Basketball icon Cal Ramsey dies at 81

Cal Ramsey, a New York basketball icon who starred in the city in high school and college while later serving as a player and broadcaster for the Knicks, died Monday at 81. Ramsey, who had spent the past 28 years as a community relations ambassador for the team, died of cardiac arrest in Manhattan at The Riverside Premier Rehabilitation and Healing Center.

The Knicks put out a statement via Twitter to honor Ramsey, who played just seven of his 13 NBA games with the Knicks but became a positive presence in the organization for decades afterward. "Cal represented the Knicks with pride for more than five decades as a player, broadcaster and one of the greatest ambassadors in New York City basketball history," Madison Square Garden executive chairman and chief executive officer James Dolan said in a statement.

"He was the epitome of class, wisdom and dignity, and will be remembered for the thousands of young lives he influenced as a community leader. Knicks games will not be the same without Cal's presence. He will be greatly missed." Ramsey was born in Selma, Ala., but attended Commerce High School in New York and went on to star at New York University, becoming an All-American in 1959 when he averaged 22 points per game.

He was drafted with the 13th overall pick in 1959 (then the second round) by the St. Louis Hawks and was picked up by the Knicks off waivers later in his rookie season. He averaged 11.4 points during his seven-game stint with New York before playing two games with the Syracuse Nationals the next season. Well respected in the city, Ramsey later worked as a color analyst for the Knicks from 1972-82. In 1983 Ramsey became an assistant coach at his alma mater, where he remained through this past season. He rejoined the Knicks' franchise in 1991 in his community role.

Ramsey was inducted into the NYU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1978 and the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame in 1994. The Knicks plan to honor Ramsey during their next game at home on Thursday against the Toronto Raptors.