Basketball Hall of Famer Jerry Sloan announced Wednesday he’s battling Parkinson’s disease as well as Lewy body dementia.
During an interview with the Salt Lake Tribune, Sloan revealed he was diagnosed last fall. Unfortunately, the Parkinson’s symptoms have now become noticeable to others, which led to Sloan making his condition known to the public.
For many, hearing of Parkinson’s disease will evoke thoughts of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, who was diagnosed with the same illness in 1984. However, Sloan has made it clear he doesn’t want people to pity him.
“I don’t want people feeling sorry for me,” Sloan told the Tribune.
For over two decades, Sloan was a fixture on the sideline of the Utah Jazz. As the team’s head coach from 1998 through 2011, Sloan amassed 1,221 victories. Only Don Nelson (1,335) and Lenny Wilkins (1,332) have more. Under Sloan, Utah won 50 or more games 13 times and advanced to back-to-back NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998, losing both times to the Bulls.
Sloan also had a 10-year playing career, spending time with the Bulls and Baltimore Bullets. He was named to two all-star teams and his uniform No. 4 is one of four numbers retired by the Bulls.
