Nick Gilbert, who became familiar to NBA fans as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ representative at the draft lottery, died Saturday.
Gilbert died in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, according to his obituary. A funeral announcement posted by the Ira Kaufman Chapel said Gilbert died Saturday “peacefully at home surrounded by family.”
Gilbert died at 26 after dealing with a genetic disorder.
“Nick Gilbert, the son of Rocket Companies founder and chairman Dan Gilbert and Jennifer Gilbert, died Saturday from a genetic condition, according to a funeral announcement from the Ira Kaufman Chapel. Nick Gilbert was 26,” the Detroit News reported.
According to the National Institutes of Health, the genetic condition, also known as von Recklinghausen disease, refers to noncancerous tumors that can affect the brain, spinal cord and the nerves that send signals to both, along with other parts of the body.
He was diagnosed with NF1 at 15 months old and had several brain surgeries and rounds of chemotherapy, The Detroit News reported.
Nick Gilbert became a fan favorite when he represented the Cavaliers at the 2011 draft lottery as he wore his bowtie and dark-rimmed glasses. With Nick Gilbert present, the Cavaliers also earned the No. 1 draft pick in 2013 and 2014.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NBA stories via Google! Follow Us
The team honored Nick Gilbert for the 2022-23 season by wearing bowtie logos on their warm-up jackets, the Free Press reported.
In 2017, the Gilbert family launched a foundation that has funded more than $18 million in research grants toward finding a cure for Type 1 neurofibromatosis, the News reported.
He will be sorely missed.
