NBA Player, Broadcaster Hundley Dies At 80

“Hot” Rod Hundley, a former NBA player who broadcast Jazz games in New Orleans and Utah for 35 years, died March 27 at his home near Phoenix. He was 80.

The Jazz announced his death, but the cause was not disclosed.

Mr. Hundley broadcast 3,051 Jazz games from 1974 to 2009. He joined the franchise before its first season in New Orleans in 1974-75 and moved with the team to Salt Lake City in 1979-80.

“Hot Rod was the voice of the Utah Jazz for 35 years and his voice was synonymous with Jazz radio,” Jazz owner Gail Miller said in a statement. “The expressions he used throughout the game broadcasts are legendary. He had the unique ability to make the game come to life so that you felt as though you could see what was happening on the floor when listening to him call the games.”

Mr. Hundley starred at West Virginia University, averaging 24.5 points in three varsity seasons. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Royals in 1957 as the first player chosen in the draft and was immediately traded to the Minneapolis Lakers.

He averaged 8.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists in six seasons with the Lakers in Minneapolis and Los Angeles, playing in the 1960 and 1961 All-Star games.

“I first met Rod when I was 18,” Hall of Famer Jerry West said in a statement, “and he encouraged me to attend West Virginia University. We were Laker teammates and never lost contact.”

Mr. Hundley also was a broadcaster for four seasons with the Phoenix Suns and four with the Lakers and called NBA games for CBS.