Former Knicks GM Donovan Dies at 78

BERNARDSVILLE, N.J. (AP) â€” Eddie Donovan, the general manager who helped build the New York Knicks' two championship teams in the 1970s, has died. He was 78. <br><br>Donovan died Saturday from complications

Monday, January 22nd 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

BERNARDSVILLE, N.J. (AP) â€” Eddie Donovan, the general manager who helped build the New York Knicks' two championship teams in the 1970s, has died. He was 78.

Donovan died Saturday from complications of a stroke, his family said.

``Eddie was a great basketball guy, had a great feeling for the game,'' said Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who was drafted by Donovan with the Knicks. ``He had an affectionate spirit about himself.''

Donovan was general manager of the Knicks from 1963-70 and coached the Knicks for four seasons, going 84-194. His .302 winning percentage is the worst of the 18 coaches in Knicks history.

His most famous game came on March 2, 1962, in his first season at the helm. Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points against the Knicks that night in the Philadelphia Warriors' 169-147 win.

Donovan was fired as coach in 1965 but remained as general manager, where he made many of the moves that led to the Knicks titles in 1970 and 1973.