When Kevin McHale’s 23-year-old daughter lost a long fought battle with Lupus Saturday in Minneapolis, Rockets players were devastated to hear the news, especially knowing what a close knit family the McHale’s are. Alexandra ”Sasha” McHale, 1 of 5 McHale children, was described as a “daddy’s girl” by Kelvin Sampson, who’s been acting as the head coach since McHale took a leave of absence November 10th to be with his daughter and family. Sampson described today’s mood during practice as “somber”, which he understood, and ‘could not bring himself to demand more‘. Here’s what the Rockets had to say regarding the tragedy:
According to Ultimate Rockets:
Chandler Parsons:
“It’s terrible, man… It’s just tough to see him like this just knowing how close he is to his family, knowing how much his family and his kids mean to him. I feel really, really bad. We’re playing for Coach Mac. We’re playing for his family. We’re playing for his daughter.”
Jeremy Lin:
“It’s really tough…It’s, it’s a little emotional. Obviously, we all care about coach a lot. To see what he’s going through puts perspective into everything that we’re really dealing with or working toward.”
“We’ve had updates pretty much every day or every other day, what the progress was that day, what’s coming up or what are the things they’re trying to do to make it better. Then everything just kind of happened. We were all praying for him and her and the family.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever had this much communication with a head coach…He cares deeply for his players and he goes out of his way to show that. Even while he was gone, he was texting me after every game and before games. I was like, ‘Wow.’ Obviously you have your own situation, but the fact that you’re thinking about us shows a lot about who his is as a person. He gave me advice as I was going through what I was going through, which is nothing compared to what he is going through. This hurts for all of us.”
Patrick Patterson:
“We just want to be a stronger family, a stronger unit and let coach know he can rely on us, his family can rely on us…His sons are like brothers to us. They’re always up here as ballboys or joking around the locker room. We’re a tight-knit family. We want them to know we’re here for them.”
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The Rockets said they wanted to play, as Lin put it, McHale’s “brand of basketball to make him proud by seeing the way we play”….When the day’s workout ended with the customary mid-court huddle, the team broke with one word shouted in unison: “Family.”
Praying for Coach McHale and his family.
— James Harden (@JHarden13) November 25, 2012
R.I.P Sasha.
— Chandler Parsons (@ChandlerParsons) November 25, 2012
Prayers and condolences to Coach McHale and his family … RIP Sasha
— Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) November 25, 2012
AGAIN! #RedNation #CyclONEnation #AnxietyTroopers PLS send prayers to Coach Mchale’s family! 22 years old is TOO young and UNFAIR.
— Royce White (@Highway_30) November 25, 2012
