Gone in 2025: Members of the NBA family who passed away last year
Every NBA season begins with fresh optimism, but it also carries a quieter ritual: remembering those the league has lost. Over the past year, several members of the NBA family passed away, leaving behind legacies that still shape how the game is played, coached, and consumed.
Some were former players whose names may no longer dominate highlight reels, yet their influence lives in the evolution of positions and playing styles. Big men who helped redefine spacing, guards who introduced new tempos, and defensive specialists who proved that impact is not always measured in points all contributed to the modern product fans enjoy today. Their careers form part of the connective tissue between eras, linking the rugged, physical past to the fluid, pace-and-space present.
Coaches and assistants who died in the last year also leave a distinct imprint. Many operated out of the spotlight, yet their fingerprints are all over the playbooks and philosophies that drive today’s contenders. The NBA has long been a coaching laboratory, and the loss of veteran minds means the departure of institutional memory: stories from bus rides, tweaks to inbound sets, and hard-earned lessons on how to manage egos in a star-driven league.
The league also said goodbye to executives, scouts, and behind-the-scenes staff whose names never appear in box scores but whose work determines rosters, culture, and opportunity. In an age of global scouting and advanced analytics, these figures helped usher in a smarter, more inclusive NBA, widening the pipeline for international prospects and under-the-radar talent.
From a leaguewide perspective, these passings underscore how the NBA has grown into a multigenerational community. Memorial tributes, jersey patches, and moments of silence are not just ceremonial gestures; they are reminders that today’s stars stand on the shoulders of those who came before them. As franchises honor their departed with video montages and quiet nods in team facilities, they reinforce an essential truth: the NBA is more than a collection of games. It is a living history, continually renewed but never forgetting those who helped build it.
Some were former players whose names may no longer dominate highlight reels, yet their influence lives in the evolution of positions and playing styles. Big men who helped redefine spacing, guards who introduced new tempos, and defensive specialists who proved that impact is not always measured in points all contributed to the modern product fans enjoy today. Their careers form part of the connective tissue between eras, linking the rugged, physical past to the fluid, pace-and-space present.
Coaches and assistants who died in the last year also leave a distinct imprint. Many operated out of the spotlight, yet their fingerprints are all over the playbooks and philosophies that drive today’s contenders. The NBA has long been a coaching laboratory, and the loss of veteran minds means the departure of institutional memory: stories from bus rides, tweaks to inbound sets, and hard-earned lessons on how to manage egos in a star-driven league.
The league also said goodbye to executives, scouts, and behind-the-scenes staff whose names never appear in box scores but whose work determines rosters, culture, and opportunity. In an age of global scouting and advanced analytics, these figures helped usher in a smarter, more inclusive NBA, widening the pipeline for international prospects and under-the-radar talent.
From a leaguewide perspective, these passings underscore how the NBA has grown into a multigenerational community. Memorial tributes, jersey patches, and moments of silence are not just ceremonial gestures; they are reminders that today’s stars stand on the shoulders of those who came before them. As franchises honor their departed with video montages and quiet nods in team facilities, they reinforce an essential truth: the NBA is more than a collection of games. It is a living history, continually renewed but never forgetting those who helped build it.
