According to the Washington Post, former Washington Bullets general manager Bob Ferry of St. Louis, Missouri passed away on Wednesday at the age of 84. Even though we do not not officially know the cause of death at this time, it has been reported that Ferry had suffered from a heart condition and melanoma.
Ferry is best known for being the general manager of the Washington Bullets when they won the NBA Finals in 1978. In the seven game series, the Bullets defeated the Seattle SuperSonics four games to three.
Recognized by the Sporting News as the NBA Executive of the Year, Ferry became the second general manager to win the award twice, as he was recognized in 1978-79, and again in 1981-82. The first general manager to win the award twice was Jerry Colangelo of Chicago Heights, Illinois, who won in 1975-76, and 1980-81 with the Phoenix Suns. Interestingly, the year that Ferry won the NBA Executive of the Year Award the first time in 1978-79, was the season after the Bullets won the NBA Finals.
Among the players Ferry drafted included current Charlotte Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak, Kevin Grevey, Manute Bol, and Muggsy Bogues. Bol was the tallest player in the NBA ever at 7’7′, while Bogues was the shortest player ever in the NBA at 5’3″.
Ferry is also known for signing future Hall of Famer Bob Dandridge during a time when signing free agents were uncommon. Dandridge, who was considered one of the best forwards in the NBA during the 1970s, was an instrumental part of the Bullets’ team that won the 1978 NBA Finals. In three of the four games the Bullets won in the 1978 NBA Finals, Dandridge led Washington in scoring.
Ferry also hired K.C. Jones and Wes Unseld as coaches in Washington. Both Jones and Unseld died last year.
As a player, Ferry played 10 seasons in the NBA as a center with the St. Louis Hawks, Detroit Pistons and Baltimore Bullets from 1959 to 1969. He averaged 9.1 points per game, including a career-high 13.9 points per game with the Pistons in 1961-62. Ferry also played his university basketball at the University of St. Louis.
