Former NBA player Clifford Rozier has died after suffering a heart attack.
On Friday, his brother Kobie Rozier wrote on Facebook, "For the last few days my brother big Cliff been fighting for his life after having a heart attack. Today he lost his fight. Rest easy big bro and I’ll see you again one day." Kobie told TMZ that his brother went into cardiac arrest and was put on life support two days prior to his death.
Rozier passed away on Friday in his hometown of Bradenton, Florida, reports Sports Illustrated.
During the 1994 draft, Rozier was the 16th overall pick for the Golden State Warriors. He played a total of four seasons with the Warriors, the Toronto Raptors, and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Rozier spent his college years as a star playing with Louisville and North Carolina. In 1994, he was a consensus first-team All-American, according to TMZ. The 6-foot-11 center played with Louisville from 1992-94 after transferring from North Carolina. He led the Cardinals to two back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances and averaged 15.7 points and 10.9 rebounds per game during the 1992-93 season, reports Yahoo Sports. The following year, he improved with an average of 18.1 points and 11.1 rebounds.
Unfortunately, his NBA career did not take off because he could not stay healthy, according to Yahoo. In a 2010 interview with the Lexington Herald-Leader, Rozier said he was at peace with his life, despite suffering from mental health and drug issues. He told the newspaper, "I’m happy. I have joy. I have understanding. I have knowledge. I’m learning. I’m becoming friendly. I’m submitting myself and being subdued."
