Rodgers was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and attended Overbrook High School, where he was a three-time All-City selection. He then attended Temple University, where he was a three-time All-American and led the Owls to the NCAA Final Four in 1956.
Rodgers was drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors in the first round of the 1959 NBA Draft. He played for the Warriors for four seasons, and was named to the All-Star team in each of those seasons. He was also named to the All-NBA Second Team in 1961 and 1962.
In 1963, Rodgers was traded to the Cincinnati Royals, where he played for three seasons. He was again named to the All-Star team in 1964 and 1965. In 1966, he was traded to the Chicago Bulls, where he played for three seasons. He was named to the All-Star team in 1967.
In 1969, Rodgers was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, where he played for one season. He retired after the 1969-70 season.
During his 11-year career, Rodgers averaged 16.2 points, 8.4 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014.
Rodgers was known for his passing ability, and was one of the first players to popularize the behind-the-back pass. He was also known for his quickness and agility, and was one of the first players to popularize the fast break. He was an excellent shooter, and was one of the first players to popularize the jump shot.
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