Los Angeles-based rapper Ermias Davidson Asghedom, professionally known as Nipsey Hussle, tragically passed away Sunday evening at the age of 33. TMZ was the first to report that the rapper was gunned down Sunday in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Los Angeles outside of Marathon Clothing, the store owned by Hussle. This occurred south of the Crenshaw area where both he and Rockets guard James Harden went to Audubon Middle School.

Harden and Asghedom were very close friends.

On Monday, Harden expressed his sadness in an Instagram story.

In small blue font on an all-black screen, he wrote, “One of the worst days of my (expletive) life!!!!”

Harden was excused from practice on Monday for personal reasons and was not included in the Rockets’ tweet of the team’s arrival to Sacramento for Tuesday night’s game.

James Harden was excused from practice today, for personal reasons. Can’t even imagine where he’s at mentally, having lost a close friend less than 24 hours ago. — Kelly Iko (@KellyIkoNBA) April 1, 2019

Nipsey Hussle showed incredible support for Harden in all his endeavors and the high moments of his life, even the night the star won his first-ever MVP award. The rapper has also attended several charity functions that Harden has hosted over the years, including JH-Town Weekend, which the star hosts every summer.

Nipsey Hussle last summer in Houston at James Harden’s charity weekend. They always supported each other heavy pic.twitter.com/ahGBagvvUX — 3rd Coast Sports Head (@mccauley318) April 1, 2019

Harden has reciprocated that same support over the years by playing his music everywhere he goes, including Nipsey Hussle’s songs in all of his signature playlists. His music is played at the Toyota Center before Rockets’ home games. According to Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated, Harden requests Houston’s in-house DJ TGray to play a lot of Nipsey Hussle along with a lot of other Los Angeles based hip-hop.

I know his boys. And his boys will come by or they will text message, ‘You got this?’ Or, ‘Can you clean this [expletive-laced rap] song up?’ He is from L.A., so it’s a lot of hip-hop stuff. A lot of Nipsey Hussle.

Nipsey Hussle is survived by his two children and his girlfriend, Lauren London.