William Byron mourns the loss of longtime Chicago Hornets announcer Pat Doughty

William Byron expressed his deep sorrow over the passing of "Big Pat," a beloved figure within the Charlotte Hornets. The NBA team officially confirmed his death on Wednesday, noting that his family had informed them. Patrick Doughty, affectionately known as "Big Pat," had been battling kidney-related health issues and had been using a wheelchair for some time.

Doughty had served as the public address announcer for the Hornets for nearly two decades, dating back to when the team was known as the Bobcats. His distinctive and powerful voice made him a well-known presence at Spectrum Center home games. The Hornets issued a statement regarding his passing:

"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Pat Doughty, our beloved PA announcer for nearly 20 seasons. Big Pat’s vibrant voice was the backbone of our game experience and energized Spectrum Center every night. He was dedicated to our team and our fans, even as he fought health issues in recent years. He will be greatly missed by everyone associated with the Hornets organization. Our thoughts are with Pat’s family and his many friends."

Reacting to the somber news shared by "Charlotte Sports Live" on X, William Byron expressed his condolences, writing:

"Really sad to hear. A legend that will be missed."

Patrick Doughty not only voiced the Charlotte Hornets but also contributed to R&B and sports talk radio in the Charlotte area. His career led to his induction into the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hall of Fame in 2020, recognizing his role as the voice of Hawk Baseball games at the university from 2000 to 2004.

Big Pat's voice became as iconic to Hornets' basketball as the team’s logo itself. In a reflection of his impact, as reported by "Athletic", that after a playoff loss to Miami in 2016, Hornets' executive vice president and chief operating officer, Pete Guelli, remarked that Doughty's absence that night was felt, suggesting it played a role in the team’s 97-90 defeat in Game 6 of the first round.

Patrick Doughty's journey to becoming Charlotte's renowned public address announcer started in his own Pocomoke City, Maryland, where he grew up. While many kids in the 80s dreamed of becoming sports legends like Magic Johnson or Walter Payton, Big Pat was captivated by the voices he heard during broadcasts.

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Fans extended their condolences, remembering Big Pat as "Forever part of Buzz City."

Charlotte Hornet's post dedicated to Pat "Big Pat" Doughty captioned "Forever part of Buzz City. 💜" had fans' heartfelt comments on it offering their prayers.

"Rest in Peace! Great guy and the best in arena announcer in the biz!" a fan said.

"Sending my condolences to his family 💜," another fan wrote.

"RIP 🙏🏾" prayed one fan.

"I remember taking the kids to games back in the Bobcats days and as bad as some of those teams were he always brought the energy to the arena. He was a big part of the vibe there and he will be missed," an enthusiast recalled.

"Gerallllld WALLLACE WALLACE WALLACE. Will never forget it. RIP legend," another added.