The Los Angeles Lakers' on-court woes were put into perspective for general manager Mitch Kupchak on Monday.
The Lakers announced on their team website that Alina Kupchak, the 15-year-old daughter of Kupchak and wife Claire, died after an unspecified illness.
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"Alina Claire Kupchak, daughter of Lakers General Manager Mitch and his wife Claire, passed away this morning at the age of 15 after a lengthy illness," the statement read. "The family asks for and appreciates their privacy at this difficult time, and would like to express their gratitude for everyone's love, support, thoughts and prayers."
The tragedy is the second in the past few months for the team. CBSSports.com reported that the father of current Laker Wayne Ellington was murdered in Philadelphia in November. The player took a leave of absence from the team following his father's death.
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No announcement had yet been made Monday whether Kupchak would take a leave of absence. The Lakers were in Portland on Monday night and could not quite win one for their general manager. With Kobe Bryant sitting out, the Lakers could not hold a 92-91 lead with 43 seconds left and suffered a 98-94 loss to the Trail Blazers.
Not that the game mattered that much in the grand scheme of things on Monday.
"We're all hurt," coach Byron Scott told the Orange County Register before the Lakers' loss to the Trail Blazers. "You know, it just kind of puts basketball in a different light. It's not that important.
"Just like most families, you all come together. You just be there for that person. And I'm pretty sure I can speak for everybody that's been a part of that Laker family, that everybody's here for Mitch and (wife) Claire right now."
Scott also repeated the well-worn nightmare of most parents.
"All of us who have kids," Scott said, "and especially us fathers who have daughters, I can't imagine not being here or being here and my daughters not being here. That's not the way it's supposed to happen. We're there for the Kupchak family no matter what that may be. Or what he may (need), we're there to support him."
According to the Los Angeles Times, the Kupchaks also have a son, Maxwell.
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