Raymond Lewis
(d. February 11, 2001 in Los Angeles)
Los Angeles basketball legend, who left college early for the NBA but never played a minute of pro basketball due to a career path that took one tragic turn after another; a schoolyard and high school phenom, he averaged more than 30 points-per-game his first two years at UC-Los Angeles (played varsity as a sophomore); drafted by Philadelphia at the end of the first round in 1973, outplayed the 76ers first overall pick Doug Collins in practice and as a result held out over a contract dispute; lawsuits and frequent disappearances later kept him from playing professional basketball with Utah of the ABA, Philadelphia again and the San Diego Clippers. He died from complications following the amputation of a leg.
It's amazing how sometimes when you hear stories of other people, you can relate to them in a sense, even if you don't know them at all. I recently read the story of Raymond Lewis. Now most of you won't have a single clue who Raymond is, so let me share a little with you.
He was born in Watts, out in Los Angeles, and is regarded as a god out on the blacktop covered basketball stomping grounds. He would step out on the court, play one-on-one games, drill however many in a row, and walk off with not only a victory, but also your pride, and your praise at the same time.
This is a man who turned down John Wooden, the Wizard himself.
This is a man who also turned down a gig with Jerry Tarkanian at Long Beach State, and later that year, scored 53 against Tarks squad in double overtime.
This is a man who played college ball at Cal State L.A. for only two seasons. He averaged 39 points as a freshman and 34 as a sophomore. This is a man who despite being selected 18th overall in the 1973 draft, never set foot on a professional court, yet he bombed a group of Lakers rookies in a summer game for 52 points.
Legend has it, he took on the 30 best street ballers in LA on one day, and he wiped the floor with all 30.
He played his final one on one game against his brother, and he nailed 15 shots in a row, and walked off with $10 and a six-pack of Coors.
Raymond Lewis died on NBA All-Star Sunday, at the age of 48.
So where is the love in all of this you ask?
Raymond died with no money, no job, he still lived on a beat up old mattress inside his mother's house.
He was to take part in an advertisement that would feature several legends from the playground, and before he stepped into the studio to do the photo shoot, he stepped out on to a paved court and shot some Js in slippers, and made one after another.
That's love for the game.
He contracted an infection in his leg, and doctors and family begged and pleaded with him to have the leg amputated in order to survive. He initially refused.
Why? Because he told family he wouldn't be able to can a jump shot with one leg.
That's love for the game.
He finally agreed to have the leg amputated and did so.
Some will ask why he never made it to the bright lights of professional basketball. He was drafted by the 76ers, yet felt out of place in their first exhibition game. He left the game and the team, only to be given a second and third chance, but passed those up too.
He never got a chance to try out in the ABA due to contract restrictions.
Word is that he abused drugs, and he was known to be a heavy drinker. Those are still not the official reasons for his departure.
He just never felt welcomed in the uneasy world of pro hoops.
Lewis returned to the streets where he carried on his local legacy. He forfeited a possible legacy in the big time to return to his roots and never forfeit the top spot on the blacktop.
Despite the drugs and alcohol, Lewis is a god, a legend, and if you get a chance to listen to anyone talk about him, if you have the chance to see any type of film, or talk to anyone close to his situation, I urge you to do so.
Lewis would have been perfect for todays brand of NBA. The Gen-X version of the NBA where street ball reigns supreme with names like Odom, Iverson, Marbury, Garnett. Lewis was way ahead of his time, and coming from someone who shares the same love and passion for the game as he did, I only see fit that Iverson was the All-Star MVP.
The great thing about legends is that they never die. Names like DiMaggio, Jordan, Ruth, Jesse Owens, Payton, Howe, will live with us and sports forever. It's a shame Raymond Lewis never had that chance to become one of those names, at least not in the spotlight, but trust me when I say that his name will live forever.
