52-year-old former Celtics center passes away from cancer.

Following a fight with cancer, former Celtics center Eric Montross passed away on Sunday at the age of 52, according to a family statement made public by North Carolina basketball.

According to the school, the former UNC standout passed away in Chapel Hill surrounded by loved ones. It was discovered in March 2023 that he had cancer. Sarah, Andrew, and Megan, Montross’s three children, and his wife Laura survive him.

With the ninth overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft, Boston selected Montross following his stellar career at UNC under head coach Dean Smith (1990–1994).

Montross, who had just won a national championship with UNC in 1993, was chosen for both the NBA All-Rookie 2nd team and the 1995 Rookie All-Star Game. Over two seasons, he averaged 8.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game in Boston, where he played some of the best basketball of his NBA career.

The Celtics acquired Antoine Walker in the 1996 NBA Draft and a future first-round pick in 1997 by trading Montross and a first-round pick to the Dallas Mavericks in June 1996. After playing nine NBA seasons for six different teams (the Pistons, Raptors, Mavericks, Nets, and 76ers), Montross retired at the age of thirty from Toronto following the 2001–02 season.

Following his professional career, Montross worked for eighteen seasons as a basketball analyst for UNC before retiring this season due to a cancer diagnosis.

Following his passing, UNC Basketball issued the following statement:

The passing of one of our most cherished former student-athletes, Eric Montross, at a far too young age, has left Carolina Athletics, the Tar Heel basketball family, and the entire University community shocked and saddened. Although Eric was a superb basketball player and scholar, his contributions to our community extended well beyond the floor. In addition to being one of the most well-known representatives of the University and Chapel Hill, he was a devout man and an amazing husband, father, and son.

“We send our sincere condolences to Laura, his kids and their whole family, as well as his friends and coworkers. There are incalculably many people who adored and were impacted by Eric.