Yes, Willie Cager had a heart condition called a heart murmur.
A heart murmur is a whooshing or swishing sound heard through a stethoscope when blood flows abnormally over your heart valves.
Heart murmurs can be innocent (harmless) or abnormal (caused by a heart problem). Some causes are fever, anemia, or heart valve. Its treatment depends on the cause.
During the 1965–1966 season, Cager, then a collegiate basketball player at Texas Western (now UTEP), suffered from a heart murmur. Hence, when he recovered enough to play, Texas Western was compelled to use him sparingly, in four-minute shifts.
He was among the 1966 Texas Western (now UTEP) college basketball team that won the 1966 National Championship. In that championship contest, Cager contributed eight points and six boards. The school’s website describes him as “A skilled low post player” during his career.
Willie Cager appeared in 77 contests for the Miners from 1964-1968 and averaged 8.5 points and 5.3 rebounds while playing under Hall of Fame coach Haskins.
After his collegiate career, Cager was selected by the Baltimore Bullets in the 12th round of the 1968 NBA draft but partly due to a heart condition, he never competed as a professional.
He went on to become a fixture in the El Paso community. He worked as the coordinator of the Ysleta Independent School District’s After School Basketball Program.
Cager also launched the Willie Cager Foundation, which aims to fund building construction in El Paso.
In March of 2022, the Willie Cager Endowed Basketball Scholarship was announced by the Miner Athletic Club. The scholarship is funded by donor Don Scott to honor Cager.
Willie Cager died on Sunday, March 19, 2023, at age 81 in El Paso, United States.