Magic executive Pat Williams diagnosed with cancer

By foxsports
Published

By KYLE HIGHTOWER
Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Orlando Magic senior vice president and longtime NBA executive Pat Williams has been diagnosed with a form of blood cancer.

The team released a statement Tuesday saying that the 70-year old Williams has a condition known as multiple myeloma. The cancer was discovered during a physical for Orlando executives, just six weeks after his annual physical.

Doctors say they are optimistic that they caught the disease in the early stages. Williams is currently undergoing aggressive treatment and plans to continue to maintain his daily schedule, which includes attending Magic games and community and media appearances.

Williams was a member of the group that founded the Magic in 1989 and spent 12 seasons as general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Received 02/15/11 06:24 pm ET