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Hawks center Jason Collier dies suddenly
(AP)
Updated: 2005-10-16 09:02
ATLANTA - Atlanta Hawks center Jason Collier died early Saturday after he had
trouble breathing and was stricken in his home, his father said. He was 28.
Atlanta Hawks
center Jason Collier, right, is shown defending Orlando Magic's Jameer
Nelson in an exhibition game Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2005 in Atlanta. Collier
died early Saturday morning, Oct. 15, 2005 a team spokesman said. He was
28. Collier, a five-year NBA veteran, died of a possible cardiac arrest,
said Arthu Triche, a spokesman for the team.
[AP] | General manager Billy Knight said the cause
of death was not immediately clear for the 7-foot, 260-pound player. He said
Collier had "no issues" in a preseason physical given to all players.
Jeff Collier told The Associated Press his son died in an ambulance on the
way to the hospital and did not have any diagnosed health problems apart from
his knees.
Team spokesman Arthur Triche initially said Collier possibly died of cardiac
arrest, but would not provide details. He later said the team was not sure how
Collier died. Collier's agent, Richard Howell, said an autopsy was being
performed.
"We'll wait until the experts can tell us, but there's no comments about any
speculating at all that I'm going to do," Knight said. "Right now we just think
about Jason and his family, his wife and a daughter. He was a good guy, a great
teammate and a member of our organization. We're going to miss him.
"The players took it hard, as you would expect," Knight told the AP. "We'll
try to deal with it and keep moving forward."
The Hawks canceled an open scrimmage Saturday, but will play an exhibition
game on Monday night at Charlotte.
"We are saddened by the news of Jason Collier's sudden passing," NBA
commissioner David Stern said. "He epitomized hard work, dedication and
perseverance, and more importantly compassion, kindness and selflessness."
Jeff Collier said he received a phone call at 3:30 a.m. Saturday from Jason's
wife, Katie, who said her husband was having trouble breathing and quickly
turned blue.
"You get a call and it's your daughter-in-law crying saying she's giving him
CPR and trying to keep him going," Jeff Collier said. "I guess it took awhile
for the paramedics to get there. He had a slight pulse when they took him and he
passed away in the ambulance while they took him to the hospital."
Jeff Collier told the AP by phone from his home in Springfield, Ohio, that
his son had knee surgery when he played in Houston.
"Now all of a sudden this comes up," he said. "We don't know exactly what
happened. I'm anxious to find out. But I guess it doesn't make a whole lot of
difference at this point."
Howell said his client was in good shape.
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