Grant Gondrezick was a former NBA player who died suddenly on January 7, 2021, at the age of 57. He was the father of Kysre Gondrezick, a rising star in the WNBA, and the brother of Glen Gondrezick, another NBA player who passed away in 2009. What was the cause of death for Grant Gondrezick, and how did his family cope with the loss? This article will explore the life and death of Grant Gondrezick, and the impact he had on his loved ones and the basketball world.
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A Troubled Career Cut Short by Cocaine Addiction
Grant Gondrezick was born on January 19, 1963, in Boulder, Colorado. He attended Boulder High School, where he was a standout basketball player. He then went on to play college basketball at Pepperdine University, where he led the team in scoring in the 1983-84 season with 13.7 points per game, according to Wikipedia.
In 1986, he was drafted by the Phoenix Suns with the 77th pick of the NBA draft. He played one season with the Suns, averaging 4.8 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. However, his NBA career was derailed by his involvement in a drug conspiracy case, which resulted in him receiving a probation sentence and sitting out the 1987-88 season, according to TheNetline.
He attempted a comeback with the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1988-89 season, but his cocaine addiction proved to be too much to overcome. He averaged 5.5 points and 1.9 rebounds per game in 35 games with the Clippers, before being waived by the team. He later admitted that he had been using cocaine since he was 18 years old, and that it had ruined his career and his life, according to Latest In Bollywood.
He continued to play basketball in the minor leagues and in Europe, where he had stints in France, Italy, Belgium, Argentina, and Spain. He retired from professional basketball in 1998, after playing his last season with Estudiantes de Bahía Blanca in Argentina.
A Devoted Father and a Proud Basketball Heritage
Grant Gondrezick was married to Lisa Harvey, a former college basketball player who won a national title with Louisiana Tech in 1982. They had three children: Kysre, Kalabrya, and Grant Jr. All of them inherited their parents’ passion and talent for basketball.
Kysre Gondrezick was the most successful of the siblings, as she became a star player in high school, college, and the WNBA. She played high school basketball at Benton Harbor High School in Michigan, where she set several records and became the first girl in state history to average over 40 points per game in a season, according to TheNetline. She scored 72 points in a double-overtime victory in the district playoffs, which was the second-highest single-game scoring performance in state history.
She then played college basketball at the University of Michigan, where she had a stellar freshman season, averaging 14.9 points per game and earning All-Big Ten Freshman honors. However, she left the team for personal reasons in the postseason, and transferred to West Virginia University. There, she became one of the best players in the Big 12 Conference, averaging 19.5 points per game in her senior season and leading the Mountaineers to the NCAA Tournament.
She was drafted by the Indiana Fever with the fourth overall pick in the 2021 WNBA draft, which was a surprise to many analysts and fans, who expected her to be a second-round pick at best. She proved her doubters wrong by having an impressive rookie season, averaging 11.1 points and 2.7 assists per game and earning a spot on the All-Rookie Team.
Kalabrya Gondrezick also played college basketball at Michigan State University, where she was a four-year letterwinner and a team captain. She graduated in 2018 with a degree in kinesiology. She is currently a medical student at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, according to her Instagram profile.
Grant Gondrezick Jr. played high school basketball at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, where he won four state championships. He then played college basketball at Prairie View A&M University, where he averaged 4.4 points per game in his senior season in 2019-20.
Grant Gondrezick was very proud of his children’s achievements and supported them throughout their careers. He often attended their games and cheered them on. He also shared his basketball wisdom and experience with them, and taught them how to be smart and skilled players.
Grant Gondrezick was also part of a basketball family legacy, as his older brother, Glen Gondrezick, was also a professional basketball player. Glen played college basketball at UNLV, where he was a key member of the 1977 team that reached the Final Four. He then played six seasons in the NBA, mostly with the New York Knicks, averaging 4.7 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. He later became a broadcaster for UNLV basketball games, until he died in 2009 at the age of 53 due to heart failure, according to Review Journal.
A Sudden Death and a Courageous Tribute
On January 8, 2021, it was announced that Grant Gondrezick had died suddenly the night before at the age of 57. The cause of death was not immediately revealed, but it was later confirmed that he had suffered a heart attack, according to Latest In Bollywood. His death came as a shock to his family, friends, and fans, who mourned his loss and paid tribute to his memory.
One of the most touching tributes came from his daughter, Kysre, who decided to play in a game for West Virginia against Texas two days after her father’s death. She scored 24 points and helped her team win 92-58, in an emotional and courageous performance. She dedicated the game to her father, and said that he was watching over her from heaven. She also thanked her teammates, coaches, and fans for their support and love.
Texas coach Vic Schaefer praised Kysre’s effort and admired her bravery. He said, “You’ve got to tip your hat to that kid. I admire her for her courage today because that was a courageous thing that she did. I am sure her daddy is awfully proud of her.” As Kysre’s teammates embraced her after the game, Take Me Home, Country Roads by John Denver echoed through the coliseum, in a fitting tribute to her father and her school.
