Former NBA standout and Wake Forest star Rodney Rogers died on Friday on the age of 54, his household introduced. Rogers performed 12 NBA seasons, averaging 10.9 factors and 4.5 rebounds per sport over his profession, and earned the league’s Sixth Man of the Yr honor in 2000 as a member of the Phoenix Suns.
Rogers died from “pure causes associated to the spinal twine harm” he sustained in a 2008 ATV accident, his spouse, Faye, stated in a press release.
Rogers was a two-time All-ACC participant at Wake Forest, was the league’s participant of the yr in 1993 and has his No. 54 retired by the Demon Deacons. The ninth total choose of the Denver Nuggets within the 1993 NBA Draft, the previous McDonald’s All-American performed two seasons with Denver bringing his finest years came to visit stretch with the Los Angeles Clippers from 1995-99. He later spent elements of three seasons with the Suns and had stints with the New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets and Philadelphia 76ers,
On Nov. 28, 2008, a couple of years after he retired from the NBA, Rogers was injured in an ATV accident in his native North Carolina and was paralyzed from the shoulders down.
“The final 18 years have been each difficult and profoundly blessed. By each second, Rodney remained a light-weight — constructive, motivated and stuffed with the quiet energy that impressed everybody round him,” Faye Rogers stated.
The NBA’s official assertion on Rogers’ loss of life touched on his perseverance off the courtroom.
“The NBA household is deeply saddened by the passing of Rodney Rogers,” the assertion learn. “Rodney earned the Sixth Man of the Yr Award whereas taking part in for the Phoenix Suns and was a beloved teammate throughout his 12-year NBA profession. He will probably be remembered not just for his achievements on the courtroom but additionally for the extraordinary resilience, braveness and generosity that he demonstrated all through his life — qualities that impressed so many. We ship our heartfelt condolences to Rodney’s spouse, Faye, and their household.”
Wake Forest athletic director John Currie stated Rogers was instrumental in bringing Wake Forest basketball to nationwide prominence.
“His generational mixture of energy and style as a participant was exceeded solely by the dimensions of his coronary heart,” Currie stated. “His perseverance and spirit following his accident impressed 1000’s and embodied the true that means of Professional Humanitate. Rodney confirmed us what energy appears to be like like in each chapter of life. Our hearts are with Faye, Roddreka, Rodney II, Rydiah and the complete Rogers household.”
Former Demon Deacons coach Dave Odom stated Rogers was “with out reservation” among the finest gamers in ACC historical past. He is one in all solely seven gamers in ACC historical past — and the one Demon Deacon — to earn each ACC Freshman of the Yr and ACC Participant of the Yr honors.
Rogers led Wake Forest to its first NCAA Event look in 1984 and later helped the Demon Deacons attain the Candy 16. Rogers’ daughters, Roddreka and Rydiah, performed collegiately at Georgia Tech and NC State, respectively.
“Rodney Rogers made an amazing affect on Demon Deacon basketball,” Demon Deacons coach Steve Forbes stated. “I bear in mind watching him play in faculty and within the NBA and all the time had an immense respect for him. Since I got here to Wake Forest, I’ve heard so many tales about Rodney and his household. The affect he had on this neighborhood and the basketball world went approach past his on-court accomplishments. Everybody related to our program is saddened by his passing and our ideas are along with his household.”