Being a Cleveland Cavaliers fan has been a wild ride over the past few years. But from No. 1 Draft Picks to NBA Championships, owner Dan Gilbert's son, Nick, has been a steady, uplifting presence through it all.
Sadly,that the bow-tied Cavs super fan passed away Saturday after a lifelong battle with neurofibromatosis, a series of conditions in which the development of tumors affects the brain and spinal cord, according to multiple reports. There is no known cure, and Nick had endured many surgeries since childhood. He was 26 years old.
His trademark bowtie stood as a symbol for the fight against NF. The Cavs and Gilbert hosted an annual Bow Tie Night, which raised funds for NF. The Cavaliers even dedicated the 2022-23 season to Nick and those who fight the condition.
"He's had a rough year actually," Gilbert told Bally Sports in April. "It's something that's a tough genetic disease that some of these heroes go through, but most of them get through it because they have good families and great communities like Cleveland."
Nick famously wore that bow tie on national television in 2011 when he announced the pick of Kyrie Irving. He also represented the Cavs in 2013 and 2019, when the team selected Anthony Bennett and Dylan Wilder, respectively. Even more iconic, however, was his reactions to the lottery selections the multiple times the Cavs won the No. 1 pick.
The family shared thoughts and prayers in a Sunday morning obituary. To learn more about NF and donate to the Midwest-based organization, visit cavs.com/bowtie.
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