The Untold Legacy of David Greenwood: NBA Champion and Basketball Icon Passes Away

There was something truly special about David Greenwood’s early love for basketball — so intense that as a middle schooler, he’d hustle from park to park, suiting up for three different teams in a single day, night after night. Picture this: his brother Al, behind the wheel, ferrying him around the city, as David swapped out soggy jerseys like a man on a mission—relentless, because that’s just how much he loved the game. Growing up in Compton, where the driveway battles with their cement contractor dad tested his grit, and blindfolded practice sessions sharpened his craft, Greenwood’s relentless spirit was clear as day. From dominating the courts at Verbum Dei High School to etching his name among UCLA’s finest scorers — and eventually becoming an NBA champion with the Detroit Pistons — his journey was one of tenacity and quiet strength. It’s with a heavy heart we say goodbye to the man who played through pain and adversity, never revealing the depth of his illness until the very end. His legacy? A treasure trove of memories, hard-fought victories, and the unmistakable mark of a Thoroughbred. LEARN MOREIn October 1985, before the widespread use of cell phones, Greenwood learned he had been traded to San Antonio for future Hall of Famer George Gervin while listening to the radio. Late in his 12-year NBA career, he was a surprise playoff contributor for the Detroit Pistons when they won the 1990 NBA championship. Hamilton worked for CBS Sports as part of the production team broadcasting the Finals that year.“Everything happened so quickly,” said Bronson Greenwood, David’s nephew. “It was kind of a shock.”One of the all-time great high school players in Southern California, Greenwood and teammate Roy Hamilton were among the final players recruited by legendary UCLA coach John Wooden. They were shocked when Wooden retired shortly after their senior season of high school and was replaced by Gene Bartow.

One of the all-time great high school players in Southern California, Greenwood and teammate Roy Hamilton were among the final players recruited by legendary UCLA coach John Wooden. They were shocked when Wooden retired shortly after their senior season of high school and was replaced by Gene Bartow.

One of the all-time great high school players in Southern California, Greenwood and teammate Roy Hamilton were among the final players recruited by legendary UCLA coach John Wooden. They were shocked when Wooden retired shortly after their senior season of high school and was replaced by Gene Bartow.

One of the all-time great high school players in Southern California, Greenwood and teammate Roy Hamilton were among the final players recruited by legendary UCLA coach John Wooden. They were shocked when Wooden retired shortly after their senior season of high school and was replaced by Gene Bartow.

One of the all-time great high school players in Southern California, Greenwood and teammate Roy Hamilton were among the final players recruited by legendary UCLA coach John Wooden. They were shocked when Wooden retired shortly after their senior season of high school and was replaced by Gene Bartow.

One of the all-time great high school players in Southern California, Greenwood and teammate Roy Hamilton were among the final players recruited by legendary UCLA coach John Wooden. They were shocked when Wooden retired shortly after their senior season of high school and was replaced by Gene Bartow.

One of the all-time great high school players in Southern California, Greenwood and teammate Roy Hamilton were among the final players recruited by legendary UCLA coach John Wooden. They were shocked when Wooden retired shortly after their senior season of high school and was replaced by Gene Bartow.

AdvertisementAdvertisement“He was relentless,” Al said, “because he loved the game.”Former UCLA standout David Greenwood talks about his career during a National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame induction event on Nov. 21, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (Colin E. Braley / Associated Press)Advertisement