Ex-coach was original Houston Rocket
Point guard began four-year run at helm when he was still a player
Johnny Egan, a former Rockets player who coached the team from 1972 to 1976, died Thursday of a head injury suffered in a fall May 8. He was 83.
Egan was the first Rockets coach to win a playoff series, topping the New York Knicks in 1975 two years after the Knicks were NBA champions. He was an AllAmerican at Weaver High School in Hartford, Conn. and at Providence College.
One of the architects of a floater in the lane to get shots over big men, he was well known to Rockets fans as the first on-air broadcast partner of Bill Worrell. He attended the team’s tribute to Worrell at the end of the 2020-21 season.
“Dad never missed a game,” John Egan Jr. said. “We watched the games a lot together. We had a great time doing that. We analyzed the games, remained vigilant Rockets supporters. We came here in ’71 and never left. Made it our home.”
After retiring as a coach, Egan frequently taught basketball clinics and was active in NBA alumni functions where he sought out former players who needed help.
“The Fertitta Family and the Houston Rockets organization are deeply saddened by the passing of former player and head coach John “Johnny” Egan, who was one of the original Houston Rockets,” the Rockets announced in a statement.
Egan succeeded Tex Winter as Rockets coach during the 1971-72 season when Egan was still on the active roster but working as an assistant coach.
After being taken with the 12th pick of the 1961 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons, the 6-foot point guard averaged 7.8 points and 3.0 assists in 11 seasons.
Egan played his final two NBA seasons for the Rockets, their last in San Diego and first in Houston, and until his passing had been the oldest living former Rockets player.
Egan was the first president of the Houston chapter of the National Basketball Retired Players Association.
“He was a down to Earth guy,” said former Rockets player Major Jones, a longtime friend. “He cared a lot about former players and was always willing to help former players. If something needed to be done, he’d be there. He always cared a lot about people. He was just a fantastic person.”