Rodney Rogers facts for kids
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | June 20, 1971 Durham, North Carolina, U.S. |
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| High school | Hillside (Durham, North Carolina) | |||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | |||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 235 lb (107 kg) | |||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||
| College | Wake Forest (1990–1993) | |||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 1993 / Round: 1 / Pick: 9th overall | |||||||||||||
| Selected by the Denver Nuggets | ||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 1993–2005 | |||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||
| 1993–1995 | Denver Nuggets | |||||||||||||
| 1995–1999 | Los Angeles Clippers | |||||||||||||
| 1999–2002 | Phoenix Suns | |||||||||||||
| 2002 | Boston Celtics | |||||||||||||
| 2002–2004 | New Jersey Nets | |||||||||||||
| 2004–2005 | New Orleans Hornets | |||||||||||||
| 2005 | Philadelphia 76ers | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||
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| Career NBA statistics | ||||||||||||||
| Points | 9,468 (10.9 ppg) | |||||||||||||
| Rebounds | 3,881 (4.5 rpg) | |||||||||||||
| Assists | 1,722 (2.0 apg) | |||||||||||||
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Medals
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Rodney Ray Rogers (born June 20, 1971) is an American former professional basketball player. He played for several teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Contents
Early Life and Family
Rodney Rogers was the youngest of four children. He grew up in Durham, North Carolina. His father passed away when Rodney was eight years old. When his mother was unwell and needed time to recover, Rodney lived with his youth league coach, Nathaniel Brooks. He stayed with the Brooks family for his last two years of high school.
Rodney's stepfather, James Spencer, who Rodney called "Dad," passed away in 1990. His older sister, Renita, became a nurse. His oldest brother, Stacy, won a gold medal in basketball at the 1981 Deaflympics in Cologne, Germany.
High School Basketball Star
Rodney attended Hillside High School in Durham. He was known as "the Durham Bull" because of his strong play. He was chosen as an All-State player twice. In 1990, he was named the North Carolina state Player of the Year.
As a junior, he averaged 22.5 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. In his senior year, he averaged 28.3 points and 12.3 rebounds. His team finished with a great record of 27 wins and 2 losses. Rodney was also named a McDonald's All-American. He scored 17 points in that special game.
College Career at Wake Forest
From 1990 to 1993, Rodney played college basketball at Wake Forest University. In his first year (1990–1991), he was named Rookie of the Year. He even won this award over another famous player, Grant Hill.
In 1993, Rodney was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year. That year, he averaged 21.2 points and 7.4 rebounds. His overall college stats were 19.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. After college, he was the ninth player picked in the 1993 NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets. In 1996, Wake Forest University retired his college jersey number, 54, to honor his achievements.
Professional NBA Journey
Rodney Rogers started his NBA career with the Denver Nuggets in 1993. In his first year, he often came off the bench as a substitute player. His team made history by being the first 8th-seeded team to beat a 1st-seeded team in the NBA playoffs. This was a big upset against the Seattle SuperSonics.
One exciting game in his rookie year was against the Utah Jazz in 1994. Rodney hit three 3-pointers in just nine seconds! This brought the Nuggets from behind to a 95–94 lead. However, the Jazz won the game in the end.
Moving to the Clippers
In his second season, Rodney became a starter for the Nuggets. This was partly because another player, LaPhonso Ellis, was often injured. In March 1995, Rodney had a career-high 21 rebounds in a game. Later that year, he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. He played with the Clippers for four years.
Success with the Suns
Rodney signed with the Phoenix Suns in 1999. He was a key player coming off the bench, averaging 13.8 points per game. In 2000, he won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award. This award goes to the best player who usually comes into the game as a substitute. The Suns made it to the playoffs that year but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers, who went on to win the championship. Rodney stayed with the Suns until 2002.
Later NBA Teams
In February 2002, Rodney was traded to the Boston Celtics. He then signed with the New Jersey Nets in 2002. In his first year with the Nets, he averaged 7 points per game. A highlight was a playoff game against the Milwaukee Bucks in 2003. After missing two free throws, Rodney made the game-winning shot on the very next play! The Nets won that series and made it to the NBA Finals, where they lost to the San Antonio Spurs.
Rodney played more in his second year with the Nets. He then signed with the New Orleans Hornets in 2004. He was injured for part of that season but later became a starter. In 2005, he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, where he mostly played as a backup forward.
Life After Basketball
After being drafted in 1993, Rodney married Tisa White. They had three children together: two daughters, Roddreka and Rydeiah, and a son, Rodney Rogers II. They later divorced.
After his time with the Phoenix Suns, Rodney and his family lived in Paradise Valley, Arizona. In 2006, Rodney moved back to Durham, North Carolina. He started working for the City of Durham as a heavy equipment operator. He was promoted to supervisor in 2008. Many of his co-workers did not know he had been an NBA player until later that year.
Rodney is the cousin of former NFL player Tully Banta-Cain. He also volunteered as a girls' basketball coach and helped start the Durham Eagles youth football team. He enjoys outdoor activities like hunting, riding motorcycles, and fishing. He is also a big fan of NASCAR.
2008 ATV Accident
On November 28, 2008, Rodney Rogers was in an accident while riding an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). He drove into a ditch and was thrown from his vehicle. He was taken to a special center in Atlanta, Georgia, that helps people with spinal cord injuries. As a result of the accident, Rodney is paralyzed from the shoulders down. Doctors have said there is a very small chance he will walk again.
See also
In Spanish: Rodney Rogers para niños
