At least 20 retired basketball players will take part in a cardiac screening program at Philips Arena on Saturday.
The Hawks are sponsoring the event in partnership with the NBA, the Players Association and the Retired Players Association.
“The Hawks are proud to work in partnership with the NBA, NBPA and NBRPA to host the cardiac screening for local NBA alumni,” Hawks Vice Chairman Grant Hill said in a statement. “The health and care of our players is a significant priority to our organization and that doesn’t end when they retire from their playing career. Atlanta is a great NBA city and we are fortunate to have so many legends live here and be able to benefit from learning this vital health information.”
According to the NBA, scheduled to receive screenings are Tony Delk, Bernard King, Johnny Davis, Andrew Lang, Lee Davis, Sedric Toney, Victor Alexander, Cal Bowdler, Litterial Green, Marvin Roberts, Daune Causwell, Duane Ferrell, Jim Washington, Rick Brown, Harold Keeling, Reginald Johnson, Dale Ellis, Tyrone Brown, Kevin Willis and Jay Bilas.
The event is closed to the public.
Former Hawk and Basketball Hall of Famer Moses Malone died suddenly in September of cardiovascular disease. His death came a month after Darryl Dawkins died of a heart attack.
“The NBPA Executive Committee and the team player reps told us to make this program an absolute priority,” said Joe Rogowski, NBPA Director of Sports Medicine and Research,in a statement. “Although the benefit is clearly directed towards the current retiree population, there is a research component that will have long term benefits for a larger group of individuals that share unique physical characteristics. This is just the first phase of a long term effort to address the cardiovascular health needs of the player population and the NBPA and the NBA are determined to bring great resources towards that goal.”
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