Cal basketball legend Darrall Imhoff passes away

RIP to a California Golden Bears legend. Darrall Imhoff passed away from a heart attack at the age of 78.

Imhoff walked onto the Cal team, but then became a two-time All-American. Imhoff then enjoyed one of the greatest two year runs any basketball player has ever enjoyed, leading Cal to the 1959 national title and a 1960 runner-up finish. Imhoff would make the crucial winning basket in the 1959 title game to lead the Bears to a 71-70 win over West Virginia.

Imhoff would go on from Cal to immediately win a gold medal on the 1960 Olympic Basketball Team. The whole team, including Imhoff, would later be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame. Pete Newell coached all of those teams.

Imhoff played 12 years in the NBA, playing for the Knicks, Pistons, Lakers (where he was an All-Star in 1967), 76ers, Royals and Trailblazers. Imhoff would eventually become a staple with Portland, becoming a color commentator and then stayed active in the community.

Imhoff’s #40 jersey was retired by Cal in 2009. Imhoff is one of the four jerseys to be retired at Haas Pavilion.

RIP Darrall. Go Bears.