Long Island Net, Terry Roberts, survives stray gunshot in Philadelphia

NBA G-League player Terry Roberts, a 23-year-old guard for the Long Island Nets and former University of Georgia standout, survived a gunshot wound to his upper chest after being caught in the crossfire of a Sunday morning gunfight outside of a Philadelphia bar. 

Roberts was discovered on the sidewalk laid out with a gunshot wound to the chest around 12:45 am on Sunday after he and a teammate had driven to Philadelphia last weekend. Police found Roberts shot outside the 5th Street Lounge in Philadelphia where according to reports, Roberts and his teammate had stopped at the bar. As they approached the entrance, four men exited a gray Nissan Altima and began firing in their direction at another patron, with an off-duty security guard returning fire in response. 

According to reports, Roberts and his teammate found themselves walking right into the crossfire of that gunfight without even realizing, resulting in Roberts being struck by a stray bullet in his chest and falling to the ground, later found laying on the sidewalk in a pool of his own blood. 

After being rushed to Albert Einstein Medical Center in critical condition, Roberts was initially placed on a ventilator, but it was later removed on Monday and he was able to talk with his parents, who are overpowered with joy. That same day, doctors said they expect Roberts to survive, make a full recovery, and be back out on the court soon. 

“Terry Roberts was the victim of a crime last Sunday in Philadelphia, and we are in the process of gathering more information about the incident,” said the Long Island Nets in a statement. “He is currently in stable condition, and he is expected to make a full recovery. Our thoughts are with him and family at this time. Due to the ongoing law enforcement investigation, we will have no further comment.”

Roberts took to Instagram to let his friends, family, and fans know he is okay and will be back soon. “First, I want to thank God for giving me the strength to still be here,” said Roberts in an Instagram post. “All I can do is be thankful and grateful,” he continued. 

“He’s healing,” said Roberts’ mother, Allison. “He’s doing well but is in a state of shock. This is a traumatic situation that’s happened. He’s a miracle,” said his mother, “the doctors themselves said that he is a miracle.”

“It’s been tough,” Roberts’ father, Terrance, told reporters. “An avalanche of emotions, internal pain and handling the situation at hand.”

Roberts, who is from Amityville, is in his first season with the nets after a standout college career as a Georgia Bulldog. Roberts is currently averaging 

Roberts, who is a native of Amityville, played high school basketball at Believe Prep in Rock Hill, South Carolina. 

From there he attended Florida SouthWestern State junior college and transferred to Bradley University before transferring one last time to the Georgia Bulldogs in 2022, averaging 13.2 points a game for the 16-16 Bulldogs. Roberts went undrafted in 2023, but has since appeared in 19 games for Long Island, a G-League affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets.

In 18.6 minutes a game, Roberts is averaging 7.2 points as well as nearly three assists and three rebounds per game.