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TheNBAhas honoredTerrence Clarkewith a special tribute.
On Thursday evening, the professional basketball league paid tribute to the late basketball star, whodied in a car accidentearlier this year, during the first round of the NFL draft.
Taking place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, NBA commissionerAdam Silvertook a brief moment to pause before he announced Clarke as the 15th and honorary pick.
“His extraordinary talent, commitment and dedication to the game deserve to be recognized on this stage,” Silver, 59,saidduring the event. “It is my honor to now announce that, with the next pick in the 2021 NBA draft, the NBA selects Terrence Clarke from the University of Kentucky.”
After he was posthumously selected for the honor, Clarke’s mother, sister and brother were then invited onto the stage during the touching moment.
Back in April, Clarke died in a car accident in Los Angeles at the age of 19. The former University of Kentucky men’s basketball player was the only person in the car at the time when he ran a red light, hit another car turning left, and then hit a pole and block wall, police toldWKYT.
Clarke was not properly wearing his seatbelt at the time of the accident, WKYT reported. The basketball player was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
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“I am absolutely gutted and sick tonight,” Kentucky head coach John Calipari said in a statement. “A young person who we all love has just lost his life too soon, one with all of his dreams and hopes ahead of him.”
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“It’s all he talked about, just going to the draft, like, ‘Mommy, am I ready for this? This is big.’ And I’m like, ‘Yes, Terrence, you wouldn’t be in this position if you didn’t, if people didn’t think you were this good,’ " she added.
Those who knew Clarke also showed appreciation for the NBA including him in the draft on social media.
University of Kentucky head coach John Caliparitweeted, “Thank you to Adam Silver, Mark Tatum and everyone in the @NBA office who gave Terrence’s family and all of us who loved him a special moment tonight. It shows the true heart of league and I thank you all,” as the official Twitter account for the school’s men’s basketball teamposted, “We know you’re up there smiling, Terrence. You deserved this moment.”
source: people.com
