Former NBA big man Fab Melo has passed away at the age of 26, according to Adam Zagoria of the New York Times (Twitter link). Melo had a heart attack while he was sleeping and he was found in his home, according to Gabriel Andrade of SporTV (Twitter link).
Melo was selected by the Celtics with the No. 22 overall pick in the 2012 draft. He played six games in the NBA for Boston during the 2012/13 campaign but mostly spent the year in the D-League.
Melo was a McDonald’s All-American in high school and he played two seasons at Syracuse University where he earned the Big East Defensive Player of the Year award. The big man most recently played for Brazilia of the Brazilian Novo Basquete Brasil league in his native country.
Hoops Rumors sends its best wishes and condolences to Melo’s family and friends.
RIP Fab
RIP
Holy crap. So awful to hear. RIP Fab.
Fab player. RIP man you are a legend.
RIP. Way too young to go.
RIP F Melo god bless ur family with ur untimely death Bless the Celtics family .
RIP Fab
Even though I didn’t like it when the Celtics drafted him, you never want stuff like this to happen. I know that he will be missed. Way too many young athletes have been leaving us too soon of late and it has to stop. One way or another.
I really thought he’d be a good role player in the nba. I had him on 2k as a last depth piece. very surprising very sad. rip
Sad news for the Orange family. RIP FAB.
Wow so sad. RIP. How long did he stick with the Celtics for?
He played in 6 games from 2012-2013, as he spent most of the season in Maine. That offseason, he got dealt to Memphis and then was waived during training camp.
Wtf at havin a heart attack at 26 damn way too young. RIP
Im sure there’s more to it
RIP Brother!!!
RIP Fab, you left way too soon.
RIP . Very sad news
RIP FAB
R.I.P. Fab. I remember the day you were drafted. That’s when I first heard of you. I was hoping you would return to the NBA someday. Oh well.