"It's a long time" - Nick Van Exel on his son getting a 60-year jail sentence for murder in 2013

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"It's a long time" - Nick Van Exel on his son getting a 60-year jail sentence for murder in 2013 originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Tragic stories involving the children of NBA players are, unfortunately, not rare.
For instance, Julius Erving lost his child in a fatal accident in May 2000, while Isiah Thomas' son was sexually assaulted in the past.
Unfortunately, Nick Van Exel also belongs on this list — his son was sentenced to prison for the murder of Bradley Eyo in February 2013.
"It's a long time," Van Exel said after the sentencing, per NBC 5 DFW. "I feel bad for the Eyo family. It's tough."
From brotherhood to tragedy
In December 2010, then 23-year-old Eyo was fatally shot, and his body was later found doubled over in Lake Ray Hubbard, on Dallas's eastern outskirts. Authorities determined the killing had occurred at a home in Garland, a Dallas suburb.
A suspect soon emerged: Nickey Van Exel, 22 at the time, longtime friend of Eyo and son of former NBA guard Nick Van Exel, who enjoyed a 13-year career with teams including the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets.
The two were inseparable since childhood, living across the street and bonding like brothers, according to family. They even attended the 2006 NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks together.
"They were about the only guys there cheering for the Dallas Mavericks," recalled Van Exel. "It's dangerous when you go to an arena cheering for the other team."
During the trial, however, it was discussed that their friendship had eventually frayed.60-Year sentence
Prosecutors argued that Nickey feared Bradley would expose a series of robberies they had allegedly committed in Houston earlier that year, offering a possible motive.
Throughout the trial, it was also argued that the defense's story raised serious doubts, while Nickey's lack of remorse became a central issue.
Nickey, however, insisted the shooting was accidental, saying they were fooling around with a shotgun he didn't know was loaded. When the unthinkable happened, panic took over, prompting him to dispose of Bradley's body.
"It was out of being scared, fear, not knowing what was about to happen. Panic," explained the younger Van Exel.
His father, a 1998 NBA All-Star, was present throughout the trial and broke down on the witness stand.
"I'm really sorry to the Eyo family, I really am. Nobody should have to go through something like this; nobody," he said, pleading for mercy for his son.
"As many times as I can say 'I'm sorry' to you guys — I know Nick and I talked to him after that; I really, really honestly in my heart think it was an accident," added Nick the Quick, who last worked as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks.
Despite those claims, a Texas jury ultimately found Nickey guilty.
He accepted responsibility for manslaughter but said he was never offered a plea deal.
"I was willing to take that; they never offered it. It's the system," he said.
Nickey, eligible for parole in 30 years at sentencing, shared one clear message while reflecting on the tragedy.
"Don't play with guns. I'd like to start a movement, a nonprofit organization, for people who have lost loved ones," he said.This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 20, 2025, where it first appeared.