Walter Davis, a five-time NBA All-Star who had his number retired by the Phoenix Suns, has died. He was 69.
Davis was a star in college for North Carolina where he played for the late Dean Smith.
It was North Carolina, where Davis' nephew Hubert Davis is the Tar Heels' basketball coach, which announced Water Davis' death.
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The school's release said Walter Davis died of natural causes while visiting family in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Walter Davis was drafted fifth overall by Phoenix in 1977 and became the NBA rookie of the year after averaging 24.2 points a game. He played 11 of his 16 pro seasons with the Suns, who retired his No. 6.
Davis moved to Denver for three seasons and Portland for one before returning to the Nuggets in 1992-1993 for his final year.
In college, Davis was practically unstoppable as he led one of the top programs in the game. He helped the Tar Heels to the NCAA title game in 1977, where they lost to Marquette.
He is 10th all-time in scoring in Tar Heels' history. His 106 games with double-figure scoring are fourth all-time at North Carolina, trailing only Phil Ford, Sam Perkins and Tyler Hansbrough.
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Davis was also known as the man Michael Jordan admired the most and the player he tried to model his game on, with Davis attending the University of North Carolina eight years ahead of Jordan.
"It is humbling to hear him say that I was an influence on him growing up, that he was a fan of mine, Davis said. "But that is one of the things about the game of basketball, the way it gets passed on from one group to the next and how each generation influences the next.
"I got tips from my brothers, their friends, so I tried to return the favour when I got back to Carolina. I showed Michael a couple of moves."
Jordan reportedly worked out with Davis to help improve his game. When Jordan hit his game-winning jumper in the 1982 College title game against Georgetown, that was a shot Davis had been working on with him.
"I worked with him on the jab-step and the pump fake, which were some of my favourite moves," Davis said, according to Basketball Network.
"The mid-range shot was something I emphasised, I remember telling him that it was important to make that shot. When he helped us win the '82 national championships, that was a mid-range shot. Michael had a lot of natural ability with that shot."
Jordan also once tried to recruit Davis to play with him on the Chicago Bulls.
According to The Chicago Tribune, Jordan thought Davis would be a great piece in helping the Bulls in their quest for an NBA title.
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