'G.O.A.T' Of Rutgers Men's Basketball Phil Sellers Dead At 69

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — Phil Sellers, the legendary basketball star who led Rutgers University to the Final Four in the 1970s, has died, the team announced Wednesday on X. He was 69.

"Rest in Peace to the G.O.A.T. of Rutgers men's basketball Phil Sellers," the team said in its statement. "We send our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones."

Sellers is the all-time leader in points scored and rebounds at Rutgers University, and was the captain of the best team in the university's history in 1975-76, which reached the Final Four.

"There will never be another 'Phil The Thrill,'" the team wrote.

Sellers suffered a number of medical problems in the past year, including an intestinal perforation and a stroke, NJ.com reported.

He started 29 games for Rutgers during the 1974-74 team, then 33 games the following season. Sellers tallied nearly 2,400 points, 245 assists and 62 steals at Rutgers before being drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the third round of the 1976 NBA Draft.

A first-team AP All-American in 1976, Sellers later returned to Rutgers, where he served as an assistant coach for four seasons.

His number—12—was retired in 1988.

"Phil Sellers was Rutgers royalty," Rutgers head men's basketball coach Steve Pikiell wrote on X Wednesday. "He was the greatest player on the greatest team in our program’s history. His jersey is one of three that hang up in the rafters at Jersey Mike’s Arena. He was the ultimate role model for our Scarlet Knights."