Rodney Rogers — an ACC powerhouse, longtime NBA forward, and one of the most decorated athletes to ever come out of Wake Forest — has died at 54, the university has confirmed.
A native of Durham, North Carolina, Rogers built a legacy that stretched from high school gyms to NBA arenas, according to local station WRAL. Before he ever stepped onto a college court, he was already a standout: North Carolina’s Mr. Basketball in 1990 and a McDonald’s All-American out of Hillside High. Wake Forest recruited him soon after, and he quickly lived up to the hype.
From 1990 to 1993, Rogers helped transform the Demon Deacons program. He earned ACC Freshman of the Year in 1991, pushed the team back into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the mid-’80s, and became a two-time First Team All-ACC selection.
By 1993, he had taken Wake Forest to the Sweet 16 and secured ACC Player of the Year and First Team All-American honors. He’s still the only Wake Forest player to win both major ACC awards. The school retired his No. 54 jersey just three years after he left.
His former coach, Dave Odom, remembered not just his talent but his presence. “Rodney is truly one of the greatest athletes to ever play in the Atlantic Coast Conference — without reservation,” Odom said in the university’s statement.
He added that Rogers’ character matched his skill: “He loved his teammates, he loved his family, he loved Wake Forest, and he loved the game of basketball.”
Rogers entered the NBA as the ninth overall pick in the 1993 Draft — the highest Wake Forest selection in decades — and went on to spend 12 seasons in the league. His career included stretches with the Nuggets, Clippers, Suns, Celtics, Nets, Hornets, and 76ers, as well as significant production off the bench.
In 2000, he earned the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award while playing for the Phoenix Suns. By the time he retired, he had collected 9,468 points, 3,881 rebounds, and 1,722 assists.
In 2008, Rogers experienced a devastating ATV accident that left him paralyzed from the shoulders down. He later founded the Rodney Rogers Foundation, using his platform to support people living with spinal cord injuries and to promote strength in the face of adversity. Wake Forest honored him again in 2022 with an honorary doctorate.
Rogers is survived by his wife, Faye, and his three children: Roddreka, an assistant coach at Georgia State; son Rodney Rogers II; and daughter Rydeiah, who played basketball at NC State.