Former Atlanta Hawk all-star forward Dan Roundfield, one of the more congenial players in franchise history, drowned Monday trying to save his wife in the water off the coast of Aruba.
Roundfield, vacationing on the island, with his wife, noticed that she was struggling while swimming off the Baby Beach. The 6-foot-9 Roundfield hurried to the water to rescue her, according to awe24.com.
Minutes later, Roundfield’s wife emerged from the waves and back to shore. Her husband was not in tow, the Aruba Herald reported. Roundfield’s body was found about an hour later, submerged under some rocks.
The couple was vacationing at the Renaissance Resort.
A Hawks spokesman did not immediately return a call from ajc.com seeking confirmation of Roundfield’s death.
Roundfield, 59, played six seasons with the Hawks over two stints. 1978-79 to 1983-84. He was named to All-Star teams for three straight seasons – 1980, ‘81 and ‘82 and was second-team All-NBA in 1979-80. Roundfield also was voted to the All-Defensive team in five of his 12 NBA seasons.
The Cleveland Cavaliers selected Roundfield in the second round of the 1975 draft after the Detroit native starred at Central Michigan University. The Hawks signed Roundfield as a free agent before the 1978-79 season. In the summer of 1984 Atlanta traded Roundfield to the Pistons for Cliff Levingston, Antoine Carr and two draft picks.
Roundfield, who lived with his wife lived in Atlanta following his retirement, was the ideal complimentary big man to play alongside Hawks Hall of Fame forward Dominique Wilkins.
He had an awkward game, using herky-jerky maneuvers inside to elude defenders. He finished with power around the basket (dunks) and could hit the feathery 12-to-15 foot jump shot.
Roundfield averaged 15.2 points and 9.7 rebounds in his NBA career. He also played three season with the Indiana Pacers of the old ABA before joining the NBA with the merger in 1978.
