Watch: NBA player rushed to the hospital after collapsing mid-game
Zeke Upshaw, a forward for the Grand Rapids Drive of the NBA’s development G League, was covering a defender in the final minute of the team’s game Saturday night against the Long Island Nets when he collapsed.
Medical staff rushed onto the court as Upshaw lay motionless.
“I immediately knew it was terrible because he wasn’t moving,” Drive public address announcer Eric Zane said via MLive.com.
Upshaw, 26, was removed from the court on a stretcher and rushed to Spectrum Health Hospital.
WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids reported Upshaw had suffered cardiac arrest and was in critical condition.
Team officials provided few details in an update Sunday.
Team statement on Zeke Upshaw: Zeke was transported to Spectrum Hospital after collapsing on the court in the closing seconds of last night's game and is currently under physicians care. Out of respect to Zeke and his family, further updates will be provided when available.
— Grand Rapids Gold (@NBAGrandRapids) March 25, 2018
Upshaw’s collapse cast a pall on what was set to be the biggest night in the team’s four-year history.
The Drive clinched their first playoff berth with a 101-99 victory over the Nets.
“I don’t think anyone knew how to react,” said Zane.
Praying For @zeke_upshaw Also Man Hope He Is Good 🙏🏾 @grdrive
— Isaiah Whitehead (@isaiahwhitehead) March 25, 2018
Upshaw scored 11 points in the game before his collapse.
The 6-foot-6 swingman out of University of Chicago Laboratory High School signed with Illinois State in 2008.
After three seasons with minimal playing time, Upshaw transferred to Hofstra for his final season of college ball. He started every game for the Pride in 2013-14 and averaged 19.8 points per game.
Upshaw was passed over in the 2014 NBA draft, so he decided to play overseas, spending one season with Helios Suns Domzale in Slovenia and the next with Basket Esch in Luxembourg.
He was selected by Drive in the fourth round of the G League’s developmental draft in 2016. Upshaw averaged 6.47 points per game for Grand Rapids in 2016-17 and 8.51 this season.
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