Rodney Rogers, Former NBA Star, Passes Away
The basketball world mourns the loss of Rodney Rogers, former NBA player and a prominent figure from Wake Forest University. Rogers, who left an indelible mark on the sport, passed away at the age of 54. The news was confirmed this Saturday, following Rogers’ death on Friday. The former athlete, selected in the number 9 draft pick of the NBA in 1993, had been paralyzed from the shoulders down due to a motorcycle accident in November 2008. According to a statement from the NBA Basketball Players Association, on behalf of Rogers’ family, his death was caused by natural causes related to his spinal cord injury.Rogers was named Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year in 1991 and Player of the Year in 1993. His number 54 jersey was retired by the Demon Deacons. Known as a burly 2.00-meter power forward with powerful athleticism, Rogers, nicknamed “Durham Bull” during his prep days, scored nearly 9,500 points in the NBA and was named Sixth Man of the Year in 2000. Following his injury, a foundation was established in his name, through which Rogers encouraged people with spinal cord injuries, promoting resilience and personal growth in the face of challenges. Wake Forest honored him with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2022, along with an honorary degree.“The last 17 years have been challenging and deeply blessed,” the NBPA statement expressed. “Through every moment, Rodney remained a light: positive, motivated, and full of the quiet strength that inspired everyone around him.”
NBPA
“Rodney is the strongest person I have ever known, physically and mentally, and his resilience was evident in the fight he showed every day,” said Randolph Childress, a great Demon Deacons player and former teammate, in a statement issued by the university. “I have said it before and I still believe it today: he was the best athlete who ever set foot on the Wake Forest campus. He meant so much to so many people, and I feel deeply blessed to have been with him yesterday.”
Randolph Childress
According to the NBPA statement, Rogers is survived by his wife Faye; his daughters Roddreka and Rydeiah; his sons Rodney II and Devonte; his mother, Estelle Spencer; and Eric Hipolito, whom Rogers considered as a son.“It’s easy to focus on his extraordinary talent, but what stood out for everyone who knew him was that he was an equally remarkable 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
