with Adrian College, Northern Michigan, Denver and his alma mater, Bradley.
Before becoming an NBA head coach, he served as an assistant for nine seasons in the NBA and ABA, working under the likes of Jerry West, Hubie Brown, Wilt Chamberlain, K.C. Jones and Alex Hannum.
