Former Suns center Neal Walk dead at 67

PHOENIX (AP) Neal Walk, a tough center on the early Phoenix Suns teams after they drafted him No. 2 overall in 1969, has died at age 67.

The Suns confirmed his passing, calling him ''an integral member'' of the Suns in their formative years.

Walk had health problems over the years and his condition deteriorated in recent weeks. He underwent surgery 28 years ago to remove a tumor on his spine.

Phoenix drafted Walk after losing the coin flip with Milwaukee to draft Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor).

Walk averaged 20.2 points and 12.4 rebounds in the 1972-73 season. Charles Barkley is the only other Sun to top the 20-point, 10-rebound average.

Walk also played for the New Orleans Jazz and New York Knicks in his eight-year NBA career.