Basketball world reacts to the tragic passing of Adreian Payne / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: AP - Scanpix Credit AP - Scanpix

The sudden news of Adreian Payne passing away at only 31 years of age shocked the basketball world.

Adreian Payne

Position:PF, CHeight:208 cmWeight:111 kgBirth place:Daytona, United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

"Cookie [Magic's wife] and I are heartbroken to hear that former Spartan Adreian Payne has passed away," NBA legend Magic Johnson wrote on Twitter. "Our prayers and thoughts are with his family and Spartan Nation! Adreian will be sorely missed."

"The NBA and NBA G League family mourns the passing of Adreian Payne. We extend our deepest condolences to his loved ones," the NBA's statement says. The EuroLeague also expressed their condolences. "Euroleague Basketball offers its condolences to the family, friends, and former teams of the late Adreian Payne," they stated.

"It's hard to find the words when you lose a family member... All our thoughts for his loved ones," the LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, a team Payne played for two years, expressed yesterday.

Words of support started to flow in from both former teammates and fellow players alike. "I'm in shock at the tragic news of Adreian Payne's death," Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo who coached Payne said. "Our prayers are with his family, teammates, and loved ones.

His former teammate Patrick Miller, NBA legend Kevin Garnett, and current league superstar Zach LaVine were saddened by the tragic news.

The teams Payne played for in the NBA all released statements regarding their former player's death.

"What I will say is Hazel, and I are gonna donate $100,000 to a fund in Adreian's name," Golden State Warriors superstar Draymond Green promised in the press conference last night. "I call all of my Spartan family - coach Izzo, Magic, Jaren Jackson, Miles Bridges, Mat Ishbia - all of my Spartan family to come in and let's do something in honor of Adreian."

"If that's naming something on the campus after him, if that is some scholarships for some kids from Dayton, whatever that is, I call on my Spartan family to bend together and do something in Adreian's name," the Warriors forward expressed.

The late player was shot at 1:37 a.m. on Monday in Orlando and died at a local hospital. His alleged shooter, identified by the Orange County Sheriff's Office as Lawrence Dority, was apprehended at the scene and has been arrested on a warrant for first-degree murder.

Payne played at Michigan State from 2010 to 2014. He was a first-round pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, going No. 15 overall to the Atlanta Hawks.

Payne went on to play for the Hawks (2014-15), Minnesota Timberwolves (2015-17), and Orlando Magic (2017-18). In 2018, his career shifted overseas. Payne represented Panathinaikos Athens (2018, 2019) and ASVEL Villeurbanne (2019-20) in the EuroLeague.

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