Published 09:34 IST, November 26th 2020
Diego Maradona dead: NBA world expresses shock over death of football icon
Diego Maradona dead: After the Argentine superstar passed due to a cardiac arrest, NBA stars like Luka Doncic and Pau Gasol paid their respects on social media.
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Argentine football legend Diego Maradona, 60, passed away in his home on Wednesday. Recovering from recent brain surgery, Maradona's death was announced by his attorney. The legend's death was another blow to the sporting world, who took to social media to express their loss. The NBA world – who already lost Kobe Bryant earlier this year – grieved Maradona's passing away, frustrated at the year 2020.
NBA stars mourn Diego Maradona's death on social media
R.I.P Diego Maradona 🕊💙🤍 pic.twitter.com/IpoOYwd9Kj
— Giannis Ugo Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) November 25, 2020
DEP, Diego Armando Maradona 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/MqO0aGZI4M
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) November 25, 2020
R.I.P 😢 https://t.co/wQEYVi1hs1
— Goran Dragić (@Goran_Dragic) November 25, 2020
D.E.P DIEGO ARMANDO MARADONA.... pic.twitter.com/rurVvMHhUz
— Willy Hernangómez (@willyhg94) November 25, 2020
MARADONA RIP🙏🙏🙏🙏
— Luka Doncic (@luka7doncic) November 25, 2020
Legend!!! RIP 🙏🏽 https://t.co/iQiT75Wr17
— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) November 25, 2020
Rest in Peace Maradona 👑🙏🏼🙏🏼 DEP🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/B67dIrnPdX
— Kristaps Porzingis (@kporzee) November 25, 2020
🙏🏽🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/J8GhIp3GKM
— Larry Nance Jr (@Larrydn22) November 25, 2020
Maradona passed away ...... what a yea, RIP 🐐
— Terance Mann (@terance_mann) November 25, 2020
Dallas Mavericks icon Luka Doncic was one of the many NBA stars who reacted to Maradona's death. Not only did Doncic mourn Maradona's death, but he also showed a thumbs down to the year 2020. Pau Gasol simply wrote Maradona's name, before adding a praying hands emoji. "Maradona passed away ...... what a yea," Terrance Mann wrote, before referring to him as the GOAT. Goran Dragic, Jared Dudley, Kristaps Porzingis and Larry Nance Jr are others who mourned Maradona's death on Twitter.
Also read | Diego Maradona dead: Messi and Ronaldo pay heartfelt tribute to Argentine World Cup winner
Maradona cause of death
Diego Armando Maradona has passed away. Terrible news. No words. Unbelievable. RIP, Dios 💙🙏🏻
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 25, 2020
As per reports, Maradona passed away due to a cardiac arrest. Despite all his struggles later on, Maradona enjoyed an illustrious career, helping his country and clubs achieve numerous victories. His cocaine addiction started affecting his game, where he even faced a 15-month ban after failing a drug test.
Maradona retired in 1997, when he was 37 years old. In 2004, he had been hospitalized for heart issues, which were apparently caused by cocaine. A similar incident had taken place in 2000. He had once referred to cocaine as his "toughest rival", later revealing that he had overcome his problem.
Considered a GOAT by many, Maradona started playing with Argentinos Juniors, before transferring to Boca Juniors for $4 million. He went on to play for Barcelona after the impressive 1982 World Cup, where he signed a world-record price of £5 million ($7.6 million). While with Napoli, Maradona helped them win two league titles, scoring a total of 115 goals. He represented Argentina in 91 international events, playing four FIFA World Cups.
Maradona and Kobe Bryant death
Kobe Bryant: “He was my idol. I love Maradona.”
— Roberto Rojas (@RobertoRojas97) November 25, 2020
And now 2020 has taken both of them. 😢 pic.twitter.com/8e4bbdFzc6
While tributes continue to pour in for Maradona, fans took to blame 2020 again, as the world lost Kobe Bryant and Maradona in the same year. An old interview of Bryant was shared, where the Black Mamba spoke about loving Maradona, referring to him as his idol. When Bryant had passed away on January 26, Maradona had taken to Instagram to share a tribute for the Los Angeles Lakers legend and his daughter Gianna – who passed away with him in the tragic helicopter crash.
Also read | Kobe Bryant death: Text messages before crash revealed, construct day leading to disaster
(Image credits: AP)
09:33 IST, November 26th 2020