List of basketball players who died during their careers

This is a list of players of basketball who died while still on a team roster or a free agent. Included are players in the NBA, college, and other leagues. Players who died following the conclusion of their career should not be included. Each player is listed with team he or she last played for before death, rather than the team the player spent most of his or her playing career with.

Player	Age	Position	Team	Cause of death	Year	Ref(s)
Berry, RickyRicky Berry	24	Small forward	Sacramento Kings	suicide by gunshot	1989	<ref name=What Demons Drove Kings' Ricky Berry to Commit Suicide?>"What Demons Drove Kings' Ricky Berry to Commit Suicide?". Deseret News. August 20, 1989. Retrieved September 25, 2016.</ref>
Bias, LenLen Bias	22	Small forward	Boston Celtics	heart attack triggered by drug overdose	1986	<ref name=Cocaine Caused Bias' Death, Autopsy Reveals : Dose Said to Trigger Heart Failure; Criminal Inquiry to Be Pressed>"Cocaine Caused Bias' Death, Autopsy Reveals : Dose Said to Trigger Heart Failure; Criminal Inquiry to Be Pressed". Los Angeles Times. June 25, 1986. Retrieved September 25, 2016.</ref>
Bulawan, GilbertGilbert Bulawan	29	Power forward / Center	Blackwater Elite	collapsed during team practice, heart enlargement later revealed	2016	[1]
Collier, JasonJason Collier	28	Center	Atlanta Hawks	heart condition	2005	<ref name=Autopsy shows Hawks' Collier had enlarged heart>"Autopsy shows Hawks' Collier had enlarged heart". ESPN.com. November 1, 2007. Retrieved September 25, 2016.</ref>
Dejean-Jones, BryceBryce Dejean-Jones	23	Shooting guard	New Orleans Pelicans	gunshot	2016	[2]
Dennehy, PatrickPatrick Dennehy	21	Center	Baylor Bears	murdered by teammate	2003	[3]
Felton, LavelleLavelle Felton	29	Shooting guard	Paderborn Baskets	murdered by gunshot	2009	[4]
Francis, RyanRyan Francis	19	Point guard	USC Trojans	murdered by gunshot	2003	[5]
Furlow, TerryTerry Furlow	25	Small forward / Shooting guard	Utah Jazz	car accident	1980	[6]
Gathers, HankHank Gathers	23	Forward	Loyola Marymount Lions	heart condition	1990	[7]
Griffin, EddieEddie Griffin	25	Power forward / Center	Minnesota Timberwolves	car accident	2007	[8]
Hill, LaurenLauren Hill	19	Forward	Mount St. Joseph Lions	brain cancer	2015	[9]
Lewis, ReggieReggie Lewis	27	Small forward	Boston Celtics	heart attack	1993	[10]
Martín Espina, FernandoFernando Martín Espina	27	Power forward / Center	Real Madrid Baloncesto	car accident	1989	[11]
McRae, ConradConrad McRae	29	Power forward / Center	Orlando Magic	collapse during summer league practice	2000	[12]
Perrot, KimKim Perrot	32	Point guard	Houston Comets	lung cancer	1999	[13]
Petrović, DraženDražen Petrović	28	Shooting guard	New Jersey Nets	car accident	1993	<ref name=Details Emerge, but Petrovic's Death Still Baffles>"Details Emerge, but Petrovic's Death Still Baffles". New York Times. June 9, 1993. Retrieved September 25, 2016.</ref>
Phills, BobbyBobby Phills	30	Shooting guard	Charlotte Hornets	car accident	2000	[14]
Sealy, MalikMalik Sealy	30	Small forward / Shooting guard	Minnesota Timberwolves	car accident	2000	[15]
Traylor, RobertRobert Traylor	34	Power forward / Center	Vaqueros de Bayamón	heart attack	2011	<ref name=Robert 'Tractor' Traylor found dead>"Robert 'Tractor' Traylor found dead". ESPN.com. May 12, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2016.</ref>
Vanos, NickNick Vanos	24	Center	Phoenix Suns	plane accident	1987	[16]

Lorenzo wright

Evansville Purple Aces plane crash

In 1977, fourteen members of the Evansville Purple Aces men's basketball team died in a plane crash, along with fifteen others. The players killed were:

• Seniors: Kevin Kingston, John Ed Washington, and Marion Anthony “Tony” Windburn
• Juniors: Stephen Miller and Bryan Taylor
• Sophomores: Keith Moon
• Freshmen: Warren Alston, Ray Comandella, Mike Duff, Kraig Heckendorn, Michael Joyner, Barney Lewis, Greg Smith, and Mark Siegel

David Furr, the lone member of the team who did not board Air Indiana Flight 216, died two weeks later in a car accident, meaning all the members of the team died during the 1977-1978 season.

References

1. Blackwater forward Gilbert Bulawan dies after collapsing during practice, Richard Dy, Fox Sports Asia, July 3, 2016
2. "NBA player fatally shot". CNN.com. May 20, 2016. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
3. "Dennehy was murdered in 2003". ESPN.com. June 9, 2005. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
4. "Felton, 29, dies after shooting". ESPN.com. August 14, 2009. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
5. "Francis shot and killed in Baton Rouge". ESPN.com. May 13, 2006. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
6. "Crash Kills Furlow". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. May 24, 1980. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
7. "Loyola's Gathers Collapses, Dies". Los Angeles Times. March 5, 1990. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
8. "Griffin killed when car hit train last week". ESPN.com. August 22, 2007. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
9. "Lauren Hill, Who Fought Tumor to Play College Basketball, Dies at 19". New York Times. April 11, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
10. "Celtics' Lewis Dies After Collapsing in a Gym". New York Times. July 28, 1993. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
11. "Fernando Martín, a pioneer gone too soon". euroleague.net. February 4, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
12. "Former Syracuse Star Dies". New York Times. July 12, 2000. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
13. "Kim Perrot, 32, Leader of W.N.B.A. Champions". New York Times. August 20, 1999. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
14. "Hornets guard Bobby Phills killed in car wreck". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. January 13, 2000. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
15. "Sealy dies in collision with pickup truck". ESPN.com. May 22, 2000. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
16. "Suns' Vanos Among Victims in Detroit Jet Crash : Popular Center, 24, Was Expected to Be a Starter for Phoenix Next Season". Los Angeles Times. August 18, 1987. Retrieved September 25, 2016.