Former Chicago Bulls center Luc Longley and his family barely escaped a fire that destroyed their home and possibly some basketball memorabilia.

Longley said he managed to get his girlfriend, two children and their two friends out of the home, a converted industrial premise, before it went up in flames Friday night.

"I was asleep and heard a bang, an explosion, and it was already on fire and got the kids out," Longley said Saturday.

Fire crews stopped the fire from spreading to an adjacent garage. Longley said he was unsure if the fire destroyed three NBA championship rings he won with the Bulls from 1996-98.