The basketball world was shocked by the news that Billy Donovan Sr., father of Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan, has died. St. John's head coach Rick Pitino was one of the first to get the message across, as he is a close friend of the family.
Pitino, formerly of X, wrote on Twitter, "He was no better than Billy Donovan Sr. A special man in every sense of the word. RIP my friend! You're in heaven already."
Pitino coached Donovan Jr. when he was a player at Providence and he later joined Pitino's coaching staff at Kentucky.
Donovan's father was an important part of his life and supported his basketball dreams at all times. He also used to take her to New York Knicks games when she was a kid.
"These last 15, 16 years for me have been — oh my God! — phenomenal," Donovan Sr. said in a 2011 story written by GatorZone. "I used to play basketball growing up. When Billy was little, we'd watch games on television and I'd take him to see the Knicks. And now, to be able to be with the team and go to all the games and knowing that Billy wants me to be a part of it, I'm so lucky I can't even tell you."
Donovan Sr. played college basketball at Boston College and scored over 1,000 career points.
There's no doubt that Donovan Sr. played a big role in his son's life, and he's still living it up as the Bulls' coach.
More people will probably send prayers and condolences to the family in the coming days.
