ESPN Radio analyst Jack Ramsay on Wednesday said that he told network officials he "likely will not return next season," according to Chris Tomasson of FOXSPORTSFLORIDA.com. Ramsay has been an NBA analyst for ESPN Radio since the mid-'90s, but the "time finally has come that Ramsay, 88, is likely to step away." He said that his health "is generally good and his decision to step away is not yet final," but he likely "will do so because of no longer being able to work with play-by-play man Jim Durham, who died in November at 65." Ramsay said of Durham, "It’s not quite the same. ... We had a great rapport and I really enjoyed working with him, and working with him is really why I extended my tour of duty." Ramsay added, "He was not only a great broadcaster but a great friend, and it was very difficult." Announcers Ramsay has been paired with this season "include Kevin Calabro, Marc Kestecher and Dave Flemming." While he "respects all of them, Ramsay long has called Durham the best basketball radio play-by-play man ever." He is "committed to continue his radio work at least through the NBA Finals in June," and "does a few games each week." There "figure to be a lot of finalities for Ramsay" as the season winds down. He has "been grateful at being able to get into broadcasting and extend his NBA career well into his 80s." Ramsay: "It’s been a great ride" (FOXSPORTSFLORIDA.com, 4/3).
