Reggie Lewis

Celtics star whose life and career were cut short by sudden cardiac death.

via Wikipedia: Reggie Lewis · see source

Reginald C. Lewis (November 21, 1965 – July 27, 1993) was an American professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association's Boston Celtics from 1987 to 1993. Lewis died at the age of 27, and his number was posthumously retired by the team.

Quick Facts

Born: 21 November 1965
Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Died: 27 July 1993
Place of death: Waltham, Massachusetts, U.S.
High school: Paul Laurence Dunbar (Baltimore, Maryland)
College: Northeastern (1983–1987)
Draft round: 1
Draft pick: 22

Lore & Background

Lewis attended Dunbar High School in Baltimore, Maryland, playing alongside future NBA players Muggsy Bogues, Reggie Williams and David Wingate. The 1981–82 Dunbar Poets finished 29–0 during his junior season, and 31–0 during his senior season, ranked first in the nation by USA Today. He played college basketball at Northeastern University in Boston, scoring 2,708 points over four years, still the all-time record at the university. His Northeastern teams won the ECAC North all four seasons and played in the NCAA men's basketball tournament every year.

The 1983–84 Huskies advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament, falling one point shy of the Sweet 16 when Rolando Lamb scored at the buzzer to lift VCU over the Huskies. Lewis's uniform number was retired and hangs in Matthews Arena. He was drafted by the Boston Celtics with the 22nd overall pick in the first round of the 1987 NBA draft. As a rookie, he averaged 4.5 points per game; in his second season, 18.5 points per game.

In 1991, he scored a career-high 42 points against the Miami Heat. The following season, he was selected to his only NBA All-Star Game, playing 15 minutes with seven points and four rebounds. After Larry Bird retired in 1992, Lewis was named Celtics captain. On April 29, 1993, in Game 1 of the playoffs against the Charlotte Hornets, Lewis collapsed on the court, returned briefly, then was pulled due to dizziness and shortness of breath; he scored 17 points in 13 minutes in his final NBA game.

He averaged 20.8 points per game in each of his last two seasons, and 17.6 points per game for his career. Lewis was married to Donna Harris-Lewis and had two children. During his Celtics tenure, he lived in Dedham, Massachusetts. He was a second cousin of PJ Dozier, who wore number 35 for the Oklahoma City Thunder in honor of Lewis.

After collapsing, Lewis was diagnosed with focal cardiomyopathy, then sought a second opinion from Dr. Gilbert Mudge, who diagnosed neurocardiogenic syncope. Lewis began working out for a return, but on July 27, 1993, during off-season practice at Brandeis University, he suffered sudden cardiac death at age 27. Two Brandeis police officers attempted mouth-to-mouth resuscitation but were unsuccessful. His funeral was held on August 2, 1993. The cause of death was attributed to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Reader's Guide

Reggie Lewis was a shooting guard/small forward for the Boston Celtics from 1987 to 1993. He wore number 35. He was a one-time NBA All-Star (1992). His career averages: 17.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists per game. He was known for his scoring and athleticism, and was named team captain after Larry Bird's retirement.