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Legendary Knicks Broadcaster John Andariese Dies

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- John Andariese, a New York Knicks broadcaster for nearly 40 years, died Monday at the age of 78.

The Knicks confirmed Andariese's death, but did not provide a cause.

A star player at Fordham University and member of the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame, Andariese started as a Knicks radio analyst in 1972 alongside Marv Albert.

He later spent 12 seasons as a TV analyst for MSG Network from 1986 until 1998 before returning to the radio side, retiring before the start of the 2012-13 season.

Nicknamed ``Johnny Hoops,'' Andariese was honored with the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014.

Born Aug. 19, 1938, Andariese was a three-time All-City player for Fordham from 1956-60 and is a member of the school's Hall of Fame. He made his broadcasting debut doing college games in the 1968-69 season before joining the Knicks a few years later.

Andariese also was one of the first collegiate basketball color analysts for ESPN and eventually became co-host of NBA2Night with Greg Gumbel.

He later worked for Turner Sports for two years before being rehired by the Knicks to work with Albert again.

(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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