NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — John Andariese, a New York Knicks broadcaster for nearly 40 years, died Monday at the age of 78.
The Knicks confirmed Andariese’s death, but did not provide a cause.
A star player at Fordham University and member of the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame, Andariese started as a Knicks radio analyst in 1972 alongside Marv Albert.
He later spent 12 seasons as a TV analyst for MSG Network from 1986 until 1998 before returning to the radio side, retiring before the start of the 2012-13 season.
Nicknamed “Johnny Hoops,” Andariese was honored with the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014.