Reggie Lewis, Bernard King, Grant Hill: NBA players who struggled with injuries: Pt 3
Reggie Lewis
Many diehard fans of Boston Celtics had gone through a period of deep sorrow when Reggie Lewis died. From 1987 to 1993, he played for Celtics as a small forward. His death was caused from ventricular fibrillation and such a sudden
cardiac death can happen to healthy athletes and young people as well who might not show any visible signs of heart ailment.
Although he does not have a long list of awards, but still he used to contribute a lot in game and averaged 17.6 points per game. After Larry Bird retired, he was selected as the captain for the Celtics. In 1992, he played NBA
All-Star game in which he scored 7 points and 4 rebounds within those fifteen minutes he got to play. In 1993, Boston lost their outstanding defender and scorer and retired his number in his honour.
Bernard King
Bernard King played for the New Jersey Nets, the Utah Jazz, the Golden State Warriors, the New York Knicks and the Washington Bullets in his long career from 1977 to 1993. He used to play as a small forward and made 19,655 points,
5,060 rebounds, 2,863 assists and an average of 22.5 points throughout his career. He was four times NBA-All Star and was placed twice in All-NBA First Team in 1984 and 1985. He remained a SEC Player of the Year from 1975-77. He was also placed in NBA-All
Rookie Team, All-NBA Second Team and All-NBA Third Team in 1978, 1982 and 1991 respectively.
He was considered one of the best scorers of 80s as he used to score more than 20 PPG for eleven times out of fourteen NBA seasons that he played. In 1984, while playing for the Nets, he scored sixty or 60 plus points in a single
game becoming 10th player in the history of NBA to score this much. After reaching the height of his career, he suffered from an injury in right knee also known as torn anterior cruciate ligament. This deteriorated not only his frame but also his
game.
Grant Hill
Grant Hill had played in three teams; Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic and phoenix Suns. He was entitled NBA co Rookie of the Year in 1995 and was placed in NBA All- Rookie First Team. He had been selected seven times in NBA All
Star and was placed in All- NBA First Team in 1997. He got selected in All- NBA Second Team for four times. He also won the NBA Sportsmanship Award thrice. Born with athletic genes, he won gold medals in FIBA Americas U18 Championships in 1990and Olympic Games
in 1996. He won a bronze medal in Pan American games in 1991. This injury-plagued player scored an average of 17.5 points, 4.3 assists and 6.3 rebounds in his career.
In 2000, before his ankle injury, he showed a bright career and shone as one of the NBA best all-around players. In his first six NBA seasons in NBA, he
achieved a total of 9,393 points, 3,417 rebounds and 2,720 assists. He shares this record with only three other NBA players like LeBron James, Larry Bird and Oscar Robertson. Besides knee and ankle injuries, he also had hernia and staph infection.
He had five ankles surgeries within four years. In an interview, Hill declared that his injury was not dealt properly by the medical staff of Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons.
Tags: