The NBRPA has taken huge strides to assist with the health of former basketball stars, providing truly live-saving health screenings.

By Caleb Nixon (via ClutchPoints)

Former NBA player Steve Hayes, arguably the best basketball player born and raised in Idaho, was ecstatic to join the National Basketball Retired Players Association community for three days at the 2023 Legends Getaway event in Las Vegas before heading off for a vacation in Montana. The 7-foot center, who once stepped foot on the hardwood with players like David Thompson, John Stockton and Karl Malone, spent the days conversing with his former colleagues and learning about new opportunities being offered by the NBRPA.

Former NBA player Steve Hayes, arguably the best basketball player born and raised in Idaho, was ecstatic to join the National Basketball Retired Players Association community for three days at the 2023 Legends Getaway event in Las Vegas before heading off for a vacation in Montana. The 7-foot center, who once stepped foot on the hardwood with players like David Thompson, John Stockton and Karl Malone, spent the days conversing with his former colleagues and learning about new opportunities being offered by the NBRPA.

“After they did the electrocardiogram and echocardiogram,” Hayes said, “I got in to see the cardiologist that was here from Endeavor (Health) and the first thing he says is, ‘Did you know you’re AFib?’”

Atrial fibrillation, or A-Fib, is “an irregular and often very rapid heart rhythm,” according to the Mayo Clinic. Hayes, who had seen a cardiologist in Houston less than eight months earlier, had no idea about his condition. Although somewhat common, the risk of stroke from A-Fib increases with age, according to the Mayo Clinic. Hayes was diagnosed at 67 years old.

“I was shocked and scared,” Hayes said. “I was totally caught off guard and (about) to go up (to Montana) and do things that maybe I shouldn’t have been doing, especially if I hadn’t seen a doctor.”

The NBRPA’s health screenings were introduced nearly a decade ago in partnership with the National Basketball Players Association. The life-saving initiative has served over 1,000 members, according to NBRPA Chief Medical Director Joe Rogowski. Fully funded by the NBRPA, this groundbreaking program requires a substantial investment, with former President and CEO Scott Rochelle, who served until August 2024, identifying the cost as “hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

“Our health screening program is more comprehensive and more detailed and targeted than anything anyone’s doctor is willing to give,” Rochelle said.

The goal is to “normalize wellness” so former players begin to prioritize their health. To enhance that effort, Rochelle and the NBRPA hired Rogowski in 2022. Previously serving as the NBPA’s chief medical officer for a decade, Rogowski aimed to provide both an educational and relaxed environment during the health screenings.

“When they come through our screening, it’s not like your typical doctor’s office where you get an exam and you leave and they call you with the results,” Rogowski said. “This is more of a relaxed environment where they can sit down and ask questions. There’s no time restraints, so they can ask a cardiologist all the questions they want, ask each of the doctors different questions so that they can be proactive about their health and in tune with their bodies.”

Rogowski has worked with NBA players for nearly 20 years. During that time, which included medical positions with the Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets, he noticed that players did not have medical direction once retiring. But by hosting a large number of former players in one setting for medical testing, the process becomes much more “convenient.”

“We provide that setting so that we can do a multitude of diagnostic tests, more on the preventative side, so that we’re proactive for their health and to get them plugged into thinking medically,” he said.

Rogowski estimates the health screenings have saved 10 lives since they were introduced eight years ago. Among the most notable is Nate “Tiny” Archibald, who was unexpectedly diagnosed with amyloidosis in December 2016. The incurable condition required Archibald to have a heart transplant that would ultimately save his life.

Harvey Catchings also experienced a heart problem but could not participate in the health screenings, as they were not yet established. The 11-year NBA veteran, and father of WNBA Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings, recalls his personal cardiologist informing him about a small valve leakage in his early 60s. The doctor’s response, according to Catchings, was “we will keep an eye on it.”

In 2016, Catchings began participating in the health screenings. Just three years later, his heart problem rapidly escalated.Rogowski has worked with NBA players for nearly 20 years. During that time, which included medical positions with the Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets, he noticed that players did not have medical direction once retiring. But by hosting a large number of former players in one setting for medical testing, the process becomes much more “convenient.”

“We provide that setting so that we can do a multitude of diagnostic tests, more on the preventative side, so that we’re proactive for their health and to get them plugged into thinking medically,” he said.

Rogowski estimates the health screenings have saved 10 lives since they were introduced eight years ago. Among the most notable is Nate “Tiny” Archibald, who was unexpectedly diagnosed with amyloidosis in December 2016. The incurable condition required Archibald to have a heart transplant that would ultimately save his life.

Harvey Catchings also experienced a heart problem but could not participate in the health screenings, as they were not yet established. The 11-year NBA veteran, and father of WNBA Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings, recalls his personal cardiologist informing him about a small valve leakage in his early 60s. The doctor’s response, according to Catchings, was “we will keep an eye on it.”

In 2016, Catchings began participating in the health screenings. Just three years later, his heart problem rapidly escalated.

“Fast forward to the age of 67 and I get up one morning and I can’t breathe,” Catchings said. “So, I did what any Black man would do. I got in my car and drove to the hospital.”

When arriving at the hospital, Catchings found out he had a severe valve leakage in his atrium. Returning to the same cardiologist as before, Catchings was told that the valve leakage could be repaired 98% of the time through a routine surgery.

Catchings’ condition was part of that 2%.

“They said, ‘Harvey, if you don’t get a heart transplant, you’re not going to be around by the end of 2019,’” Catchings said. “Now I’m thinking, ‘What the hell? We were talking about a valve repair. How did we get to a heart transplant, and more importantly, how is it that somebody has to die in order for me to live?’”

A heart transplant in September 2019 ultimately saved Catchings’ life and opened his eyes to the importance of being involved and informed about his health condition. He advocates for the NBRPA’s health program because of the level of involvement the members can have and the benefits that they receive from the organization.

“To have this type of group that you can pick up the phone and call to make things happen, they’re probably going to stay on top of things,” Catchings said. “Take advantage of these opportunities and don’t say, ‘I’ll just deal with it later.’ No, if something’s not feeling right, especially as we get older, deal with it right then.”

The group that Catchings is talking about is a new partnership with Endeavor Health, which was introduced in October 2023. The Chicago based service provides NBRPA members with a 24/7 phone number that will help them understand their condition in addition to connecting them with specialists that range from orthopedic and physical therapy to neurology and urology.

“When they were playing, they didn't have to think about (health),” said Dr. Ravi Bashyal, co-medical director and head NBRPA hip and knee replacement consultant. “It was done for them and all of a sudden when they retire, they're in an entirely different world where no one is helping them make those decisions.”

His goal in working with the NBRPA is ensuring that former players have that access to the “vetted best in class care” because of how they used their bodies throughout the first half of their lives.“

Their bodies were how they made their living,” Bashyal said. “If they have a problem with their hip or their knee, it's more than just a medical condition. It's almost connected to who they are and their identity. So it's even more important that they're able to get the explanations that they need to be able to wrap their heads around what's going on.”

The NBRPA hosts its health screenings annually at NBA All-Star weekend in February and the Legends Getaway event in July. Additionally, the screenings are in “three to four” different cities per year, according to Rogowski, so members who do not attend its major events still have opportunities to take part in the screenings. One of the organization's goals for the program is expanding the health screenings to 10 cities a year.

This year at the Legends Getaway event, Hayes returned to Las Vegas hoping to hear good news just one year after his A-Fib diagnosis. But when he went to sign up for his screening, no appointments were available.

“A lot of the players came in last night, paid for their own room for one night, just so they could be here this morning to be able to get the health screenings,” Hayes said.

A quick phone call was all it took for the team of doctors to squeeze Hayes into their packed schedule. Meeting with the same cardiologist from a year prior, the two were “overjoyed,” Hayes said, after they learned his heart muscle increased from 40% in 2023 to 60% in 2024, a normal percentage for a 68-year-old.

Looking back at how the NBRPA initially started, and how far it has come over the course of its 32-year history.

By Caleb Nixon (via ClutchPoints)

Dave Bing was drafted second overall by the Detroit Pistons in 1966, signing an annual contract worth $15,000. Already a husband and father of two daughters at the time, Bing was unsatisfied with the salary and chose to work at a local bank during the offseason. Even after signing his second contract, estimated at $150,000 per year, Bing continued working at what is now Chase Bank for seven years.

When you ask the seven-time NBA All-Star why he felt the need to create the National Basketball Retired Players Association, he answers that it is because he understood there were many players also working second jobs but making significantly less money during their often shorter basketball careers.

“None of us made a hell of a lot of money back then because it wasn't available,” Bing said. “So, guys needed financial support. They had to transition from an athlete, to being a real person and getting a real job to support their families.

“When you transition from a professional athlete, you’re still pretty young. You're in your mid-twenties, maybe early thirties, so you've got a lot of life ahead of you. But because of what we had to do with our bodies, there's going to be some issues as you get older.”

It was in the late 1980s when Bing, Archie Clark and Oscar Robertson, a trio with a combined 21 All-Star appearances, began discussing how they could support players who laid the foundation for the league they once played in. Taking the idea to then NBA Commissioner David Stern, the founders proposed an organization that would help players in their transition after basketball, specifically those who were struggling financially and needed a second career.

Bing recalled their initial meeting in New York where Stern expressed his dissent, asking the three players, “Do we really need another association?” At the time, Stern wanted to rely on the National Basketball Players Association and the NBA Legends Foundation, which had similar initiatives as the NBRPA but were still under Stern and the NBA’s supervision.

After the founding core added Hall of Famers Dave DeBusschere and Dave Cowens, they emphasized that the desire for an independent organization was an “issue out of need” for all former players. The back-and-forth with Stern lasted three to four years, according to Bing, frequently experiencing roadblocks as the commissioner kept proposing “a different kind of idea” that would alter the founders’ vision for the organization.

“David (Stern) was a very insulated guy, and he knew what he wanted, and he wanted things his way,” Bing said. “I don’t think he was open minded enough to understand some of the issues that a lot of our players were going through.”

Finally in 1992, Stern and the NBA agreed to support the creation of the NBRPA. All five founders – Bing, Clark, Robertson, Cowens and DeBusschere – supplied $1,000 to Charlie Grantham, the then executive director of the National Basketball Players Association, who officially created the non-profit, 501c3 in New York. Celebrating over dinner and drinks, the founders agreed they were doing “the right thing for the right reason,” Bing said. “It took us a while to get here, but it was worthwhile.”

According to an NBA spokesperson in an email, “The NBA has been proud to support the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) and their efforts to provide pension and health care benefits to their members for many years. The legends of our league have paved the way for the growth of basketball into the global game it is today. A legacy that we will continue to honor.”

The NBRPA has since developed a lasting partnership with the NBA and National Basketball Players Association, centered around supporting retired players in their second lives. The NBA’s investment in the organization comes through a licensing program and royalties, providing the NBRPA with eight figures annually, according to former President and CEO Scott Rochelle, who served until August 2024. This funding has allowed the NBRPA to create its own partnerships to financially support its non-profit organization and its members.

Major companies like Amazon, Google and Wintrust are invested in the organization. The NBRPA also partners with Endeavor Health for medical services, Temple and Purdue universities for education services, and Maker’s Mark, Michelob Ultra, Gatorade, and Pepsi for food and beverage services.

In hindsight, this is precisely what the founders envisioned: an opportunity for retired players, particularly those with short careers and limited earnings, to transition their athletic experience into successful second careers by using the variety of partnerships that the NBRPA provides.

“Oftentimes, (we) forget that the average lifespan of an NBA player is probably around four or five years,” Bing said. “The turnover is unbelievable. When you get accustomed to making money, and living a certain lifestyle, and that rug is pulled from under you, if you have not planned appropriately, then the transition hits you right in the face real quick.”

The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) is making a huge difference for former players off the court.

By Caleb Nixon (via ClutchPoints)

Many people know Derrick Coleman as the number one pick in the 1990 NBA Draft, the 1990-91 Rookie of the Year and a menace inside the paint, often recording double-doubles and dunking on defenders with rim shaking slams. But Dave Bing, the 1966-67 Rookie of the Year and NBA scoring champ during just his second season with the Detroit Pistons, knew Coleman well before most people did.

Coleman moved at age 13 from Mobile, Alabama to Detroit, the city that Bing called home and began a business in after he retired from basketball in 1978. As Coleman prepared to play for Northern Senior High School, he struggled finding shoes in his size. His high school coach knew Bing and reached out to see if he could help Coleman find shoes and clothes that fit him.

Offering more than just playing attire, Bing began mentoring Coleman, becoming someone that Coleman now refers to as a “father.” But when the future NBA star visited Bing’s office one day, his eyes lit up in shock at a photo framed on the wall.

“I see Dr. J, Bob Lanier and I see this picture of a skinny guy,” Coleman said. “It was Dave. He never even shared with me that he played basketball. When I got upstairs to his office, I said, ‘Why didn’t you ever tell me that you played basketball?' He said, ‘I didn’t feel that it was important.'”

Bing’s priority in life after basketball was his company, Bing Steel, and community involvement in Detroit. From that point forward, Coleman understood that there is more to life than the game of basketball.

“​​They keep trying to put us in a box and think that all we do is play basketball,” Coleman said. “No, we're so much more. Basketball is just a small part of our lives and what we do.”

Coleman began to refer to the sport as a “tool” to better his community and life. Bing, alongside other former NBA stars Archie Clark, Oscar Robertson, Dave Cowens and Dave DeBusschere, used that tool as an opportunity to support fellow retired basketball players.

“Through conversations and relationships, we were getting feedback that some of the guys really needed help,” Bing said. “They were struggling and here we are, five of us, who are doing OK with our lives, so we can't sit back and allow this to happen. We had to get engaged and involved to see what we can do to help.”

Together, the five founders created the National Basketball Retired Players Association, the NBRPA, which helps former professional basketball players thrive in life off the court. An idea that started in the late 1980s has since evolved into a growing organization that focuses on career assistance, health care and community outreach, giving its 1,971 members the opportunities to make the most of their second lives.

The NBRPA faced numerous challenges during its creation, including pushback from the NBA and former commissioner David Stern. Now, 32 years after the non-profit association was officially formed, its challenges are extensive, most notably with its active effort to better support retired women.

The five-part series, being released over the next five days, details the history of the NBRPA, its current initiatives in professional basketball, and its attempts to shape the sport’s future

Caleb Nixon is a graduate of Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism and currently works as a sports reporter for ABC27 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In addition to his full-time role, Caleb pursues his passion for writing through freelance coverage of basketball and football.