While the nation takes time to give thanks during the Thanksgiving holiday, two of basketball’s revered players are being remembered after passing in November. Former Denver Nuggets player Rodney Rogers passed away last Friday at the age of 54. His death came 10 days after another player with roots in Denver passed away. Denver native Michael Ray Richardson died at 70 in Lawton, Oklahoma.

After his Wake Forest college career, Rogers was a first-round draft choice of the Denver Nuggets in 1993 with the ninth overall pick. As a key player, Rogers, along with Dikembe Mutombo, became the first eighth-seeded team to beat a number one seed in NBA playoff history when they eliminated the Seattle Supersonics. Part of his highlight reel featured his three 3-pointers in a span of 9 seconds during his rookie season.  He played for seven teams in his career and was named the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2000.

Three years after his NBA career, Rogers was severely injured in an ATV accident, which left him paralyzed. His death was reported to be from natural causes related to the 2008 accident. “It’s easy to focus on his extraordinary talent, but what stood out to everyone who knew him was that he was every bit as remarkable as a human being,” said Dave Odom, Rogers’ coach at Wake Forest. “He loved his teammates, he loved his family, he loved Wake Forest, and he loved the game of basketball. He loved playing for Wake Forest.”

Michael Ray Richardson, the basketball prodigy who played for the Manual High School Class of 1974, passed away on November 11th. In 1978, he was drafted by the New York Knicks with the fourth overall pick and went on to become a four-time All-Star, playing in the NBA for three teams over eight years. He led the league in steals for three seasons.

“He had it all as a player, with no weaknesses in his game," former Detroit Pistons guard Isiah Thomas said. “He is the player who gave me the most problems playing against him. He was taller, just as fast, and could shoot from 3 and midrange. His post-up game was elite. Offensively, he had it all.”

In 1986, Rogers was permanently banned from the NBA for substance abuse. Commissioner David Stern handed down the ruling after Richardson violated the policy for a third time, making him the first player to be banned by the NBA. After his NBA ban, Richardson played in Europe from 1988 to 2002. After his playing career, Richardson coached from 2007 to 2014, winning back-to-back NBL championships in the 2011-2012 seasons.

Richardson passed away at the age of 70 shortly after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.

While the nation takes time to give thanks during the Thanksgiving holiday, two of basketball’s revered players are being remembered after passing in November. Former Denver Nuggets player Rodney Rogers passed away last Friday at the age of 54. His death came 10 days after another player with roots in Denver passed away. Denver native Michael Ray Richardson died at 70 in Lawton, Oklahoma.

After his Wake Forest college career, Rogers was a first-round draft choice of the Denver Nuggets in 1993 with the ninth overall pick. As a key player, Rogers, along with Dikembe Mutombo, became the first eighth-seeded team to beat a number one seed in NBA playoff history when they eliminated the Seattle Supersonics. Part of his highlight reel featured his three 3-pointers in a span of 9 seconds during his rookie season.  He played for seven teams in his career and was named the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2000.

Three years after his NBA career, Rogers was severely injured in an ATV accident, which left him paralyzed. His death was reported to be from natural causes related to the 2008 accident. “It’s easy to focus on his extraordinary talent, but what stood out to everyone who knew him was that he was every bit as remarkable as a human being,” said Dave Odom, Rogers’ coach at Wake Forest. “He loved his teammates, he loved his family, he loved Wake Forest, and he loved the game of basketball. He loved playing for Wake Forest.”

Michael Ray Richardson, the basketball prodigy who played for the Manual High School Class of 1974, passed away on November 11th. In 1978, he was drafted by the New York Knicks with the fourth overall pick and went on to become a four-time All-Star, playing in the NBA for three teams over eight years. He led the league in steals for three seasons.

“He had it all as a player, with no weaknesses in his game," former Detroit Pistons guard Isiah Thomas said. “He is the player who gave me the most problems playing against him. He was taller, just as fast, and could shoot from 3 and midrange. His post-up game was elite. Offensively, he had it all.”

In 1986, Rogers was permanently banned from the NBA for substance abuse. Commissioner David Stern handed down the ruling after Richardson violated the policy for a third time, making him the first player to be banned by the NBA. After his NBA ban, Richardson played in Europe from 1988 to 2002. After his playing career, Richardson coached from 2007 to 2014, winning back-to-back NBL championships in the 2011-2012 seasons.

Richardson passed away at the age of 70 shortly after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.

‍