HOUSTON -- Former Minnesota Timberwolves Eddie Griffin died last week when his sport utility vehicle collided with a freight train in a fiery crash in Houston, the Harris County medical examiner's office said Tuesday.
Griffin
Investigators used dental records to identify Griffin, 25, who began his tumultous pro career with the Houston Rockets in 2001. He was waived by the Timberwolves in March.
The five-year veteran and former seventh overall draft pick had battled alcohol problems since coming out of Seton Hall. He was suspended by the NBA for five games in January for violating the anti-drug program.
Houston police said in a report that the SUV ignored a railroad warning and went through a barrier before striking the moving train about 1:30 a.m. Friday.
The driver's body was badly burned and there was no identification.
Griffin had a series of suspensions, court dates and missed practices during his first two years in the NBA with Houston and New Jersey. He spent time in the Betty Ford Center for alcohol treatment in 2003-04.
Griffin signed with the Wolves as a free agent before the 2004 season, and showed enough promise as a shot-blocker and rebounder to be signed to an extension.
But he was waived in March after appearing in just 13 games for the Wolves this season. 
這則由ESPN所發佈的消息，相當令人扼腕，一個年輕人就這樣與世長辭了，在他NBA的生涯也是風風雨雨，這一生命運坎坷崎嶇，縱使對他的場外行為對場內的影響有著許多的批評，但他總是曾經是球隊的一份子。
Eddie Griffin
01-02年就加入NBA，當年進入NBA還被NBADraft評定為NBA Comparison: Tim Duncan，大一就棄學，相當全方為且有相當好的爆發力，未來一片大好。當年火箭正多換一就為了把他盤來，當中還包含Richard Jefferson。
生涯待過三隻球隊火箭、籃網、灰狼，不過他在籃網沒有打到任何一場球救被釋出了，因為煙、毒、酒的關係， 原本以為他能在灰狼找到他的第二春，一開始還真有那個樣，但他的劣根性不改，也怨不得人，都斷送在自己的手上。
他在NBA唯一在行的可能就只有火鍋封蓋了，他在這個項目上算滿有天分的，對於投籃路線的判斷很有一套，加上本身的體能條件，生涯平均22分鐘的上場時間就能有1.7顆火鍋封蓋，算相當有效率的，但其他時間他的表現就感覺不出有積極的態度。
在灰狼生涯第一季一開始還算是一個神準的三分射手，有四成以上的命中率，到球季後中後半段才因爛投而下降，但當年球季還有三成以上的三分球命中率，不過他有投籃失意症，生涯五個球季只有一個球季勉強剛好四成，對於一個禁區球員來說這樣的投籃命中率真的很糟。
去年休季期間他就爆發了在SUV車上看文藝愛情動作片，排錯手排檔，而去撞電線杆的事件，讓他去年一整年幾乎都在坐冷板凳，球季中還被球隊直接放棄釋出，可見他的態度真的已經不適合繼續留在NBA了。
沒想到今年卻發生去撞火車的事故，斷送了他的生命，結束了他戲劇性的一生，他總算曾經是灰狼的一份子，祝他一路好走。
R.I.P Eddie Griffin
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