A Legend Leaves the Game
Horacio Muratore, a towering figure in Argentine and international basketball administration, passed away at the age of 74, prompting tributes from FIBA, the Argentine Basketball Confederation and clubs across Tucumán.
Born in San Miguel de Tucumán in 1951 to Italian immigrants, Muratore grew up surrounded by the sport; his father helped found Tucumán BB, a club that would become the launchpad of his career.
From Club President to National Architect
After stints as an accountant and university lecturer, Muratore entered club management in 1971, eventually assuming the presidency of Tucumán BB in 1983. He later led the Argentine Basketball Confederation without salary, sustaining himself through insurance sales while championing the sport’s development.
His tenure coincided with the emergence of Argentina’s Golden Generation, which captured silver at the 2002 FIBA World Championship, gold at the 2004 Summer Olympics and bronze at the 2008 Olympics, as well as the 2008 FIBA Diamond Ball, achievements that cemented the nation’s status on the world stage.
Global Leadership and Retirement
In 2009 Muratore succeeded Hamane Niang as president of FIBA Americas, and in 2014 he was unanimously elected FIBA president, becoming the first Argentine to hold the role. He guided the organization until 2019, when Niang took over, after which Muratore was named honorary president.
Beyond the federation, he founded the Basketball Champions League Americas and served as president of the FIBA Foundation from 2019 to 2023, overseeing the Basketball For Good initiative that used the sport to foster social change.
In 2023 journalist Fabián García released a biography titled *Una vida por el básquetbol*, chronicling Muratore’s life and impact.
Muratore is survived by his wife and four children, and his death has been met with heartfelt condolences from basketball federations, clubs and sporting bodies throughout Tucumán and beyond.