October 15, 2005 - Jason Collier, 28, Atlanta Hawks Center
ATLANTA (AP) - Autopsy results in the death of Atlanta Hawks center Jason Collier will not be available until Monday at the earliest.
The autopsy on the 7-foot, 260-pound player has been performed but other tests are needed, the coroner said Sunday.
"Due to the weekend and the case volume of the pathologist, further testing will not begin until Monday," coroner Lauren W. McDonald III said. "It would be inappropriate to speculate on the cause of Mr. Collier's death until further examinations are completed."
The 28-year-old player died early Saturday after he had trouble breathing in his home, according to his father.
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.
General manager Billy Knight said Collier had "no issues" in a preseason physical given to all players.
Collier's agent, Richard Howell said his client was in good shape. He said Collier and his wife ate at a restaurant Friday night and returned home, where Collier spent time playing with his daughter.
"He started feeling real bad in the middle of the night," said Howell, who spoke with Collier's wife, Katie.
Collier was a part-time starting center the last two seasons after playing mostly as a backup in three years at Houston. He began his college career at Indiana before transferring to Georgia Tech.
NBA commissioner David Stern said Collier "epitomized hard work, dedication and perseverance, and more importantly compassion, kindness and selflessness."
NBA Statement Regarding the Passing of Jason Collier
NEW YORK, Oct. 15 -- NBA Commissioner David Stern released the following statement today regarding the passing of Jason Collier:
"We are saddened by the news of Jason Collier’s sudden passing. He epitomized hard work, dedication and perseverance, and more importantly compassion, kindness and selflessness. I extend the heartfelt condolences of the NBA family to his wife Katie, daughter Ella, parents Jeff and Joyce, and siblings Jared and Julie."
Hawks stunned
Collier's death leaves organization in state of shock
Hawks general manager Billy Knight described Jason Collier (above) as a "great member of the organization."
The news of Jason Collier's death has left the Hawks' organization devastated, according to GM Billy Knight.
"Jason was a great guy," Knight said Saturday, shortly after informing Hawks players and coaches of the sad news. "He was a great teammate, a great member of the organization. He'd do whatever he was asked from a community relations standpoint.
"This has nothing to do with basketball. Jason was a friend, a family man and a first-class person. We're going to miss him."
Knight met with his players early Saturday morning after they arrived at Philips Arena for a scheduled practice. He and coach Mike Woodson addressed the squad in a "very somber" locker room, in the words of a Hawks official who was present. Hawks forward Al Harrington, who shared locker space with Collier, was said to be particularly upset.
"Everybody took it hard," Knight said. "We're all still shocked. It's not something you can prepare for."
Collier's death, possibly to a heart attack, is sure to renew the debate about the Eddy Curry situation. Ironically, the Hawks were one of the teams that pursued Curry as a free agent during the offseason before deciding his heart issues made him too much of a risk. Knight declined Saturday to speculate on the cause of Collier's death, but said the Hawks were not aware of any heart problems or health issues for the 28-year-old 7-footer.
"Jason was completely healthy as far as we knew," Knight said. An autopsy is expected soon, a team official said.
For now, the Hawks are too busy grieving to think about anything other than Collier and his wife and 1-year-old daughter. The former Georgia Tech star might not have been the biggest name on the roster, but he was a big part of the team. He was the longest-tenured Hawk, having signed as a free agent in 2003, and was considered a willing ambassador for the organization.
Last week he took new teammate Jonathan Edwards under his wing, according to Knight, helping the 24-year-old and his family get settled into their new Atlanta area home. He was also scheduled to give the pre-game greeting for fans at Saturday's open scrimmage.
"Yesterday we asked him to give the welcoming statement, to greet the fans," Hawks VP of media relations Arthur Triche said. "He said, 'Yeah, sure.' ... He gladly accepted it. That's the kind of guy he was, always willing to do whatever was needed in the community or for the organization.
"Right now, it's a feeling of total devastation. Nothing in the world can prepare you for something like this."
