Former New York Knicks star and local playground legend Dean “The Dream Meminger” was found dead in an uptown hotel room Friday afternoon. He was 65.
According to Newsday, Meminger was found lying unconscious and unresponsive by workers at the Hamilton Heights hotel just before noon. Upon arriving at the scene, emergency medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene of unknown causes. The newspaper added no signs of trauma were found and an investigation is ongoing.
"We want to thank everyone for their prayers and condolences during this difficult time for our family," Meminger's family said in a statement released to the media. "Dean 'The Dream' Meminger touched the hearts of so many on and off the basketball court.''
After leaving Rice, Meminger starred in coach Al McGwire’s legendary Marquette program, where in three seasons he led to Warriors to a 78-9 record, including an NIT title in 1970 during which he was named tournament MVP. During his senior season, he averaged 21.2 points and led Marquette to a perfect 26-0 mark in the regular season.
Chosen in the first round of the 1971 draft, Meminger averaged a modest 6.1 points in a six-year NBA career. Still, he is legendary for playing a key reserve role with the Knicks’ last championship team in 1973. Though that team’s roster featured such stars as Walt Frazier, Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere, Bill Bradley, Earl Monroe and Phil Jackson, Meminger’s toughness in hugely credited with getting the Knicks over the hump in several hotly-contested playoff series.
“I credit Dean with getting us that championship,” Newsday reports Reed said back then. “He’s the reason we won. If he hadn’t stopped JoJo White, we never even play the Lakers.” The Knicks survived a seven-game showdown with Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals before topping Los Angeles for the title.
After his NBA career, Meminger coached the New York Stars (1978-81) in the Women's Professional Basketball League, the CBA's Albany Patrons (1982, the USBL's Long Island Knights (1987) and Division III Manhattanville College (2003-04). With Zachary R. Dowdy
"Everyone at the New York Knicks' organization is saddened to hear the news of Dean Meminger's passing," general manager Glen Grunwald said in a statement. "From the day he was drafted by this franchise in 1971, Dean was a friend and close family member of this team . . . We send our heartfelt condolences to the entire Meminger family."
https://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/knicks/dean-meminger-dead-former-knicks-guard-was-65-1.5947167
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