SALT LAKE CITY — Two former players for the Utah Jazz — Wayne Cooper and John Drew — passed away on back-to-back days earlier this week.\
Drew, who averaged 18.5 points over 144 games with Utah from 1982-85, died April 10 of bone cancer. He was 67.
Cooper played only one season with the Jazz. In 1980-81, he netted averages of 6.9 points and 6.2 rebounds over 71 games. Kidney complicatios ended his life at 65.
Since longtime head coach Jerry Sloan’s death on May 23, 2020, the organization has also lost ex-players James Hardy (1978-82) and Mark Eaton (1982-93). Both men were 64.
On Dec. 15, 2020, former Utah Stars forward Bruce Seals (1973-75) died at age 67