bobby phills accident

him away from the NBA. After six seasons in Cleveland, Phills was signed by the Hornets on Aug. 19, 1997, as a free agent. These must be some tall guys, he thought. It will not happen again.. ", NBA commissioner David Stern said Phills was "a caring member of the community.". He joined the Hornets in 1997 after six years with Cleveland and was in the third year of a seven-year, $33 million contract. He was 30. belong there," Ben Jobe, Phills' former coach at Southern, said Wednesday. The other day, I was filling out this application. Southern University. The team said Phills was killed instantly. The accident occurred a year ago yesterday, when Bobby Phills lost control of his Porsche after a Hornets practice in Charlotte, N.C. He has assists. This season, as a senior, Trey led Charlotte Christian to a 20-9 record, the highlight of which was a breathtaking game winner Trey scored against Charlotte Country Day. It just dont make no sense. Those guys were Bobby Phills and Muggsy Bogues, he said. 65-mph zone on Interstate 485. He was my partner in crime, he said. Trey Phills said. Phills' No. I had gone out before him, and he was passing me, and he was going close to 100 miles an hour. Silas approached Phills at practice the next day. He averaged 10.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists a game for his career at the end of last season and was fourth on the team in scoring this season. No. Charlotte Hornets guard Bobby Phills was killed Wednesday when his speeding Porsche collided with a car near the Charlotte Coliseum, where Phills had just finished a game-day practice. For a long time, I couldnt think of a time when I wasnt thinking about him, Wesley said. Phills died instantly. [8] His jersey hung from the rafters of the Charlotte Coliseum until the franchise relocated to New Orleans in 2002; it was then displayed in the New Orleans Arena until 2013. [5] The drivers of the other two vehicles recovered, while Phills was pronounced dead at the scene. To Kendall, the legacy he left behind in Charlotte was a higher achievement, one that represented Bobbys contributions to the community as well as on the court. Phills said he had about six. His community. Friday, Trey. He had to tighten his elbow, the same way his father had learned to shoot under Ben Jobe at Southern decades earlier. After starting her college career at Wagner, Kerstie transferred and is currently a redshirt sophomore for Florida Gulf Coast University. all-defensive team after the 1995-96 season, the same season in which Jordan paid him the ultimate compliment by calling him the toughest defender he had faced. While the No. He attended Southern University, which is in Baton Rouge. When the Knicks hired Walsh in 2008, Jobe came aboard as a scout, and he remains part of the Knicks organization. Trey loved the game, but his mother could see him struggling with his confidence. Obviously, I played against him. Phills had arrived at Southerns laboratory high school after his father became dean of the universitys school of agriculture andconsumer sciences. country," he said. Tests showed he was legally drunk. She broke free. My god, he had the whole package, Jobe said of Phills. Or the times Phills had called him a high school coach for advice on how to guard Michael Jordan. I blamed everybody. Were you racing Bobby Phills that day? his attorney asked. The older you get, the more you appreciate people like him. He had it all. The Phills who remains in the memories of his friends and family can sometimes sound more like a myth than a man. Michael Jordan called Phills the toughest defender he ever faced. The two other drivers were hospitalized and listed in stable condition. I think it changes as Im coming up to it. Phillss former teammates Todd Fuller, Chucky Brown, and David Wesley attended the ceremony. Follow Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) on Twitter. Of course, when I found out who it was, I started doubting myself, Woolard said. Capt. successfully completed the National Safety Council's Yeah, Bobby was perfect. I know people dont think it, but its easy because its just you and the basket. Jobe sat Phills down. I was up the street a good ways, and [when I got back] he was no longer with us., Phills and Wesley had both signed lengthy contracts with the Hornets in the summer of 1997. There was the time he jumped out of his car at an intersection to help a motorcyclist who was engulfed in flames after crashing into a nearby truck. Ive got some bad news, Dwayne told his father. Anthony Mason was just like, Man, whyd it have to be him?. Youre right. Princeton, Stanford, Harvard, and other elite colleges recruited him. A minivan rear-ended the other car, police said. The advice meant a lot to Miller, who looked up to Phills and Wesley, players who hadnt been first-round darlings but who had managed to thrive in the league. He gets deflections. 13 jersey in a halftime ceremony during its game against Memphis on Saturday, Nov. 1. As a Laker fan, I remember him with Cleveland as the defensive stopper. Phills is survived by his wife, Kendall, and two children--Bobby Ray III, 3, and Kerstie, 1. Bobby, you cant do that, he told him. Dont bother this boy. Intelligence. I have to pick my time when I can mourn, she told ESPN as the first anniversary of the accident approached. On the morning of January 12, 2000, the Hornets had just finished a morning shootaround. No charges have been filed against Wesley, who was driving a The two formed a fast friendship. Bobby Ray Phills II was born on Dec. 20, 1969, in Baton Rouge, La. NBA After the Crash Friends, teammates, and family remember the career, legacy, and tragic death of former Charlotte Hornets guard Bobby Phills by Jonathan Abrams on March 31, 2015 T he boy needed a nudge from his mother. Medical personnel removed Woolard from the car and sent him to Presbyterian Hospital. That night, Charlotte was scheduled tohost the Chicago Bulls. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The NBA has suffered another tragic loss in another fatal highway accident. NBA postpones Hornets' game Friday vs. Knicks, Phills remembered for his strong character, Phills' death compounds Carolina's misery. ", Active in the community, Phills volunteered for children's charities and related organizations. He dont have to play., But Phills insisted. Keith Bridges, a spokesman for the police, said, ''Charges are to be determined, but racing is definitely illegal.''. It got so bad, I blamed God. If it hadnt been for Donnie, I wouldnt be doing what Im doing now, Jobe said. court records. Phills was traveling behind teammate David Wesley at over 100mph (160km/h) when his Porsche spun and crossed into oncoming traffic. He heard the news about 10 minutes into his workout. An autopsy on Phills was to be performed at the medical examiner's office. (Charlotte, North Carolina-AP) -- Charges are going to be filed against a teammate of Bobby Phills -- the N-B-A player who was killed in a . Upon hearing the news, George Shinn, the Charlotte Hornets owner, said, "This is the ultimate tragedy.". I blamed the Charlotte Hornets. "I remember just asking myself and asking my mom, 'Why would God let this happen to our family?" The two hit speeds that authorities later estimated topped 100 mph, traveling east on West Tyvola Road. A native of Baton Rouge, LA, Phills attended Southern University in Baton Rouge and earned a bachelors degree in animal science (pre-veterinary medicine). Things changed, Jobe said. When Wallace learned of Phillss death, he thought back on their good times together. He was considered one of the team leaders. Nobody was there to validate him, Kendall said. Some were pushy, and I didnt talk with them. Coleman was arrested on a drunken driving charge. When Phills built a reputation as one of the leagues best defenders, Jobe was surprised. Brewer noticed, too: He had the skills because he worked on it, so when he became older, now hes not that skinny little boy anymore. He meant a lot to this city, Jordan said at a press conference before the ceremony. University. Manage Settings He gets steals. He was convicted of reckless driving and sentenced to community service, but a judge decided that enough reasonable doubt existed to acquit him of the racing charge. Wallace mandated that all of his players learn to play in the post. He was a loving father and husband, Davis said of Phills. Bobby Ray Phills III, nicknamed Trey, is in his sophomore season playing guard at Yale. In that series, Silas sensed that his players had nothing left to give. He reached for a towel and used it to blindfold Phills. Phills lost control of his car on a hilly bend. . I stopped in the middle of the street. This is the ultimate tragedy, and our immediate thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Kendall, children and family, said Hornets owner George Shinn, who visited the crash scene with other officials. Phills spent the bulk of his high school career in the paint, where he was often outsized but seldom outmuscled. He played shooting guard and small forward for the National Basketball Association's Cleveland Cavaliers and Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets had come together and shown admirable resilience after Phillss death, but by the time the postseason arrived, they were ready to fold. crash investigation, probably sometime next week. It also altered the lives of many others stillaffected by thetragedyyears later. The 30-year-old guard had just left a shootaround at Charlotte Coliseum at about 11 a.m. when the three-vehicle accident happened, club spokesman Jonathan Supranowitz said. A family man. To be the family man he was; to be active with the community the way he was; to be recognized by your . L.E. Im trying to keep the flesh lovers away from him. In fact, he shut MJ down once and I was really impressed. Rob was in an accident, she said. Like when Phills and his high school teammates had lifted and moved Wallaces car after a game Wallace suspected a rival team had stolen the vehicle, before realizing his players had pranked him. CHARLOTTE, N.C. Nearly 15 years have passed since Bobby Phills' death in a tragic car crash in January 2000. spokesman Keith Bridges said Thursday. What else do you need? Both Phills and Wesley have been charged with speeding in the It always seems like something happens to those types of guys, said Chucky Brown, who had played with Phills on the Hornets. We just lost and hes ready to go to swimming. 13 was where it belonged. L. E. Blydenburgh, the crash investigator, told The Associated Press. I'd throw away all this, I just want my dad back. The day of the accident, Miller had returned to the Hornets practice facility after shootaround to lift weights. He was 30 years old. I do for having met someone like him so early in my career.. had been practicing for Wednesday night's game with the Chicago He just gave his best in everything, whether thats being a good husband, a good father just always laid-back, with a smile on his face, joking around. His father, Dr. Bobby Phills, is director of the While taking Advanced Placement classes at Charlotte Christian, his grade point average hovered near 5.0. He was a three-and-D wing more than a decade before that became a regular part of the NBA vernacular; he finished as a 39 percent shooter from three-point range and was named to the 1995-96 All-Defensive second team. Trey gained statewide recognition in North Carolina while playing for Charlotte Christian School. Wesley's car wasn't involved in the accident, and he was questioned at the scene. As I grew older, you kind of realize the hardships and struggles that sometimes people go through ultimately wind up shaping you for the best person you can be.". Phills agreed, and a couple weeks later, he approached the coach. Wesley had twice been charged with speeding in Mecklenburg County, which includes Charlotte. In one game, Phills hounded Jordan into 9-for-27 shooting. The Hornets' game scheduled for last night against the Chicago Bulls was postponed as shock was felt around the N.B.A. There was nothing I could do to even try to get out of the way, Woolard recalled. After Silas was named interim coach, Phills asked him, Coach, you want to keep this job? Silas answered yes, and Phills told him, OK, youre going to have it. Phills encouraged his teammates to dig in and finish the 50-game season strong, and Charlotte went 22-13 under Silas that year, good enough for the Hornets to name him the full-timehead coach. Charlotte Hornet guard Bobby Phills was killed Wednesday when he crashed into a car while speeding after practice, police said. Phills, 30, was traveling at a "very high rate of speed" when he collided with a car headed toward the coliseum, police spokesman Keith Bridges said. Woolard was in too much pain to move. I often ask myself, Phills Sr. said, or ask God: Why did he spare me and three weeks later take my sons life?, I probably cried every day for the next two years, Dwayne Phills said. He paid $80 in court costs, according to Now take your shoes and socks off, Jobe said, [and then] put them back on just the way you took them off. Phills did just that. If you had five minutes to spare for Phills, he had 10 minutes for you. Nell Redmond/AP Photo Kendall Phills at a 2001 memorial service for her husband. We believed in offense first, defense second, he said. ''Bobby was a solid person,'' said Wayne Embry, the Cavaliers' president. Flipboard. Hes doing positive things in the community, for the league, [for his] family, everything. He saw Phillss mouth hanging open, and eyes closed. In the latest episode ofBeyond the Paint, which will air on NBA TVon Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 11 p.m. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. We come out of the building and thats where we were going., Thats the routine they were following the morning of the accident. Miller was unsure what to do. "Bobby Phills was all that you would want in a human being," Embry said. Five months after Charlotte Hornets guard Bobby Phills died in a crash while drag racing with teammate David. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. When he died, Brad Miller and Baron Davis were both beginning their NBA careers, but in opposite ways. He seemed like a great person on and off the court, Trey said. The boy needed a nudge from his mother. Shinn found his worst fears confirmed. "The skid marks indicate he was not going Took the sheet off his body, Kendall said. executive vice president of basketball operations. Just silence. Wesley was twice charged with speeding, according to Mecklenburg He was like, All right, start carrying. He meant a lot to the community. For a rookie like myself, he was the veteran guy that you patterned yourself after. Often, he would volunteer for children's charities and related organizations. Tell everybody where Daddy is, Kendall Phills instructed her 3-year-old son. Phills played in the NBA for nine seasons, his first six with the Cleveland Cavaliers and last three with the Charlotte Hornets. In New Orleans, the organization raised his no. Police said the men were racing their Porsches at speeds of morethan 100 mph when Phills crashed. The following season, on the morning of Phillss death, Silas fumed at his team. Cookie Policy. averaged 10.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists for his career. Thursday, January 13, 2000; Page D01 It was capitalism that hooked him. When a salary dispute led to Cowenss sudden resignation in 1999, Silas inherited the top job. But the dude did the right things.. By: News On 6. human being," said Southern University Chancellor Edward R. Bobby Phills we got in an accident. Silas wasnt alarmed at first. Kendall needed to get to Tyvola. When the Hornets moved to New Orleans, his retired jersey went. It was just a typical day. Davis was in his own car when the crash occurred. She never really considered returning to Louisiana. Jobe told Phills to shoot alone. He really grew on the fans here. The family referred to Bobby Phills as Rob. Wallace believed Phills had the talent to play in the NBA, but only if his career broke the right way. guard or small forward for the Hornets, and sometimes played as a She got in her car. It was so terrible, and its something Ill never, ever forget.. Clay Moser, an assistant coach when Phills played for the CBA's Sioux Falls Skyforce, said Phills had wanted to be a veterinarian. Before long, Jobe noticed slips of paper arriving under his office door Phills had begun charting his daily makes and misses. He was perfect. "It's shocking.". defensive-driving course six days after he was charged, according See the article in its original context from. You sitting down? Phills Sr. knew something had to be wrong. Are you hurt? He came into his own when he got here to Charlotte. Police said Phills, who was driving a black Porsche, was speeding when he lost control of his car, crossed into oncoming traffic and collided into another car, which was driven by Robert Woolard, 31, the Chicago SunTimes reported. Joe Fraziers Daughter, Jacqui Frazier Lyde, Challenges Muhammad Alis Daughter, Laila, To A Boxing , Earth, Wind & Fire makes mark on Rock Walk Entertainment music group inducted to RockWalk of, How To Deal With Your Childs Bad Dreams Brief Article I just remember guys crying, said Stephen Silas, who worked as a scout on his fathers staff. Two days later, members of the Hornets and Knicks attended Phillss memorial service. Phills lost control of his car on a hilly curve where the posted speed limit was 45 miles an hour, Capt. He was the franchises future a brash, bowling-ball point guard who expected immediate NBA stardom. You always thought you had something to prove, said Wesley, who made his career as a strong, table-setting point guard. Over his nine-year career, he averaged 11.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. I blamed him. The Associated Press The police examining the black Porsche driven by Bobby Phills in his fatal car crash Wednesday. "He was a very in-depth person and just a treasure to be around," Moser said. His teammate Derrick Coleman, driving the sport utility vehicle in which Recasner was a passenger, was arrested on a drunken driving charge. Hes in his Porsche, Im in my Porsche, Wesley said. Bobby was in an accident, and he didnt make it. Phills Sr. doesnt remember yelling, but people later said theyd heard him scream from his office. [They discussed a] lot of little things that when youre a youngster coming into the league, you dont think about, Miller said. ''I told him we would release him if we wanted, because we already had 13 or 14 guaranteed deals and his chances of making it were slim,'' Fratello said. A minivan taxi driven by Yao Agbegbon hit the rear end of Woolard's car almost instantaneously. ''The skid marks indicate he was not going in a straight line,'' he said. One of the most active Hornets players in the community, Phills was a tireless volunteer for childrens charities and related organizations. It didnt look like Phills was alive. He was not only a world class athlete, but also a world What you doing? Dwayne asked. . I didnt say anything to those guys about Weve got to play harder. I knew that they had played as hard as they possibly could [just] so we could make the playoffs.. I was always told: Dont fall in love with the horses talking about the players. ''Not only was Bobby a tremendous person, but a great husband, father and role model that everyone respected and admired,'' said George Shinn, the Hornets' owner. Because I have to be strong for my children. A few days after being charged, Wesley made his first public statement about the incident. The NBAs board of governors unanimously approved the request, giving the new Hornets an occasion to once again honor Phills by hanging his jersey in Charlotte, which they did duringhalftime of a game last November. Phills' jersey was originally raised at the Charlotte Coliseum on Feb. 9, 2000, following his death in an automobile accident. Phills's death was another in a series of shocks to hit North Carolina sports in recent months. David Stern, the N.B.A. He is also survived by his parents. [5] A police report said Phills and Wesley were driving "in an erratic, reckless, careless, negligent or aggressive manner. On that day more than 15 years ago, the NBA grieved over the death of Bobby Phills, who began his career on a 10-day contract and rose so highthat Michael Jordan once named him among the best defenders hed ever faced. Phills was killed instantly, and two people in vehicles involved in an accident were hospitalized. Bobby Phills of the Charlotte Hornets was killed recently in a car crash shortly after a morning practice at the team's arena. He had everything. Former Carolina Panthers receiver Rae Carruth was charged with killing his girlfriend in November and could be sentenced to die if convicted of murder and conspiracy charges. was in the third year of a seven-year, $33 million contract. You stepped into my life on May 20, 2000, like an angel, Lisa Sealy wrote in a note for an event marking the first anniversary of Bobby Phillss death. He had all the things that you want in a human being. CHARLOTTE - Charlotte Hornets guard Bobby Phills was speeding in his Porsche after practice Wednesday when he lost control, crashed into a car and died instantly. Woolard loved cars all types and he noticed a black Porsche on Tyvola. With a July birthday, Trey had always been among the youngest in his class, so Kendall decided to have him complete the eighth grade twice. He was named to the N.B.A. Gerald Henderson was drafted by Charlotte in 2009, and over his fiveNBA seasons, hed grown close to the Phills family. Phills attended Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and was a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. Although it's undoubtedly . Phills lost control on a hilly curve where the posted speed was 45 mph, said Capt. Bridges said. In that time, the Charlotte Hornets, the team for whom the former Southern and . (Charlottes game against the Knicks that night was also postponed.) Phills played in the Continental Basketball Association before joining the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1992. The police report said Phills was traveling eastbound on West Tyvola Road just before 11 a.m., less than a mile from the Charlotte Coliseum. Phills became a rotation player, and as a senior he led the country with an average of 4.4 made 3-pointers per game. Bobby Phills, the Charlotte Hornets guard who parlayed a 10-day contract into a nine-year National Basketball Association career and who was once called by Michael Jordan the toughest defender he had ever faced, was killed instantly yesterday when the speeding Porsche he was driving spun out of control and collided with another vehicle moments after he left a morning practice. He was someone that you would want your children to be like.". Someone reminded him they still werent certain that Phills hadnt survived; he could just be unconscious. That moment that mistake ended Phillss life at 30 years old. Daddy is in heaven with the angels, Bobby Phills III told several hundred mourners at Charlottes Central Church of God before returning to the crowd and embracing his year-old sister, Kerstie. past, according to The Charlotte Observer. You need to let me coach him, Brewer said. family background. He was in his car, lifeless. She prayed for him, told him that she loved him, and promised to take care of their children. Phills is survived by his wife, Kendall, and two children, Bobby Ray III, 3, and Kerstie, 1. Bobby and Kendall Phills had two children, both of whom went on to play college basketball. But with all the things he had going for him, he made one stupid mistake and it cost him his life.. For years, I tried to get him 13 jersey during halftime of Wednesday night's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Charlotte Coliseum. The game was postponed. I knew if I could just get on the court after it happened, that it would give me a moments peace, even if it was only five minutes, Wesley said. Phills was killed in a car accident on . Its things like that., She never blamed Wesley. "What did we do to deserve this? The other kids are crying. I went through the motions for the next couple years, but eventually, I got out, he said. Listed in stable condition at Presbyterian Hospital were Robert Woolard Jr., 31, of Cornelius, the driver of the other car; and Yao Agbegbon, 33, of Charlotte, who was driving a minivan taxi, Bridges said. She exited her car to see Bobbys teammates Elden Campbell and Anthony Mason, both in tears. We never got beside each other and was like, OK, vroom, vroom. It was just a road that was fairly straight, and you wouldnt go through that whole street at that speed, but you might kind of gun it, see what its like., Wesley maneuvered around a bend in the road and looked in his rearview mirror. He was far enough back to where I wasnt even sure he was going to make the light, but he made the light. Wesley said they both accelerated: It couldnt have been a mile, and that was kind of it. Now go shoot a thousand shots a day, Jobe said. Phills and his wife have two children -- Bobby Ray III, 3, and Kerstie, 1. More than 15 years had passed since his last go-round as head coach, with the dysfunctional San Diego Clippers in 1983. He was someone that you would want your children to be like.. Blydenburgh, the crash investigator. 13 in its practice facility, but not in the Smoothie King Center. Silas, known as one of the greatest enforcers and all-around tough guys in NBA history, broke down in tears.

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