David Greenwood, a legend at UCLA in the late ’70s and an NBA champion with the Detroit Pistons, has passed away at 68 after a battle with cancer. His family shared the heartbreaking news through UCLA on Wednesday, confirming he died Sunday in Riverside, California.
Greenwood’s basketball career spanned from West Coast high school gyms to the NBA’s biggest stages. He played the game with a quiet consistency that earned him respect at every level. For many fans and former teammates, his legacy is as much about his character as it is about his accomplishments on the court.
Career Rooted In Consistency And Class
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Greenwood made his name at Verbum Dei High School before joining UCLA in 1975. He arrived just months after legendary coach John Wooden announced his retirement. Despite the timing, Greenwood stayed loyal to the program and became a four-year starter, averaging 14.8 points and 8.7 rebounds across 118 games. UCLA went 102-17 during his time and never missed out on a conference title.
We mourn the loss of David Greenwood, our No. 2 overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft, who passed away at age 68 after a battle with cancer.
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) June 12, 2025
By his junior and senior seasons, Greenwood had earned first-team All-America honors, the first UCLA player to do so since Bill Walton. He helped the Bruins reach the 1976 Final Four and still ranks fourth on the school’s all-time rebounding list.
In 1979, the Chicago Bulls selected him as the No. 2 pick in the NBA Draft. The Lakers had won the coin toss and took Magic Johnson at No. 1. Greenwood joined a struggling Bulls franchise and became part of its early core, alongside Reggie Theus and Orlando Woolridge, before Michael Jordan arrived in 1984.
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Greenwood’s NBA journey included stops in San Antonio, Denver, and, ultimately, Detroit, where he played an important reserve role in the Pistons’ 1990 championship run. “He didn’t say much, but he always did his job,” one former teammate told The Detroit Free Press.
Later, he returned to his roots. He coached at Verbum Dei, leading his alma mater to back-to-back state championships in 1998 and 1999. UCLA honored him last year at its final Pac-12 game in Pauley Pavilion.
Greenwood is survived by his son Jemil, daughter Tiffany, brother Al, sister Laverne, and former wife Joyce. His name lives on in the Pac-12 Hall of Honor and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.
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