The 21-year-old son of Dan Gilbert is recovering after brain surgery, the Cleveland Cavaliers owner tweeted Thursday night.
Gilbert said the surgery took eight hours, after which his son, Nick, asked: Did the Cavaliers beat Oklahoma City (on Tuesday night)?
Miracles do happen!After 8 long hrs of brain surgery & 48 hrs rest,Nick is recovering nicely. Endless gratitude to the many souls whose thoughts & prayers surely impacted positive outcome. Nick still has hurdles ahead but true hope is now alive.1st question:"Did @cavs beat OKC?" pic.twitter.com/9ojbreTZmJ
— Dan Gilbert (@cavsdan) February 16, 2018
The surgery at a Detroit-area hospital was expected.
Nick Gilbert was born with neurofibromatosis, commonly referred to as NF, a nerve disorder that causes tumors to grow anywhere in the body at any time.
Nick Gilbert entered into basketball fans' collective consciousness as a 14-year-old when he served as the Cavs' representative at the 2011 NBA lottery wearing a bowtie and thick, dark-rimmed glasses. He was dubbed the franchise's good luck charm when the Cavaliers won the No. 1 pick.
He has already been through one life-saving brain surgery more than 10 years ago and has been treated by chemotherapy on and off for 15 years.
"It's tough," Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said earlier this week. "A lot of guys sent out a video to Gillie (Monday). Just wished him luck. We're all praying for him and wish him the best. Hate to see a young guy go through that, let alone anyone, but being so young and having so much spirit that he has is great. So we are all praying for him and wish him well."
Nick is one of Dan Gilbert's five children and attends Michigan State, his father's alma mater.
Gilbert is on the board of directors at the Children's Tumor Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to find a cure for NF.
Information from ESPN's Dave McMenamin was used in this report.
