The American Adreian Payne, former player of minnesota timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic in the NBA, died early this Monday in a shooting in Orlando, Florida, at 31 years of age.
The death of Payne, trained in the Michigan State Spartans, was announced by the US media, citing sources from the Orlando sheriff’s department, and many of the player’s former teams, such as the Orlando Magic or Panathinaikos, expressed their condolences in the last hours.
“The Orlando Magic are saddened to receive news of the tragic passing of Adreian Payne,” the Florida team wrote in an official note.
Payne played in Orlando in the 2017-2018 season and also wore the jerseys of the Timberwolves and the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA, in addition to playing in Europe with the Greek Panathinaikos.
“We are shaken by the news of the death of our former player. Our sincere condolences to the family of Adreian Payne,” was the statement published by the Greek team.
Draymond Green, of the Golden State Warriors and Payne’s former teammate at Michigan State, also expressed his pain for the tragic death, as well as Olympiacos, historical rival of Panathinaikos.
According to reconstructions, Payne died from a shooting in Orlando around 1 a.m. local time and was rushed to a nearby hospital, when it was too late to save his life.
The man who shot him was arrested by police and is charged with manslaughter.