Photo: Alonsonavarro / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
José Ortiz, known as Piculín, represents the kind of story I find irresistible. A 208 cm center from Aibonito, Puerto Rico, he climbed from Oregon State to the NBA's Utah Jazz, then kept competing across Europe and his home island's leagues for years. His FIBA Hall of Fame induction confirms that his name belongs in the global history of the game. There is something deeply moving about an athlete from a small island carrying his community onto the world stage. His passing in 2026 was a loss, but he remains a lasting source of pride for Puerto Rico.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- José Ortiz
- Name (Japanese)
- ホセ・オルティス
- Reading
- ほせ・おるてぃす
- Born
- October 25, 1963 (age 62)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Scorpio / Rabbit
- Origin
- Aibonito, United States
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- 208 cm
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- basketball player
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Oregon State University
Awards & achievements
- FIBA Hall of Fame
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was José Ortiz born?
Born October 25, 1963 (age 62).
Where is José Ortiz from?
José Ortiz is from Aibonito, United States.
What does José Ortiz do?
José Ortiz works as basketball player.
How tall is José Ortiz?
José Ortiz is 208 cm.
Basketball player — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.