Many Americans come to play in the French championship each year and this is the case forAdrian Paynewho played for two seasons with Lyon-Villeurbanne, the club whose Tony Parker is the president. Former university star in the United States, the 2.08 meter giant began his career in his country before going abroad. With ASVEL, he won the championship and the Coupe de France in 2019, before leaving the club a year later.
It is certainly with immense pain that Tony Parker had to learn yesterday of the death of Adreian Payne, at only 31 years old. Terrible news for the companion of Alizé Lim, who knew the American well. According to information from the press and the Orlando police, the former sportsman would have been caught in a shooting in Floridalate at night. “At 1:37 a.m. on May 9, Orange County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a call from the 2500 block of Egret Shores Drive in Orlando, regarding a shooting. A man, identified as Adreian Payne , born February 19, 1991, was shot and declared dead in hospital“local authorities said in a statement.
ASVEL and Tony Parker in mourning
If Tony Parker did not react personally after this tragedy which affects all basketball fans, his ASVEL club wanted to have a thought for his former player. “Terribly shocked by the news of Adreian Payne’s passing. It’s hard to find the words when you lose a family member… All our thoughts for his loved ones”writes the club in a tweet posted on Monday, May 9 and which accompanies a beautiful photo of Adreian Payne lifting a trophy with the Rhone club.