On December 19, Beijing time, former NBA center Eric Montrose died of cancer at the age of 52. The news was announced by his family. The University of North Carolina forwarded a statement from the family of Montrose, who resigned from his job as a commentator for UNC games after being diagnosed with cancer in March.
The statement read: "To know Eric (Montrose) was to be his friend. The family knows that the ripples of his generous and thoughtful lifestyle will be felt by the many who he touched with his depth and sincerity. People's lives continue to ripple."
During the 1990-94 season, Montrose played for the University of North Carolina and was twice selected to the All-American second team. In 1993, he won the NCAA championship with North Carolina. In 1994, he was selected by the Celtics with the 9th overall pick in the first round. He played in the NBA for 8 seasons and played for 6 teams. In addition to the Celtics, he has also played with the Mavericks, Nets, 76ers, Pistons and Raptors. Montrose is 2.13 meters tall and has played in 465 NBA regular season games, averaging 4.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.
UNC also said Montrose was an outstanding player and student who had a greater impact on the community. He was also a great father, husband and son. After Montrose was diagnosed, his family announced his illness but did not specify what type of cancer it was.
Montrose served as a ball commentator after retiring. He was a rookie in the 1994 class. Well-known players in his class include Kidd, Grant Hill, Eddie Jones, "Big Dog" Robinson and others.
