Former NBA star Jack Twyman dies at 78

CINCINNATI (AP) — Basketball Hall of Famer Jack Twyman has died at 78.

Twyman was one of the NBA’s top scorers in the 1950s who became the guardian to a paralyzed teammate.

Jay Twyman, of Rye, N.Y., said Thursday that his father died Wednesday at a Cincinnati hospice of complications from an aggressive form of blood cancer.

Jack Twyman played for the University of Cincinnati and spent 11 seasons in the NBA with the Rochester and Cincinnati Royals.

He averaged a career-high 31.2 points per game in the 1959-60 season and played in six All-Star games.

In 1958, after teammate Maurice Stokes was left paralyzed after a head injury suffered during a game, Twyman became his guardian to help Stokes receive medical benefits.

Twyman later worked as a television analyst on NBA games.