US basketball developer Gavitt dead at 73

PROVIDENCE – Dave Gavitt, a US basketball leader who oversaw the creation of American “Dream Teams” of NBA talent at the Olympics, died Friday, family members said Saturday. He was 73.

Gavitt was chairman of the Basketball Hall of Fame, into which he was inducted in 2006.

During a stint as president of USA Basketball, he oversaw the evolution of the organization from amateur roots into a partner with the NBA enabling the most talented pro players to represent the United States.

His work was responsible for the creation of the 1992 original US “Dream Team” of NBA stars that dominated the Barcelona Olympics.

Gavitt had been selected to coach the 1980 US Olympic basketball team but the United States boycotted the Moscow Olympics.

Much of Gavitt’s work was at the collegiate level, including creation of the Big East Conference, a top US collegiate basketball league, and a stint with the National Collegiate Athletic Association.