Famed street basketball player Troy Jackson, the younger brother of retired NBA point guard Mark Jackson, passed away in his sleep early Saturday morning, Feb. 19. Troy, known to many by his nickname “Escalade,” was 35 years old. Cause of death remains unknown pending autopsy. He was in Los Angeles for the NBA All-Star weekend.
Born January 11, 1976, Troy was a formidable presence on the basketball court: he stood at 6’10” and weighed over 500 pounds when he first began to play college basketball. He played at Wallace Community College before transferring to the University of Louisville. He was more famed for his performances on street courts with the AND1 Mixtape Tour, and later the Harlem Globetrotters.
Brother Mark (45), who is now a sports analyst and commentator for ESPN and a pastor for Van Nuys’ True Love Worship Center International, issued a statement to the NY Post. “He traveled all around the world and touched so many lives,” he says. “He will be greatly missed. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. God is still good.”
Shaquille O’Neal posted a message of remembrance on Twitter: “My heart goes out to Mark Jackson and his family who lost his brother last night, Escalade. We lost a great person love u escalade. I’m sad.”
Troy was featured on the cover of the June 13, 2005 “Sports Illustrated” with his And 1 teammates, as seen below. And then watch the video clips below as he school a defender during his own Escalade Classic in Long Island.
WATCH VIDEO CLIPS BELOW:
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