Reggie Lewis

From Hoopedia

Reggie Lewis (November 21, 1965 – July 27, 1993) was a basketball player for the Boston Celtics from 1987—1993. He averaged 20.8 points per game in each of his last two seasons with the Celtics, and finished with a career average of 17.6 points per contest. His #35 jersey was retired by the Celtics on March 22, 1995 as a memorial to him.

Born in Baltimore, he played his college ball in Boston at Northeastern University, where his retired uniform number now hangs in tribute in Matthews Arena.

NBA Career

Lewis played along side fellow Celtics greats like Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish. He became the sixth captain of the Celtics, taking over from Larry Bird. In his first and only year of leading the team, he brought the Celtics to the 1993 playoffs. In the first game of the playoffs against the Charlotte Hornets, his heart ailment (which would later claim his life) caused him to collapse.

Lewis was a quiet yet well-respected leader. He started 352 career games and was an NBA All-Star in 1992. He was named the NBA Player of the Week on April 13, 1992 and led the team in Minutes Played and Points three consecutive seasons from 1990-91 through 1992-93. He is the only player in Celtics history to have 100 rebounds, 100 assists, 100 steals and 100 blocked shots in a season - 1991-92 (394 rebounds, 185 assists, 125 steals and 105 blocks).

Tragic Death

Lewis died on July 27, 1993, when he had a heart attack on the basketball court at an off-season practice in 1993 at Brandeis University in Waltham, MA.

After his death, the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center, was opened in Roxbury, Massachusetts. The center was funded partially by Lewis and routinely hosts major track and field competitions as well as home basketball games for Roxbury Community College.