Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
David Pober grew up in Pittsburgh, became an insurance agent and somehow became intertwined with Pittsburgh basketball royalty and some NBA players. Pober started the Summer Pro Classic in 1977, and it drew 10,404 fans. He ran the event and got NBA players from all over to participate. He had four more All-Star games at the Civic Arena before folding the event after 1984. Pober, an Oakland resident, died Monday at UPMC Presbytertian-Shadyside. He was 74.
Five times over an eight-year period the Pittsburgh Summer Pro Classic was played at the old Civic Arena. Future Naismith Basketball Hall of Famers known as Dr. J, Moses, Hawk and Dominique played in the event, as well as many other NBA standouts, some with Pittsburgh ties. And the man responsible for the event was known simply as “Chopper.”
Brad Branson has passed away at the age of 67. His death was announced by former teammates and friends on Tuesday. Born in Illinois, he spent large stretches of his career in Europe and became fluent in Spanish en route to getting citizenship. He is widely considered among the best centers to ever play in the ACB, the top-tier division of the country.
Jazz announced the passing of longtime head athletic trainer Gary Briggs today. pic.twitter.com/fBs7oADj0E
— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) January 24, 2026
“A free spirit and a person who loved his life,” recalled former Bulls coach Doug Collins, who was hired just before Jawann Oldham’s eventual trade to the New York Knicks to join fellow centers Bill Cartwright and Patrick Ewing. “Incredible, maybe the most balanced seven-foot guy I’ve ever seen,” recalled Cartwright, who later was traded to the Bulls to complete their championship puzzle. “He could do handstands at 7-1. His upper body as so strong; not muscular, but strong. Also probably one of the best big athletes I’ve seen the way he could run and jump.
Advertisement
NBA History: The NBA mourns the passing of Jawann Oldham (1957-2026). The No. 41 overall pick in the 1980 NBA Draft, Jawann played 10 NBA seasons with the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Sacramento Kings, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana Pacers. We extend our deepest condolences to the Oldham family.
A prominent figure in Belgian basketball, who briefly played for Hermine de Nantes in 2002/03, Barry Mitchell has died at the age of 60. He was the father of Ajay Mitchell, the Oklahoma City player.
Jared Weiss: Victor Wembanyama learned Tuesday morning that his grandmother has passed away in France, a team source told @TheAthletic . Wembanyama was in tears during his post-game press conference and said, "I'm sorry, I lost somebody today."
NBA champion Elden Campbell's cause of death has been revealed ... with officials telling TMZ Sports the former Laker died due to an accidental drowning. The medical examiner in Florida says Campbell -- who was 57 years old -- was pronounced deceased at 8:03 PM on December 1.
Former Lakers center Elden Campbell, who played 8 ½ seasons of his 15-year NBA career with the Los Angeles team he watched while growing up here and attending Morningside High, has died. He was 57. The cause of death is not known.
Advertisement
Former Laker Byron Scott, who said he knew Campbell’s family because Scott also grew up in Inglewood and went to Morningside, said the news was painful to hear. Scott and Campbell were teammates on the Lakers when Scott returned for his final season back with L.A. in 1996-97. “I just remember his demeanor. That’s why we nicknamed him ‘Easy E,’ ” Scott told The Times. “He was just so cool, nothing speeding him up. He was going to take his time. He was just easy. He was such a good dude. I loved Easy, man.”
Claire Rothman, a trailblazing sports and entertainment industry executive indelibly tied to the Los Angeles Lakers during their 1980s heyday, has died. Family members confirmed her death, on Saturday, was due to complications from a fall. She was 97. As the president and general manager of the “Fabulous Forum,” Rothman was pivotal in bringing big-name musicians to the Inglewood venue and had deep ties to the Lakers when it was the team’s home during the “Showtime” era, when the Lakers won five championships in a decade.
NBA: The NBA family is deeply saddened by the passing of Rodney Rogers. Rodney earned the Sixth Man of the Year Award while playing for the Phoenix Suns and was a beloved teammate during his 12-year NBA career. He will be remembered not only for his achievements on the court but also for the extraordinary resilience, courage and generosity that he demonstrated throughout his life — qualities that inspired so many. We send our heartfelt condolences to Rodney’s wife, Faye, and their family.