Eric Montross, a former NBA center who played for North Carolina before turning pro, announced Saturday that he has begun cancer treatments.
The Montross family issued a statement via the University of North Carolina.
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Eric Montross of the Celtics before a game in 1995 against the Indiana Pacers at the Boston Garden. (Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images)
«Eric was recently diagnosed with cancer and is beginning treatments under the care of incredible oncologists, nurses and staff at the world-class UNC Lineberger Cancer Center. Our family, of course, is deeply concerned, but we have spent nearly three decades in the fight against childhood cancer and learn about the incredible advances that are being made in cancer treatments, as well as the power of love, prayer, support and positivity.
«We are all touched by the responses our entire family has received since the news broke. Your support is more than appreciated; you are welcomed as a necessary part of beating cancer one day at a time. Our family is dealing with the Eric’s diagnosis. -on, the only way we know how. And we’re all in this fight together.»
Eric Montross of the New Jersey Nets during the Kings game on March 3, 1997 at Arco Arena in Sacramento, California. (Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Montross, 51, was on the Tar Heels’ championship team in 1993. Montross scored 16 points as North Carolina defeated Michigan 77-71. He finished his college career as a two-time second-team All-American and a one-time first-team ACC member.
The Boston Celtics selected Montross with the No. 9 overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft. He was on the All-Rookie Second-Team after his freshman season.
He was a useful big man from 1994 to 2002. He played for the Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Detroit Pistons, and Toronto Raptors.
North Carolina’s Eric Montross is interviewed by the media after the Wake Forest game at the Dean Smith Center. (Bob Donnan/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
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He averaged 4.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in 465 career games. He is currently a radio analyst for North Carolina.