Former Wake Forest star and 12-year NBA participant Rodney Rogers has died. He was 54.
The varsity introduced Saturday that Rogers had died on Friday. Rogers — the No. 9 NBA draft choose in 1993 — had been paralyzed from the shoulders down since a dust bike accident in November 2008. Rogers died of pure causes linked to his spinal wire damage, based on a press release from the Nationwide Basketball Gamers Affiliation on behalf of Rogers’ household.
“The final 17 years have been each difficult and profoundly blessed,” the NBPA assertion mentioned. “Via each second, Rodney remained a lightweight — optimistic, motivated, and filled with the quiet energy that impressed everybody round him.”
Rogers was the Atlantic Coast Convention Rookie of the 12 months in 1991 and Participant of the 12 months in 1993 whose No. 54 jersey was retired by the Demon Deacons. The burly 6-foot-7 ahead with highly effective athleticism earned the “Durham Bull” nickname throughout his prep profession, then went on to attain almost 9,500 factors within the NBA whereas being named league Sixth Man of the 12 months in 2000.
Rogers’ damage led to the institution of a basis bearing his identify, with Rogers encouraging individuals with spinal wire accidents whereas selling resilience and private development within the face of these challenges. Wake Forest honored him with its Distinguished Alumni Award in 2022 together with an honorary diploma.
“Rodney is the strongest individual I’ve ever met — bodily and mentally — and his resilience was evident within the combat he confirmed each single day,” Demon Deacons nice and former teammate Randolph Childress mentioned in a press release launched by the college. “I’ve mentioned this earlier than and I nonetheless imply it at present: he was the most effective athlete ever to stroll onto Wake Forest’s campus. He meant a lot to so many individuals, and I really feel profoundly blessed to have been with him yesterday.”
Rogers performed three years at Wake Forest, averaging 21.2 factors within the 1992-93 season that noticed Wake Forest attain the NCAA event’s Candy 16, earlier than getting into the NBA draft as a junior. He began his NBA profession with the Denver Nuggets and went on to play with the LA Clippers, Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics, New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets and Philadelphia 76ers.
“It is simple to give attention to his extraordinary expertise, however what stood out to everybody who knew him was that he was each bit as exceptional as a human being,” mentioned Dave Odom, Rogers’ coach at Wake Forest. “He beloved his teammates, he beloved his household, he beloved Wake Forest and he beloved the sport of basketball. He beloved enjoying for Wake Forest.
“Each time we visited him, I walked away reminding myself by no means to complain — as a result of he by no means did. He confronted life precisely because it got here and made the perfect of each second. He was a pleasure to observe as a basketball participant, however he was an excellent better man. He shared his energy, his spirit and his life with everybody round him.”
In keeping with the NBPA assertion, Rogers is survived by spouse Faye; daughters Roddreka and Rydeiah; sons Rodney II and Devonte; his mom, Estelle Spencer; and Eric Hipolito, embraced as a son by Rogers.
