Monday morning Hall of Fame head coach and NBA broadcaster Dr. Jack Ramsay, 89, died. The cause of death was immediately known, though he had endured a long battle with cancer and had been recently diagnosed with a marrow syndrome.
Ramsay, a permanent fixture around the NBA, began his professional career in Philadelphia with the 76ers as their general manager, taking the team to an title. He later became their head coach, staying with the Sixers for four years.
He had later stops with the Buffalo Braves (now the Los Angeles Clippers), the Portland Trail Blazers—with whom he won their only NBA Championship—and his final stop with the Indiana Pacers.
During his championship run with the Blazers, Hall of Fame forward Bill Walton had this to say about his coach.
Jack’s life is a beacon which guides us all. He is our moral compass, our spiritual inspiration. He represents the conquest of substance over hype. He is a true saint of circumstance.”
Ramsay worked the latter part of his career as color commentator for the Sixers, the Miami Heat and for ESPN’s broadcast coverage of the NBA. Writing for ESPN, his son Chris Ramsay had a great many words to share about his father. It is an eloquent, emotional and inspirational read that all should read.
He led such a great life. He did so many great things. He was a great man, a giver. …
“He was a basketball genius, a true innovator. He taught a team game. A pure form of basketball. Sharing and giving. With the right personnel, it was unbeatable. He pushed the very best to be even better: Billy Cunningham, Bob McAdoo, Bill Walton and Reggie Miller all learned from him how to elevate their games. Later, you’d see him talking with Tim Duncan, Kobe, KG and D-Wade. He was telling them how to be better players and teammates. They all listened, and they all got better. …
If he were here today, he would say, ‘Use your imagination. Imagine the life you want to live, and live it.'”
Boston Celtics legend and Indiana Pacers President of Basketball Operations, Larry Bird, shared his thoughts regarding Ramsay:
Jack was a great man and I don’t use that term lightly. His contributions to the game, as a coach, advisor, broadcaster will endure forever. I remember talking to Jack, either in Florida, or when he came to our training camp when Jim O’Brien was the coach. I always learned something from him. This is a sad day for all of us in basketball and a sad day for anyone who knew Jack.”
Amidst meetings, press conferences and all of the stress brought on by the recent Donald Sterling scandal, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addressed Dr. Ramsay’s death: “From his coaching tenure to his broadcast work, Dr. Jack left an indelible mark on every facet of our game and on every person he came in contact with, including me.”
Having had such a profound effect on the league, it should be expected that the outpouring of support and remembrance in and around the NBA would be considerable.
We are sad to announce that legendary Coach Dr. Jack Ramsay has passed away at the age of 89: http://t.co/yLMp2sM3VU pic.twitter.com/a2QsxhyyU0 — Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) April 28, 2014
The world has lost a true basketball legend – former Pacers coach & Hall of Famer Dr. Jack Ramsay. #DrJack pic.twitter.com/spOFCCZeOK — Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 28, 2014
A statement from the #Sixers on the passing of Hall of Fame coach Jack Ramsay: http://t.co/lgrEARfsxG pic.twitter.com/mRDS4BLsYY — Philadelphia 76ers (@Sixers) April 28, 2014