Lance Blanks Passes Away at 56 Leaving the Basketball Community and Family Devastated

Lance Blanks, a renowned basketball player at the University of Texas who later served as the general manager for the Phoenix Suns, has passed away at the age of 56, according to a statement from the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office in Texas. Lance Blanks Passes

The cause and manner of death remain unknown, and results from the examination are still pending.
Blanks started his college basketball career at the University of Virginia before transferring to the University of Texas in 1985, where he played as a shooting guard for two years.

During his time at Texas, Blanks established himself as a superstar, averaging 20.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game in the 1988 and 1989 seasons. He was later inducted into the Texas Hall of Honor in 2007.

After his collegiate career, the Detroit Pistons drafted Blanks in the first round of the 1990 NBA Draft. He went on to play for Detroit and Minnesota for three seasons before playing overseas.

Blanks later returned to the United States and became an executive in the NBA. He served as the director of scouting for the San Antonio Spurs and the assistant general manager for the Cleveland Cavaliers before being named the GM of the Phoenix Suns in 2010.

After leaving his position with the Suns in 2013, Blanks signed on to broadcast the University of Texas games for the Longhorn Network. His passing has left the basketball community mourning, with former NFL star and UT alumnus Eric Metcalf taking to Twitter to express his condolences.

“Everyone hug your family and friends and tell them you love them,” Metcalf wrote. “We lost a dear friend and brother. People are going through things, and you never know it!!!”

Blanks’ passing has also left his family devastated. His two daughters released statements on his passing, remembering him as their teacher, best friend, and superhero.

“My dad was my person,” said Riley Blanks Reed. “The love I have for him is simply immeasurable.”
“My heart aches for the tragic loss of my daddy,” added Bryn Blanks Lewis. “Life will never be the same without him.”