Boston Celtics star Reggie Lewis died Tuesday night after collapsing for the second time in three months while playing basketball. He was 27.
Lewis collapsed late Tuesday afternoon while shooting baskets at Brandeis University, the Celtics’ practice facility. There was no organized team practice.
Local paramedics found him in “complete cardiac arrest” and he was pronounced dead at 7:30 p.m. EDT at Waltham-Weston Hospital, Dr. Mary Anne McGinn said at a news conference.
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.
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.
Amir Weiss, a witness to Tuesday’s collapse, said Lewis “seemed real happy. He wasn’t doing anything too strenuous.
“When I looked over, Reggie was on the floor. We went over to look at him and he was gasping for air.”
He said Lewis was limp and shaking and, after a few minutes, “he stopped breathing.”
Lewis, the Celtics’ first-round draft pick in 1987 out of Northeastern, had not participated in any team practices since his collapse April 29 and was preparing for a pickup game Tuesday.
Deo Djossou, a senior on Northeastern’s basketball team, said he spoke with Lewis on Sunday about their plans to start working out with about 12 local college players.
Djossou said they were to begin practicing Monday, but the session was pushed back until 6 p.m. Tuesday because a lot of the players didn’t have transportation. He said Lewis already had been taken from Brandeis when
the players arrived. After he collapsed April 29, Lewis said while
leaving Boston Garden he was scared and “started having flashbacks to that Hank Gathers thing.” Gathers, a star at Loyola Marymount, died of a
heart problem after collapsing during a game March 4, 1990.
Len Bias, the Celtics’ top draft choice in 1986, died two days after being selected. His death was attributed to cocaine use.
Celtics spokesman Jeff Twiss declined comment on Lewis’ death other than to announce a news conference at the team headquarters in Boston. Dr. McGinn took no questions at the family’s request.
Lewis went to Brandeis at about 4 p.m., said Jack Molloy, the school’s sports information director. He was admitted in critical condition at Waltham-Weston Hospital at 5:41 p.m., said Nick DiIeso, the hospital’s vice president of patient care services. Lewis did not participate in the