Draymond Green ‘crushed’ by former teammate Adreian Payne’s death
Former Michigan State Spartan Adreian Payne is being mourned by the basketball community and his close friend Draymond Green.
The basketball community is mourning former NBA player and Michigan State Spartan Adreian Payne, who was shot and killed Monday morning in Florida.
Warriors star Draymond Green, a former Spartans teammate with Payne for two seasons, is “crushed” over the loss of the 31-year-old, Golden State coach Steve Kerr said.
“They were the best of friends,” Kerr said Monday. “We’re thinking of them today. Feeling a lot of grief.”
Green tweeted four broken heart emojis after the news broke of Payne’s death.
💔💔💔💔
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) May 9, 2022
Michigan State legend and Michigan native Magic Johnson tweeted that he and wife Cookie were “heartbroken” by the news.
“Our prayers and thoughts are with his family and Spartan Nation!,” Johnson wrote. “Adreian will be sorely missed.”
NBA stars and fellow Michigan State alumni — Jaren Jackson Jr. (Grizzlies), Miles Bridges (Suns), and Gary Harris — tweeted their condolences.
“RIP AP,” Jackson tweeted with a crying face and prayer hand emojis.
Bridges wrote, “Rest up AP,” with a broken heart emoji.
Harris tweeted a heart emoji, writing, “AP5.” Bulls All-Star Zach Lavine added, “Damn man … rest up AP,” in a tweet, adding prayer hand emojis.
Payne was shot in a townhome community in the Econ Landing neighbourhood at 1:30am in Florida, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office confirmed. He was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead.
Cookie and I are heartbroken to hear that former Spartan Adreian Payne has passed away. Our prayers and thoughts are with his family and Spartan Nation! Adreian will be sorely missed. ðŸ™ðŸ¾ðŸ’”
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 9, 2022
The suspected shooter, Lawrence Dority, 29, remained on the scene and co-operated with authorities. Dority was arrested on a charge of first-degree murder.
Payne was selected with the No. 15 pick by the Hawks in the 2014 NBA Draft, before short stints playing for the Timberwolves and Magic.
Following his NBA departure after the 2017-18 season, Payne played internationally in Greece, China and Lithuania. All of his foreign teams tweeted condolences after the news of his death.
-The New York Post
LeBron James signs massive Lakers extension
LeBron James will be a Laker for at least two more seasons, with the all-time NBA great signing a lucrative contract extension to stay in Los Angeles.
Returning NBA star’s warning shot from Australia
It’s been mostly injuries and frustration for Jamal Murray since stamping his talent with a stunning playoffs run. NBA rivals have seen nothing yet, he tells SHANNON GILL.
Finding the NBA’s next star in the hall of hoop dreams
Mills. Ingles. Dellavedova. Cambage. Jackson. They all spent time at the AIS in Canberra and last week it was home to 64 bright basketball talents in the hopes of unearthing a new prodigy, writes ADAM PEACOCK.
NBA retires Bill Russell’s No.6 in league first
The NBA will honour Celtics great and civil rights activist Bill Russell by retiring his No. 6 jersey throughout the league, making him the first player to receive the honour.
Adventures in basketball with a Dream Team coach
Thirty years ago, P.J. Carlesimo was assistant coach of the greatest basketball team ever assembled. Now at age 73, he still travels the world to share his endless knowledge, writes ADAM PEACOCK.
Kevin Durant’s demands make a joke of Nets
Kevin Durant has followed up his trade demand with a vicious put-back dunk — one call for the firing of the general manager who hired him, and another for the head coach he got hired.