Paul Walther, NBA player in 1950s, dies at 87

ATLANTA (AP) - Paul Walther, who played six seasons in the NBA in the 1950s after a stellar college career at Tennessee, has died. He was 87.

Son Brian Walther said Tuesday his father died Sunday in an Atlanta hospice.

Walther played from 1949-50 to 1954-55 for the Minneapolis Lakers, Indianapolis Olympians, Philadelphia Warriors and Fort Wayne Pistons. He scored more than 2,800 points for his career. He started for the West in the 1952 All-Star game.

A native of Covington, Kentucky, Walther led Tennessee to an 18-5 record in 1945 before serving in the Navy during World War II. He returned to Tennessee from 1947-49 and was team captain in his final season.

After his NBA career, he worked for Merrill Lynch in Chicago for 32 years.