Chris Ford was a professional basketball player and head coach from the United States. On October 12, 1979, he made the first counted NBA three-point shot.
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Chris Ford died on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, according to his family. He was 74. The cause of death was not given, but Ford died in Philadelphia, according to the Press of Atlantic City, after suffering a heart attack earlier this month.
Chris Ford, who was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, played for Villanova, reaching the NCAA Elite Eight in 1970 and the Final Four in 1971.
He scored 1,433 points for the Wildcats in three seasons, and his 238 assists in 1970-71 remain the school’s single-season record.
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Former Villanova coach Jay Wright called Ford his “boyhood idol” in a tweet featuring a photo of Ford in his Wildcats uniform.
“A creative, gifted tough (Villanova) guard,” the post said. “He was more of an idol when I knew him as a great man, loyal friend and passionate (Villanova) alumni. Chris is loved by the VU community. I will miss our talks.”
In 1972, Ford was drafted by the Detroit Pistons. He played there for six seasons before being traded to the Celtics. During his first season in Boston, he averaged a career-high 15.6 points and 4.7 assists per game.
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