Rodney Rogers Suffers Severe Injuries in Accident

This past weekend, former Suns forward Rodney Rogers was involved in an all-terrain vehicle accident and is believed to have suffered a broken neck and possible paralysis. The incident took place in Raleigh, North Carolina where a patrol spokesman said Rogers was taken by helicopter to Duke University Hospital in Durham.

Rogers spent three seasons in Phoenix (1999-2002) and in 2000 earned the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year Award after averaging 13.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Rogers was also a part of the 1994 Denver Nuggets ballclub which became the first eighth-seeded team to beat a first-seeded team in NBA Playoffs history.

“He was a great teammate who always came ready to play and was always willing to help out his teammates in any way he could,” Suns Vice President of Player Programs Mark West said.

West played with Rogers during the 1999-2000 season and remembers him as a teammate known for his heart both on and off the court.

“I remember him as a lighthearted, fun guy to have around the locker room and he was also extremely talented,” West said. “You usually won’t see guys his size with that kind of athleticism. My prayers and thoughts are with him and his family, and I just hope he recovers and gets back to being able to live a productive life.”

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