Puerto Rican basketball star Ortiz has passed away at the age of 62.

The Puerto Rican Basketball Federation confirmed that José Rafael Ortiz, a center hailed as one of the country's greatest players of all time, passed away peacefully at a hospital in San Juan after battling colorectal cancer for several months. He was 62 years old.

Ortiz was a pioneer in bringing Puerto Rican basketball to the world stage. He shone at Oregon State University and was selected 15th overall in the first round of the 1987 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz.

Despite a relatively short stint in the NBA, Ortiz showcased his dominance as a top center in European competitions, playing for giants like Real Madrid and Barcelona.

At the national team level, Ortiz represented Puerto Rico in four World Championships and four Olympic Games. The highlight of his career was undoubtedly the 2004 Athens Olympics, where he led his team to victory over the US Dream Team, composed entirely of professional players, handing them their first Olympic defeat since sending professional athletes to the Games.

For his outstanding contributions, Ortiz was officially inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2019. After retiring, Ortiz was mired in legal and drug-related troubles, but he remains an idol in the hearts of the people of Puerto Rico.

As the Basketball Association stated, "Puerto Rico has lost more than just an athlete; it has lost a legend. We thank him for bringing the island's name to the highest level in the world."

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