Duncan Robinson's brother Eli died by suicide after battle with schizophrenia; Pistons guard honors his legacy

Key facts

• Eli Robinson, 31, died by suicide on April 30, 2025, jumping from the Piscataqua River Bridge connecting New Hampshire and Maine.
• Eli had a four-year battle with schizophrenia and addiction, including 16 psychiatric hospitalizations.
• Duncan Robinson learned of his brother's death two days after finishing the NBA season with the Miami Heat.
• Robinson now wears a pendant with Eli's sobriety date every day to carry on his legacy.
• The NBA Today feature will be rebroadcast on ESPN on the same day as the Pistons' potential Game 7 against the Magic.
• Duncan's sister, Marta Robinson Day, is a licensed mental health counselor who noted that marijuana use in developing brains increases psychosis risk.

A brother's final act and a player's public grief

On April 30, 2025, two days after Duncan Robinson closed the NBA season with the Miami Heat, his older brother Eli died by suicide. Eli, 31, jumped from the Piscataqua River Bridge that spans the border between Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Kittery, Maine. Robinson, now a guard for the Detroit Pistons, learned of the death as he prepared for the playoffs. The Pistons faced the Orlando Magic in Game 6 of their first-round series, a game that would send the series to a decisive Game 7 at Little Caesars Arena. The timing of the tragedy — and the public nature of Robinson's response — has made the story a major sports and human-interest narrative in the Philippines and beyond.

Eli's four-year battle with schizophrenia and addiction

Eli Robinson had struggled with schizophrenia and addiction for four years, according to the NBA Today feature that aired on the day of Game 6. He experienced 16 psychiatric hospitalizations as his condition worsened. Duncan Robinson described his brother's deterioration as progressing beyond manic episodes into "full-blown hallucinations, hearing voices actively, constantly." His sister, Marta Robinson Day, a licensed mental health counselor, said Eli suffered from delusions and auditory hallucinations consistent with schizophrenia. She also pointed to research indicating that marijuana use in a developing brain — defined as up to age 25 — raises the risk of later psychosis. The family's struggle to find effective treatment and medication compliance was a recurring theme.

A memorial service and a pendant of sobriety

At Eli's memorial service on May 13, 2025, Duncan Robinson delivered a eulogy that captured his brother's influence. "Eli was my inspiration," Robinson said. "He was who I wanted to be and he was how I wanted to be. Eli, in all the ways you inspire me, with your sobriety and how you wrestled with the boldness that most of us can't even comprehend." Robinson now wears a small pendant that belonged to Eli, inscribed with his brother's sobriety date. "I try to carry that on, you know, his legacy," he said. "I miss him more than I can even begin to describe." The pendant has become a visible symbol of Robinson's commitment to honoring his brother's memory, both on and off the court.

The role of family in Eli's care

Duncan Robinson's mother, Elisabeth Robinson, described her younger son as the one person who could persuade Eli to try new medications or recommit to treatment. "If we wanted Eli to try a new medication or recommit himself, Duncan would be the final one to be able to talk him into it," she said. Marta Robinson Day, the sister, provided professional insight into Eli's symptoms, noting that his episodes aligned with schizophrenia. The family's experience underscores the challenges of managing severe mental illness, even with strong support networks. Duncan Robinson acknowledged the difficulty of accepting the permanence of loss. "That was really hard," he said. "A big part of it was trying to wrap your mind around what had actually happened and the permanence of it."

Public vulnerability as a catalyst for conversation

Robinson has chosen to speak publicly about his brother's death and mental health struggles, a decision he believes can help others. "I've gone through something, and I'm vulnerable enough to share it and speak to it," he said. "I think it gives so many other people permission to do the same. And I think the more that we can start to have these conversations, the more people that we can help." The NBA Today feature, which runs 10 minutes, will be rebroadcast on ESPN on the same day as the Pistons' potential Game 7 — a scheduling coincidence that amplifies the story's reach. Robinson's on-court performance has also drawn attention: in recent games he has splashed a big three late in the fourth quarter, risen up for a dunk, and scored 14 points with four triples, including a +420 three-point prop bet for a Tuesday game.

What comes next: Game 7 and a legacy carried forward

The Pistons now face the Orlando Magic in Game 7 at Little Caesars Arena, the biggest game of Robinson's career since his brother's death. The ESPN rebroadcast of the feature ensures that Eli's story will reach a national audience on the same day. Robinson continues to wear Eli's pendant, a daily reminder of the brother who inspired him. The family's openness about schizophrenia, addiction, and suicide may encourage others to seek help or speak out. For Robinson, the game is both a professional milestone and a personal tribute. "I try to carry that on, you know, his legacy," he said. The outcome of Game 7 will be determined on the court, but the broader conversation about mental health has already begun.

The bottom line

• Eli Robinson died by suicide on April 30, 2025, after a four-year battle with schizophrenia and addiction.
• Duncan Robinson learned of his brother's death two days after finishing the NBA season with the Miami Heat.
• Robinson wears a pendant with Eli's sobriety date to honor his legacy and has spoken publicly about the loss.
• The NBA Today feature on the Robinson family will rebroadcast on ESPN on the day of the Pistons' Game 7.
• Marta Robinson Day, a licensed mental health counselor, highlighted the link between marijuana use in developing brains and psychosis.
• Robinson's performance on the court — including a late three-pointer and a dunk — has drawn attention alongside his personal story.