OAKLAND, Cal. -- Charlotte Hornets guard Gerald Henderson flew overnight Friday from Phoenix to Philadelphia for the funeral of Wayne Ellington’s father. He then flew to Oakland, Cal., in time to play against the Golden State Warriors Saturday night.
Henderson played high school ball with Ellington in suburban Philadelphia. Henderson played college ball at Duke, while Ellington played for North Carolina.
The two remain close friends. Ellington’s father was shot to death Nov. 9 in a Philadelphia neighborhood and Ellington learned of his father’s death as he was leaving last Sunday’s Hornets-Lakers game.
Coincidentally, Henderson was there to console his friend.
“It’s a pretty tragic time when somebody passes away,” Henderson said following the Warriors game. “I went to the funeral this morning. Wayne was strong. I just had to be there for my friend. I wish our schedule was better, but I had to be there for him.
“This was something that had to take precedent. Wayne was strong. He had a lot of people come for him – to show love for him and his dad and his family. It was obviously a sad day but also a good day.”
Henderson said he thinks it was fated that the Hornets played the Lakers that night so he could be there for his friend.
“I’ve talked to a lot of people about that, especially my mom,” Henderson told the Observer. “It’s no coincidence. He needs as much support as possible. When he found out, for me to be there, that was not random. Something like that is definitely upstairs.”
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