'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
There is a beginning and an end to everything. Eventually, everybody has to (will) die when their time comes. Having said that, it hurts and stings that much more when somebody calls time on their own lives. There might have been deeper reasons, that many might not even know off, as to why that person felt motivated to end his life.
And although years after, we still might not know the many (or one) reason why the person decided to do so, we could take a look back at those people. So here are five NBA players that committed suicide:
#5 Melvin Turpin
After four noteworthy years at the University of Kentucky, Melvin Turpin was drafted sixth overall in the famous 1984 NBA Draft. He was drafted by the Washington Bullets but it was immediately traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. After three seasons with them, he played a year with the Utah Jazz and then called the curtains on his career in 1990 after a season with the Bullets.
In 361 career games in the league, he averaged 8.0 points and 5.0 rebounds. However, his career was only limited to six seasons because of the weight issues he faced and battled.
In the 2000's, Turnpin worked as a security guard for his livelihood. At the end of that decade, courtesy of what is said to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Turpin died on July 8th, 2010.
#4 Bill Robinzine
Bill Robinzine entered the league as a 6-foot 7-inch forward, who was drafted 10th overall in the 1975 Draft by the Kansas City Kings (now Sacramento Kings). Over the course of seven years in the league, he played for four teams - Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz and of course the Kings.
He was a known as a good rebounder and among the great defenders in the league. However, in the offseason of 1982, Robinzine committed suicide at a storage place in Kansas, Missouri. He died in his car due to carbon monoxide poisoning.
#3 Phil Hankinson
Phil Hankinson played just two years in the NBA but he played with possibly the best franchise ever - the Boston Celtics. He was drafted 35th overall, in the second round of the 1973 Draft. He was even a member of the Championship clinching 1974 Celtics squad.
Unfortunately, Hankinson suffered a career-ending knee injury in 1975. 21 years later, he was found shot dead in his car apparently due to a suicide. His father confessed that Hankinson had been depressed ever since his injury.
#2 Eddie Griffin
Eddie Griffin began his NBA career with the Houston Rockets, after being drafted and traded by the New Jersey Nets in 2001. His first two years were solid once, including an All-NBA Rookie Second team selection, however, alcoholism was a major part of life.
The Rockets cut him after numerous troubles - missing practices and a team fight. He missed an entire season after entering an alcohol rehabilitation center. In 2004, he signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves. While the first season at the new location showed promise, things didn't go well from then on.
After a car accident, an intoxication report and a drop in contribution on the court, he was released by the Timberwolves in March of 2007. Over a six-year span, in 303 NBA games, he averaged 7.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 0.8 assists.
He died in a car crash on August 17th, 2007. He ignored a railroad warning and ended up colliding with a moving train. Blood reports later showed his blood-alcohol level to be 0.26, more than three times the permitted level in Texas (0.08).
#1 Ricky Berry
Drafted 18th overall by the Sacramento Kings, Ricky Berry had a bright future ahead of him. After playing his four college years at San Jose State under his father, the 6-foot 9 forward had a solid rookie season with averages of 11.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists while shooting 40.6% from beyond the arc.
He is one of the only three players from his college to have their jersey retired. However, the bright future didn't pan out as, after one season with the Kings, Berry was found dead at his home with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot. It was only weeks before his 25th birthday.
