Former NBA and Purdue University forward Caleb Swanigan died at age 25 on Monday night, the Portland Trail Blazers and his alma mater confirmed Tuesday.
Swanigan died of natural causes, the Allen County coroner’s office told WANE 15’s Aaron Organ.
Swanigan, selected by Portland 26th in the first round in the 2017 draft, played 75 games in three NBA seasons for the Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings. He also appeared in one game with the Stockton Kings of the G League during the 2018-19 campaign.
???? Devastated.
Our thoughts and prayers to Caleb Swanigan’s family and friends. The world lost a gentle soul last night.
Love you Biggie. pic.twitter.com/spU2hQtJdi
— Purdue Mens Basketball (@BoilerBall) June 21, 2022
Prior to his stint in the NBA and G League, the Fort Wayne, Indiana native was in the NCAA with Purdue and was named Big Ten Player of the Year in 2017. He was also named Indiana’s “Mr. Basketball” in 2015. after helping Homestead. High School wins a state championship.
Swanigan’s last NBA game was in 2020, when he decided not to join the bubble in Orlando for personal reasons. In late 2020 he was arrested on a drug charge after police found more than 3 pounds of marijuana in his car during a traffic stop, but pleaded guilty and avoided jail time.
