Arvid Kramer, the former NBA basketball player who became a beloved figure in German basketball, passed away in October 2026 at the age of 70. His death has prompted tributes from the basketball community, particularly in Bonn, Germany, where he spent years helping build a successful club and left a lasting mark as both a player and sports manager. His passing represents the loss of a figure whose influence reached far beyond his time on the court.
Born in Fulda, Minnesota, in October 1956, Kramer developed his basketball skills at Augustana University in South Dakota. The Utah Jazz selected him in the third round of the 1979 NBA Draft, and he later appeared in eight NBA games for the Denver Nuggets during the 1979–1980 season. Although his NBA playing career was brief, it formed just one chapter of a professional journey that would take him across Europe and establish his name in basketball history.
Kramer found lasting success in European basketball, playing for clubs in Italy, France, and Germany. His strongest legacy emerged in Bonn, where he helped develop the basketball organization that became Telekom Baskets Bonn. As a player, he contributed to the club’s rise into Germany’s top basketball division and its subsequent success. He later served as the club’s sports manager from 1996 to 2004, helping establish its place among the country’s competitive professional teams.
His career also included a unique footnote in NBA history. The Dallas Mavericks selected Kramer in the 1980 expansion draft, and the Miami Heat chose him first overall in their 1988 expansion draft, although he never played for either franchise. For basketball followers, this unusual distinction added another memorable detail to a career that was defined not only by statistics but also by his contributions to teams and the sport’s development.
Kramer died on October 22, 2026, after developing sepsis while undergoing treatment for cancer. News of his passing brought tributes from Telekom Baskets Bonn, whose leadership remembered him as a dear friend, passionate sportsman, and pioneer who helped shape the club’s identity. He leaves behind his wife, JoAnne, his children, and a wide network of friends, former teammates, and colleagues. His legacy will endure through the players he influenced, the club he helped build, and the basketball communities that will continue to remember him.
