Ex-NBA player Van Exel's son murder trial begins

DALLAS (AP) - The 22-year-old son of former NBA player Nick Van Exel is on trial for capital murder in the shooting death of a longtime friend.

Nickey Maxwell Van Exel was arrested in December 2010 in the death of Bradley Bassey Eyo. Police said Eyo's body was found with a gunshot wound at Lake Ray Hubbard, east of downtown Dallas.

Van Exel's attorney has said Van Exel and Eyo were playing with a shotgun, and that Van Exel didn't know the gun was loaded.

His trial began Tuesday. Van Exel faces up to life in prison if convicted.

Nick Van Exel played 13 seasons in the NBA. He's now a player development instructor for the Atlanta Hawks.