30 years ago, on July 27, 1993, the NBA was bereaved by the death of Reggie Lewis, victim of cardiac arrest during a training session. Seven years after the death of Len Bias, the day after the Draft, the Celtics were mourning one of their own, and thousands of miles from Boston, a rookie was also in tears. It was about Sam Cassel.
Back in Boston this summer as an assistant, Cassell never forgot that July 27, 1993 because Lewis was a friend.
“I will never forget that day. I was with the Rockets in my first summer league as a rookie, and we were at the Rocky Mountain Revue.” recalls the former Houston point guard. “It was before social media and everything, and Rudy Tomjanovich told me to come to his room at the Embassy Suites. He said, “I just want to tell you that Reggie Lewis passed away.” And before he could say anything else, I fell to my knees. It was so hard…”.
Sam Cassell’s mom cared for Reggie Lewis
Reggie Lewis was four years older than Cassell, and they had never faced each other in the NCAA or the NBA. But their relationship was personal, and it went back to childhood!
“We grew up in the same neighborhood”Cassell reveals to Heavy Sports. “My mum used to babysit Reg when he was a kid. His mother and father were like family to me. I went to school with his younger brother. I know all of his family personally, and they know all of my family personally. Everyone who grew up with us was hit hard by Reggie’s death, but some of us were hit even harder. It was harder because some of us were very close to Reggie and his family. It was like losing someone from your own family.”
For Sam Cassell, Lewis was even an idol, and he explains why.
“Baltimore didn’t have a professional basketball team. The Bullets had moved to Washington. As a result, our high school team, Dunbar, was our pro team, with Muggsy Bogues, Reggie Williams, Reggie Lewis. Whenever I can, I always talk about this team, and Reggie in particular. I keep his memory and his name alive in Baltimore. I talk about Reggie every chance I get. He was the sixth man on a team that won the national high school title. I want people to know it and remember it. »
| Reggie Lewis | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 1987-88 | BOS | 49 | 8 | 46.6 | 0.0 | 70.2 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 4.5 |
| 1988-89 | BOS | 81 | 33 | 48.6 | 13.6 | 78.7 | 1.4 | 3.2 | 4.7 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 18.5 |
| 1989-90 | BOS | 79 | 32 | 49.6 | 26.7 | 80.8 | 1.4 | 3.0 | 4.4 | 2.9 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 17.0 |
| 1990-91 | BOS | 79 | 36 | 49.1 | 7.7 | 82.6 | 1.5 | 3.7 | 5.2 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 18.7 |
| 1991-92 | BOS | 82 | 37 | 50.3 | 23.8 | 85.1 | 1.4 | 3.4 | 4.8 | 2.3 | 3.2 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 20.8 |
| 1992-93 | BOS | 80 | 39 | 47.0 | 23.3 | 86.7 | 1.1 | 3.2 | 4.3 | 3.7 | 3.1 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 20.8 |
| Total | 450 | 33 | 48.8 | 20.0 | 82.4 | 1.3 | 3.0 | 4.3 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 17.6 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
