Tragedy as former NBA star Rodney Rogers dies aged 54

Former NBA player and college basketball legend Rodney Rogers has died at the age of 54.

Rogers, who enjoyed an iconic spell with Wake Forest before entering the NBA Draft in 1993, played for seven teams throughout his 13-year spell in the big leagues.

He is survived by his wife, Faye, daughter Roddreka, who is currently an assistant coach with Georgia State women’s basketball, son Rodney Rogers II and daughter Rydeiah. 

After being selected with the No 9 pick by the Nuggets, the forward spent three seasons in Denver before enjoying brief stints with the Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics, New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets and Philadelphia 76ers.

He called time on his career with the Sixers in 2005, three years before he was involved in a tragic car accident that left him paralyzed.

While riding a quad bike through a trail in rural Vance County, north of Raleigh in North Carolina, Rogers drove into a ditch and flipped over his vehicle’s handlebars, paralyzing him from the shoulders down.

Over the past 17 years, the basketball star continued to inspire others through his Rodney Rogers Foundation, which helped individuals living with spinal injuries.