All-Star Sam Lacey Dies at age 66

 Sam Lacey was a former NBA All-Star center who spent most of his 13-year career with the Kansas City Kings. The Sacramento Kings, where the franchise relocated in 1985, said they did not know the cause of death. Kings general manager Pete D'Alessandro called Lacey "one of the finest and longest-tenured players to ever don a Kings uniform." He was also known as a tireless worker and a wonderful teammate. He will be greatly missed and forever remembered for his contributions on the game of basketball and in life. He recently has died at the age of 66.

Info About Sam Lacey

Sam Lacey was born on March 8, 1948, in Indianola, Mississippi. Lacey was a 6'10" center who played college basketball at New Mexico State University. The New Mexico State Aggies had a combined record of 74–14 during his three seasons he was there. In the 1969–70 post-season, he and star guard Jimmy Collins led the Aggies to their first and only Final Four appearance. The Aggies defeated Rice University, Kansas State University and Drake University before falling to eventual national champion UCLA. In 2007–08, Sam Lacey was among the first inductees into the Aggies Ring of Honor. As of 2014, Lacey still holds many New Mexico State rebounding records for both single seasons and career. Sam Lacey was drafted in the first round fifth overall of the 1970 NBA Draft by the Cincinnati Royals. He played 13 seasons (1970–1983) in the NBA as a member of the Royals, Kansas City Kings, New Jersey Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers. He averaged over 10 rebounds per game in his first six seasons, and was the NBA's third leading rebounder in the 1974–75 season. Lacey's most productive NBA season came in 1973–74 when he averaged 14.2 points and 13.4 rebounds per game. He was named an All-Star in 1975, and finished the season averaging 11.5 points, 14.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game.Sam Lacey is one of only five NBA players along side with Hakeem Olajuwon, Julius Erving, David Robinson and Ben Wallace, to have registered 100 blocks and 100 steals in six consecutive seasons. Which is a big accomplishment for a player of his size. His #44 jersey was retired by the Sacramento Kings. Sam Lacey retired in 1983, he had around 9,687 rebounds and a total of 10,303 points. As of 2014, Lacey ranks 40th overall for total rebounds in NBA history. Sam Lacey will be greatly missed he is definitelly one of the greatest rebounds of all time, it's a shame that he has died so sudden but he has lived a great life.