Former NBA Star Rodney Rogers Dies at 54

Rodney Rogers was an All-American at Wake Forest earlier than incomes the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Yr title in 2000.

Wake Forest College introduced the passing of former basketball star Rodney Rogers this weekend. Rogers was 54 years outdated and, per the Related Press, died of pure causes linked to a spinal twine damage that left him paralyzed from the shoulders down since November 2008.

“He was a constant drive on the courtroom, highlighted by his Sixth Man of the Yr Award and his unbelievable longevity within the league,” Nationwide Basketball Gamers Affiliation government director Andre Iguodala mentioned in a press release. “Rodney maintained his heat and welcoming presence all through his time within the league and even after his tragic accident in 2008 that left him paralyzed. I’m honored that I had the privilege to personally expertise his pleasure.”

Iguodala had spent elements of his rookie season with Rogers on the 2005 Philadelphia 76ers. That was the ultimate NBA cease of Rogers’ profession, as he additionally performed in Denver, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Boston, New Jersey, and New Orleans. The Denver Nuggets drafted Rogers with the ninth general choose of the 1993 draft after an All-American profession in Winston-Salem with Wake Forest.

Born in Durham, N.C., Rogers initially made a reputation for himself at Hillside Excessive Faculty. He was named a Parade All-American and would later star within the 1990 McDonald’s All-American Recreation, scoring 17 factors in a contest that additionally featured fellow future NBAers Shawn Bradley, Grant Hill, and Eric Montross.

Rogers would later beat out the Duke-bound Hill for the ACC’s Rookie of the Yr title in 1990-91 and averaged 19.3 factors and seven.9 rebounds in Winston-Salem. He received the ACC Participant of the Yr award in his last season, which additionally noticed Wake attain the regional semifinal spherical of the NCAA Match for the primary time in 9 years. The No. 54 he wore as a Demon Deacon is one in every of 11 retired by Wake’s males’s program, a listing that additionally contains Tim Duncan and Chris Paul.

RIP RODNEY ROGERS https://t.co/geXZ0ysvHi pic.twitter.com/HhITtC8KJH

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) November 22, 2025

A 12-year profession within the NBA adopted after the Nuggets made him a lottery choose. He was a reserve for Denver’s well-known 1994 playoff run, which noticed them change into the primary eighth-seeded workforce to win an NBA playoff sequence in addition to the New Jersey Nets’ run to the 2003 NBA Finals.

Within the latter trek, Rogers notably hit a game-winning buzzer-beater in the course of the Nets’ opening-round victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. Again throughout his rookie season, Rogers notably put forth a wild 9 factors in 9 seconds sequence that helped give Denver an unlikely late lead in a sport in opposition to Utah. Rogers’ most notable season was probably his 1999-2000 effort with the Phoenix Suns, which noticed him common 13.8 factors a sport en path to the Sixth Man of the Yr Award.

Rogers endured his paralyzing damage in an ATV accident in 2008. He would spent an excellent a part of the remainder of his life inspiring others, notably these in comparable conditions, providing his distinctive model of resilience and hope. For his efforts past the ground, Rogers was granted Wake Forest’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2022, which additionally included an honorary diploma.

Rogers is survived by his spouse Faye and his youngsters Roddreka, Rodney II, and Rydeiah.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags