The headline circulating online—”BREAKING NEWS: Farewell to a Kentucky basketball legend — Louie Dampier, an icon of the Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball program, has passed away at the age of 81″—is a false claim spreading through social media, particularly on Facebook fan pages purporting to represent the University of Kentucky community, as of February 26, 2026. Louie Dampier, born November 20, 1944, is alive and well at age 81. Recent posts from credible sources, including NBA-related accounts wishing him a happy 81st birthday in late 2025, confirm he remains active in spirit if not in the public eye.

The rumor appears to stem from a pattern of fake death announcements targeting beloved Kentucky figures, often amplified by questionable “UK fan pages” that post sensational headlines to drive clicks toward dubious links. One verified Kentucky Wildcats fan group explicitly warned followers about these hoaxes, stating: “Their latest post claims Wildcat great Louie Dampier is dead, and he’s not. They also post some bogus link to read more about it, but do NOT CLICK on any of the links they post.

Just looking out for you BBN.” No official statement from the University of Kentucky athletics department, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, or Dampier’s family has announced his passing. Major sports outlets like ESPN, CBS Sports, or the Lexington Herald-Leader have no obituaries or related coverage.

Dampier’s legacy with Kentucky basketball remains secure and celebrated. A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, he starred for Adolph Rupp’s Kentucky Wildcats from 1964 to 1967 (freshmen ineligible then). As a key member of “Rupp’s Runts”—a undersized but dynamic squad—he averaged 19.7 points per game over three varsity seasons, earning two-time All-American honors, three-time All-SEC recognition, and Academic All-American status in 1967. His sharpshooting prowess foreshadowed the modern three-point era; many of his long-range attempts would have been threes today.

He helped lead Kentucky to the 1966 NCAA championship game, a historic contest against Texas Western (now UTEP) that marked a pivotal moment in integrating college basketball.

Selected in the fourth round (38th overall) of the 1967 NBA Draft by the Cincinnati Royals, Dampier opted for the upstart American Basketball Association (ABA), signing with the Kentucky Colonels. He became one of the ABA’s defining players, competing in all nine seasons of the league’s existence (1967–1976), all with the Colonels. “Little Louie”—at 6-foot and around 170 pounds—set numerous ABA records: all-time leader in points (13,726), three-pointers made (794), three-pointers attempted (2,317), assists (4,094), games played (728), minutes played (27,770), field goals attempted (11,096), and field goals made (4,597).

He earned seven All-Star selections and helped the Colonels capture the 1975 ABA championship alongside Artis Gilmore and Dan Issel, defeating the Indiana Pacers in the finals.

When the ABA-NBA merger occurred in 1976, Dampier joined the San Antonio Spurs for three NBA seasons (1976–1979), adding depth to their roster before retiring. His contributions earned induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015 as part of a class that recognized his pioneering role in long-range shooting. He was also enshrined in the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame (1993) and remains a revered figure in both Kentucky and ABA history.

Dampier is often called basketball’s first great three-point specialist, predating the NBA’s adoption of the arc by over a decade and influencing how the game evolved toward perimeter-oriented play.

In retirement, Dampier has lived a quieter life in Kentucky, occasionally reflecting on his career in interviews. He has spoken about his aversion to spotlight events, even skipping some fanfare around his Hall of Fame induction, preferring to let his on-court achievements speak for themselves. His story includes personal hardships, such as the early loss of his mother during his high school years, which shaped his resilience and focus.

The Big Blue Nation’s deep connection to Dampier is genuine—fans cherish his role in UK lore, from thrilling Memorial Coliseum performances to pioneering professional success close to home with the Colonels. Fake death rumors dishonor that legacy by exploiting grief for engagement. As with similar hoaxes involving other sports icons, these posts often include urgent calls to action (“details below”) leading to phishing sites or ad farms.

Kentucky basketball continues to honor its past while building the future under current leadership. Dampier’s place in the pantheon—as a shooter ahead of his time, a champion, and a Hall of Famer—endures without tragedy. The real “farewell” will come in tributes when the time arrives, but today, Louie Dampier is still part of the living history that inspires the Wildcats and their fans.

The headline circulating online—”BREAKING NEWS: Farewell to a Kentucky basketball legend — Louie Dampier, an icon of the Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball program, has passed away at the age of 81″—is a false claim spreading through social media, particularly on Facebook fan pages purporting to represent the University of Kentucky community, as of February 26, 2026. Louie Dampier, born November 20, 1944, is alive and well at age 81. Recent posts from credible sources, including NBA-related accounts wishing him a happy 81st birthday in late 2025, confirm he remains active in spirit if not in the public eye.