Wisconsin basketball icon Joe Wolf has died at the age of 59. While the exact cause of his death has not been confirmed, it is believed to be due to a heart attack.
Wolf is fondly remembered for his high school basketball achievements and went on to play NCAA basketball for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels alongside notable players like Michael Jordan and Kenny Smith. He was selected as the 13th pick in the 1987 NBA Draft and had a 12-year career in the NBA during the 1980s and 1990s, which included a stint with the Portland Trail Blazers. He joined the Trail Blazers in the fall of 1992 and played 21 games during the season after the team had reached the NBA Finals. As a power forward/center, he averaged 2.5 points and 2.1 rebounds in 7.4 minutes per game, often playing behind notable players such as Kevin Duckworth, Mark Bryant, and Buck Williams.
Wolf also played for several other teams, including the Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, Orlando Magic, and his hometown team, the Milwaukee Bucks. He remained in Wisconsin after his playing days, eventually becoming an assistant coach for the Bucks. Most recently, he served as an assistant coach for the Wisconsin Herd, the G-League affiliate of the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks have issued a statement expressing their sorrow over Wolf’s passing.