Having just worked last Tuesday’s NBA season opener between Boston and Miami on ESPN Radio, it’s a shock to hear that long-time announcer Jim Durham has passed away at the age of 65. According to ESPN’s Front Row public relations blog, Durham passed away over the weekend at his home outside Houston.
A native of Chicago, he called the Bulls both on TV and radio from 1973 until 1991. He joined ESPN in 1992 calling college basketball. Durham also called games for CBS, NBC and Turner Sports. From 1993 through 2001, he was the TV voice of the Dallas Mavericks.
In 1996, he began calling NBA games for ESPN Radio, a role he kept until his dying days. Durham remained beloved in his native Chicago, having called the first Bulls championship with Michael Jordan in 1991. He also called another Bulls championship in 1998 for ESPN Radio and the game-winning shot by Jordan against the Utah Jazz.
His long-time partner on ESPN Radio was Dr. Jack Ramsay.
Along with Charlie Steiner, Durham helped to usher in MLB on ESPN Radio in 1999. And Durham was a very good baseball announcer as well, calling the White Sox and Astros during his career.
Ed Sherman at the Sherman Report remembers Durham.
Durham was honored by the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011 with the Curt Gowdy Media Award for his work in broadcasting.
He’s survived by his wife, three children and his grandchildren. Durham will be missed.
