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Friendship links Magic's Jason Smith and Pelicans' Ryan Anderson

NEW ORLEANS — Every member of the New Orleans Pelicans knew Sept. 30, 2013, the team's annual media day, would be a difficult day for Ryan Anderson.

A month and a half earlier, Anderson's girlfriend, Gia Allemand, committed suicide.

The tragedy devastated Anderson.

Standing in front of reporters, with television cameras focusing in, Anderson spoke publicly about Allemand's death that day for the first time. "The thing is here, something like that just doesn't happen for no reason, and I know that 100 percent," Anderson said, tears welling in his eyes. "I know that there is a huge plan here, and I know that .