In a heartfelt column for ESPN published on Tuesday, Riley Blanks Reed, the daughter of former Phoenix Suns general manager Lance Blanks, revealed that her father's recent death on May 3 was a result of suicide.

Blanks, 56, was also a college basketball analyst for ESPN and Longhorn Network. Reed shared her family's perspective on her father's passing, writing, "People will want more information. But the fact is we will never truly know why. And we don't need to. All we need to do is remember him, honor him, celebrate him and pour our love into the family that made him happy."

Reed continued, "All we need to know is that, oftentimes, the people in the most pain are the giants in our lives."

Lance Blanks was a standout player at the University of Texas between 1988 and 1989, leading the Longhorns to an Elite Eight appearance in 1990. He was inducted into the school's Hall of Honor in 2007. Following his college career, Blanks was drafted 26th overall by the Pistons in the 1990 NBA Draft. He also played for the Timberwolves before moving on to the Continental Basketball Association and spending three seasons in Europe.

Reed emphasized her father's character over his accomplishments, stating, "I could tell you about every accolade, every stat and every award Daddy received throughout his career. But that information is easy to find, and as I listen to his loved ones, fans and community, I don't hear about his résumé. I hear about his character."

Before joining the Suns front office, Blanks served as the assistant general manager of the Cavaliers for five seasons. His time with the Suns ended in 2013 after three seasons without a playoff appearance.

Blanks is survived by his wife Renee and two daughters, including Reed, who was a four-star tennis recruit at Virginia. In her column, Reed recalled a recent conversation with her father: "I asked him a couple of months back, 'Daddy, what's the one thing in life that makes you happiest?' Without hesitation, he said, 'Family, Riles. Just family.'"

Reed concluded her tribute by expressing her commitment to honoring her father's memory, writing, "Daddy, Lance, LB, my forever hero, has left a void that cannot be filled. And yet, I find solace in the promise to honor him with everything he left us."