NEW YORK — A New York City basketball legend’s family has been hit hard by the coronavirus.
Former NBA point guard Sebastian Telfair’s mother, Erica, and brother, Dan Turner, died recently after battling COVID-19. Their deaths were confirmed by Dwyane “Tiny” Morton, who was Telfair’s former coach at Lincoln High School in Coney Island.
Erica was 64. Sebastian Telfair, the 13th overall NBA draft pick by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2004, posted a tribute on Instagram early Monday.
Former Knicks guard Stephon Marbury, who is Telfair’s cousin, told ESPN in late March that Turner died from coronavirus. Marbury added that the virus had Erica “fighting for her life.”
“Rest In Peace Mommy,” Ethan Telfair, who is Sebastian’s younger brother, tweeted Sunday. “Until we meet again my angel.”
Turner was Telfair’s longtime coach and a familiar basketball figure in Brooklyn.
“You know, no one is exempt,” Marbury told GQ. “Everybody can be a victim of this. It’s an invisible monster. It also creates pain and depression. This is the reality of what’s going on. Losing our cousin is a big blow to our family. He was inspirational in my life, and he was a great coach. I used to watch him coach, and he encouraged and empowered the generation that was coming up after him, people like Sebastian.”
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