Mark Freidinger, the veteran NBA scout and longtime radio analyst for Wake Forest basketball, has died at the age of 76.
The San Antonio Spurs honored Freidinger with a moment of silence before Sunday’s game against the Houston Rockets, recognizing nearly 20 years of work in the franchise’s scouting department. Around the organization, he was affectionately known as “Dinger.”
“Dinger’s excellence in scouting played a significant role in the success the Spurs have enjoyed over the years,” head coach Gregg Popovich said. Freidinger worked closely with Popovich and former executive R.C. Buford during some of the team’s most successful seasons.
Freidinger’s influence stretched well beyond the NBA. From 1990 through 2025, he served as Wake Forest’s color analyst, calling more than 1,000 games alongside play-by-play broadcaster Stan Cotten. During this week’s ACC Tournament matchup with Virginia Tech, a headset and one of Freidinger’s trademark manila folders were placed next to Cotten in tribute to their longtime partner.
Before moving into scouting and broadcasting, Freidinger spent time on college sidelines. He was an assistant coach at Wake Forest under Carl Tacy and later at Kansas under Hall of Famer Larry Brown.
Colleagues and friends remembered Freidinger for his energy, insight, and enduring passion for the game, qualities that left a lasting mark on multiple generations of basketball fans and professionals.
Source: Hoops Wire
