Who was former NBA player Brandon Hunter who died at 42 years old?
A standout in college and a seasoned player in the professional game, the former Magic player also played in China. Needless to say, he will be missed.
The former Ohio star was somewhat of a journeyman in the league until making his mark with the Orlando Magic. Sadly, the team announced that the forward, Brandon Hunter, had died on Tuesday. He was 42.
Former NBA forward Brandon Hunter has passed away
According to reports on Tuesday, former NBA forward Brandon Hunter passed away. In a statement from the final team with which he played in the NBA, Hunter’s passing was acknowledged. “We are terribly saddened to learn of the loss of our former teammate, Brandon Hunter,” the team’s statement read. “We send our deepest condolences to the entire Hunter family.” There has been no official word on Hunter’s cause of death.
With that said, Hunter’s mother-in-law, Carolyn Cliett, later told the press that her son-in-law collapsed during a hot yoga session at an Orlando-area studio. “It was hot yoga, and he did it regularly,” Cliett said . “He was in good shape as far as we know. We’re just shocked.” Hunter, a Cincinnati native, played at Ohio for four seasons during which he posted an average of 21.5 points and an NCAA-best 12.6 rebounds as a senior in the 2002-03 campaign. Understandably, the current Bobcats coach, Jeff Boals, paid tribute to Hunter on social media. “...One of the best to ever put on the green and white,” the caption below a photo of Hunter read.
A look back at Brandon Hunter’s career
Selected as a second-round draft choice - 56th overall - by the Boston Celtics in the 2003 NBA Draft, Hunter would go on to play just two seasons in the NBA. In his rookie year in Boston, the Ohio product played in 36 games during which he registered an average of 3.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Following his maiden campaign, he was picked up by the then-Charlotte Bobcats (now Charlotte Hornets) in the summer of that year during the NBA expansion draft, and in turn, offloaded to the Magic in return for Keith Bogans.
With the Magic, where he would play his last season in the NBA, Hunter averaged 3.1 points and 2.2 rebounds in 31 games. He would later be signed by the Milwaukee Bucks as a free agent in 2005 but was waved just a month later. After a stint in the Continental Basketball Association, which was followed by a two-week trial with the Cavs who were led by LeBron James at that time, Hunter went abroad. Over almost a decade, he would go on to play in Greece, Italy, France and more. Ultimately, the curtain came down on Hunter’s career after periods in Israel and Uruguay respectively. He is survived by his wife, Mary, and their three children.