Former Knick Marvin Webster Dies at 56

Former NBA star Marvin Webster has been found dead in a bathtub at a Tulsa hotel.

The 56-year-old Webster was discovered in his room Monday morning in the downtown Ambassador Hotel, police said Wednesday.

Foul play is not suspected and the death apparently stemmed from an illness, police spokesman Jason Willingham said. He added that the former 7-foot-1 center had been living at the hotel and employees grew concerned after not seeing him for several days.

The medical examiner office said the cause of death has not been determined.

Known as "The Human Eraser," Webster played nine seasons in the NBA, including six with the New York Knicks. He also played for Denver, Seattle and Milwaukee. He averaged 7.1 points and 7.0 rebounds. His first pro season was with Denver of the ABA.

Webster was on Seattle's first team to play in the NBA finals in 1978 and averaged 16.1 points during the SuperSonics' playoff run. He signed with the Knicks the following season.

He missed the next two seasons with injuries before playing 15 games as a reserve for Milwaukee in the 1986-87 season. Webster played at Morgan State and started with Denver in the ABA in the 1975-76 season. He was on the team the following year when the Nuggets joined the NBA.

His best statistical year came with Seattle, when he averaged 14 points and finished ninth in the NBA with 12.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks a game. The Sonics lost the finals to Washington in seven games that year, one season before winning their only NBA title.
   
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.