guard or small forward for the Hornets, and sometimes played as a "It's shocking.". Phills attended Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and was a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. Phills is survived by his wife, Kendall, and two children--Bobby Ray III, 3, and Kerstie, 1. Youve got two beautiful kids. Princeton, Stanford, Harvard, and other elite colleges recruited him. Flipboard. Soon, David Jovanovic, the Charlotte Hornets equipment manager, placed Bobby Phillss jersey in the bronze casket. Phills was killed in a car accident on . Phills died while traveling on Tyvola Road in Charlotte, North Carolina, after driving at a high rate of speed with then-teammate David Wesley. I know why you wanted me to do this by myself and you didnt want anyone throwing the ball back to me, Phills said. We spent some long, long days, and I got some dirty looks [from Trey] sometimes, but we got it fixed, Silas said. CHARLOTTE, N.C.-Bobby Phills of the Charlotte Hornets was killed yesterday when he wrecked his speeding Porsche after a morning practice at the team's arena, police said. . That didnt impress me at all, Jobe recalled. 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. So many people pointed the finger at David, but Bobby made the choice to drive at a high rate of speed, Kendall said. Youve got a great wife. He was considered one of the team leaders. Two people in those vehicles were hospitalized. It didnt look like Phills was alive. In 1998, he was one of four finalists for the NBA's sportsmanship award and started the "Bobby Phills Educational Foundation.". Having coached there, I felt he didn't He played shooting guard and small forward for the National Basketball Association's Cleveland Cavaliers and Charlotte Hornets. I can't tell you what he meant to the Cavs. We come out of the building and thats where we were going., Thats the routine they were following the morning of the accident. Hes in his Porsche, Im in my Porsche, Wesley said. The speed limit where Phills Michael Jordan called Phills the toughest defender he ever faced. She just completed her junior season and is being pursued by several top colleges. The day is going pretty decently, Robert Woolard Jr. thought. Standing a chiseled 6 feet 5 inches and 232 pounds, Phills looked more like a National Football League linebacker or a sculpted bodybuilder than a lithe N.B.A. 65-mph zone on Interstate 485. Eventually, a police officer covered Phillss face. The Charlotte Hornets had retired Phillss jersey shortly after his death. I used to feel so bad about [Phillss death], I used to wonder why couldnt it have been some of the other guys I had. These must be some tall guys, he thought. So it didnt matter if he was racing down the street, if he was walking down the street that was his time. When Phills built a reputation as one of the leagues best defenders, Jobe was surprised. Five months after Charlotte Hornets guard Bobby Phills died in a crash while drag racing with teammate David. "He had extreme high character. She got in her car. And we only passed maybe one, two cars, before the accident." Phills: But Bobby Phills was driving too fast, and so was David Wesley, and Phills' car crashed, and he died instantly. A native of Baton Rouge, LA, Phills attended Southern University in Baton Rouge and earned a bachelors degree in animal science (pre-veterinary medicine). She exited her car to see Bobbys teammates Elden Campbell and Anthony Mason, both in tears. He attended Southern University, which is in Baton Rouge. Ill go through the photo albums. Bobby Phills Sr. recalled receiving a call from Dwayne. He is also survived by his parents. "Tyvola Road was a road you would take to watch the 25,000 people crowded into that little coliseum to cheer on the Hornets. He was in his third year of a seven-year, $33 million contract. Jobe reminded Phills that Phills had said he wanted to be a doctor, not a basketball player. You say, Why wasnt it me instead of him? One mistake, one accident. Davis also incorporated lessons from Phills over his 13 seasons in the NBA. He was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha. His Porsche veered into oncoming traffic and crashed into two other vehicles. That July, Wesley testified in the non-jury trial to decide the criminal charges against him. So I pleaded with the guy, 'Look I have to say my final goodbye.' 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. Phills was traveling behind teammate David Wesley at over 100mph (160km/h) when his Porsche spun and crossed into oncoming traffic. The important thing is for him to go there and graduate and do the things that his daddy did not do.. Afterward, the team chartered to Charlotte before flying to Baton Rouge for Phillss funeral. Trey Phills said. He seemed like a great person on and off the court, Trey 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. He was fourth on the team in scoring this season with 13.6 points per game. 13 jersey during halftime of Wednesday night's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Charlotte Coliseum. 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. I cant reverse it, and I hate that he lost his life like that.. When the Knicks hired Walsh in 2008, Jobe came aboard as a scout, and he remains part of the Knicks organization. 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 was all that you would want in a human being," Embry said. Phills approached him after the session. Wednesday, February 2nd 2000, 12:00 am. "This is the ultimate tragedy, and our immediate thoughts and After being cut in December 1991 without playing a game for the Bucks, Phills had a stint with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the Continental Basketball Association before being signed by the Cavaliers and rejoining the NBA late in the 199192 season. Trey gained statewide recognition in North Carolina while playing for Charlotte Christian School. Phills Educational Foundation.". tremendous person, but a great husband, father and role model that She broke free. I go through the light. A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Phills attended Baton Rouge's Southern University. She drove closer and saw the police and emergency personnel. He gets rebounds. Its kind of like me and my dad we spent a bunch of time on the court. Jonathan Abrams is a staff writer for Grantland. The Hornets retired Bobby Phills' No. When Im by myself, thats when I cry. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Cookie Policy. Miller was unsure what to do. Phills's wife, Kendall, and their son, Bobby Ray Phills III, 3, and daughter, Kerstie, 1, arrived soon after the accident. The black car carried a vanity plate that read SLAMN. That was his dream car, recalled Phillss younger brother Dwayne. Phills died while traveling on Tyvola Road in Charlotte, North Carolina,after driving at a high rate of speed with then-teammate David Wesley. "He had extreme high character. He played college basketball for the Yale Bulldogs and now plays for the Greensboro Swarm of the NBA G League. "This young man represented the very best of Southern One of the most active Hornets players in the community, Phills was a tireless volunteer for childrens charities and related organizations. Hes doing positive things in the community, for the league, [for his] family, everything. Phills's teammates were on the scene with club officials immediately after the accident, which occurred less than a mile from the Charlotte Coliseum. Over his nine-year career, he averaged 11.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. The two lived close to one another, and after games, Phillss wife, Kendall, often drove Silass wife, Carolyn, home from the Charlotte Coliseum. Keith Bridges, a spokesman for the police, said, ''Charges are to be determined, but racing is definitely illegal.''. It was the first number that the Hornets franchise had ever retired. We just couldnt play hard anymore, Silas said. Click here to watch Jalen & Jacoby, Grantland Features, and video podcasts. And there was a point where, no, I wasnt that good on the court., Stephen Silas ended up being the one to help Trey develop his confidence and his game. Then David Wesleys fiance, Shannon, called. I stopped in the middle of the street. Anyone would want a kid like that on their team. When the Hornets returned to playing, Shinn visited the locker room before a game shortly after the accident. ''The skid marks indicate he was not going in a straight line,'' he said. Phills played in the NBA for nine seasons, his first six with the Cleveland Cavaliers and last three with the Charlotte Hornets. According to the NBA, there have been three other active players He got into a car with the Hornets coaching staff and made the short drive to Tyvola. Coach, we just cant deal with that, he said. His father, Dr. Bobby Phills, is dean of agriculture and home economics at Florida A&M University. He said Phillss death would haunt him for the rest of his life. He wont let them.. He slid into oncoming traffic and was killed instantly.. Jobe asked how many points Phills had scored. But I needed them because of their academic abilities, so when the dean asks about the academic average of the team, Im going to be way up there. Phills surprised Jobe by approaching the coach after his freshman season in 1987-88 and declaring that he wanted to earn a spot in the rotation. 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. Bobby Phills had always wanted to be an All-Star, she said. Ill watch some videotape of Bobby. 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. It was real quick.. 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. Bulls. 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. After being cut in December 1991 without playing a game for the Bucks, Phills had a stint with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the Continental Basketball Association before being signed by the Cavaliers and rejoining the NBA late in the 1991-92 season. Silas joined Charlotte in 1997 as an assistant under Dave Cowens. It hit another car, which in turn was struck in the rear by a minivan. [1] He was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1991 NBA draft (45th overall). After a slew of injuries had hit the Cavaliers in 1993, he became a starter and led the team into the playoffs for the next four seasons. Silas, known as one of the greatest enforcers and all-around tough guys in NBA history, broke down in tears. You always thought you had something to prove, said Wesley, who made his career as a strong, table-setting point guard. I can't tell you what he meant to the Cavs. In the latest episode ofBeyond the Paint, which will air on NBA TVon Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 11 p.m. 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. 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. Every game day, whether on the road or at home at home, its always Original Pancake House. Everything hurt. It wasnt going to be here. Bridges said it will be at least several days before investigators reconstruct what happened. Witnesses said teammate David Wesley, the Hornets' starting point guard, also may have been driving too fast in his own Porsche, according to police. Miller, who often joined Phills and Wesley for pregame pancake meals, maintained the flapjack routine throughout the rest of his 14-year career. human being," said Southern University Chancellor Edward R. But those were two guys I fell in love with.. ", Active in the community, Phills volunteered for children's charities and related organizations. "Bobby Phills was all that you would want in a human being," Embry said. He touched all of our lives, said Bob Bass, the Hornets executive vice president of basketball operations. Stunned and tearful teammates and Hornets officials gathered at the accident scene less than a mile from the Charlotte Coliseum, where minutes earlier Phills and the other . Treys a stat stuffer, said coach Shonn Brown. ''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. 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. While taking Advanced Placement classes at Charlotte Christian, his grade point average hovered near 5.0. Not only was Bobby a tremendous person, but a great husband, father and role model that everyone respected and admired. Additionally, his career earnings are exposed to be $40,545,600. reserve. Ben Jobe remembered Bobby Phills as everything the coach had once hoped to be, but when Phills first joined the mens varsity at Southern, Jobe accepted him only after losing out on one of Phillss high school teammates.
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