Former NBA, Wake Forest star Rodney Rogers dead at 54

Former NBA and Wake Forest prima Rodney Rogers has died astatine property 54, the assemblage announced Saturday.

Rogers passed distant from earthy causes related to a spinal cord wounded helium sustained successful 2008, his wife, Faye, said successful the announcement. 

Rogers played successful the NBA for 12 seasons and was named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year successful the 1999-2000 season. Prior to his NBA career, Rogers became a Wake Forest fable successful his assemblage days. 

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Rodney Rogers (54) of the Phoenix Suns receives his Sixth Man Award during the NBA Western Conference Playoffs Round One crippled against the San Antonio Spurs astatine America West Arena successful Phoenix, Arizona, connected May 2, 2000.  (Tom Hauck/Allsport)

"Rodney Rogers, an NBA fable who played 12 years successful the league, passed distant connected November 21, 2025 from earthy causes related to the spinal cord wounded helium sustained connected November 28, 2008," Faye Rogers said successful a statement.

"The past 18 years person been some challenging and profoundly blessed. Through each moment, Rodney remained a airy – positive, motivated and afloat of the quiescent spot that inspired everyone astir him. Our household would besides similar to explicit our heavy gratitude for the unwavering enactment from our Wake Forest and NBA families implicit the years. Your care, beingness and kindness carried america much than you know. We kindly inquire that you respect our family's privateness during this clip of healing. Further accusation volition beryllium shared arsenic it becomes available."

Rogers suffered the wounded successful a ungraded motorcycle mishap erstwhile riding with friends the time aft Thanksgiving, according to WRAL.com.

Rogers was named ACC Freshman of the Year successful 1991 aft starring the squad to the NCAA Tournament for the archetypal clip since 1984. He was a first-team All-ACC enactment successful some 1992 and 1993. 

In 1993, aft starring Wake Forest to the Sweet 16, Rogers was named ACC Player of the Year and a archetypal squad All-American. Rogers is the lone Wake Forest player, and conscionable the seventh ACC player, to person been named some ACC Freshman of the Year and ACC Player of the Year. 

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Rodney Rodgers (54) of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons looks to walk the shot during a assemblage hoops crippled against the Maryland Terrapins astatine Cole Field House. The crippled took spot successful College Park, Maryland, connected Jan. 16, 1993.  (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Rogers is simply a subordinate of the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame.

After his illustrious assemblage career, the Denver Nuggets selected Rogers with the No. 9 wide prime successful the 1993 NBA Draft. 

In 866 games successful his 12-year NBA career, Rogers averaged 10.9 points per game, 2.0 assists per game, and 4.5 rebounds per game. He played for the Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics, New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets, and the Philadelphia 76ers. 

"The NBA household is profoundly saddened by the passing of Rodney Rogers," the NBA said successful a connection posted to societal media. 

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Former Wake Forest Demon Deacons men’s hoops manager Dave Odom (right) talks with erstwhile hoops subordinate Rodney Rodgers astatine BB&T Field. The speech took spot successful Winston-Salem, North Carolina, connected Sept. 19, 2009. (Brian A. Westerholt/Getty Images)

"He volition beryllium remembered not lone for his achievements connected the tribunal but besides for the bonzer resilience, courageousness and generosity that helium demonstrated passim his beingness – qualities that inspired truthful many."

Rogers' unwavering perseverance and affirmative outlook contempt being paralyzed led to Wake Forest awarding him arsenic the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, 1 of the highest honors the schoolhouse offers. 

Rogers is survived by his wife, Faye, and 3 children: his girl Roddreka, lad Rodney Rodgers II, and girl Rydeiah. 

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