Rodney Rogers, Ex-NBA and Wake Forest Star, Dies at 54 Years Old

Rodney Rogers, Former NBA Star, Dies

The basketball world mourns the loss of Rodney Rogers, former NBA player and a prominent figure from Wake Forest University. Rogers passed away at the age of 54, leaving an indelible legacy in the sport. The news was confirmed by the academic institution, which reported the death that occurred on Friday. Rogers, who was selected in the ninth position of the NBA draft in 1993, had been paralyzed from the neck down following a motorcycle accident in November 2008. The cause of his death was natural causes related to his spinal cord injury, according to a statement from the NBA Basketball Players Association on behalf of Rogers’ family.

“The last 17 years have been challenging and deeply blessed,” the NBPA stated. “Despite everything, Rodney was always a light, positive, motivated, and full of the quiet strength that inspired everyone around him.”

National Basketball Players Association

Rogers was recognized as the Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year in 1991 and Player of the Year in 1993. His number 54 jersey was retired by the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Standing at an imposing 6 feet 7 inches, and with great athletic ability, Rogers, nicknamed “Durham Bull” during his high school days, scored almost 9,500 points in the NBA and was named Sixth Man of the Year in 2000. After his injury, Rogers founded a charity in his name, where he provided support to people with spinal cord injuries, promoting resilience and personal growth in the face of challenges. In 2022, the university awarded him the Distinguished Alumni award and an honorary degree.

“Rodney is the strongest person I have ever known, both physically and mentally, and his resilience was evident in the fight he showed every day,” said Randolph Childress, former teammate and program legend in a statement issued by the university. “I’ve said it before and I still think today: he was the best athlete to ever set foot on the Wake Forest campus. He meant a lot to a lot of people, and I feel deeply blessed to have been with him yesterday.”

Randolph Childress

Rodney Rogers played on seven NBA teams for 12 seasons, including the New Jersey Nets. Rogers played three years at Wake Forest, averaging 21.2 points in the 1992-93 season, in which his team reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament, before declaring himself eligible for the NBA draft as a junior. He began his NBA career with the Denver Nuggets and then played for the Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics, New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets and Philadelphia 76ers.

“It’s easy to focus on his extraordinary talent, but what stood out to everyone who knew him was that he was just as remarkable as a human being,” said Dave Odom, Rogers’ coach at Wake Forest. “He loved his teammates, he loved his family, he loved Wake Forest, and he loved basketball. He loved playing for Wake Forest.”

Dave Odom

According to the NBPA statement, Rogers is survived by his wife, Faye; his daughters Roddreka and Rydiah; his sons Rodney II and Devonte; his mother, Estelle Spencer; and Eric Hipilito, whom Rogers considered as a son.