Former NBA player Rodney Rogers, 54, died from complications of a 2008 spinal injury; he was a two-time ACC Player of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year.

Rodney Rogers, the former Wake Forest standout and NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2000, died at 54 on November 21, 2025, from natural causes related to a spinal cord injury from a 2008 dirt bike accident that left him paralyzed. Selected ninth overall in the 1993 NBA Draft, he played 12 seasons for seven teams, averaging 10.9 points and 4.5 rebounds. Rogers, a two-time ACC Player of the Year and Wake Forest's No. 54 jersey retiree, was honored with the school’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2022. He remained a symbol of resilience, founding a nonprofit for spinal cord injury patients. Tributes praised his character, spirit, and impact. He is survived by his wife Faye, children Roddreka, Rydiah, Rodney II, Devonte, mother Estelle Spencer, and son figure Eric Hipilito.