Bryce Dejean-Jones, a guard with the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans, was shot and killed early this morning in Dallas, Texas. He was 23.
“It is with deep sadness that the Pelicans organization acknowledges the sudden passing of Bryce Dejean-Jones,” the basketball team said in a statement. “We are devastated at the loss of this young man’s life who had such a promising future ahead of him. Our thoughts and prayers are with Bryce’s family during this difficult time.”
According to a police report obtained by the Dallas Morning News, Dejean-Jones was shot after breaking into an apartment. He died later at the hospital.
Per the Dallas newspaper, Dejean-Jones allegedly “kicked open the front door” to a city apartment at 3:20 a.m., startling the man inside. Police say the man grabbed his handgun and “called out” but got no answer. That’s when Dejean-Jones kicked the bedroom door, and the man fired.
Dejean-Jones ran out of the apartment and “collapsed in the breezeway,” the cops purportedly stated in the report.
TheWrap was told by the Dallas Police Department that a Media Relations officer is not on duty until Monday morning, and no one there could confirm the specifics or provide the report in question.
Though the Dallas Morning News wrote that an autopsy has yet to be performed, ESPN, which spoke with Dejean-Jones’ agent, reports that the athlete died from a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
Dejean-Jones had joined the New Orleans squad as a free agent in 2015. He signed a three-year contract with the Pelicans in February after previous consecutive 10-day contracts. The guard started 11 of 14 games before undergoing surgery for a broken right wrist and missing the rest of the season. Dejean-Jones averaged 5.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 19.9 minutes over his run.
Before his unlikely pro career, the undrafted DeJean-Jones attended the University of Southern California and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas before transferring to Iowa State.
9 NBA Stars Who Took a Shot at Hollywood (Photos)
Michael Jordan
It's only fitting that the greatest basketball player in history would star in the biggest basketball film of all time. His Airness plays himself in "Space Jam" as he comes out of retirement to save the Looney Tunes from being kidnapped by giant aliens.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
After pretending to just be an airline pilot named Roger Murdock in "Airplane!," the famous basketball player angrily responds to one of his critics in the form of a young boy in one of the film's many zany moments.
Gheorghe Muresan
For 1998's "My Giant," Billy Crystal cast NBA center Gheorghe Muresan for the role of Maximus, the titular big man. Crystal plays a huckster who tries to use Maximus' height for his personal advantage. Crystal based the film on the relationship he developed with Andre the Giant while filming "The Princess Bride."
Ray Allen
Just two years into a record-breaking career, Ray Allen turned in a critically-praised performance in "He Got Game" as Jesus Shuttleworth, a high school senior who is pressured by his father (Denzel Washington) into playing for a certain college that can pull some strings and get him out of prison.
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal has played a genie ("Kazaam") and a superhero ("Steel") as well as cameoing in many of Adam Sandler's comedies. But he got his start by playing a college basketball player in 1994's "Blue Chips," acting opposite Nick Nolte as his coach. O'Neal was nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst New Star for his performance.
Dennis Rodman
Hollywood took one glance at Dennis Rodman and decided, "There's a star." The Chicago Bulls forward starred with Jean-Claude Van Damme in 1997's "Double Team." The acting may have been subpar, but the writers were able to mix it in with some truly awful one-liners. Rodman won three Razzie Awards for his performance in the film.
Larry Bird
One of the NBA's all-time greats appeared as himself in "Space Jam," wisely telling Bill Murray that he should stick with acting and give up his basketball dreams. Bird also cameoed in "Celtic Pride," which starred Daniel Stern and Dan Aykroyd as die-hard Celtic fans who kidnap an opposing player to help their team.
Rick Fox
Arguably the player with the most successful transition from the court to the big screen, Rick Fox has participated in films ranging from "He Got Game" to "Meet the Browns," as well as playing a baseball player in a memorable cameo from "Holes."
Darius Miles
Drafted out of high school, Darius Miles rode his early NBA stardom to a role in "The Perfect Score." Acting alongside Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson, he played a high school basketball player who was desperate enough for a high SAT to join a band of students intent on stealing the answers.
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From the hardwood to Hollywood: TheWrap takes a look at some of basketball’s finest who have dabbled in acting
Michael Jordan
It's only fitting that the greatest basketball player in history would star in the biggest basketball film of all time. His Airness plays himself in "Space Jam" as he comes out of retirement to save the Looney Tunes from being kidnapped by giant aliens.
