Lance Blanks, a three-year National Basketball Association (NBA) veteran who played for the Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves, has passed away. At the age of 56, the former NBA player passed away.
His family verified the tragic news of Blanks’ passing through a statement sent by the NBA. Discover what led to the passing of basketball legend Lance Blanks by reading on.
What was the cause behind the death of Lance Blanks?
According to TMZ, Lance Blanks departed for heaven on May 3, 2023. He was 56 years old when he passed away. The precise cause of his death has not yet been made public, as of this writing.
His mother Clarice, brother Sidney Jr., two daughters Riley and Bryn’s mother Renee, and granddaughter Isabel survive the former NBA player and executive.
Who was Lance Blanks?
L ance Blanks was a former NBA player and executive who was born in Del Rio, Texas, in the United States, on September 9, 1966. He began playing basketball in college in 1985 at the University of Virginia. He soon relocated to the University of Texas at Austin, where he quickly rose to fame.
He was able to average 20.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game in his two years at UT in 1988 and 1989. He was admitted into the Texas Hall of Honor in the year 2007.
Further on down the road, Lance was selected by the Pistons in the first round of the 1990 NBA Draft, and he went on to play for Detroit and Minnesota for almost three seasons in the popular league.
After then, Blanks continued to perform abroad. He came back to work for the NBA as an executive there. He was hired by the San Antonio Spurs as their director of scouting. He quickly rose to the position of Cleveland Cavaliers assistant general manager.
From 2010 until 2013, Lance served as the Phoenix Suns’ general manager. After a few years, he worked as a television analyst for the Longhorn Network for a while.
NBA stars pay tribute to Lance Blanks
Joe Dumars, an NBA official, stated that Lance “was a light for everybody who knew him. Being able to say that he is one of my closest friends has been an honour. I will always be appreciative of all the help he has given me throughout the years. His legacy will live on via all those whose lives he positively impacted in addition to his family.
A close friend of Blanks and former NFL great Eric Metcalf tweeted, “Everyone hug your family and friends and tell them you love them. A good friend and brother passed away. People experience things, and you never realise it.
On social media, Riley and Bryn, two of Lance’s daughters, also shared their sorrow over their father’s demise. My dad was my person, Riley said. He served as both my teacher and my best friend. Simply put, the love I have for him is unfathomable.
“My heart aches for the awful loss of my dad,” Bryn continued. He was our father, our pillar of strength, and our superhuman; he was always there for us. Without him, life will never be the same.
We are sending our sincere sympathies to Lance Blanks’ friends and family during this difficult time. Keep checking back for more updates from the entertainment industry.
