Legendary coach and exec behind historic Michael Jordan deal dies aged 88

4 Sep 2025 • 7:24 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Hall of Fame basketball coach George Raveling has died aged 88, with his family stating he "faced cancer with courage and grace".
  • Raveling, inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015, coached at Washington State, Iowa, and Southern California from 1972-94.
  • He was instrumental in Michael Jordan signing a landmark endorsement deal with Nike, introducing him to Sonny Vaccaro, which led to the creation of the iconic Air Jordan brand.
  • Michael Jordan and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver paid tribute to Raveling's mentorship and his pioneering influence on basketball globally.
  • Raveling famously owned the original copy of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, which he obtained at the 1963 March on Washington and later donated to his alma mater, Villanova.

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