Boston Celtics wing Marquis Daniels was injured in an automobile accident Saturday night near Birmingham, Ala. and was moved to an area hospital for treatment, according to a report from ESPN.
At present, no further confirmed news is available about his condition.
The 38-year-old Daniels played for the Celtics for three seasons after going undrafted in 2003. He also spent time with the Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks in his 10-year NBA career.
As a Celtic, Daniels averaged 4.9 points, two rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. He reached the playoffs — going as far as the NBA Finals — in every season.
The Florida native returned to his alma mater of Auburn — based in Alabama — to receive a Master’s degree while serving as a graduate assistant to the men’s basketball program. He sought to move into coaching roles for the next stage of his career (per AL.com’s Tom Green).
Daniels, who took Auburn to a Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament berth in his time there as a player, had been relishing his return in a mentorship capacity, telling AL.com’s Sam Blum:
Being around college students, being around the college game, being around coaches, the players, they look up to me. It’s good for them to see the road that it’s gonna take to get there. The hard work, the early mornings, the late nights. Understanding that nothing’s given.
Indeed, it’s not, as Daniels’ current situation underscores only too well.
Brandon Marcello of Auburn Undercover reports multiple sources close to the program as saying the former Tiger “is expected to be OK” (per 247 Sports).
Fingers crossed for a swift recovery.