July 27, 2003

Ten Years: Reggie Lewis 1965-1993

Has it been ten years? I was home for the summer, interning at my Dad's company, playing way too much Tecmo Bowl...then on the night of July 27th...Reggie Lewis dropped dead.

I was only 12 when Len Bias did his cocaine and stopped his Celtics career after 48 hours. I don't really remember that day (Bill Simmons' memories will have to do), but I remember watching the news, spellbound, as the live reports of Reggie's collapse started coming in from Newton Hospital. And when the doctors came out to the microphone, slowly and grimly, it was like getting kicked. Simply unreal.

1993 was the year the Celtics were closing out the Bird/McHale/Parish era. Dee Brown, Rick Fox and Reggie (we really thought!) were going to lead the team into the future. We didn't know at the time that we were in for eight years of Todd Day, Travis Knight, Rick Pitino, ML Carr, and getting dragged through the absolute dregs of NBA existence before Boston ever tasted success again.

Celtics PR man Jeff Twiss remembers Reggie here; the Concord Monitor's Chad Finn has a wonderful elegant tribute. Boston lost something special that day 10 years ago.

Comments

I often wonder what things would have been like had Len Bias and Reggie Lewis both lived. Reggie especially was really coming into his own and was starting to take over the team as a real leader in 1993, the first year after Larry's retirement. What a sweet shot he had. What a nice person he seemed to be. What a tragedy that it all ended so soon for him and his family especially, but also for us, his fans.

Posted by: Vin at July 29, 2003 12:38 PM

I was just thinking about Reggie, and when I do I can't stop the few tears that come from my eyes, has it really been 10 years? thanks for the tribute.

Posted by: Noble Monyei at September 21, 2003 11:21 PM

Reggie 1965-1993 he could of made the Celtics another dynasty him and Antoine Walker and Paul Peirce. Winning Championships Instead of Tim Duncan.

Posted by: Krokadee Johnson at October 18, 2003 10:06 PM

I remember when Reggie died, I was 11 years old. I was a huge NBA fan, when it was in its prime with Jordan leading the way, right after Bird and Magic's primes had just ended. It was a shock, and thinking about it makes you realize that people need to take life as it comes and have fun with it... it could end at anytime.

Posted by: Anthony at November 8, 2003 08:51 PM

I remember Reggie Lewis's one on one battles with Michael Jordan and Reggie Miller. Absolutely classic. MJ would say himself: Reggie was one of the hardest guards he has ever had to defend in the NBA. And this is coming from a great defensive player.

Lewis would have become a 25-29 PPG scorer in no time, possibly the immediate years he never got to see in his life. Look at this realistically. McHale's last season, in 1993, became the first scoring option after Bird's retirement---not Lewis. McHale retired right after the '93 season----giving the way to Reggie Lewis as the first scoring option. Reggie would have at least scored 25 per game. At least.

Lewis was not a great three point shooter, although he did have his fair share of clutch 3 pointers. From 15-20 ft, this guy was deadly. And he jumped high with his elbows in the defender's face---nobody could contest his jumper.

A good but current Reggie Lewis comparison would be Rip Hamilton. Deadly from the 15-20--and a team player.

Reggie was charitable, a good father and husband, a good citizen, a very good basketball and team player, and person. He stood out in an era of chest thumping and trash talking---never did any of that, never argued with the refs, always smiling. We'll always, and I mean always, miss Reggie Lewis.

Posted by: Rick at August 14, 2004 05:31 PM

Reggie Lewis was an awesome ball player and I miss that dude, I cant believe its been ten years we lost two of the "almost" best players ever in that time with Drazen Petrovic as well

Posted by: john at October 25, 2004 08:31 PM

I was 13 when Reggie died. I was at that last game against the hornets when he collapsed...and rememner the knot in my stomach and crying uncontrollably as the Dr.'s announced his passing. What an incredible loss he was not only in the sports world, but in the community. He was so talented, and so humble and gentle. Never forgotten, sorely missed.

Posted by: jojo at November 2, 2004 10:35 PM

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