Paxson, Reinsdorf mourn passing of Durham
The Bulls are mourning the loss of longtime broadcaster Jim Durham, who died over the weekend at 65 in Tomball, Texas.
Durham was the voice of the Bulls from 1973-91. He went from working solo on WIND Radio during the Jerry Sloan-Bob Love era, to doing radio and TV simulcasts with Johnny “Red” Kerr during the early part of the championship era.
“Jim was a true professional and class act, and I’m sad over the news of his passing,” said John Paxson, Bulls vice president of basketball operations. “Over the years when he would broadcast one of our games for ESPN he never failed to spend a little time catching up on life with me.”
Durham made one of the most memorable calls in NBA history — “Shot on Ehlo, good!” — when Michael Jordan hit his game-winning shot in Cleveland during the 1989 playoffs.
After leaving the Bulls in 1991, Durham did NBA games for ESPN Radio. The Chicago native also worked briefly for the White Sox and the Houston Astros.
“He was the best at calling a basketball game I ever heard,” Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. “I loved the energy he brought to our broadcasts, the way he painted a word picture of what was happening on the court which made you feel like you were there, and his sense of humor.
“Most importantly, Jim was my friend and I will miss the conversations we had about the NBA, life in general, and his favorite baseball team … the Chicago White Sox.”
Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau reacted to the news following Monday’s practice at the Berto Center.
“That’s too bad. My condolences to his family,” he said. “Great guy. A legend in the NBA. That’s sad news.”
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