BALTIMORE — Former NBA guard Gus Williams, a two-time All-Star who led the Seattle SuperSonics franchise to its only championship in 1979, has died. He was 71.

Williams died Wednesday in Baltimore, where he had been living in a care facility since suffering a stroke in February 2020, according to The Seattle Times. A cause of death was not immediately known.

Williams, a collegiate star at USC from 1973-75, played 11 seasons in the NBA after being drafted by the Golden State Warriors in the second round of the 1975 NBA Draft. He played his first two seasons for Golden State and finished as runner-up in the 1976 NBA Rookie of the Year award voting.

After two years with the Warriors, Williams — nicknamed “The Wizard” — played six seasons for the SuperSonics and helped lead Seattle to winning the 1979 NBA Championship over the Washington Bullets, his future team. He also earned two All-Star selections during his time in Seattle, and was named Second Team All-Pro in 1979-80 and First Team All-Pro in 1981-82.

Williams also played two seasons for the Bullets and one for the Atlanta Hawks before retiring from the NBA in 1987.

For his 11-year NBA career, Williams averaged 17.1 points, 5.6 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 2 assists in 31.1 minutes across 825 games.

“His energy was always so positive and his sense of humor was always there,” former SuperSonics teammate Wally Walker told The Seattle Times. “He got along with everybody. It was always fun with Gus, and a lot of laughs.”

The Wizards on Thursday also issued a statement remembering Williams.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Washington Bullets alumni, Gus Williams,” the Wizards said in a post to X. “Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”