SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Phil Smith, an All-America guard at the University of San Francisco before winning an NBA championship with the Golden State Warriors, died of bone marrow cancer. He was 50.

Smith, diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 1998, died Monday night at Palomar Medical Center in Escondido, Calif., a spokesman for the university said. Smith had undergone difficult treatments for cancer and resulting kidney problems in recent years.

"He was a wonderful man who succeeded in almost everything he did in his life," said Al Attles, who coached Smith on the Warriors' championship team in 1975. "He's gone far too soon. He touched the lives of everyone who knew him.

"The fact that he had been sick for a while does not lessen the blow. It just adds to the pain."

A graduate of San Francisco's Washington High School, Smith played at USF from 1971-74, averaging 21 points per game in his senior year, when he was an All-American. Though he wasn't heavily recruited out of high school, Smith became a college star because "he worked hard, and he could jump over people," Attles said.

With 1,523 points, Smith is the ninth-leading scorer in the history of USF, which retired his No. 20 at halftime of a game on Feb. 18, 2001.

The Warriors drafted him in the second round. He was a key contributor in his rookie season, when Golden State won the franchise's only championship since moving to the West Coast 40 years ago.

"I've been around a lot of people who were passionate about basketball, but I've only been around a few people whose lives rose and set on basketball, and that was Phil," said Attles, who remained close to Smith for decades after they worked together.

Smith was an All-NBA second team selection in 1976, but his career never was the same after he severely injured his Achilles' tendon while driving to the hoop for a routine layup during a preseason practice in 1979.

"If that injury hadn't occurred, we'd be talking about him as one of the greatest guards ever to play this game," Attles said.

He spent six seasons with the Warriors before finishing his career in San Diego and Seattle. He played nine NBA seasons.

"I've been around a lot of players in my day, but few of them enjoyed all facets of the game as much as Phil Smith," Attles said.

After his career, Smith raised his family and fished while becoming a successful stockbroker in San Diego. He remained close to the Warriors, often calling Attles to offer suggestions on Golden State's new crop of rookies.

Smith is survived by Angela, his wife of 27 years, and five children: Elisa, Phillip, Amber, Martin, Peter. Funeral arrangements are pending.

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