Honestly, we usually think of NBA players as these invincible, sky-walking gods who live forever. They’re the peak of human fitness, right? But the reality behind the death of NBA players—especially those who have recently retired—is a lot more complicated and, frankly, a bit unsettling.
When Jerry West passed away in June 2024 at 86, or when Bill Walton left us earlier that year at 71, it felt like the natural end of a long, storied journey. They were the lucky ones. But then you look at someone like Rodney Rogers, who died in November 2025 at just 54 years old. Or Elden Campbell, a powerhouse for the Lakers in the 90s, who died in December 2025 at 57.
These aren't just names on a jersey. They are part of a growing conversation about why being 7 feet tall and carrying 250 pounds of muscle might be a literal ticking time bomb for the human heart.
What Really Happened with Rodney Rogers and Elden Campbell?
The news about Rodney Rogers hit different. If you followed the league in the early 2000s, you remember him as the Sixth Man of the Year—a tank of a human who could still bury a three. His death on November 21, 2025, was officially attributed to natural causes, but those "natural causes" were deeply tied to the massive physical trauma he suffered years ago.
Back in 2008, a dirt bike accident left him paralyzed from the shoulders down. For nearly 17 years, his body fought the complications of a spinal cord injury. When we talk about the death of NBA players, we often focus on the heart, but the long-term impact of physical disability on retired athletes is a massive, overlooked piece of the puzzle.
Then there was Elden Campbell. He was a pillar of the "in-between" Lakers era. He didn't die from a chronic illness or a sudden heart failure on a treadmill. He died in an accidental drowning while fishing in Florida in late 2025. It’s a reminder that these guys are human. They do regular stuff. And sometimes, tragedy just happens.
The Cardiac Problem: Why Big Men Die Young
There’s this weird, haunting quote from "Pistol" Pete Maravich. He once told a reporter, "I don't want to play 10 years in the NBA and die of a heart attack at 40."
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He played exactly 10 years. He died of a heart attack at 40.
That wasn't just a spooky coincidence; it was a symptom of a real medical trend. Research from institutions like UAB Medicine has shown that basketball players actually suffer the highest rate of sudden cardiac death (SCD) among all athletes.
Why? It’s basically a math problem the body can't always solve.
- Massive Frames: Being extremely tall often comes with connective tissue issues that can weaken the heart’s architecture.
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM): This is the big one. It’s a condition where the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick, making it harder to pump blood. This is what took Reggie Lewis in 1993 at age 27.
- The "Big" Factor: Look at the mid-2010s. In one seven-month stretch, the NBA lost Moses Malone (60), Darryl Dawkins (58), and Anthony Mason (48)—all to heart issues. None of them made it to 65.
Beyond the Court: The Billionaire Who Still Succumbed
Junior Bridgeman is a legend for reasons that have nothing to do with his jump shot. He turned his NBA salary into a literal empire, becoming a billionaire and even buying a stake in the Milwaukee Bucks. He was the poster child for "doing retirement right."
But wealth doesn't insulate you from biology. In March 2025, Bridgeman died after suffering a heart attack at age 71.
While 71 is a respectable age, it highlights a recurring theme in the death of NBA players: cardiovascular disease is the primary predator. Even for a man with every resource on earth, the strain of a professional career and the sheer size of an elite athlete's body can eventually take its toll.
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Is the NBA Doing Enough?
You’ve probably heard about the health screenings at All-Star Weekend. It’s become a big deal. Since 2016, the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) has been running free, comprehensive check-ups for former players.
They do EKGs. They do stress tests. They check for the "silent killers" like hypertension and atrial fibrillation.
Dr. Joe Rogowski, who heads the medical side of this, has openly stated that these screenings have saved lives. They find guys walking around with 90% blockages who had no idea.
Still, there’s a gap. The screening is great if you show up. But for a lot of retired guys—especially those struggling with the transition out of the limelight—preventative medicine isn't always top of mind.
What Most People Get Wrong About These Deaths
People see a headline about the death of NBA players and immediately look for a "reason." Was it lifestyle? Was it the travel?
Honestly, it’s usually none of those things. It's the wear and tear of a 82-game schedule combined with being a statistical outlier in terms of height and weight. The human heart is designed to support a body of a certain scale. When you push that scale to 7'0" and 280 pounds, and then you redline that engine for 15 years in the pros, things break.
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It's also about the "transition period." When these guys stop playing, they often stop the intense cardio but keep the high-calorie intake. Weight gain in retired "bigs" is a massive risk factor for the heart attacks we saw with guys like Robert "Tractor" Traylor, who died at 34.
Actionable Insights: What This Means for the Rest of Us
You don't have to be a pro athlete to learn from the trends we see in the death of NBA players. The medical community's focus on these legends has actually given us some pretty solid takeaways for regular people.
- Height is a Heart Factor: If you’re exceptionally tall (over 6'4" for men), you should be more aggressive about heart screenings. Connective tissue issues are real.
- The Power of EKGs: A standard physical often misses electrical issues in the heart. If you’re active or have a family history, ask for an EKG specifically.
- Weight Management in "Retirement": Whether you’re a pro athlete or just a former high school star, the years immediately following your "competitive" days are the most dangerous for weight-related heart stress.
- Monitor the Silent Symptoms: Many of the players we lost reported "minor" dizziness or palpitations weeks before a major event. Don't ignore them.
The NBA is a brotherhood, and every time a member of that circle passes, it’s a reminder that being a "giant" comes with a price. By looking at the lives of guys like Rodney Rogers and Junior Bridgeman, we can see the full spectrum of the retired athlete's experience—the triumphs, the tragedies, and the very real medical hurdles they face long after the final buzzer.
Next Steps for You
Check the NBRPA (National Basketball Retired Players Association) official site if you want to see the specific health programs they've implemented—it’s a great model for how professional leagues can handle veteran care. If you have a tall athlete in your family, schedule a specialized cardiac screening that includes an echocardiogram to check for heart wall thickness.