Atlanta, GA (SportsNetwork.com) - Former Atlanta Hawks star Lou Hudson has died, the team announced Friday. He was 69.
One of just three players to have his number retired by the Hawks, Hudson was in the hospital after suffering a stroke two weeks ago. He also suffered a stroke in 2005.
Hudson was one of the first three African-American basketball players at the University of Minnesota and was drafted No. 4 overall by the St. Louis Hawks in 1966. He made six All-Star teams playing for the franchise and scored the first points in Atlanta Hawks history on Oct. 15, 1968.
"Sweet Lou" averaged 20.2 points in 13 NBA seasons, the last two with the Los Angeles Lakers. His No. 23 hangs in the rafters at Philips Arena alongside the numbers of Bob Pettit and Dominique Wilkins.
[SportsNetwork.com]
