Reggie Lewis facts for kids
Reggie Lewis portrait from the Celtics yearbook
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 21, 1965 Baltimore, Maryland |
| Nationality | American |
| Died | July 27, 1993 (aged 27) Waltham, Massachusetts |
| High school | Paul Laurence Dunbar (Baltimore, Maryland) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 195 lb (88 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Northeastern (1983–1987) |
| NBA Draft | 1987 / Round: 1 / Pick: 22nd overall |
| Selected by the Boston Celtics | |
| Pro career | 1987–1993 |
| Career history | |
| 1987–1993 | Boston Celtics |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 7,902 (17.6 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 1,938 (4.3 rpg) |
| Assists | 1,153 (2.6 apg) |
Reginald C. Lewis (November 21, 1965 – July 27, 1993) was an American professional basketball player. He played for the National Basketball Association's Boston Celtics from 1987 to 1993. Lewis was known for his scoring ability and became an NBA All-Star.
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Early Life and High School Career
Reggie Lewis was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He went to Dunbar High School. There, he played basketball with future NBA stars like Muggsy Bogues. His high school team, the Dunbar Poets, had amazing seasons. In his junior year (1981–82), they won all 29 games. In his senior year, they won all 31 games. USA Today ranked them as the best team in the nation.
College Basketball Career
Lewis attended Northeastern University in Boston. He played college basketball for four years. During this time, he scored 2,708 points. This is still the all-time record at Northeastern University.
His Northeastern teams won the ECAC North conference championship all four years. They also played in the NCAA men's basketball tournament every year. In the 1984 NCAA tournament, his team almost reached the "Sweet 16." They lost by just one point to VCU.
Northeastern University retired Lewis's uniform number, 35. It hangs in tribute at Matthews Arena. This arena is where Northeastern's men's basketball team plays. It was also the Celtics' first home arena in 1946. Later, PJ Dozier, a second cousin of Lewis, wore number 35 in the NBA to honor him.
Professional Basketball Career
Playing for the Boston Celtics (1987–1993)
The Boston Celtics picked Reggie Lewis in the first round of the 1987 NBA draft. He was the 22nd player chosen overall. The Celtics wanted younger players for their team. Their famous "Big 3" players, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish, were getting older.
As a rookie, Lewis played a small role at first. He averaged 8.3 minutes per game. In his second season, he played much more. He averaged over 30 minutes and scored 18.5 points per game. This was partly because of a new coach and an injury to Larry Bird.
Lewis was chosen to play in the 1992 NBA All-Star Game in Orlando, Florida. This was his only All-Star appearance. He played for 15 minutes, scoring 7 points and getting 4 rebounds. In his last two seasons with the Celtics, Lewis averaged 20.8 points per game. He finished his career with an average of 17.6 points per game.
The Celtics retired his jersey number, 35. This means no other Celtics player will wear that number. Lewis is one of only two Celtics players to have his number retired without winning a championship with the team. The other player was Ed Macauley.
Sudden Collapse on the Court
On April 29, 1993, something serious happened. It was during Game 1 of the Celtics' playoff series against the Charlotte Hornets. Lewis suddenly collapsed on the court. He stayed on the ground for a few seconds. When he got up, he looked confused and dizzy. He went to the Celtics bench. Lewis briefly returned to the game. But he was soon taken out because he felt dizzy and had trouble breathing. He had scored 17 points in 13 minutes. This turned out to be his last NBA game.
The next day, Lewis went to New England Baptist Hospital. Many heart doctors examined him. They diagnosed him with "focal cardiomyopathy." This is a heart muscle disease that can cause an irregular heartbeat. Lewis was told this condition would likely end his career. However, he sought a second opinion from another doctor. This doctor diagnosed him with a less serious condition. Because of this, Lewis began working out to prepare for the next season.
Death and Legacy
On July 27, 1993, Reggie Lewis was practicing basketball. This was during the off-season at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He suddenly collapsed on the court again and died at 27 years old. Police officers tried to help him, but they were not successful.
His death was caused by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This is a heart defect. It is the most common cause of death in young athletes. Lewis is buried in an unmarked grave in Forest Hills Cemetery in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts.
Remembering Reggie Lewis
After Lewis's death, the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center was opened. It is located in Roxbury, Boston. Lewis had helped fund the center. It has hosted many important indoor track and field events. It also hosts basketball games for Roxbury Community College and Northeastern University track and field events.
On March 22, 1995, the Boston Celtics officially retired Lewis's jersey. He had worn the number 35 for his entire career. During the ceremony, his former teammate Dee Brown gave a speech. Two other former teammates, Sherman Douglas and Xavier McDaniel, held up Lewis's framed jersey.
At the time of Lewis's death, NBA rules did not have a way to void a player's contract if they died. This meant his contract stayed on the Celtics' salary cap for two seasons. The rules have since changed. Now, if a player dies, their contract is paid by league insurance.
See also
- List of basketball players who died during their careers
