Puerto Rican basketball legend José ‘Piculin’ Ortiz has died at the age of 62
José ‘Piculin’ Ortiz, FIBA Hall of Famer and Puerto Rican basketball legend, has died at the age of 62. Ortiz was widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Puerto Rican basketball history. According to FIBA, he had been battling colorectal cancer since 2023.
Throughout his career, Ortiz played college basketball for the Oregon State Beavers, averaging 19.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. His performance earned him Pac-10 Player of the Year honors in 1987. That same year, he made history as the first Puerto Rican player ever selected in the first round of the NBA Draft, going 15th overall to the Utah Jazz. Ortiz played two seasons in the NBA, averaging 2.9 points and 1.1 rebounds in 64 games.
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After his time in the NBA, Ortiz played professional basketball in Europe, with teams in Spain and Greece, before returning to Puerto Rico to continue his career.
Ortiz was a mainstay of the Puerto Rican national team, representing his country in four Olympics (1988, 1992, 1996 and 2004) and competing in numerous FIBA World Championships and international tournaments. On August 30, 2019, Ortiz’s contributions were recognized with his induction into the FIBA Basketball Hall of Fame, honoring a career that spanned two decades.
“Today Puerto Rico loses more than an athlete, it loses a legend,” the Puerto Rico Basketball Federation told FIBA. “Thank you for all the joys, for representing our flag with pride and for raising the name of our island to the maximum. Rest in peace, José “Piculin” Ortiz Rijos. Your legacy will live on every field, with every fan and with every generation you inspire.”
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Puerto Rican basketball star José ‘Piculin’ Ortiz dies at 62