Ryan Rupert Reid was born on October 30, 1986, in Port Antonio, Jamaica. He was a Jamaican American professional basketball player who later played for Jamaica’s national team. Reid passed away on July 9, 2025, at age 38.
Who is Ryan Reid?
Ryan Reid built his basketball career at Florida State University before reaching the NBA. The Indiana Pacers selected him with the 57th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.
His draft rights moved immediately to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Reid later suited up for the Thunder during the 2011-12 season.
Beyond the NBA, he became a key figure for Jamaica’s national team. His play helped the country reach the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship. After retiring from professional basketball, Reid became a teacher in Florida.
Early Life of Ryan Reid
Reid was born in Port Antonio, in the parish of Portland, Jamaica. His parents were Jasmine McLaren and Rupert Reid, and he also had a bonus father, Kenneth Mullings.
He began his early schooling in Jamaica. During his adolescent years, his family relocated to Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, where they built a new life.
Reid attended Lauderdale Lakes Middle School before moving on to Boyd H. Anderson High School. That is where his basketball skills first began to flourish.
He played varsity basketball at Boyd Anderson for all four years. Reid also honed his game playing recreational basketball at Lauderdale Lakes Park.
Ryan Reid Age
Ryan Reid was born on October 30, 1986, and passed away on July 9, 2025, at age 38. He was born under the zodiac sign Scorpio.
His death came after a heart attack, according to Florida State’s athletic program. Reid had retired from professional basketball in 2022 and was working as an educator at the time of his passing.
Ryan Reid Ethnicity and Nationality
Reid held Jamaican and American nationality throughout his life. He represented Jamaica internationally while also building his college and pro career in the United States.
He often spoke about his pride in his Jamaican roots. Reid was remembered by Jamaica Basketball Association officials as a patriot who loved his home parish of Portland.
His family background blended his Caribbean upbringing with his adopted home in Florida.
Ryan Reid Height and Weight
Reid stood at 6 feet 8 inches, or about 2.03 meters. He played at a listed weight of 235 pounds, or roughly 107 kilograms. His size made him a strong post presence throughout his career.
Coaches and teammates often praised his physical toughness. Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton called him one of the program’s hardest workers, and Reid built a reputation as one of college basketball’s better defensive forwards during his time in Tallahassee.
Ryan Reid Education
Reid graduated from Boyd H. Anderson High School in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, in 2005. He then enrolled at Florida State University, where he played for the Seminoles from 2006 to 2010.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in social science from Florida State on May 1, 2010. That milestone made him the first person in his family to earn a college degree.
Reid later returned to education himself. After his playing career ended, he worked as an educator at Wharton High School in the Tampa Bay area.
Ryan Reid Career
College Career at Florida State
Reid played four seasons for the Florida State Seminoles under head coach Leonard Hamilton. He appeared in 126 games and made 66 starts across his college career.
The Seminoles won 88 games during his four seasons on the roster. Reid was one of just three players on the team to appear in postseason play in each of those four years, including back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances.
His senior season saw him named team captain. By then, Reid had built a reputation as one of the toughest defensive forwards in the country.
Professional Debut in the NBA
The Indiana Pacers drafted Reid with the 57th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. His rights transferred to the Oklahoma City Thunder immediately after the selection.
Reid spent the 2010-11 season with the Tulsa 66ers, the Thunder’s NBA Development League affiliate. He then earned a contract with Oklahoma City for the 2011-12 season.
He appeared in five games for the Thunder that season, totaling eight points and two rebounds.
Jamaica National Team and International Career
Reid became a central figure for Jamaica’s men’s national basketball team from 2009 to 2013. His performance at the 2011 Caribbean Championships helped an undermanned Jamaica squad qualify for the 2012 Centrobasket tournament.
That run also carried Jamaica into the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship. There, the team upset world number three Argentina and world number nine Brazil on its way to a bronze medal finish.
Former Jamaica Basketball Association president Ajani Williams later credited Reid directly for that success. He said Jamaica would not have reached the FIBA Tournament of the Americas without him.
Later Professional Career
Following his NBA stint, Reid returned to the Tulsa 66ers before moving overseas. He played for Mets de Guaynabo in Puerto Rico and Chorale Roanne in France.
He also suited up for SLUC Nancy in France’s LNB Pro A league starting in 2014. Reid later signed with the St. John’s Edge of NBL Canada in February 2018.
His final professional stops included stints in Japan with Niigata Albirex BB and Shimane Susanoo Magic. Reid retired from professional basketball in 2022.
Ryan Reid Awards and Recognition
Reid earned a spot on Florida State’s postseason rosters in all four of his college seasons. Boyd Anderson High School later announced it would retire his No. 42 jersey in a ceremony scheduled for December 5.
The tribute recognized his high school scoring average of 18 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks per game over his final three seasons. Florida State’s current head coach, Luke Loucks, was Reid’s teammate from 2008 to 2010.
Reid’s bronze medal run with Jamaica at the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship remains one of the country’s best results in program history.
How Did Ryan Reid Die?
Ryan Reid died on July 9, 2025, at the age of 38. Multiple sources close to Florida State’s basketball program confirmed his death came suddenly.
He suffered a heart attack. That medical emergency claimed his life just three years after he had retired from professional basketball in 2022.
News of his passing spread quickly through the basketball community. Florida State’s men’s basketball program, French club SLUC Nancy, and the Oklahoma City Thunder all shared tributes within days of his death.
His death marked the second such loss for the Florida State basketball community in recent years, following the 2020 death of former center Michael Ojo. Reid was survived by his wife, two children, parents, and extended family in both Florida and Jamaica.
Ryan Reid Wife
Ryan Reid was married to Rebecca Reid. The couple built their life together in the Tampa Bay area of Florida following his retirement from professional basketball.
Rebecca survived him following his passing in July 2025. Florida State coach Luke Loucks described Reid as a devoted husband in his tribute after Reid’s death. Details about when the couple married have not been publicly confirmed.
Ryan Reid Children
Reid and his wife Rebecca had two children together, Disaya Reid and Preston Rupert Reid. Both children were attending school in the Tampa Bay area at the time of his passing.
His children continued playing basketball, following in their father’s footsteps. Family members described Reid as especially proud of his role as a father.
Reid’s obituary noted that his legacy lives on through his children both on and off the court.
Ryan Reid Net Worth
Ryan Reid’s estimated net worth is $5 million as of 2026. His earnings came from his NBA contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder along with pay from his years playing professionally overseas.
He also earned income later in his career as an educator at Wharton High School. Reid built his finances across more than a decade of basketball before retiring from the sport in 2022.
Ryan Reid Social Media
Reid was active on Instagram under the handle @ryanreid_42, where his bio referenced his Jamaican roots, his time at Florida State, and his NBA draft selection by the Thunder. He used the account to share updates from his life in Tampa.
Tributes from former teammates, including ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins, appeared on social media following his death.
The Oklahoma City Thunder also posted a tribute through their Thunder Legacy Network. Fans continue to leave messages on his page in his memory.
The Bottom Line
Ryan Reid helped lead Jamaica to a bronze medal at the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship, upsetting Argentina and Brazil along the way. He also played five NBA games for the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2011-12 season.
Reid grew up between Port Antonio, Jamaica, and Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, and became the first in his family to graduate college. Friends and coaches remembered him as a devoted husband, father, and mentor.
Reid spent his final years teaching at Wharton High School in Tampa before his death on July 9, 2025. Boyd Anderson High School will retire his jersey number this December in his honor.
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