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Slater Martin, the defensive specialist Hall of Fame guard who won three of his four NBA titles, died Thursday. Martin's daughter-in-law, Becky, told the Associated Press that he died at nursing facility in Houston with a sudden illness after being admitted there on Monday. Martin was 86. "Slater was one of the first great Laker players, and a proud link to our early days in Minnesota," Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said in a statement. "We're saddened by his passing, and we send our condolences to his family." Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Slater Martin 

Slater Martin, the Hall of Fame guard who won four NBA titles with the Minneapolis Lakers and one with the St. Louis Hawks, died Thursday. He was 86. Martin died at a skilled nursing facility in Houston after a sudden illness, daughter-in-law Becky Martin said. She said he was admitted to the nursing home Monday. NCAA.com

Slater Martin 

Slater Martin, the defensive-minded Hall of Fame guard who won four NBA titles with the Minneapolis Lakers and one with the St. Louis Hawks, died Thursday. He was 86. Martin died Thursday at a skilled nursing facility in Houston after a sudden illness, daughter-in-law Becky Martin said. She said he was admitted to the nursing home on Monday. ESPN.com

Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, Hall of Fame, Slater Martin 

Martin was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982. He went into the University of Texas' Longhorn Hall of Honor in 1962, entered the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1964, and the school retired his No. 15 in 2009. "I think he's the best defensive guard that ever lived. That includes all the ones right now," said Sid Hartman, the 92-year-old sports columnist for the Star Tribune of Minneapolis who served as the de-facto general manager of the Lakers. Hartman recalled Martin's battles against Boston's Bob Cousy, marveling at how Martin was able to keep Cousy under wraps. "He drove Cousy crazy," Hartman said Thursday night. "He was quick as a cat. He wasn't a great shooter or a great scorer, but he was a fantastic point guard." ESPN.com

Hall of Fame, Slater Martin 

Jonathan Feigen: So sorry to hear about passing of Slater Martin, legendary Hall of Famer from Jeff Davis HS, UT. A great defensive player, won 5 NBA titles. Twitter @Jonathan_Feigen

Hall of Fame, Slater Martin