COLUMBUS — Former Ohio State basketball player James "J.J." Sullinger has donated a kidney to former teammate Terence Dials, in a remarkable act of friendship that has brought renewed attention to the bond shared by members of the Buckeye basketball family.
The donation was revealed Sunday afternoon by former Ohio State head coach Thad Matta during a halftime ceremony honoring his career at the Schottenstein Center. Matta was being recognized during the Buckeyes' exhibition victory over Butler when he turned the attention toward two of his former players.
"Maybe the greatest thing I've seen in my coaching career happened a few weeks ago," Matta told the crowd before revealing Sullinger's donation.
The transplant took place October 12, and Dials is reportedly making steady progress in his recovery. He currently serves as recruiting coordinator for Ohio State's men's basketball program under head coach Jake Diebler.
Sullinger and Dials were teammates at Ohio State in the early 2000s, eventually helping lead the Buckeyes to the 2006 Big Ten regular-season championship. Dials was named Big Ten Player of the Year that season, while Sullinger was a key contributor to the championship team.
As Matta shared the story Sunday, Sullinger was visibly emotional. He was embraced by Matta's wife, Barbara, and later by his former coach, providing one of the most memorable moments of the afternoon.
Matta spoke about the relationships formed through basketball and how those friendships can last long after the games are over. For a coach who accumulated 502 career victories, the donation represented something he considered more meaningful than anything accomplished on the court.
J.J. Sullinger, the older brother of former Ohio State All-American and NBA player Jared Sullinger, gave his former teammate the ultimate assist.
More than two decades after their playing days, the friendship between Sullinger and Dials has become a powerful reminder that some of the most important things athletes gain from sports have nothing to do with winning games.
