Legendary former basketball player for Real Madrid, Barcelona and the Puerto Rico national team, Jose “Piculin” Ortiz, has died at the age of 63 after a serious illness, the official FIBA website reports. The legendary player, who had previously given up the NBA and shone at five Olympic Games, has passed away.
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According to media reports, the cause of death of the famous center with a height of 211 cm was colon cancer, which Ortiz had been battling for several years.
The Puerto Rican, who tried his hand at the NBA club Utah Jazz, was one of the few to defend the colors of two Spanish giants at once – Real Madrid and Barcelona, with whom he won the Spanish Cup and played in the European Cup final. He later played for Andorra and Malaga, and also had a successful season in Greece, where he won the Korač Cup with Aris.
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As part of the Puerto Rican national team from 1983 to 2004, the Pan American Games champion, Pikulin played in four Olympic Games (Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Athens 2004) and four world championships. The Athens Olympics holds a special place in his career, where Puerto Rico sensationally defeated the United States with a score of 92:73, and the 40-year-old Ortiz scored 8 points and made 6 rebounds.
Unfortunately, after the end of his career, FIBA Hall of Famer José “Piculin” Ortiz faced financial difficulties, problems with alcohol and drugs, as well as an unsuccessful attempt to start a business – his pizzeria in Cayey de Musas closed. In particular, in the summer of 2011, drugs worth $ 150,000, 15 pistols and a certain amount of ammunition were found in his house. He faced up to 40 years in prison… However, despite all the problems, the name “Piculin” became a symbol of a whole generation of fans.
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The basketball legend spent his last weeks in the hospital, where his wife Silvia Rios, daughter Neira, and close relatives were with him.
Previously, “FACTS” reported that the famous Olympic basketball champion, who was recognized as the best in Europe three times, had died.
Photos from social networks
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