José Ortiz obit

Puerto Rican legend José ‘Piculín’ Ortiz dies at 63

 He was not on the list.

After a short stint in the NBA, ‘Piculín’ had a successful career playing in Spain, Italy, and Greece.

José Ortiz -better known as “Piculín”-, one of the most influential figures in the history of Puerto Rican basketball, has died at 63 after a long battle with cancer.

Ortiz’s rise to prominence began in the United States collegiate system, where he played for the Oregon State Beavers. His performances led to his selection in the 1987 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz. Ortiz would go on to play in the NBA with both the Jazz and the Charlotte Hornets, becoming one of the early Puerto Rican players to reach the league.

But where Ortiz truly flourished was on the international stage. His career took him across Europe, where he became a standout performer in several top leagues. Notably, he played for Real Madrid and Barça. Across Spain, Italy, and Greece, Ortiz built a reputation as a versatile center.

If Ortiz’s club career was impressive, his legacy with the Puerto Rican national team is monumental. Over a span of more than three decades, he represented the island in numerous international competitions, including Olympic Games and FIBA World Championships.

He served as both leader and symbol for Puerto Rican basketball, helping raise the team’s competitive profile on the world stage. Among the most celebrated moments of his international career was his participation in the historic victory over the United States at the Athens 2004 Olympics—one of the biggest upsets in Olympic basketball history.

Career history

1980–1991      Atléticos de San Germán

1987–1988      CAI Zaragoza

1988–1990      Utah Jazz

1990    Real Madrid

1990–1992      FC Barcelona

1992–1993      Festina Andorra

1993–1994      Unicaja Polti

1994–1996      Atléticos de San Germán

1994–1995      Gymnastikos S. Larissas

1995–1996      Iraklio Crete

1996–1997      Aris

1997    Guaiqueríes de Margarita

1997–1998      Aris

1998–2005      Cangrejeros de Santurce

2006    Capitanes de Arecibo

Career highlights

FIBA Korać Cup champion (1997)

Spanish Cup winner (1991)

Spanish League All-Star (1990)

2× Greek League All-Star (1996, 1997)

8× BSN champion (1985, 1991, 1994, 1998–2001, 2003)

BSN Most Valuable Player (2002)

LPB champion (1997)

LPB Finals MVP (1997)

No. 4 retired by Cangrejeros de Santurce

Pac-10 Player of the Year (1987)

2× First-team All-Pac-10 (1986, 1987)

Career statistics

Points  8,925 (17.7 ppg)

Rebounds        5,314 (10.5 rpg)

Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata

Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

FIBA Hall of Fame

Medals

Men's basketball

Representing  Puerto Rico

FIBA AmeriCup

Gold medal – first place          1995 Argentina           

Silver medal – second place   1988 Uruguay

Silver medal – second place   1993 Puerto Rico       

Silver medal – second place   1997 Uruguay

Bronze medal – third place     2003 Puerto Rico       

Pan American Games

Gold medal – first place          1991 Cuba      

Bronze medal – third place     1987 USA      

Centrobasket

Gold medal – first place          1989 Cuba      

Gold medal – first place          1991 Mexico  

Gold medal – first place          1993 Puerto Rico       

Gold medal – first place          2001 Mexico  

Gold medal – first place          2003 Mexico  

Silver medal – second place   1999 Cuba      

Goodwill Games

Gold medal – first place          1994 Russia