NBA Injuries: 20 Stars Who Deserve A Career Do-Over

AUBURN HILLS, UNITED STATES: Detroit Pistons player Grant Hill (L) drives around Indiana Pacers player Chris Mullin during the first half of their game 07 February at the Palace of Auburn Hills. The Pistons beat the Pacers 107-98. AFP PHOTO/JEFF KOWALSKY (Photo credit should read JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP/Getty Images) /

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BOSTON – MAY 1: Reggie Lewis, Brian Shaw, and Larry Bird at Boston Celtics practice on May 1, 1989. (Photo by Frank O’Brien/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /

20. Reggie Lewis

If you took a look at the raw numbers of Reggie Lewis‘ NBA career, the only thing that would stand out in a negative way is that he only played for seven seasons. Unfortunately, his unexpected death cut short a promising career right when it was starting to take off.

As the 22nd pick in the 1987 NBA Draft, Lewis was selected by the Boston Celtics to help the team’s aging Big Three of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish — the exact same way that Len Bias was supposed to when he was selected the year before.

But following Bias’ tragic death, the young Lewis began to pave his way despite rarely being used in his rookie season. He averaged around 17-20 points and and 4-5 rebounds in each of the next six NBA seasons, earning All-Star honors in 1992 on averages of 20.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game.

Unfortunately, right when Lewis was starting to hit his stride, tragedy struck. On July 27, 1993, Lewis suffered sudden cardiac death during an offseason practice because of a structural defect in his heart.

Boston retired his jersey in 1995, making him one of only two Celtics players in franchise history to have their jerseys retired without winning a championship. Lewis was nowhere near the powerhouse that Bias was supposed to be, but his untimely death prevented fans from seeing what he was truly capable of right when he was hitting his prime.

Next: No. 19