Quinn Buckner on Bob Knight: 'He was a terrific man'
Quinn Buckner learned of his former mentor's passing in Boston in TD Garden not long before the point guard of Bob Knight's undefeated 1975-76 national championship team had to go on the air as a color analyst in the Pacers' game against the Celtics.
He was clearly still fighting through the emotions of his loss when he delivered a heartfelt tribute to Knight, his controversial but historically successful coach, early in Wednesday's first quarter.
"I was good, and I'll struggle," Buckner said, thanking broadcast play-by-play partner Chris Denari for a consoling pat on the back. "He was a terrific man, first of all, despite all of that other stuff; he really was a terrific guy, a great friend. The world lost a guy who was a genius and really understood life as well as basketball and I feel quite privileged to be whatever I am because I had been in his presence at such an early age and he helped me grow. For all of IU nation, I'm going to take privilege here and speak. He'll be dearly missed. That's a Hall of Fame coach. It resonates in a lot of places."
Read through our archives: Iconic Indiana basketball coach Bob Knight has died
Buckner noted that Knight had been dealing with illness for years. He said he got to spend time with Knight with former teammate Scott May and current IU coach Mike Woodson and started to develop a sense that Knight's passing was coming sooner than later.
"That's really difficult," Buckner said. "... I had to start dealing with that reality that this day was coming. It's not like I'm not sensitive. I have been dealing this and I'm blessed and I appreciate my Bally's team for allowing me to express this. Thank you so much."
The Pacers' 155-104 loss to the Celtics provided Buckner with more opportunity to talk about Knight throughout the broadcast, as the outcome was never in doubt after the second half. Buckner remembered his time with the Celtics where he was part of the team that won the 1983-84 NBA title. Buckner noted that it never would have happened without Knight, because he did not take it well when he was traded from the Bucks to the Celtics for Dave Cowen in September of 1982.
"That was Coach Knight and Red Auerbach," Buckner said. "I was whining about being traded. Coach Knight told me to get my head out of my you-know-what. That was one of those great lessons. Count your blessings and go play."
Denari also asked Buckner about the 1975-76 championship team, Buckner's Gold Medal with the 1976 Olympic team and his time on Knight's staff on the 1984 Gold Medal Olympic team. Buckner, Magic Johnson and Jerry Lucas are the only players in basketball history to have won a high school state title, NCAA Division I national championship, an NBA title and an Olympic Gold Medal.
"This was Coach Knight who knew I had an opportunity that I never even thought of to be really in rare air, one of three men to have won a championship on every level. I never thought about it. That's how Coach thought about his players and the people that he cares about."
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle added his sympathies in his post-game press conference.
"I also want to mention that we just pass our sincerest condolences to the Knight family," Carlisle said. "Pat Knight scouts for us, for the Pacers, he's a great friend. Bob Knight, there's no greater iconic legend in Indiana basketball history than him. We send our thoughts and prayers out to the Knight family."
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Bob Knight: Quinn Buckner delivers tribute on Pacers broadcast
