Doc Rivers, Chris Paul and the Clippers were mourning the loss of Stuart Scott on Sunday.
Scott, the popular and longtime ESPN anchor, died at age 49 after battling several bouts with cancer, and the news affected many Clippers who considered Scott a friend.
"I knew him pretty well," Rivers said. "It was really sad. We knew he was struggling, but I don’t think anyone knew to that extent and that quick. They honored him this summer at the ESPYs. My heart goes out to his family. He was a good man and he celebrated sports. I love people who celebrate the game instead of trying to dissect and tear down. He's a celebrator of sports, and he'll be missed."
Rivers and Scott played golf together, and Rivers said they had a good time just sitting and talking and joking around.
Scott's playful, fun, energetic vibe was transparent in his broadcasts.
"He brought all this stuff, and he did it in his way," Rivers said. "He brought a hipness and coolness to ESPN, and it was very much appreciated."
Watch #clippers coach doc rivers on his friend, @stuartscott. "He had to be one tough dude." @foxsportswe https://t.co/2vCtFZowHn
— Jill Painter Lopez (@jillpainter) January 4, 2015
Paul knew him as well and also played golf with him. Paul tweeted about Scott on Sunday morning, along with a picture of him and Scott wearing golf gear. He also said he did his first NBA commercial with Scott.
Paul woke up in the middle of the night and saw a tribute on SportsCenter, then said he checked the news and learned of his friend's death.
"It's a blow. A lot of us grew up watching Stu," Paul said. "He just transcended everything. It's a huge loss to the sports community."
Paul knew of Scott long ago because Scott went to Paul's rival high school, Richard J. Reynolds High in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and then went on to the University of North Carolina. Paul played for West Forsyth in Clemmons, N.C. and remembered Scott's early broadcasting days.
Here is @cp3 with memories of his friend @stuartscott. @foxsportswest #clippers https://t.co/7hukXwkNFP
— Jill Painter Lopez (@jillpainter) January 4, 2015
"When I was a junior in high school, for our high school Christmas tournament, Stuart Scott did the broadcasting for it," Paul said. "For me, I played golf with him. He was just an unbelievable guy. The thing I remember most was how much he loved his daughters (and I) have kids of my own."
Paul said he and Scott texted often, and Paul's wife, Jada, saw Scott before the NBA season started at Pelican Hill.
"I'm amazed that he worked so late in his life when you think about it," Rivers said. "He was going through chemo and going through all this stuff and you wouldn't have known it if you saw him. He had to be one tough dude."
Scott's death affected so many, and the White House issued a statement about his passing from President Barack Obama.
Watch @deandrejordan6 on @stuartscott... The phrases DJ loved and inspirational @espys speech. @foxsports https://t.co/6Gjxr1DORs
— Jill Painter Lopez (@jillpainter) January 4, 2015
DeAndre Jordan loved to watch Scott, and did an impersonation of the way he said a couple of the phrases he popularized.
"It's sad," DeAndre Jordan said. "He was definitely one of the commentators I loved growing up, with the 'Boo-Yah' and 'cooler than the others side of the pillow.' That's stuff I'll always remember. I still remember his ESPYs speech from last year. It was really touching. I remember watching it with my family. He's definitely going to be missed."
Scott accepted the Jimmy V Perseverance Award at the ESPYs in July in Los Angeles, and his speech was an inspiration to so many.
And his ESPN career was a longlasting one.
"I was watching it this morning," Paul said. "One of the guys on NFL Countdown said there will never be another Stuart Scott, and I think that's the truth. You see it on SportsCenter, those people change and they go, but he's a staple."
Added Rivers: "I just loved his humor. He was so comfortable in his own skin. He brought a style to ESPN. To me, it's been imitated. When that happens, that means that you're pretty much on top."
