The basketball world is remembering a voice and mind that helped shape the game for decades. Mark Freidinger, a longtime NBA scout and beloved college basketball analyst, has died at the age of 76.
Videos by FanBuzz
Wake Forest is grieving the loss of long-time analyst Mark “Dinger” Freidinger this week.
The ACC Tournament was his favorite event.
As the Deacs face Virginia Tech, a headset — plus one of Dinger’s staple manila folders — will sit next to @StanCottenWF in Dinger’s honor. pic.twitter.com/b9nCUsfvaz
— Josh Graham (@JoshGrahamShow) March 10, 2026
Before Sunday's game against the Houston Rockets, the San Antonio Spurs held a moment of silence in Freidinger's honor.
For Spurs fans, Freidinger was an important behind-the-scenes figure. He spent nearly 20 years working in the team's scouting department and built close relationships with franchise leaders like Gregg Popovich and executive R.C. Buford.
"Dinger's excellence in scouting played a significant role in the success the Spurs have enjoyed over the years," Popovich said.
But Freidinger's influence stretched far beyond the NBA.
He was also a familiar voice to generations of Wake Forest basketball fans. From 1990 through 2025, Freidinger served as a radio analyst for Demon Deacons basketball, calling more than 1,000 games alongside longtime play-by-play announcer Stan Cotten.
Before stepping into the broadcast booth, Freidinger coached the game as well.
He worked as an assistant at Wake Forest under Carl Tacy and later at Kansas under Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown.
Friends and colleagues remembered Freidinger for his passion, storytelling and deep love of basketball.
For many in the sport, "Dinger" was more than a scout or broadcaster. He was part of the game's fabric.
