Johnny Egan obit

Former Houston Rockets Coach, Player Johnny Egan Dies at 83

He was not on the list.

Longtime NBA player Johnny Egan, who also served as coach of the Rockets in the 1970s, has died. He was 83.

The death was announced Thursday by the National Basketball Retired Players Association.

Egan, a 5-foot-11 point guard during his playing days, averaged 7.8 points and 3.0 rebounds during an 11-season NBA career with the Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, Washington Bullets, Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Rockets. He was the oldest living former Rockets player, according to the Houston Chronicle. After his playing career, Egan served as an assistant and head coach for the Rockets. He compiled a 129–152 record as Houston’s head coach from 1972–73 through 1975–76.

Prior to his professional career, Egan was a star at Providence College. He helped lead the Friars to the NIT championship in 1961.

Egan attended Weaver High School in Hartford, Connecticut. In 1956 and 1957, Weaver won the New England high school championship. He attended Providence College, where he played college basketball for the Providence Friars, and won the 1961 National Invitation Tournament.

The Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA) selected Egan in the second round of the 1961 NBA draft. The New York Knicks acquired Egan from the Pistons in a three-team trade on December 16, 1963. The Knicks traded Egan, Johnny Green, and Jim "Bad News" Barnes to the Baltimore Bullets for Walt Bellamy on November 2, 1965. The Milwaukee Bucks selected Egan from the Bullets in the 1968 NBA Expansion Draft. Before the 1968-69 NBA season, the Bucks traded Egan to the Los Angeles Lakers for a future draft pick.

The Cleveland Cavaliers selected Egan in the 1970 NBA expansion draft.[8] He was acquired by the San Diego Rockets from the Cavaliers for a third‐round pick in the 1971 NBA draft (41st overall–Jackie Ridgle) and cash on December 8, 1970.

In January 1972, Rockets coach Tex Winter named Egan an assistant coach, and he continued as a player-coach for the remainder of the season. He retired as a player after the season, and was promoted to head coach succeeding Winter on January 21, 1973. The Rockets were 129–152 with one playoff appearance in 1975 during his 3+1⁄2 years as head coach. He was fired and replaced by Tom Nissalke on April 20, 1976, after the team failed to qualify for the postseason with a 40–42 record.