The NBA received devastating news on Monday when Chris B. Haynes of Yahoo! Sports reported that Paul Allen, owner of the Portland Trail Blazers and Seattle Seahawks, had passed away. Earlier this month, Allen announced that his non-Hodgkins lymphoma had returned. Unfortunately, he lost his battle against the deadly disease and the NBA lost a member of its community.
Allen was a co-founder of Microsoft and a billionaire investor. He was 65. In a statement released by his sister Jody, she talked glowingly about her brother (via Christine Wang of CNBC):
“While most knew Paul Allen as a technologist and philanthropist, for us he was a much-loved brother and uncle, and an exceptional friend. Paul's family and friends were blessed to experience his wit, warmth, his generosity and deep concern. For all the demands on his schedule, there was always time for family and friends. At this time of loss and grief for us – and so many others – we are profoundly grateful for the care and concern he demonstrated every day.”
This is a tough day for the NBA and NFL communities. Allen purchased the Blazers in 1988 and the Seahawks in 1996. He was also a part-owner of the Seattle Sounders, beginning in 2009.
Allen's contributions to the sports and tech worlds cannot be overlooked. His influence extends well past sports and tech and his work as a philanthropic work will forever be linked to his defining legacy.