CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Paul Westphal says it’s an honor these days to have anyone remember that he played basketball.
The Hall of Fame obviously remembers.
Westphal is one of 13 people who were announced Friday as finalists for enshrinement later this year by the Basketball Hall of Fame. He’s one of four first-time finalists, joining seven-time All-Star Jack Sikma, five-time All-Star Marques Johnson and four-time defensive player of the year Ben Wallace.
“It’s hard to put it into words,” said the 68-year-old Westphal, who played 12 seasons — his best of those years with Phoenix — before spending parts of 17 more seasons as a head coach or assistant coach.