Phil Smith, 50; Guard on Golden State’s NBA Championship Team
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Phil Smith, 50, an All-America guard at the University of San Francisco before winning an NBA championship with the Golden State Warriors, died Monday of bone marrow cancer at a hospital in Escondido.
A graduate of San Francisco’s Washington High School, Smith played at the university from 1971 to 1974, averaging 21 points per game as a senior, when he was an All-American.
With 1,523 points, Smith is the ninth-leading scorer in the college’s history. It retired his No. 20 during a game on Feb. 18, 2001.
The Warriors drafted him in the second round. He was a key contributor in his rookie season, when Golden State won the franchise’s only championship since moving to the West Coast 40 years ago.
After his career, Smith become a successful stockbroker in San Diego. He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 1998.
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