What Happened To Adrienne Payne? Former Michigan State Basketball Star Passed Away

Adreian Payne, a former Michigan State star and NBA first-round pick, died Monday morning after being shot, according to authorities in Orlando, Florida. His bright future was cut short at the age of 31.  

Payne was killed in a drive-by shooting in Florida early Monday morning, May 9, according to the police report. Payne died at a local hospital of gunshot wounds, and the alleged shooter was apprehended.

Adrienne Payne Death, Obituary: EX Michigan basketball star Adrian Payne identified as victim of Fatal Orlando, FL Shooting https://t.co/xlSDkgcxhO

— otuyemi alex (@otuyemialex1) May 10, 2022

The shooting occurred on Egret Shores Drive in the 2500 block. Adrienne Payne was identified as the victim when police arrived on the scene.

The alleged shooter, Dority, was found at the scene and was transported to OCSO headquarters, where homicide detectives interviewed him. He was arrested and escorted to the Orange County Jail on a first-degree murder warrant.

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Adrienne Payne's obituary was published as a news article in almost every newspaper and news outlet after he died a tragic death Monday morning.

MSU athletic director Alan Haller began his news conference Monday afternoon at the Breslin Center in East Lansing to introduce new hockey coach Adam Nightingale by paying tribute to Payne.

I am stunned and saddened by this tragic news. RIP Adrienne Payne. Prayers for his family and @MSU_Basketball 🙏💚🤍💚https://t.co/AsBEXgoeq5

— Tori Aromaz 🌻 (@lillybelle13) May 9, 2022

A former MSU teammate, Anthony Ianni, also had something to say about the 6'10" gentle soul. After praising him, Ianni went on to say that there was only one thing that helped him cope with his death.

Adrienne was reunited with his mother, whom he lost as a kid. He also found his way back to his grandmother, whom he lost just before the start of Ianni's senior year. 

But now, he's also back with Lacey, a young cancer patient from St. Johns who he had befriended. And Ianni believes that is the one thing that will console many people during this tragedy.

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Adrienne Payne never married and had no wife to speak of while he was still alive. He does not leave behind a widow to moan over his death. 

Last checked, he was still single and had not gone on any dates. 

Payne was more concerned with squeezing in time for training than squeezing into fitted suits for a blind date. As such, he never proposed to anyone special and was never seen hanging around with anyone romantically. 

When Adreian Payne perished away in 2022, his estimated net worth was more than $5 million. He was a notable American basketball player for the Juventus Utena team.

He began his basketball career in 2014, which was cut off short when he was gunned down on May 9, 2022. Spotrac posts his annual salary as $1,932,800 in 2014, with a three-year contract for $5,816,400.

His expected salary in 2022 would have fallen somewhere between $400k and $700k.