Thankfully, he recovered and continued to play for the Celtics. On March 31, 1991, at the Boston Garden, Lewis gave Jordan a night he hasnt forgotten. They struggled to cope with the loss of their loved one and deal with the new reality of their lives. Lewis died while shooting baskets in the Celtics practice gym at Brandeis July 27, 1993. . hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Reggie Lewis, who has emerged as the Boston Celtics' rising star, was found Monday to have a serious heart disease that is expected to end his career. BOSTON -- The world-renowned cardiologist who told Celtics captain Reggie Lewis he suffered from a minor fainting disorder conceded yesterday that the player showed signs of heart problems before he dropped dead shooting baskets in 1993. He was an All-Star in 1992 and seemed destined for a long and successful career in the NBA. Lewis died just two years later, at the age of 27. "I responded, 'You have got to stop. He was only 27 years old when he suddenly collapsed during a game and died of heart failure. Despite this, he continued to play and even led his team, the Boston Celtics to the playoffs. Lewis then consulted a third team of heart specialists in California about the conflicting diagnoses. Find out Reggie Lewisnet worth 2020, salary 2020 detail bellow. They were unable to determine which diagnosis was correct, but wanted Lewis monitored closely. But in 1993, he collapsed during a game and was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a condition that weakens the heart muscle. When someone with his talent does that to you, you can live with it., We lost All-Star Reggie Lewis 29 years ago today. The former Chicago Bulls star, however, had to work for every single one. Potential causes include viruses, medications, illegal drugs, poisons and alcohol. The diagnosis was that Lewis suffered from focal cardiomyopathy, a condition of the heart muscle that could cause heart failure. Reggie Lewis was a star basketball player whose untimely death left the NBA reeling. Lewis was drafted by the Celtics in 1987 and quickly became one of the team's best players. In brief Four athletes, aged 16 to 20, died shortly after they collapsed while playing basketball. On this day in Boston Celtics history, rising franchise star Reggie Lewis would die unexpectedly after collapsing on a basketball court at Brandeis University while working out in the offseason in 1993. Reggie Lewis was an NBA player for the Boston Celtics who died suddenly of a heart attack in 1993 at the age of 27. Mudge did just that at a news conference the day Lewis was discharged from Brigham and Women's, and his words came back to haunt him Wednesday as Harley played videotape of the doctor triumphantly announcing he had disproved the "Dream Team.". But African-Americans are more vulnerable, with two to three times the rate of sudden cardiac death than in whites. Reggie Jr. Lewis Reggieana Lewis Reggie Lewis/Children As a four-year starter at Northeastern, he became the Huskies' leading career scorer, with a total of 2,708 points. The Celtics assembled a team of doctors, who diagnosed Lewis with cardiomyopathy, a potentially life-threatening disease of the heart muscle. Set in '50s London, the film sees revered and picky fashion designer Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) take the young Alma (Vicky Krieps) as his muse. Read More, In case of sale of your personal information, you may opt out by using the link Do Not Sell My Personal Information. display: block; He was 39. In 1993, Boston Celtics star Reggie Lewis died from HCM during an offseason practice. This years event sponsor is Philips Healthcare, based in Andover, Mass. Dr. Gilbert Mudge said 16 days before Lewis collapsed from a heart attack in 1993, he acknowledged having used cocaine, but said he had stopped. He kept you off balance all the time. Unless there is a settlement, the malpractice case is expected to go to trial in May or June, according to The Boston Globe. African-American players at special risk of death from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, Sudden Death of Baltimore Basketball Player Reggie Lewis Spurs Coach to Screen Other Young Players For Heart Defects - 01/14/2010, Masks are required inside all of our care facilities, COVID-19 testing locations on Maryland.gov. In 2004, the International Olympic Committee recommended that all athletes be EKG-tested every two years for potential heart abnormalities. Test results will be reported to each athlete on site, along with recommended follow-ups if problems are detected. Reggie Lewis weighed 195 lbs (88 kg) when playing. Lewis, 27, underwent extensive tests after collapsing during an NBA playoff game April 29 at Boston. Colombias team was encouraged when doctors said a knee cartilage tear suffered by midfielder Carlos Valderrama, 32, wasnt as severe as feared and he should be ready for the World Cup. Reggie Lewis was born in Baltimore, Maryland. The New England Patriots agreed to a four-year, $6.9-million contract with guard Bob Kratch. His death sent shockwaves through the NBA Community and beyond. Reggie Lewis, the Boston Celtics' star who collapsed with a heart ailment during a playoff game last April and was warned by doctors that he would risk his life if he ever played basketball again, died last night after collapsing while shooting baskets at the team's training center at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass. Many believed that he would have gone on to become one of the greatest players of all time if he had not been struck down so tragically. Lewis was born in 1963 in Baltimore, Maryland. I was trying to take advantage of his passive demeanor, but he didnt back down. We are vaccinating all eligible patients. We were all lucky. WALTHAM, Mass. Lewis was diagnosed with "focal cardiomyopathy ", a disease of the heart muscle that can cause irregular heartbeat and heart failure. Lewis was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1987 and went on to have a successful six-year career with the team. Lewis was drafted by the Celtics in 1987 and quickly became one of the teams best players. How does cardiomyopathy cause sudden death? The | 30 comments on LinkedIn The point is if they want to, they can distract the jury with these kinds of accusations. 2 Jim Courier, 7-6 (8-6), 6-2, in the semifinals of the U.S. Indoor tournament at Philadelphia. Donald Ferguson. Even with some experts voicing concern that Lewis was too skinny for his height at 183 pounds, Celtics coach Red Auerbach. Boston went 32-50 in its first season without its best player. They would never ask Larry Bird about drugs. Reggie Lewis, all-time great Boston Celtic (1987-93) pic.twitter.com/r2dHHkgvl8, Robert Parish Said Phil Jackson Got Straight to the Point With Him After Signing With the Bulls. Mudge later said, "I am optimistic that under medical supervision Mr. Reggie Lewis will be able to return to professional basketball without limitation. Lewis, who had previously had been diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat after another on-court collapse during the . Reggie Lewis. On Saturday, February 25, it was confirmed that Don Shane had passed away at the age of 70. Our goal this year is to screen an even larger number of athletes than last years event, says Theodore Abraham, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.A.S.E., a cardiologist and associate professor of medicine in the Division of Cardiology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and director of Johns Hopkins' Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Clinic. Martina Navratilova made the final of the Paris womens open with a 6-1, 6-3, victory over Leila Meshki. He was a tough matchup, and he had those long arms that really bothered me. But he abruptly left their care to get another opinion. The checkup will include a basic questionnaire to review any past history of chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting spells, instances of sudden cardiac death in relatives, weight and blood pressure measurements, and tests for unusual heartbeats or murmurs. While his death was a tragedy for his family, friends and fans, it also shed light on a little-known condition that affects young athletes Lewis story is a reminder of the importance of heart health in athletes of all ages. Trending News Parish played his final game as a member of the Celtics in 1994. They hope the jury won't pay attention to the medical negligence.". Analytics cookies help website owners to understand how visitors interact with websites by collecting and reporting information anonymously. Reggie Lewis Please enter valid email address to continue. On the basis of that diagnosis, Lewis began working out to . But a season after being named an NBA All-Star in 1992, the 6-foot-7 forward collapsed and died during an off-season practice in July 1993. That came from Gilbert H. Mudge, director of clinical cardiology at a Harvard teaching hospital, who said Lewis suffered from a benign neurological disorder. Her Zodiac sign is Aquarius. Where was Reggie Lewis born? display: none; Ten years after Celtics star Reggie Lewis collapsed and died of a heart . Starting on that team were future pros David Wingate, Muggsy Bogues and Reggie Williams. In 1997, he suffered a fatal heart attack and died. Lewis's heart condition has been a subject of debate and controversy. Reginald C. Lewis (November 21, 1965 - July 27, 1993) was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland where he attended Dunbar High School, alma mater of NBA veteran Muggsy Bogues, David Wingate and Reggie Williams. After administering a battery of medical examinations, a team of 12 cardiologists and electrophysiologists at New England Baptist Hospital concluded Lewis had a serious heart ailment. He was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1987 and quickly became one of the teams best players. PRO BASKETBALL; Reggie Lewis's Family Had a History of Heart Problems, Report Asserts, https://www.nytimes.com/1993/09/13/sports/pro-basketball-reggie-lewis-s-family-had-history-heart-problems-report-asserts.html. He was taken at 5:41 P.M. to Waltham-Weston Hospital, where doctors treated him for another two hours before pronouncing him dead at 7:30 P.M. Kennedy McKinney (26-0-1) of Memphis, Tenn., knocked out Jose Rincones (19-2-2) of Venezuela in the fifth round at Johannesburg, South Africa, and retained the International Boxing Federation super-bantamweight title. They just can't get over that he is not Lrry,'" he said. Lewis death is still felt today, more than 25 years later, and he remains one of the most beloved players in Celtics history. Reggie was lucky primarily.. death of Reggie Lewis from heart failure. A motion filed Thursday by Mudge's lawyer, William Dailey Jr., seeks to force Northeastern University to turn over documents related to drug tests given to Lewis while he was a student in 1987. The NBA would also feel the impact of Lewis death, as it raised concerns about player safety and led to changes in the way cardiac conditions are treated in athletes. Although announcements of his death were soon being broadcast over Boston radio and television stations and nationally televised baseball games, at the request of Lewis's wife, Donna Harris, hospital officals refused to give out any information on Lewis until almost three hours later. Autopsy results would later confirm that Lewis had an enlarged heart, an inherited defect called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), which produced an errant heart rhythm under exercise stress that led to his sudden death. Mudge said in court papers that Harris-Lewis, who has denied her husband used cocaine, grew agitated when he asked Lewis about cocaine. The abrupt switch of hospitals went against normal medical procedures but happened because of the lucrative nature of the cardiology field, the attention focused on Lewis's case and the politics within Boston hospitals, the newspaper reported. Lewis would have trouble performing at a high level when taking medication, such as inderal. But his untimely death would change the NBA forever. According to the Journal, the medical team concluded that the likely cause of Lewis's heart condition was cocaine use; the paper quoted doctors who had previously been mum on the subject.. Young people are not supposed to die, especially when they are in what we believe to be peak physical form, says Wade, current coordinator of athletics for the Baltimore City Public School System. Chang will face Paul Haarhuis, who has never won a singles title, in the final. Reggie was far more than an accomplished basketball player . And after it was delivered by a team of 11 cardiologists who had examined records of medical tests done while Lewis was at New England Baptist Hospital, Lewis abruptly switched hospitals, moving to Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. "After extensive testing, evaluation and review of all data, I believe that Mr. Lewis has a normal athlete's heart with normal functions. There were a few guys in the league I hated to guard because you didnt know what they were thinking. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. He had my number that particular night. He averaged 20 points per game over his seven-year career and was selected for the All-Star team in 1992. Among the most notable fatalities to date was Lewis, a graduate of Dunbar High School who was also African-American. He played basketball at Northeastern University, where he quickly became one of the best players in the country. He played basketball for Dunbar High School where he was named Marylands all-time high school scoring leader with 2,200 points. A two-time All-Star and the captain of the Boston Celtics Lewis was one of the most promising young players in the NBA. He made his way back onto the court later in the game but quickly came back to the bench after experiencing dizziness. Marta Figueras-Dotti ended 11 years of frustration on the LPGA Tour with a victory in the Hawaiian Ladies Open at Ewa Beach. Reginald F. Lewis, the legendary entrepreneur who rocked Wall Street when his firm, TLC Group, acquired Beatrice International Foods for $985 million. After Lewis suffered his collapse in April 1993, the Celtics assembled what they called the "Dream Team" of 12 Boston cardiologists at New England Baptist Hospital. Reggie had been supporting his wife and young daughter, as well as his parents, financially. Autopsy results found Lewis had a large, extensively scarred heart, and the cause of that scar tissue is still not known. Zena Ray Zeke Upshaw was American professional basketball player who played in the D league after going undrafted in the NBA. Marketing cookies are used to track visitors across websites. A Boston Celtics dynasty came to a close. Walsh, appearing with Martinez at a City Hall briefing, said the state on Thursday took over operations at the Reggie Lewis Center, which will now be a mass vaccination site. In 1990, college basketball star Hank Gathers collapsed on the court and died because of HCM. Just because he is not Bird. Reggie Lewis, 27, had just finished playing an informal game of pick-up basketball at Brandeis University with friends and family. . BOSTON, AUG. 4 -- Reggie Lewis's heart was abnormal, enlarged and extensively scarred when he died suddenly last week, a medical examiner said today. Lewis was born in 1965 in Baltimore, Maryland. He went on to play college basketball at Northeastern University before being drafted by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 1987 NBA draft. Celtics captain Reggie Lewis had an abnormal, enlarged and extensively scarred heart when he suffered cardiac arrest and died July 27, a medical examiner said Wednesday afternoon. The intention is to display ads that are relevant and engaging for the individual user and thereby more valuable for publishers and third party advertisers. Anyone can read what you share. Reggie Lewis was a star player in the NBA who tragically died at the age of 27. How tall was Reggie Lewis? The Roxbury Community College in Massachusetts dedicated in his honor the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center,for his dedication and advocacy for educational and social well being of the youth within the Boston community. As many as 300 young athletes from 18 teams, ranging from 14 to 18 years of age, will be examined for HCM. -- Boston Celtics captain and star Reggie Lewis died of cardiac arrest Tuesday evening after collapsing while shooting baskets just three months after he passed out during a. By then the hospital had become a magnet for members of the Celtic family, including Lewis's teammate Rick Fox and two former stars, Dave Cowens and M. L. Carr. #inline-recirc-item--id-b41ec884-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { He was a quiet, unassuming player who had to wait for his greatness. During his Dunbar years, Lewis played with such later National Basketball Association stars as Tyrone Bogues, David Wingate and Reggie Williams on a team that went 50-0 during one season. Indeed, Lewis had fainted during a game a few months before, prompting a much-publicized debate on his heart health and foreshadowing his death. These players have a higher than normal risk of sudden, potentially fatal heart rhythm disturbances or cardiac arrest, he says. Professional Basketball Player. Explore our state-of-the-art patient care facilities in the Sheikh Zayed Tower. If there had been better understanding and appreciation for the risks involved with these heart abnormalities, Abraham says, it may have saved the life of Lewis, whos death was likely triggered by an overly enlarged and thickened heart. The temperature hovered in the mid-80s, with a light breeze and clear blue skies. The on-court collapse of Boston's Reggie Lewis left his future in doubt, sparked a bitter battle among medical experts and raised questions about the role of team doctors. Has anyone ever died during a basketball game? In 1993, Lewis collapsed during a game and was later diagnosed with a heart condition. User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. He shocked me a little bit.. Lewis, Boston's top scorer the past two seasons, originally was diagnosed with a career-threatening heart disorder after he collapsed April 29 during a playoff game against Charlotte. This was a crucial step in protecting the health of athletes and ensuring that events like this would not happen again. Charles Grantham, executive director of the NBA Players Assn., said if Lewis contract was not fully guaranteed, built-in disability insurance would cover the difference. After pressing from Harley, he added, "He conveyed the thought we had to take it seriously. It turns out that 3 months earlier, he passed out during an NBA playoff . reggie lewis heart condition. They knew Reggie Lewis was no slouch. Three days after his collapse, Lewis abruptly switched from New England Baptist Hospital to Brigham and Women's Hospital. He apparently felt confident enough to shoot baskets at the Brandeis training center even though the Celtics did not allow him to take part in team workouts. Specific cause of death was not announced. In six seasons with the. Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish, 17-part series on the Celtics championship history. The following day, the Celtics gathered a dozen heart specialists through New England Baptist Hospital, a dream team of doctors, according to The Boston Globe. He finished the game with one more point (37) than shots taken (36). In a heated exchange characterisic of Mudge's daylong testimony, Harley asked the doctor about Friedman's statements that he had shared with Mudge his belief that Lewis suffered from a defective heart. Starting Monday, Massachusetts will . To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. A hearing on that motion was scheduled for Friday. I cant live on this, he once told the Boston Globe when discussing his scoring average. Reggie Lewis was born on November 21, 1965. Learn more: Vaccines, Boosters & Additional Doses | Testing | Patient Care | Visitor Guidelines | Coronavirus. The thickening makes it hard for the heart to pump blood and can cause fast heartbeats. "What caused it, in the final analysis, was irrelevant to treating it. Donna Harris-Lewis sued Mudge and consultants Mark Creager and Peter Friedman, claiming they misdiagnosed and mistreated her husband's heart condition. Lewis got another, more satisfying opinion and was diagnosed with a non-fatal condition called neurocardiogenic syncope. He then began working out later that summer, preparing for the 1993-94 season. Anyone can read what you share. It was considered career-ending. Arnold Scheller, Bostons team physician, said Lewis, 27, apparently suffers from the same ailment that killed Hank Gathers, the Loyola Marymount player who collapsed during a game March 4, 1990, and died 90 minutes later. But not in time for Lewis to have had an automated defibrillator implanted, a device that can electrically shock the heart back to pumping after it has stopped. Team-Leading Scorer. On Nov. 19, nearly four months after Lewis died, a death certificate was filed in Waltham listing the cause of death as adenovirus 2, a common virus that causes the common cold, that led to. The motion includes a sworn deposition from a Northeastern student, Wayne Brown, who claimed he snorted and smoked cocaine with Lewis at his apartment "15 or 20 times" while Lewis was a student. Reggie Lewis's basketball career. He never relinquished his own aggressiveness. Twelve weeks later, Lewis's sudden death reignited controversy over Mudge's diagnosis. Lewis started all 82 games and shot better than 50% from the floor that season. It is in Lewis memory that Wade now wants to help other young athletes who may be at risk of sudden death and not know it. Now the onus is on him to say no," he said. The 6-foot-7 Celtics captain got a second opinion that he was suffering from a nerve ailment and might be able to resume his career. Lewis is known as the obsessive type who is rarely satisfied. Volunteers will test student athletes during the third annual Hopkins Heart Hype screening slated to take place at the 14th annual Basketball Academy Competition. Don't insult my husband. It's a time of incredible grief.". More than 110,000 high school students in Maryland are active in sports, and, according to Abraham, the stress of athletic competition poses ultra-dangerous risks to those who have inherited tendencies to develop overly enlarged and thickened hearts, hypertrophic cardiomyopathies, or similar abnormalities. Thats because they understood who I was up against. Reggie Lewis, a shooting guard, was responsible for the best stretch in Northeastern University's men's basketball team's history. 1999 SportsLine USA, Inc. All rights reserved Lewis, an athletic swingman from nearby Northeastern University, was considered the next big Celtics star after Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish moved on. Lewis was diagnosed with "focal cardiomyopathy", a disease of the heart muscle that can cause irregular heartbeat and heart failure. Rock music developed from the rock and roll music that emerged during the 1950s and includes a diverse . He was in the final season of a five-year, $16.5-million contract, with 40% of the money deferred over 15 years. He was selected 22nd by the Celtics in the first round of the 1987 draft. Thickened heart muscle (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy). Donna Harris-Lewis was pregnant with their second child Reggieana Lewis, when Reggie died on July 27, 1993. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Reggie Lewis' drug history probed again The Associated Press 0:05 0:49 BOSTON -- Four doctors being sued by the wife of a Boston Celtics star who suffered a fatal heart attack in 1993 say. Although the myocarditis had healed, Kessler told the newspaper that Lewis heart remained scared and enlarged when he collapsed and died while shooting baskets at Brandeis University in the Boston area. He was 27 and had resumed light workouts after seeking a second medical opinion and being told he really didn't have a severe heart ailment at all. But tragic circumstances led to his untimely death at the age of 27. Just ask Michael Jordan. The 1981-82 . A frustrated Lewis left the hospital at 11:30 p.m. EDT Sunday and entered Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston to get another opinion. Who has died from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy? Many cases go undiagnosed, Abraham adds, because the young athletes healthy appearance and peak physical condition may mask their underlying sickness. Lewis was a rising star in the NBA, a beloved captain of the Boston Celtics, and a community leader. The following day, Lewis checked into New England Baptist Hospital, where he underwent a series of tests by more than a dozen heart specialists, who the Celtics called their "dream team" of doctors. January 14, 2010- To this day, it still shocks former Dunbar High School basketball coach Bob Wade when he thinks back to June 1993, when he first heard that his star former student, 27-year-old Reggie Lewis, 67 and 195 pounds, the top scorer and center for the Boston Celtics, had suddenly collapsed and died during basketball shoot-around. . A star player in the NBA, he seemed destined for greatness. He was named an All-Star in 1992 and was selected to the All-NBA Third Team in 1991. Reggie Lewis/Children. Gathers died of cardiomyopathy, a heart muscle disorder of unknown origin that damaged both lower heart chambers. He averaged 20 points per game during his career and is still the Celtics all-time leader in three-point field goals made. Lewis previously collapsed during a game, and a team of New England Baptist Hospital doctors said he had a life-threatening heart ailment and warned that his career was in jeopardy. Harley confirmed that Harris-Lewis made the comment. He had previously collapsed during a game, and a team of New England Baptist. CAPTION: Reggie Lewis, right, died from heart failure unrelated to cocaine ingestion, Massachusetts officials reiterated yesterday after completing a review of Lewis's autopsy. (HCM), a condition characterized by hypertrophy (enlargement) of the heart walls and a susceptibility to potentially lethal arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeat). A player who was on the cusp of greatness before his life was tragically cut short in the summer of 1993 due to a heart condition. From Staff and Wire Reports The death of Reggie Lewis, Boston Celtic captain, was the result of a viral infection severely damaging his heart, leaving him vulnerable to the kind of abnormal. On July 27, 1993, Reggie Lewis died of a heart attack at the age of 27. Reggie was a phenomenal human being and was capable of accomplishing a lot more than he did on the hardwood floor. Reggie Lewis was on the verge of superstar status in the National Basketball Association when he died suddenly of a heart condition at the age of 27. However, the U.S. Olympic team does not require physical exams for its competing athletes, but instead offers voluntary cardiac screening. Lewis, a 6-foot-7 All-Star guard/forward, was a reserve his senior year at Baltimores Dunbar High in 1982-83, in which the school won a mythical national championship. "He was a great athlete," Cowens said. He was scheduled to play in a celebrity golf tournament the next day, as he had done many times before. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Haarhuis defeated Jaime Yzaga, 6-3, 6-3. . @ plays for the team . http://www.hopkinsheart.org/clinical-services/centers-excellence/center-excellence-hcm.html, David March 410-955-1534 office; 410-598-7056 cellular; dmarch1@jhmi.edu. Reggie Lewis - Reggie Lewis possessed all the tools necessary to be the next great Boston Celtics superstar in line. "I asked whether Mr. Lewis had ever taken drugs and Mrs. Lewis became very excited and stated, 'Drugs, drugs, drugs. Playing both guard and forward for the Celtics, the 6-7 Lewis emerged as both a high scorer and a team leader. What heart condition did Reggie Lewis have? Celtic officials said they allowed Lewis to continue because they believed he suffered a blow to the head. Lewis left behind a wife and young daughter. No, nobody did, Jordan said. That was the initial diagnosis of a "Dream Team" of 12 doctors at New England Baptist Hospital, where Lewis was taken after he collapsed during a playoff game in April 1993. Reggie Lewis. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. February 5, 1999 / 7:18 PM He had made his first All-Star appearance, and he was the leader and team captain of the Boston Celtics. Our goal is to make this not only an annual program in Maryland, but to serve as a model for other programs to start across the country, state by state, city by city, if necessary, Abraham says, noting that other countries, such as Italy and Japan, have since the early 1980s run regular school programs to screen teenage athletes and non-athletes for possible heart problems. title by defeating Walter Ray Williams Jr., 276-238, in a tournament at Richmond Heights, Mo. Doctors who examined the late Boston Celtics player Reggie Lewis say they believed his heart quite likely was damaged by cocaine before the former Dunbar High basketball star collapsed and died of . South San Francisco startup, targeting a heart condition that killed an NBA star, was founded by an acclaimed Stanford University professor, and French drug maker Sanofi is buying in. Reggie left behind a loving wife and two very young children.