NBA Firings: Westhead, Hamblen

Two NBA coaches were fired and one was kicked upstairs.

Fired were Paul Westhead, whose racehorse offensive style resulted in the Denver Nuggets’ two worst seasons, and Frank Hamblen, whose Milwaukee Bucks had their worst season in 13 years. Cotton Fitzsimmons, credited with turning the Phoenix Suns into one of the NBA’s best in his four seasons, said he will stop coaching and rejoin the Suns’ front office. Former USC star Paul Westphal, who coached at two small colleges in Phoenix before he was hired in 1988 as Fitzsimmons’ assistant, will replace his mentor after the playoffs.

Westhead’s two seasons resulted in 20-62 and 24-58 records.

Westhead’s record was the worst of any NBA coach over that period. He was fired by General Manager Bernie Bickerstaff Wednesday.

Hamblen, who took over as Milwaukee head coach last December when Del Harris quit to work in the front office, will remain with the club in basketball operations for the 1992-93 season.