CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- The death this morning of Bobby Phills of the Charlotte Hornets prompted the team to postpone tonight's game against the Chicago Bulls.

Phills, 30, was killed in a automobile accident near the Charlotte Coliseum while returning home from a shootaround.

Phills was pronounced dead at the accident site. Owner George Shinn and a number of Hornets players were quickly on the scene.

The Baton Rouge, Louisiana native was in his ninth season out of Southern University. He is survived by his wife, Kendall, and children Bobby Ray III and Kerstie.