This marks the 26th anniversary of the tragic, and sudden, death of Reggie Lewis. He was the 22nd overall pick in the 1987 draft, one year after the Celtics drafted Len Bias, who died of a drug overdose before ever donning the Celtics uniform.
Reggie played very little in his rookie year under coach K. C. Jones, but started to flourish in his sophomore season. His career and his life ended on July 27, 1993, the apparent result of a heart condition. Some have proposed that drugs may have played a part in his death, but as far as I am concerned, that speculation has been laid to rest with Reggie's remains.
Lewis' sole All-Star appearance was in 1992, and for his career, he averaged 17.6 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.6 APG and 1.3 SPG. I have written in the past about the similarities in the play of Reggie and Jaylen Brown. With both listed at 6'7" and Brown having the more-rugged physique. You saw the 1991 clip above where Lewis blocked Michael Jordan four times in one game. Jaylen has that defensive potential.
Reggie was as effective at driving and finishing at the hoop as he was at making jumpers. Jaylen is on the brink of that. Lewis had that quick first step, and Brown has it also. Reggie had the quickest baseline drive I can ever remember, and Brown should attempt to mimic that move.
The comparison doesn't end there. Lewis was a bit on the shy side, but he had the greatest smile. Sound familiar? If you skipped the video, give it a shot. That may have been the only time that MJ was blocked four times by the same player in the same game. Reggie, we didn't get to see you on the hardwood nearly enough.
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Photo via EnterpriseNews.com
Video via Merkin Muffy
Reggie played very little in his rookie year under coach K. C. Jones, but started to flourish in his sophomore season. His career and his life ended on July 27, 1993, the apparent result of a heart condition. Some have proposed that drugs may have played a part in his death, but as far as I am concerned, that speculation has been laid to rest with Reggie's remains.
26 years ago @celtics lost a great one.
— Tomek Kordylewski (@Timi_093) July 27, 2019
We remember. Rest In Peace, Reggie. pic.twitter.com/odVUaOEsgb
Lewis' sole All-Star appearance was in 1992, and for his career, he averaged 17.6 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.6 APG and 1.3 SPG. I have written in the past about the similarities in the play of Reggie and Jaylen Brown. With both listed at 6'7" and Brown having the more-rugged physique. You saw the 1991 clip above where Lewis blocked Michael Jordan four times in one game. Jaylen has that defensive potential.
Reggie was as effective at driving and finishing at the hoop as he was at making jumpers. Jaylen is on the brink of that. Lewis had that quick first step, and Brown has it also. Reggie had the quickest baseline drive I can ever remember, and Brown should attempt to mimic that move.
The comparison doesn't end there. Lewis was a bit on the shy side, but he had the greatest smile. Sound familiar? If you skipped the video, give it a shot. That may have been the only time that MJ was blocked four times by the same player in the same game. Reggie, we didn't get to see you on the hardwood nearly enough.
Follow Tom at @CelticsSentinel, @_Celtics_Center and Facebook
Photo via EnterpriseNews.com
Video via Merkin Muffy
Reggie's second cousin, PJ Dozier, had an allegedly successful Summer League with the Sixers (I didn't watch him with them), and is now waiting to see if that team or another gives him a chance to make their roster.
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