How did David Benner die? Cause of death, physical health before demise, and more
Unfortunate news surfaced this week that former Indiana Pacers Director of Media Relations David Benner died as a result of his battle with cancer. Benner, who was with the team for 28 years before retiring in 2022, had battled with cancer for a decade, according to reports.
An Indiana native, he joined the Pacers staff in 1994-95 after following the NBA for eight years. Pacers Sports and Entertainment owner Herb Simon released a statement on Benner, who many internally considered synonymous with the organization:
“David embodied the very best of our organization. He was immensely talented, experienced, and humble, and his passion for our players and the Pacers organization are what made him beloved by the coaches and athletes with whom he worked.
"David meaningfully impacted countless people here and around the League, and he will be missed. We will continue to keep him and his family in our prayers.”
Below, you can view footage of his retirement ceremony.
David Benner’s influence on the Indiana Pacers organization
According to his colleagues and friends, Benner was notorious for keeping people at arms length when it came to his personal life. Despite that, he clearly left a mark on both the Indiana Pacers franchise, and those he worked with.
One of the best examples of that is the number of staff members who honored Benner as part f the Indiana Pacers tribute to him. After his passing, the organization released not just an official statement from the owner, but also statements from several staff members including President Rick Fuson.
As Fuson wrote in his heartfelt reaction to Benner’s death, the hole left by his passing is one that would never fully heal in the hearts of those who knew him. “Few people in the history of our organization have become as synonymous with the Pacers franchise as David Benner. That is the case not only because of his decades as a member of our family, but more so because of his incredible impact on this team and the legacy he has left behind.”
“David was respected across the League and across the city as a consummate professional, and he was a mentor and a friend to so many in our industry and beyond. Most importantly, for me, he was a wonderfully kind and decent man, a person with incredible integrity who always had the best interests of his players and coaches at the center of all he did.
Below you can see Benner reflecting on his career with the Indiana Pacers.