Reggie Lewis: He was supposed to be Larry Bird’s SUCCESSOR until TRAGEDY STRUCK | FPP

He began his short but legendary career on the famed Dunbar Poets teams of the early 1980s alongside future NBA players Muggsy Bogues, David Wingate and Reggie Williams as beloved coach Bob Wade would lead the team to two straight undefeated seasons in 1982 and 1983. But Lewis, was the least recruited of the bunch and would accept an offer to play NCAA basketball at Northeastern University for in Boston, Massachusetts. As a husky, Lewis would put together the greatest career in program history where he would lead the team to 4 conference titles and 4 NCAA tournament appearances. He still holds the school’s career scoring record and left college as a top 10 scorer in NCAA history.

He would be drafted to the storied Boston Celtics who were coming off an NBA Finals appearance and were still led by their Big three of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish while also featuring great players like Dennis Johnson and Danny Ainge. Lewis waited in the wings his rookie year before getting a chance in year 2 after Bird went down with an injury and Lewis would show his greatness by finishing second in Most Improved Player voting and being a key member of a Celtics team that still made the playoffs. For the next 4 seasons, Lewis would gradually take over as Bird’s body began to break down and eventually Lewis would become an All-Star and be the only player other than Larry Bird during Bird’s tenure with the Celtics to lead the team in scoring. In 1993 Lewis was primed to take the reigns as he was team captain after Bird’s retirement and after another great season, he would enter the Celtics first round playoff series vs. the Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning led Charlotte Hornets on a tear. But he would then shockingly collapse to the floor midway through the first quarter which would end his season.

He received mixed opinions from different teams of doctors in the offseason, but ultimately decided to listen to the doctor’s who felt his condition was not fatal; but sadly on July 27th, 1993 Lewis would again collapse during a light workout and pass away due to cardiac arrest, at the age of 27; ending his career and his life. He was the epitome of a Boston Celtic on the court as he worked hard on both ends, wasn’t cocky and never complained; and more than anything he always stepped up his game when the lights were brightest. But he was just as good of a person off the court as he would often be helping his community however he could.

Unfortunately, Lewis’ shortened career and the fact that he is the only Celtic to have his number retired without winning a championship, leads to him being left out of all time great Celtics conversations, and even though he hadn’t reached that status at the time of his passing, it definitely seemed like it was only a matter of time. So today, we’re going to look at the career of the late, great Reggie Lewis.

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