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Michael Jordan's Painful Reaction to Death of Close Friend and Mentor at 88

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Angelo Guinhawa | Last updated Sep 2, 2025 7:45 PM ET

NBA legend Michael Jordan issued a statement as he mourns the death of legendary college basketball coach and Nike executive George Raveling.

Raveling's family announced the news of the Hall of Famer's death on Tuesday, sharing that he "transitioned peacefully at 88" after facing "cancer with courage and grace."

Raveling served as head coach for Washington State, Iowa and USC from 1972 until his retirement in 1994. He then went on to work at Nike as the company's global basketball sports marketing director.

Prior to working at Nike, however, Raveling was also part of the U.S. Olympic basketball coaching staffs in 1984 and 1988. That's where he was able to build a relationship with Jordan.

Jordan was a member of the 1984 team that won gold in Los Angeles. Raveling, for his part, convinced MJ to sign with Nike and even introduced him to Sonny Vaccaro.

In his statement after Raveling's passing, Jordan acknowledged the iconic college basketball coach's role in his decision to sign with Nike, noting that "there would be no Air Jordan" without him.

"I'm deeply saddened to hear about George's passing," Jordan stated, according to Darren Rovell of CLLCT Media. "For more than 40 years, he blessed my life with wisdom, encouragement, and friendship. He was a mentor in every sense and I'll always carry deep gratitude for his guidance."

The Chicago Bulls legend added, "He lived an extraordinary life, breaking barriers and paving the way for so many who came after him. My thoughts are with Delores, Mark, and George's many, many friends."

Aside from Michael Jordan, NBA commissioner Adam Silver also mourned the passing of George Raveling. In a statement, Silver emphasized Raveling's impact on the game of basketball and how he "broke barriers as a college basketball coach" and became "a towering voice in our industry."

"I valued my friendship with George and admired how he led with poise, dignity and respect. He was simply one of the most revered individuals in all of basketball," Silver stated.

"On behalf of everyone at the NBA, I send my deepest condolences to George's family, friends and the countless people he touched throughout his extraordinary life."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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