As we reported a few days ago, Nickey Van Exel, the son of former NBA player Nick Van Exel was convicted of murder for shooting his friend Bradley Bassey Eyo in December 2010.
Nickey Van Exel fatally shot Eyo in December 2010 and dumped his body at Lake Ray Hubbard on the eastern outskirts of Dallas. His attorney had said the two were playing with a shotgun at Nickey Van Exel’s Garland home and that Van Exel didn’t know the gun was loaded.
Van Exel was sentenced Friday, and received a 60 year term after his father, who spoke in court, tried to gain a lighter sentence for his son per ESPN.
Nick Van Exel, who played 13 NBA season, spoke in court and testified about the close friendship his son and Eyo had. Van Exel described a trip to a NBA Finals game between the Heat and Mavericks in 2006.
“And they were about the only guys there cheering for the Dallas Mavericks,” he said. “It’s dangerous when you go to an arena cheering for the other team.”
Nick Van Exel eventually broke down when he addressed and apologized to the family of Bradley Eyo.
“I’m really sorry to the Eyo family. Nobody should have to go through something like this. Nobody,” he said, as he looked at Eyo’s family members who were in the courtroom.