Rowan Graduate Who Was Working With LA Clippers Dies In Car Crash

SAN DIEGO, CA — A longtime South Jersey resident who was working as a video assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers professional basketball team died in a car crash Monday night, the team confirmed.

Assane Drame, 26 of Lindenwold, had been with the organization since 2019 and was part of the Clippers' digital content group, according to ESPN.com.

His family lives in Gloucester Township, according to nj.com. Drame had been present for Clippers Media Day in Los Angeles on Monday, according to 6 ABC.

However, Drame was on the 10 Freeway in Los Angeles that night when he pulled his 2102 Honda Accord to the shoulder of the road, according to TMZ. Moments later, his vehicle was hit by another car, causing fatal injuries.

Drame originally had been reported as missing by his family, after a Clippers Human Resources employee had called to say Drame had not shown up for work, according to the TMZ report.

Drame previously worked for the athletics department at his alma mater, Rowan University, according to his personal website. He was also a digital media intern at NBC Sports Philadelphia and put together the video below for WHYY’s “You Oughta Know.”

"Assane was a go-getter, he was always around to lend a helping hand," Rowan Television Network Club Advisor Casey Tyler Holcombe told Patch. "He was comfortable both in front of and behind the camera. He was dependable and above all a good friend to everyone that he encountered. The Rowan Television Network is mourning the loss of more than an alumnus, we are mourning the loss of a family member."

“Assane Drame is an all around content creator with experience in videography, photography, editing, and writing,” the biography on his website reads. “Born in Bronx, NY and raised in Lindenwold, NJ, Assane is passionate about the world of digital media, content creation, and forming relationships with those who he works with. Specifically with sports, he has put two of his passions into one and strives to learn, improve, and create as often as he can.”

The Clippers released a statement about Drame's death on Wednesday, and a few of the players also paid tribute to the Rowan University graduate.

"The Clippers' organization mourns the loss of Assane Drame, a dedicated employee, a talented videographer and a loyal friend," the Clippers said in the statement. "He was a hard worker and a gentle soul, passionate about his craft and kind to his colleagues, earning the respect and admiration of players, coaches and staff."

On Twitter, veteran forward Nicolas Batum posted a photo of Drame with the words, "Just heard the sad news. Rest in Peace, King."

Meanwhile, third-year guard Terance Mann wrote: "Heard nothing but great things about Assane. Send Prayers up."

“So understanding, so welcoming, so nice, so kind, at all times,” Sam Taylor, a friend Drame met when he attended Rowan, told the Los Angeles Times. “It’s difficult to be a good person in this world, but he was somebody, everything he did he exemplified what a good person is.”