Art Becker, a former Arizona State basketball star and two-time ABA All-Star, passed away at 84 on April 30. He died at his home in Tempe, surrounded by family after battling prostate cancer and leukemia.
Key points
Art Becker was a former Arizona State basketball star.
He was a two-time ABA All-Star.
Becker died at age 84 on April 30.
He battled prostate cancer for 25 years and was recently diagnosed with leukemia.
He served as head coach and athletic director at Scottsdale Community College.
Mentioned in this story
Art BeckerArizona StateScottsdale Community College
Art Becker, who starred on Arizona State's basketball teams in the early 1960s and later became a two-time ABA All-Star, died on April 30. He was 84.
Becker died at his Tempe home under hospice care surrounded by family, said his wife, Lynn.
Becker also had two stints as head men's basketball coach at Scottsdale Community College (1974-81 and 1993-96), where he also served as athletic director. Becker's son Mark was the star center on Tempe McClintock's 1986 state basketball championship team.
Art Becker had battled prostate cancer for 25 years, Lynn said, and was recently diagnosed with leukemia.
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett cuts down the net after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs at University Credit Union Pavilion in Moraga, California, on Feb. 28, 2026.
Saint Mary's head coach Randy Bennett walks in front of the bench in the first half during a first-round men's basketball game of the NCAA Tournament between St. Mary's and Texas A&M, at Paycom in Oklahoma City on March 19, 2026.
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett looks on in the first half against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the NCAA Tournament Second Round at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on March 23, 2025.
Q&A
What were Art Becker's achievements in basketball?
Art Becker was a standout player for Arizona State in the early 1960s and became a two-time ABA All-Star.
How did Art Becker die?
Art Becker died at his home in Tempe under hospice care, surrounded by family after a long battle with prostate cancer and a recent diagnosis of leukemia.
What was Art Becker's role at Scottsdale Community College?
Art Becker served as head men's basketball coach and athletic director at Scottsdale Community College during two separate terms from 1974 to 1981 and 1993 to 1996.
Who is Art Becker's son and what is he known for?
Art Becker's son, Mark, was the star center on Tempe McClintock's 1986 state basketball championship team.
Related Articles
Sports
Houston Rockets jersey history No. 13 - Larry Smith
Exploring the Houston Rockets jersey history, focusing on No. 13 worn by Larry Smith.
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports
Big Ten miffed about Duke's landmark Amazon deal to broadcast Madison Square Garden game against Michigan
Big Ten challenges Duke's Amazon streaming deal for game against Michigan
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
MLB·Recap
Misiorowski throws 5 1/3 no-hit innings, leaves early in 6-1 victory
Jacob Misiorowski shines with 5 1/3 no-hit innings in Brewers' 6-1 win!
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
MLB·Recap
Danny Janssen's HR, Josh Jung's two RBIs lead Rangers past Tigers 5-4
Rangers defeat Tigers 5-4 with Janssen's homer and Jung's RBIs
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
NBA·Recap
Pistons Game 6 comeback: Cade Cunningham outscores Magic in fourth quarter to save season
Cade Cunningham leads Pistons to a stunning Game 6 comeback against the Magic, forcing a Game 7!
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports
Detroit Tigers, Game 33: One thing I loved, one thing I didn't
Tigers lose 5-4 to Rangers; Hao-Yu Lee impresses at third base.
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett during the first half in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament against the Grand Canyon Antelopes at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena on March 22, 2024.
St. Mary's Gaels coach Randy Bennett at a news conference at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena on March 21, 2024.
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett reacts during the second half against the Utah Utes at University Credit Union Pavilion in Moraga, California, on Nov. 27, 2023.
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett speaks to the press during first round practice at MVP Arena in Albany, New York, on March 16, 2023.
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett watches game action against the Loyola Marymount Lions during the second half at Gersten Pavilion in Los Angeles on Feb. 9, 2023.
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett laughs at a reporter's question about training with bricks at Moda Center in Portland on March 16, 2022.
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett celebrates his 500th win with his team after the game against the San Francisco Dons at University Credit Union Pavilion in Moraga, California, on Feb. 2, 2023.
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett reacts in the game against the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks in the second half at McKeon Pavilion in Moraga, California, on Dec. 1, 2019.
Mar 20, 2019; Hartford, CT, USA; St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett speaks with the media during practice before the first round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament at XL Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2017; Spokane, WA, USA; St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett reacts after talking with an official during a game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the first half at McCarthey Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Dayton, OH, USA; St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett looks on from the bench in the second half at the University of Dayton Arena. St. Mary's Gaels won 61-57. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2014; Omaha, NE, USA; St. Marys Gaels head coach Randy Bennett looks at game action against the Creighton Bluejays at CenturyLink Center Omaha. St. Marys defeated Creighton 71-67 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
January 26, 2012, Los Angeles CA, USA; St. Marys Gaels head coach Randy Bennett watches game action against the Loyola Marymount Lions during the second half at Gersten Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 16, 2008; Los Angeles, CA, USA; St. Mary's Gaels coach Randy Bennett watches from the bench during the game against the Loyola Marymount Lions at Gersten Pavillion. St. Mary's defeated Loyola Marymount, 80-49. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
1 / 17
Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett cuts down the net after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs at University Credit Union Pavilion in Moraga, California, on Feb. 28, 2026.
1 / 17
Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett cuts down the net after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs at University Credit Union Pavilion in Moraga, California, on Feb. 28, 2026.
2 / 17
Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
Saint Mary's head coach Randy Bennett walks in front of the bench in the first half during a first-round men's basketball game of the NCAA Tournament between St. Mary's and Texas A&M, at Paycom in Oklahoma City on March 19, 2026.
3 / 17
Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett looks on in the first half against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the NCAA Tournament Second Round at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on March 23, 2025.
4 / 17
Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett during the first half in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament against the Grand Canyon Antelopes at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena on March 22, 2024.
5 / 17
Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
St. Mary's Gaels coach Randy Bennett at a news conference at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena on March 21, 2024.
6 / 17
Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett reacts during the second half against the Utah Utes at University Credit Union Pavilion in Moraga, California, on Nov. 27, 2023.
7 / 17
Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett speaks to the press during first round practice at MVP Arena in Albany, New York, on March 16, 2023.
8 / 17
Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett watches game action against the Loyola Marymount Lions during the second half at Gersten Pavilion in Los Angeles on Feb. 9, 2023.
9 / 17
Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett laughs at a reporter's question about training with bricks at Moda Center in Portland on March 16, 2022.
10 / 17
Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett celebrates his 500th win with his team after the game against the San Francisco Dons at University Credit Union Pavilion in Moraga, California, on Feb. 2, 2023.
11 / 17
Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett reacts in the game against the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks in the second half at McKeon Pavilion in Moraga, California, on Dec. 1, 2019.
12 / 17
Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
Mar 20, 2019; Hartford, CT, USA; St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett speaks with the media during practice before the first round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament at XL Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
13 / 17
Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
Jan 14, 2017; Spokane, WA, USA; St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett reacts after talking with an official during a game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the first half at McCarthey Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
14 / 17
Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
Nov 19, 2016; Dayton, OH, USA; St. Mary's Gaels head coach Randy Bennett looks on from the bench in the second half at the University of Dayton Arena. St. Mary's Gaels won 61-57. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
15 / 17
Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
Dec 13, 2014; Omaha, NE, USA; St. Marys Gaels head coach Randy Bennett looks at game action against the Creighton Bluejays at CenturyLink Center Omaha. St. Marys defeated Creighton 71-67 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
16 / 17
Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
January 26, 2012, Los Angeles CA, USA; St. Marys Gaels head coach Randy Bennett watches game action against the Loyola Marymount Lions during the second half at Gersten Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
17 / 17
Meet the next Arizona State men's basketball coach
Feb 16, 2008; Los Angeles, CA, USA; St. Mary's Gaels coach Randy Bennett watches from the bench during the game against the Loyola Marymount Lions at Gersten Pavillion. St. Mary's defeated Loyola Marymount, 80-49. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
"Many of the coaches from Scottsdale tell the same story," she said. "Many of them, people of color, never had the chance to be a head coach until Art hired them. People like B.B. Fontenet and Bike Medder. All those people are so grateful and indebted to Art for that."
Fontenet played for SCC's men's team. Medder coached the women's basketball team at the college.
July 15, 2022; Art Becker poses for a portrait at his home in Tempe, Ariz..
July 15, 2022; Art Becker poses for a portrait at his home in Tempe, Ariz..
Joe Caldwell, Becker's ASU teammate in the 1960s, visited Art every day in the last few weeks, Lynn said.
"Joe calls Art his brother," Lynn said. "Joe went to one of the rehab centers that was all white, and he said, 'I'm here to see my brother.' The receptionist kind of looked at him and she's thinking, 'We don't have any Black people in here.' Joe, with a straight face, said, 'But I'm adopted.' He's been by every day to see his brother. So touching."
Becker, who played his high school basketball at Phoenix Camelback, where he was a 6-foot-7 forward, has been inducted into several halls of fame, including Arizona State in 1989 and Scottsdale Community College in 2016, as well as the National Alliance of Two-Year Collegiate Athletic Administrators in 2016.
He averaged 12.5 points and 6.7 rebounds across six ABA seasons. He made All-Star teams in 1968 and '72. In 1970, he helped the Indiana Pacers win the ABA championship. After every season, Art and Lynn would return to Tempe to live in the summer.
"We knew at the time with the ABA, especially at Indianapolis, we were living a dream," said Lynn, who was married for more than 60 years to Art. "We loved every minute of it."
Will Worosylla was hired by Becker to lead SCC's men's basketball program from 2010-14, often having him on the bench during games.
"Art led an amazing life," Worosylla said. "He's in, I think, four different Halls of Fame. He was the president of the NJCAA, but more importantly, he was a great mentor and a great friend.
"When he hired me at SCC, I told him I had one condition and that was that he sat on our bench. I learned so much from him on how to be a better coach."
Services for Becker will be held in late May at SCC, Lynn said. No time or date has been set yet.
Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. He also covers Grand Canyon University athletics and the Arizona Rattlers. Please sign up forAzcentral Preps Now newsletter. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @azc_obert
