Adrian Payne

The basketball world was struck with a tragedy this morning. Early in the day, former Ohio State basketball star Jared Sullinger tweeted about news he had ...

Payne’s standout senior season and the incredible character shown in that friendship ensured that he would be a 1st round pick. In his final 3 seasons, Michigan State made it to at least the Sweet Sixteen in each season. The basketball world was struck with a tragedy this morning.

Payne was a four-year standout with the Spartans and was the No. 15 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.

He was most recently with BC Juventus of the Lithuanian Basketball League. But off the court, Payne's story was also complicated. Payne at Michigan State became a star on the court, where he twice earned All-Big Ten honors. "Lacey is a special friend. Their friendship transcended the sport and their connection became a national story. He also developed a bond with Lacey Holsworth, a young Michigan State fan who had terminal cancer.

The first-round pick played for the Hawks, Timberwolves and Magic during his four years in the NBA.

After being waived by Orlando, he signed with Panathinaikos in Greece, kicking off the overseas portion of his career. After four years at Michigan State, Payne was selected by the Hawks with the 15th pick in the 2014 draft. He only played three games for Atlanta before being traded to Minnesota, where he spent the next two and a half seasons.

It's a sad day for Spartan Nation, as former basketball player Adreain Payne has died at 31.

Payne was a four-year starter at Michigan State and a first-round pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.

Payne most recently played for Juventus Utena of the Lithuanian Basketball League, averaging 8.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game before leaving the team in February 2022. Payne was four-year starter at Michigan State, averaging 16.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game during his senior season, which earned him Second Team All-Big Ten honors. Former Michigan State men's basketball standout Adreian Payne has died at the age of 31, Detroit Free Press reporter Chris Solari confirmed.

Former Michigan basketball star Adrian Payne has died, the Detroit Free Press has confirmed. The former Spartan played for the Spartans for four seasons and ...

Apple also briefly played for the Magic in 2016. From there, Payne enjoyed great success as a member of the Greek league basketball club Panthiakos, winning the 2018 GBL Championship and the 2019 Greek Basketball Cup. Payne signed a two-way contract with the Magic in August. The 26-year-old has spent most of the season with the Lakeland Magic, Orlando’s NBA G League affiliate.

Adreian Payne, who played basketball at Michigan State University, was pronounced dead at an Orlando, Florida, hospital early Monday morning.

Echoed Juwan Staten Sr., "RIP to my brother @Adreian_Payne man. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Payne was taken to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Adreian Payne, won over hearts during the 2014 NCAA Tournament by befriending a young girl fighting cancer, was shot and killed in Orlando.

The former player was shot at a home in Orlando at about 1:30 a.m., according to the sheriff's office. ASVEL posted a photo of him holding the championship trophy on Twitter and called the news "terribly shocking." When the Michigan State Spartans won the Big Ten title in 2014, Payne let her cut down the net.

Adreian Payne was a star big man on the Michigan State Spartans basketball team under Tom Izzo, went No. 15 overall in 2014 NBA draft.

Payne was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves during his rookie season and played 107 NBA games over three seasons, finishing with five games in 2017-18 after signing with the Orlando Magic, and averaging 4.2 points and 1.8 rebounds in 13.1 minutes per game. He returned to Panathinaikos in early 2019 and helped win a Greek Basketball Cup before being released in March that year. Prosecutors did not press charges at the time, and no further legal action was taken after the January 2018 ESPN story. After spending time in France and Turkey from 2019-2021, Payne signed in December with Juventus Utena in Lithuania. He averaged 8.6 points and 4.6 rebounds in seven games before being released in February. Payne then bounced around overseas, finishing the 2018 season with Panathinaikos in Greece after being cut and then playing briefly in China early in 2018. Around noon, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Florida announced it responded to a call at 1:37 a.m. of a man who had been shot.

Adreian Payne, a former Michigan State basketball standout and NBA player, has died in a shooting. He was 31.

Payne, who is from Dayton, Ohio, started in 94 of 138 games over four seasons for Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo at Michigan State. He averaged 16.4 points and 7.3 rebounds as a senior during the 2013-14 season. Payne played in 107 NBA games, averaging four points and three rebounds, over four seasons with Atlanta, Minnesota and Orlando. The Hawks drafted him No. 15 overall in 2014, traded him to the Timberwolves, and he averaged 6.7 points and 5.1 rebounds as a potentially promising rookie. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to a shooting at 1:34 a.m. Monday when Payne was identified and taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.