Ortiz (left) in 2007
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Personal information | |
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Born |
Aibonito, Puerto Rico |
October 25, 1963
Nationality | Puerto Rican |
Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
Listed weight | 260 lb (118 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Benjamin Harrison (Cayey, Puerto Rico) |
College | Oregon State (1985–1987) |
NBA draft | 1987 / Round: 1 / Pick: 15th overall |
Selected by the Utah Jazz | |
Playing career | 1980–2006 |
Position | Power forward / Center |
Number | 4, 44 |
Career history | |
1980–1991 | Atléticos de San Germán |
1987–1988 | CAI Zaragoza |
1988–1990 | Utah Jazz |
1990–1991 | Real Madrid |
1991–1992 | FC Barcelona |
1992–1993 | Festina Andorra |
1993–1994 | Unicaja Polti |
1994–1995 | Foinix Larissas |
1995–1996 | Irakleio |
1996–1997 | Aris |
1997 | Guaiqueríes de Margarita |
1998–2005 | Cangrejeros de Santurce |
2006 | Capitanes de Arecibo |
Career highlights and awards | |
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Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Medals
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José Rafael "Piculín" Ortiz Rijos (born October 25, 1963), is a Puerto Rican retired professional basketball player. He played in the NCAA, NBA, various European teams and the Baloncesto Superior Nacional.
He played for the Utah Jazz while in the NBA and the Atléticos de San Germán, Cangrejeros de Santurce, and Capitanes de Arecibo while in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional. Ortiz was a member of the Puerto Rican national team from 1983 to 2004. Most notably he was a member of the 2004 team that defeated the United States at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. Ortiz was a member of 4 Olympic teams 1988, 1992, 1996, and 2004.
Ortiz holds various honors and records as a basketball player. He ranks #4 and #6 in the all-time statistics for rebounds per game and total rebounds in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional league. He is also the third player to win eight championships in the league. Ortiz is also the first Puerto Rican-born player to be drafted in the NBA. Many experts consider Ortiz to be the best Puerto Rican basketball player.
Despite his success in sports, Ortiz went through financial troubles after retiring. In 2011, he was arrested for the possession of 218 marijuana plants. He was sentenced to six months in prison.
Ortiz was born in Aibonito, Puerto Rico on October 25, 1963, but was raised in Cayey. He started his career as a center at Benjamin Harrison High School in Cayey. He was nicknamed Piculín after one of the characters in The Wizard of Oz and The Concorde as a reference to the popular plane and his height (6'11"). Ortiz earned a Bachelor's degree in Communications from Oregon State University.