Bad Bunny shares photo of late Utah Jazz big man José Ortiz
May 5, 2026, 9:47 PM
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - SEPTEMBER 20: Bad Bunny performs live during "No Me Quiero Ir De Aquí; Una Más" Residencia at Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot on September 20, 2025 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Gladys Vega/Getty Images)
(Photo by Gladys Vega/Getty Images)
Following the passing of Puerto Rican basketball legend and former Utah Jazz big man José Ortiz, world-renowned singer-songwriter Bad Bunny took to social media to pay his respects.
Bad Bunny, or Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is also from Puerto Rico. He was born in Bayamón, about an hour north of where Ortiz was born in Aibonito.
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Ocasio shared a photo of himself embracing Ortiz at what appears to be a venue or some other event. He wrote to Ortiz and his family in the picture.
“Thank you for so much, José ‘Piculín’ Ortiz,” Bad Bunny’s statement started. “Puerto Rico will always remember your name with pride, respect, and joy. Strength to your family.”
According to the Puerto Rico Basketball Federation, Ortiz passed away on Tuesday morning after a multi-year battle with colorectal cancer.
RELATED: Puerto Rican basketball legend José Ortiz passes away at 62
About Jose Ortiz
After a standout prep basketball career at Benjamin Harrison School in Cayey, Puerto Rico, Ortiz moved to the United States to attend Oregon State University.
With the Beavers, Ortiz played alongside eventual NBA Hall of Fame point guard Gary Payton. He would eventually get drafted by the Utah Jazz with the No. 15 overall pick in the first round of the 1987 NBA Draft.
After accepting an offer from CAI Zaragoza in Spain’s Liga ACB. He returned to Salt Lake City and made his NBA debut in 1988.
In total, he would play in 64 games over two seasons with the Jazz.
Ortiz then went on to play club basketball in Europe and Venezuela. However, his most notable accomplishments in international competitions. He was a six-time FIBA gold medalist and also won golds in the Pan American Games and the Goodwill Games.
In 2019, Ortiz was inducted into the FIBA Basketball Hall of Fame.
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Chandler Holt is a Utah Jazz insider for KSLSports.com and co-host of the Jazz Notes podcast. Follow Chandler on X for Jazz and NBA updates.
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