Trail Blazers Owner Paul Allen Passes Away

6:05pm: NBA commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement:

“Paul Allen was the ultimate trail blazer – in business, philanthropy and in sports.  As one of the longest-tenured owners in the NBA, Paul brought a sense of discovery and vision to every league matter large and small.  He was generous with his time on committee work, and his expertise helped lay the foundation for the league’s growth internationally and our embrace of new technologies.  He was a valued voice who challenged assumptions and conventional wisdom and one we will deeply miss as we start a new season without him.  Our condolences go to his family, friends and the entire Trail Blazers organization.”

5:15pm: Paul Allen, the owner of the NBA’s Trail Blazers and the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, has died, according to a statement from his family (link via Mike Rosenberg of The Seattle Times).

Allen, who was 65 years old, had announced just two weeks ago that he was once again being treated for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Allen was treated for the same cancer in 2009.

A co-founder of Microsoft, Allen had owned the Trail Blazers for three decades, having purchased the franchise way back in 1988. Although the Blazers didn’t win a championship during Allen’s tenure as owner, the club appeared in the NBA Finals twice – in 1990 and 1992 – and made the playoffs in all but seven seasons.

Our condolences go out to Allen’s family and friends.