On Tuesday, Brandon Hunter, the former NBA player, who had times with the Boston Celtics and the Orlando Magic, collapsed while doing hot yoga and died at 42, officials and his loved ones said.
The Magic and Hunter’s alma mater, Ohio University, reported his death on Tuesday. He was inducted into the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame last year, 2022.
In a statement, Jeff Boals said in a statement that Brandon was a phenomenal player at Ohio who went on to have a great pro career.
He added that Brandon was a great ambassador for Ohio, a great teammate, a great opponent, and a great family man. Brandon had a contagious nature that touched many people along his journey and will be truly missed.
Carolyn Cliett, Hunter’s mother-in-law said that Brandon collapsed during a session of hot yoga at an Orlando studio.
She said that it was hot yoga, and he did it all day. He was in good condition as far as we know, we’re just shocked, Cliett added.
Hunter’s former college coach, Tim O’Shea said that even though his (Brandon Hunter) NBA career was confined to 36 matches for Boston in 2003-2004 and 31 for Orlando in 2004-05, Hunter imposed his overall basketball experience into a successful career as an agent, assisting place players on overseas teams.
O’Shea said, “For me, it was extremely rewarding to witness how he matured as a person. He invested money sensibly. He had real estate and some rental properties. He came from a very difficult childhood, so it was incredible to witness how athletics can be a vehicle to transform somebody’s life, and he was a great example of that.”
Hunter, a powerful rebounder at 6-foot-7, led all of Division I college basketball with 12.6 rebounds per match in 2002-03. He is Ohio’s career leader in rebounds, having gathered 1,103 boards in his four years in Athens.
He was left behind by his wife, Mary, and three kids, ages 5 to 15.
