Who was Lance Blanks? How did he die?

Who was Lance Blanks? How did he die?

On Wednesday, Lance Blanks, former NBA player, and scout for the Los Angeles Clippers, unexpectedly passed away at the age of 56. The news comes a little over 24 hours following his demise. His family and friends were left devastated, upon hearing about his loss. Lance was a contributor to the league, right from the start of his career till the end.

Blanks played for the University of Texas before he was drafted. He had a great run with the Texas Longhorns alongside his teammates, which later on had his name on the draft. Blanks was drafted 26th pick by the Detroit Pistons in 1990. Though a short career as a professional player, Blanks’ off-court and post-retirement contribution to basketball was highly respected around the league.

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Lance played for the Detroit Pistons from 1990-1992, after which he joined the Minnesota Timberwolves for his final season in the NBA. He was a decent role player, being drafted as one of the last picks in the first round. Blanks’ basketball career wouldn’t end there as he would play overseas professionally for the next seven years. he had a decent career in Europe, which made him a much more experienced player.

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He started working as a scout for the San Antonio Spurs post his playing career. Having a sense of both American as well as International talent that would fit in the league made him a valuable contributor. Blanks would also scout talent for the Los Angeles Clippers. Though following his time as a scout, Blanks spent five years as the Assistant General Manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers. He then found his promotion with the Phoenix Suns who would give him the General Manager position. Apart from serving NBA teams, Blanks also played a huge part in promoting basketball on other continents.

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What was the cause of Lance Blanks’ death?

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Blanks was a well-known personality around the league who was all around the betterment of the sport. His mother, Clarice Banks, mourned her son’s loss with his family. Lance had two daughters and a granddaughter as well. His death was announced much later, though the cause of his demise is not known yet.

Riley Blanks Reed, his daughter, posted a heartfelt tribute to her father on her Facebook page. Not only the NBA, but the world of basketball has suffered a great loss, losing a man with nothing but love for the sport.

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