The Heartbreaking Story Of NBA Star Reggie Lewis' Death

May 2024 · 2 minute read

To prepare for the 1993-1994 NBA season, Reggie Lewis practiced in the offseason at the Boston Celtics training center at Brandeis University. On July 27, 1993, Lewis was shooting baskets at the university when he collapsed on the court. "When I looked over, Reggie was on the floor," a bystander Amir Weiss told reporters (via the Los Angeles Times). "We went over to look at him and he was gasping for air," Weiss added. A few hours later, doctors pronounced the 27-year-old dead. As noted by Sportskeeda, his death appeared to be linked to an existing heart issue — focal cardiomyopathy –  which medical professionals previously diagnosed the athlete with after he collapsed during a playoff game earlier that year. 

With this disease, some doctors suggested that Lewis could never play basketball again due to physical exertion. Lewis sought a second opinion, and Dr. Gilbert Mudge claimed the NBA star only had the less-severe neurocardiogenic syncope and could continue his basketball career. The Celtics team physician still felt that Lewis had a life-threatening heart condition and, as a result, couldn't practice with the team. Therefore, at his own discretion, Lewis trained at Brandeis University on that fateful day, per The Washington Post. "We've lost a very treasured member of our family. It's a time of incredible grief," Celtics senior executive vice president Dave Gavitt said in a statement, per The New York Times.

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