Basketball legend and former 'Piculín' Ortiz dies

BarcelonaThe world of basketball mourns the death of José Piculín Ortiz at the age of 62. The former Puerto Rican pivot had been battling colorectal cancer for a long time. Considered a legend in his country, which he represented in four Olympic Games and five World Cups, he also played for Barça in the early 90s. He arrived from Real Madrid and became a key player in a team that won the Copa del Rey and was a finalist in the European Cup, a tournament they lost in Paris against the historic KK Split. As a Blaugrana, Ortiz played 47 games, in which he scored an average of 14.5 points and grabbed 7.6 rebounds. His time at the Palau ended in 1992, when he began a journey through other ACB clubs such as Festina Andorra and Unicaja de Málaga.

At over 30 years old, he made a fortune in Greek basketball, specifically at Larissa, Iraklio of Crete, and Aris of Thessaloniki, with whom he won the Korac Cup. At his peak in the Hellenic league, PAOK made him a great offer to sign him, but the contract could not be registered because Ortiz was accused of using steroids to improve his performance. After this setback, the pivot ended his professional career, which lasted for more than two decades, between Venezuela and his native Puerto Rico. Staying in shape at home helped him participate in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, at the age of 41, in which the Puerto Rican team defeated the United States in a memorable match.

Ortiz is considered a legend in his country for his extroverted character and also because he was the first Puerto Rican basketball player to be selected in the NBA draft. The Utah Jazz chose him in 1987 at number 15, but did not use him until a year later, as they traded his rights to Zaragoza. In two seasons in the North American league, the former center played a discreet role. He completed his first year with 51 appearances and 2.9 points per game. Midway through his second season, the Jazz cut him before trading him to Madrid, where he only played one season before joining Barça.