Phills died while traveling on Tyvola Road in Charlotte, North Carolina,after driving at a high rate of speed with then-teammate David Wesley. The two formed a fast friendship. He touched all of our lives, said Bob Bass, the Hornets executive vice president of basketball operations. As time passes, it doesnt stay every day, but it does stay frequently, and there are always good memories., Kendall decided to remain in Charlotte after Phillss death. There had been an accident. The new coach was close with Phills, whom Charlotte had signed to a seven-year, $33 million contract in 1997. "He had the brain power, he had the great Aside from basketball, Phills also bicycled and played golf. Obsessing over everything that went wrong against Milwaukee wasnt good for the teams psyche. On November 1, 2014, the newly renamed team re-honored his jersey; it currently hangs from the rafters of the Spectrum Center.[9][10]. He was perfect. The Charlotte Hornets announced today that the team will honor the late Bobby Phills and re-hang his retired No. Hornet Phills killed in car crash - Hendersonville Times-News Phills and his wife have two children -- Bobby Ray III, 3, and Kerstie, 1. Hugh Wallace considered Phillss competitiveness one of the players greatest strengths. On February 9, 2000, in a game against Phills' former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Hornets retired his number 13 . He was someone that you would want your children to be like.". Honestly, I dont know what happened after that. "[6] Wesley was later convicted of reckless driving after being cleared of a racing charge. Miller was unsure what to do. Charlotte Hornet guard Bobby Phills was killed Wednesday when he crashed into a car while speeding after practice, police said. Look, I understand the way things are with you guys, Silas told his shellshocked team. Phills earned a bachelor's degree in animal science from Southern University in Baton Rouge, La. 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. There were few dry eyesin the church. guard or small forward for the Hornets, and sometimes played as a Two days later, members of the Hornets and Knicks attended Phillss memorial service. CHARLOTTE, Jan. 12Charlotte Hornets guard Bobby Phills was speeding in his Porsche after practice today when he lost control, crashed into a car and died instantly. NBA postpones Hornets' game Friday vs. Knicks, Phills remembered for his strong character, Phills' death compounds Carolina's misery. I dont care if he never makes a basket, Jobe said of Trey. Capt. Jan. 12 will mark 17 years since the death of former NBA guard Bobby Phills, who was killed in a three-car accident after losing control of his vehicle and crashing into oncoming traffic. TRAGIC ROLE FOR TRUTH PART OF PHILLS' DEATH - Mitch Albom Hornets Retire Phills' No. 13 | NBA.com "He was such a special person, I worked hard to try to steer The 30-year-old player left behind a wife and two children,. 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. After the team's morning session, Phills and David Wesley decided to race home from the Hornets' facility. [Those] were a couple of things that sparked our attention. Meanwhile, younger sister Kerstie is on the same track. Phills, a 6-foot-5 defensive stopper, started often at shooting It just wasnt right Even [now], when I drive down the way that Bobby passed away, it just stays with me. Guys cant push him around on the court. Phills was killed instantly. Do you know why you were able to do that without even seeing your feet and shoes? Jobe asked. rest in one of the opposite lanes. [5], Phills was survived by his parents, his wife Kendall, and three children; a daughter Brittany Dickson, a son Bobby Ray Phills III, known as Trey and a daughter Kerstie. Though he made a name for himself as a shooter during his college career, Phills became known as a tenacious wing defender in the NBA. 65-mph zone on Interstate 485. 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.". who were killed in accidents: Drazen Petrovic (1993) and Terry A minute passed. Soon after Phillss son addressed the mourners, Wesley stepped to the podium. The Nets' Drazen Petrovic died in 1993 and Terry Furlow of the Jazz in 1980, both in car crashes, and the Pistons' Nick Vanos was killed in a plane crash in 1987. If there's a person you would want to your children to be, a role model, it's Bobby Phills. Now here comes the agents, and they were pushing him and pushing him, Jobe recalled. 1997 Porsche 996 Cabriolet that wasn't involved in the accident. Thats what shooting is all about.. You always thought you had something to prove, said Wesley, who made his career as a strong, table-setting point guard. Click here to watch Jalen & Jacoby, Grantland Features, and video podcasts. Dont bother this boy. Both had played in the CBA before earning NBA roster spots, and each carried a chip on his shoulder for being overlooked. 13 was used when the franchise was branded the Bobcats, the team re-retired Phills' number after rebranding back to the Hornets name in 2014-15. 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. The Hornets game against the Chicago Bulls, which was scheduled the night of the Phills accident, was postponed. He chose Yale, where he will begin his freshman year in the fall. Associated Press posted speed was 45 mph. He really grew on the fans here. A native of Baton Rouge, LA, Phills attended Southern University in Baton Rouge and earned a bachelors degree in animal science (pre-veterinary medicine). Phills, a 6-foot-5 defensive stopper and a team leader, started often at shooting guard or small forward for the Hornets, and sometimes played in a reserve role. The Bobby Phills Scholarship Fund (www.bobbyphillsfund.com) has been set up in his honor. He is also survived by his parents. If there's a person you would want your children to be, a role model, it's Bobby Phills. He had a way of making you feel like you were one of his best friends, when maybe you were just a friend, Wesley said. Both Phills and Wesley have been charged with speeding in the If you had a son, Wallace said, you would want him to grow up to be like Bobby Phills., Wallace decided to stop coaching not long after Phillss death. He was going 107 m.p.h. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Jobe had little doubt that once Phills earned an opportunity in the NBA, he would thrive. He paid $80 in court costs, according to In October, Hornets guard Eldridge Recasner suffered a broken shoulder and a collapsed lung and teammate Derrick Coleman was charged with drunken driving in a traffic accident. Bulls. "Not only was Bobby a everyone respected and admired. He advised Phills to pursue professional basketball for a couple of years, and if it didnt work out, to return to school. 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. That thing with Bobby Phills, Im telling you, it almost made me lose my faith. 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. Were you racing Bobby Phills that day? his attorney asked. NBA Player Killed | WIRED Its shocking.. The day of the accident, George Shinn, then the owner of the Hornets, was preparing to leave a meeting when he received a phone call from Paul Silas. Once classified in scouting reports as a ''tweener'' and a long shot from a small school to begin with, he signed a seven-year, $33 million contract with Charlotte in 1997. 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. 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. You say, Why wasnt it me instead of him? One mistake, one accident. "The skid marks indicate he was not going in a straight line," he said. There was no time to react before his Cutlass and the Porsche collided. Bobby Phills was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on December 20, 1969. He was 30. He surveyed the wreckage, concluced that Phills had not survived, and walked over to Wesley, who was standing, speechless, with his hands on his head. "He was a very in-depth person and just a treasure to be around," Moser said. The Milwaukee Bucks had pummeled Charlotte by 50 points two days earlier. That was the one car he had always wanted. Phills encountered teammate David Wesley, also driving a Porsche, less than a mile from the Charlotte Coliseum. But you just deal with it and you move on. That day, he was riding behind teammate David Wesley at over 160 km/h. the accident scene. him away from the NBA. I often talk about how smart Bobby was, said his father, Bobby Phills Sr. He was gifted academically and athletically. 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. Two days later, Jordan went 9-for-26 against Phills. In December 1998, Wesley was charged with driving 79 mph in a There was nothing he didnt think he could do. 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. 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. A lot of reporters. I blamed the Charlotte Hornets. He seemed like a great person on and off the court, Trey said. But the dude did the right things.. As an assistant, Silas had often run Phills through drills during training sessions. 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. This was the second fatal traffic accident in the past nine months involving a professional athlete from North Carolina, and the second serious traffic accident this season involving Hornets players. She pulled in behind George Shinns car. He always had to win. What you doing? Dwayne asked. A body covered by a white sheet rested inside. commissioner, called Phills ''one of the most respected members of the N.B.A.''. Coach Paul Silas of the Hornets and team members gathered around the scene of the accident as the police used yellow tape to cordon off the area. Trey Phills said. team will have a moment of silence for Phills before their home games. He should be upset right now. Kevin Garnett reflects on the life of former teammate and friend Malik Sealy. Blydenburgh, the crash investigator. Follow Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) on Twitter. Coleman was arrested on a drunken driving charge. Oh, he was such an angel, blah, blah, blah. Its hard to believe. Kids started acting different. He is a longtime friend of Indiana Pacers consultantand former New York Knicks general manager Donnie Walsh. 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. In May, Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Steve Chiasson was killed after he lost control of his pickup truck in Raleigh. I blamed him. defensive-driving course six days after he was charged, according Before sending Phills to the gym, he had one more lesson for his player. Bobby Phills, a guard with the NBA's Charlotte Hornets, was killed Wednesday in a car accident following a team practice. He was in his third year of a seven-year, $33 million contract. Phills lost control on a hilly curve where the posted speed was 45 mph, said Capt. At present, Bobby Phills is estimated to have left behind $15 million net worth as per the sources. Wesley had twice been charged with speeding in Mecklenburg County, which includes Charlotte. I know why you wanted me to do this by myself and you didnt want anyone throwing the ball back to me, Phills said. Bobby did not answer, which was strange for him. He was someone that you would want your children to be like.. Nearly Two Decades Later, Hornets Remember Bobby Phills Champions (2023 film) - Wikipedia She drove closer and saw the police and emergency personnel. Bobby Ray Phills II (December 20, 1969 January 12, 2000) was an American professional basketball player. When the Hornets returned to playing, Shinn visited the locker room before a game shortly after the accident. The following season, on the morning of Phillss death, Silas fumed at his team. His Porsche veered into oncoming traffic and crashed into two other vehicles. when he lost control of his black Porsche. 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. "He was a very in-depth person and just a treasure to be around," he said. It just dont make no sense. Son of late Hornets star Bobby Phills works out for Charlotte She called him a short time later, wondering if she should make pancakes at home or if she should meet him out.
