“It’s been a long time ago” – Nick Van Excel on his son, who received a 60 -year sentence for murder in 2013, originally appeared on the basketball network.
The tragic stories involving the children of NBA players are unfortunately not rare.
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For example, Julius Erving lost his child in a fatal incident in May 2000, while Issia Thomas’s son was sexually attacked in the past.
Unfortunately, Nick Van Excel also belongs to this list – his son was sentenced to prison for killing Bradley Ayo in February 2013.
“It’s been a long time ago” Van Excel said after the sentence, about the NBC 5 DFW. “I feel bad for the Eyo family. It’s hard.”
From the brotherhood to the tragedy
In December 2010, 23-year-old Ayo was shot fatal and later his body was found doubled in Lake Rey Hubbard, in the eastern suburbs of Dallas. Authorities have determined that the murder took place in a home in Garland, a suburb in Dallas.
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Soon a suspect appeared: Nicky Van Excel, 22 at the time, a longtime friend of Ayo and the son of the former NBA guard NBA Van Excel, who enjoyed a 13-year career with teams, including Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nudzhes.
The two were inseparable from childhood, living on the other side of the street and connected as brothers, according to the family. They even attended the NBA finals in 2006 between Miami Heath and Dallas Maverix together.
“They were for the only boys there, applauding to Dallas Maverix,” Remember Van Excel. “It’s dangerous when you go to an arena applauding to the other team.”
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However, during the trial, it was discussed that their friendship eventually was erased.
Related: Jamal Crawford admits that Michael Jordan’s praise changed his career in the NBA: “The best player who has ever said there is a game”
60-year sentence
Prosecutors claim that Nicky feared that Bradley would expose a series of robberies they had made in Houston earlier that year, offering a possible motive.
During the process, it is also claimed that the history of defense raised serious doubts, while Nicky’s lack of remorse became a central question.
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Nicky, however, insisted that the shooting was accidental, saying that they were mistaken for a rifle that he did not know she was loaded. When the unthinkable happened, the panic took over, prompting him to throw away Bradley’s body.
“Don’t be scared, fear without knowing what will happen. Panic,” explained the younger van exel.
His father, in 1998, at the NBA All-Star, was present throughout the process and fell apart at the Witnesses Rost.
“I’m really sorry for the Eyo family, I’m really. No one should go through something like this; no one.” he said, praying for mercy on his son.
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“How much Add Nick Bastry, who last worked as an Atlanta Hawks assistant coach.
Despite these allegations, the Texas jurors eventually found Nicky guilty.
He took responsibility for the murder, but said he had never been offered an agreement on a legal basis.
“I was willing to accept it; they never offered it. This is the system,” he said.
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Nickey, eligible for conditional release after 30 years in a sentence, said a clear message while thinking about the tragedy.
“Don’t play with weapons. I would like to start a movement, a non -profit organization, for people who have lost loved ones.” he said.
Connected: “He doesn’t want anything to smoke!” – Scottie Pippen recalls how Sudge Knight gave way to Charles Owls
This story was originally reported by the basketball network on July 20, 2025, where it first appeared.