Oklahoma City Thunder shooting guard Dion Waiters left the team to be with his family after his younger brother was shot and killed in his hometown of Philadelphia.
WPVI reported that 21-year-old Demetrius Pinckney was found dead alongside his green dirt bike in the Grays Ferry section of the city on Tuesday. He was riding his motorcycle with a group when another group began shooting at them. Authorities said Pinckney was then hit and pronounced dead at the scene.
After news of his death broke, Waiters posted several shots of his little brother on Instagram and expressed the heartbreak of losing him.
In a statement Thunder general manager Sam Presti said, "We were saddened to hear the news of the passing of Dion's brother, and he has our full support. Dion and his family are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time."
OKC star Kevin Dyrant echoed that statement and said, “we're here for him."
This is the third tragedy that has struck the organization recently. Last month, associate coach Monty Williams' wife was killed in a car crash and just last week, part owner Aubrey McClendon died in a single-vehicle accident.