Hall of Fame coach Dick McGuire dies

NEW YORK, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- NBA Hall of Fame coach Dick McGuire died Wednesday from natural causes, the New York Knicks said.

He was 84.

McGuire was a patient at New York's Huntington Hospital when he died.

The seven-time NBA All-Star (1951,'52, '54-'56, '58, '59) retired as a player in 1963, and was a coach with the Knicks and Detroit Pistons from 1949-60, four as a player-coach from 1956-60.

He was as a senior consultant for the Knicks when he died, and in 1992, his No. 15 jersey was retired and hangs in the rafters at New York's Madison Square Garden.

"Dick McGuire was the epitome of what it means to be a Knickerbocker: Pride, tradition and class," Donnie Walsh, president, Basketball Operations, said on the Knicks' Web site. "It was an honor to watch him play for our hometown team and I consider myself very lucky to say I worked alongside (him)."

His late brother, Al, coached Marquette to an NCAA title in 1977.