Before he enthralled NBA fans in the 80s, Los Angeles Lakers’ Magic Johnson dominated college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans with Ron Charles. Unfortunately, he passed away recently, prompting the 12-time All-Star to mourn publicly.
Charles passed away this week at the age of 65 with a storied career that spanned both collegiate and professional levels. During his time at Michigan State University from 1976 to 1980, he was a key contributor to the Spartans’ back-to-back Big Ten championship teams.
In the 1978-79 season, he was a crucial sixth man as the Spartans won the NCAA Championship, stepping into the starting lineup after an injury to teammate Jay Vincent. As a senior, Charles was named co-captain of the 1979-80 Spartans squad and continued to excel.
After being drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the 1980 NBA Draft, Charles went on to play professionally in various leagues around the world, including stints in Italy, Spain, Portugal, and France. He returned to the United States in 1989 and settled in Atlanta, where he remained until his passing.
NBA Icon Magic Johnson Mourns Passing of Former Michigan State Spartans Teammate Ron Charles
Charles’ passing has spurred Johnson to react online. As seen in a tweet he posted on his official X account, the former Lakers star paid tribute to the late Michigan State Spartans player.
“I am still in disbelief after hearing the news about my Michigan State University teammate Ron “BoBo” Charles. Ron was such a kind and nice person who never had anything bad to say about anyone.
He always stayed positive and treated people with respect. I had the pleasure of spending two years of my life with him on and off the court at Michigan State. Ron was a great basketball player, super athletic, and played a vital role in us winning the 1979 National Championship.
Cookie and I are definitely devastated and saddened by the news because we were all so close and spent a lot of time together at MSU. Ron is gone way too early and will be sorely missed. We are praying for his two children, extended family and friends across the Virgin Islands and here in the U.S,” Johnson tweeted.
Ron Charles, star basketball player from St. Croix who helped Magic Johnson win a championship, dies at 65.https://t.co/Ald4tDRgNJ pic.twitter.com/rBN9hZBnlk
— John McCarthy (@EducatedGuest93) July 22, 2024
Although he was drafted by the Bulls in 1980 using the 74th pick, Charles never played in the NBA at all. Even if that’s the case, the impact he made during his time in Michigan State helped the school create history back in the late 70s.
With Charles gone, Johnson lost a close friend and former roommate in him. Overall, the Michigan State basketball community is mourning over the loss of one of its champions.
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