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NBA, Pistons facing lawsuit over G-League player Zeke Upshaw's death

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The NBA is being sued by the mother of Zeke Upshaw, the G-League player who collapsed during a game in March and later died.

Attorney Benjamin Crump announced Wednesday he intends to file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of Jewel Upshaw claiming negligence in the 26-year-old's death.

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"Despite this undeniable dire situation, no life-saving measures were attempted, no CPR was initiated and no defibrillator was used," Crump said in a statement.

The Pistons, the ownership group of the Grand Rapids, Mich., G-League team, and the arena where the game was played will also be named as defendants in the suit, according to the release.

A medical examiner determined that Zeke suffered a "sudden cardiac death" when he collapsed on the court during a March 24 game with less than 50 seconds remaining. He was taken out on a stretcher before being hospitalized, but died two days later.

An autopsy conducted in March confirmed the cause of death, though the investigation remains ongoing.

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