Warriors’ Assistant McMahon Dies at 60

Jack McMahon, 60, who spent 36 years in the National Basketball Assn., as player, coach and administrator, died in his sleep Sunday in Chicago.

McMahon, an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors, was attending an NBA pre-draft camp. He also served as the team’s director of player personnel.

“No one has ever loved the game of basketball more than Jack,” Warrior Coach Don Nelson said. “He was my first pro coach and has been one of my closest friends for many years. I feel blessed to have had the chance to work with him the past two years.”

A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., McMahon was captain of the 1952 St. John’s team that went 25-6 and lost in the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. final to Kansas.

McMahon played eight years in the NBA, with the Rochester Royals between 1952 and 1955, and the St. Louis Hawks fro 1955-1960. He was a starting guard on the Hawks 1958 championship team.

As head coach of the expansion Chicago Zephyrs in 1962, McMahon gave Nelson his chance to play in the NBA after Nelson was a third round pick out of Iowa. McMahon became head coach of the Cincinnati Royals in 1963, compiling a four-season record of 187-134.

He also coached the the San Diego Rockets and the Pittsburgh Pipers of the American Basketball Assn., in addition to serving as director of player personnel for the Philadelphia 76ers.