The NBA world reacts to the death of legendary Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan

Legendary Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan died on Friday due to complications from Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia.

Jerry Sloan, former coach of the @UtahJazz, has died. He was 78. https://t.co/cnl6LGs9JA

— The Salt Lake Tribune (@sltrib) May 22, 2020

Jerry Sloan served as head coach of the Utah Jazz from 1988-2011, and with the help of Hall of Fame point guard John Stockton and Hall of Fame power forward Karl Malone, Sloan led the Jazz to the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998, the franchise’s lone Finals appearances.

Rest easy, Coach ❤️

» https://t.co/5eonFoUR61 pic.twitter.com/ynrk0JnO0V

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) May 22, 2020

In those back-to-back Finals trips, the Jazz fell in six games to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, a franchise where Jerry Sloan spent 10 seasons as a player and coached for three seasons from 1979-82.

“The Original Bull.”

Rest in peace, Jerry Sloan ❤️

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) May 22, 2020

As a coach, Sloan recorded 1,221 regular season wins, the fourth most in NBA history. He is one of only nine coaches to record over 1,000 wins, and he and San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich are the only coaches in NBA history to record 1,000+ wins with one franchise.

From the time Sloan took over as coach of the Jazz until Malone left the franchise in 2003, the Jazz had the best overall record in the NBA, and in 2009, Sloan was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

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Under Sloan, the Jazz made 16 consecutive postseason appearances beginning in 1988, only missing the playoffs four times in his 23 seasons as coach.

Sloan also had a career as a player. He was the fourth pick in the 1965 NBA Draft, spending one season with the Baltimore Bullets before playing a decade for the Bulls. During his playing days, he was a 2-time All-Star and 4-time All-Defensive First Team selection.

His No. 4 jersey became the first jersey retired in Bulls franchise history in 1978, and in 2014, Utah retired a special jersey for their legendary coach.

On Jan. 14, 2014, @utahjazz raised a banner in the @vivintarena rafters with the number “1223” in honor of Sloan’s total wins with the Jazz between 1988 and 2011.

— The Salt Lake Tribune (@sltrib) May 22, 2020

The NBA world paid its respects to Sloan on Friday, expressing its condolences on Twitter.

RIP Coach Sloan! ❤️ Legend!! https://t.co/hKeAReoqLV

— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) May 22, 2020

Rest In Peace Jerry Sloan ?? @utahjazz https://t.co/v3jpTPaktC

— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) May 22, 2020

Saddened to learn of the news of Jerry’s passing this morning. He was a tremendous coach and a great leader. We battled against each other throughout our careers. He will be missed.

— George Karl (@CoachKarl22) May 22, 2020