Report: Former NBA player paralyzed after accident

by FOXSports.com

Updated: December 4, 2008, 1:29 PM EST 201 comments

Dave Odom, who coached Rogers in college, broke the news to the News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C.

Rogers was injured when he fell off the ATV he was riding in rural N.C. last week.

He was transferred Wednesday from Duke Hospital to Atlanta's Shepherd Center, which specializes in recovery from catastrophic injury.

Rogers was drafted ninth overall by the Nuggets in 1993, after a standout college career with the Demon Deacons.

He played for seven NBA teams before retiring in 2005.

He went to work in retirement as heavy equipment operator for the city of Durham's Public Works Department.

His agent says Rogers was set for life financially, he just couldn't bear the thought of not working.

His boss says he wasn't even aware of Rogers' previous career.

"I didn't even know he had lots of money. He is very friendly, very concerned, very conscientious. We chose him because of his ethics and his attitude. He was highly motivated. He was promoted to supervisor six months ago," Michael Balzarano told the News & Observer.