Career
After playing college basketball at Jacksonville University, he was drafted fifth overall by the Denver Nuggets in the 1980 National Basketball Association Draft. He subsequently played three seasons for the team, appearing in 103 games and finishing with career averages of 3.4 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. Moving to Europe, he went on to play professionally in Italy, Spain and Turkey.
In 2001, Ray was diagnosed with sarcoidosis.
Due to his failing health and financial challenges, the National Basketball Association"s retired players association provided him support. In 2008, Ray received a transplant, soon after receiving a diagnosis of having three months to live without one.
The likelihood of receiving a transplant had been rated poorly, due to his need, at 6"9, of receiving lungs from a person taller than 6"5.
