Wisconsin basketball icon Joe Wolf passed away on Thursday at the age of 59. Although the cause of death has not been officially determined, it is believed to be related to a heart attack.
Wolf is fondly remembered for his standout high school career and his time playing NCAA basketball for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels alongside legends Michael Jordan and Kenny Smith. He was selected as the 13th overall pick in the 1987 NBA Draft and enjoyed a 12-year career as an NBA player during the ’80s and ’90s. His career included a brief stint with the Portland Trail Blazers, where he signed in the fall of 1992 and appeared in 21 games the same season the Blazers advanced to the NBA Finals. As a power forward/center, Wolf averaged 2.5 points and 2.1 rebounds in 7.4 minutes per game while competing for playing time with Kevin Duckworth, Mark Bryant, and Buck Williams.
Throughout his career, Wolf also played for teams such as the Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, Orlando Magic, and returned to his home state to play for the Milwaukee Bucks. After his playing days, he transitioned to coaching, serving as an assistant coach for the Bucks and most recently with the Wisconsin Herd, the G-League affiliate of the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks organization released a statement expressing their condolences following Wolf’s passing.