Maccabi Tel Aviv won the European Championship in 2013/14 season. Team captain Shawn James' wife Melissa passed away last night.
James was the heart of the group and used to host a WhatsApp group at his home. James' brother Delroy says he is "broken" by the loss of his "love of my life" and "sister" Gil Amitai: "There are no people like him. He and his late wife are some of the best people I had the privilege of knowing during my career and we kept in touch even long after. Even though I was a kid and didn't play a second, they always gave me a good feeling and confidence, Melissa. good good good people. I am so sad. I love you my sister, rest in peace," Amitai writes in tribute to James and his family. The full interview with Delroy James can be seen on 15.4/Sport1 at 8.30pm ET on Friday.