Commentator and Broadcaster Jim Durham dies at the age of 65 – NBA News
Jim Durham, ESPN’s lead play by play voice on the NBA and a former broadcaster for the Chicago Bulls and Dallas Mavericks, died on Sunday in his home in Tomball, Texas. He was 65. No cause of death has been reported yet.
Durham had called NBA games on ESPN since 1996 along with his long time partner, Dr Jack Ramsay. His final assignment was Tuesday night’s season opener between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat. Durham was the winner of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s Curt Gowdy Media Award in 2011.
“Jim was a respected play-by-play specialist who combined a tremendous gift for storytelling with a Hall of Fame voice. He's been a dedicated friend and a trusted teammate to so many at ESPN for two decades, and he will be greatly missed,” said Mo Davenport, ESPN Radio's senior vice president and general manager.
Durham was also the radio and television voice of the Chicago Bulls from 1973 to 1991, including the first eight seasons of Michael Jordan’s tenure with the team. He was also the television voice for the Dallas Mavericks from 1993 to 2001. He was the Illinois Sports caster of the year in 1979, 1989 and 1990.
“I was so sorry to learn this morning of Jim Durham's untimely passing. Jim was the voice of the Bulls for 18 years and he was the best at calling a basketball game I ever heard. I loved the energy he brought to our broadcasts. Most importantly, Jim was my friend and I will miss the conversations we had about the NBA, life in general, and his favourite baseball team ... the Chicago White Sox,” said Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement.
The Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers observed a moment of silence in the memory of Durham before the start of their game at the American Airlines Center on Monday night. Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, also had words of praise for Durham, calling him the true definition of a Hall of Famer. Several other former players, managers and team executives send their condolences and praised Durham’s work, with Michael Jordan calling him the voice of champions. Durham is survived by his wife, Helen, and their three children as well as several grandchildren.
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