Lance Allred
Encyclopedia
Lance Collin Allred is an American
professional basketball
player. Allred is hearing impaired, with a 75-80% hearing loss. He is the first legally deaf player in NBA history. (To improve his hearing, he wears a hearing aid.) He is also the author of Longshot: The Adventures of a Deaf Fundamentalist Mormon Kid and His Journey to the NBA, his memoir/autobiography published by Harper Collins. The book was critically acclaimed and featured in several sports publications.http://www.ridiculousupside.com/2009/5/26/886784/lance-allreds-longshot-a-book
, but he spent his very early years growing up on an isolated compound in Montana
. He is a descendent of Rulon C. Allred, a prophet of a fundamentalist polygamous sect. However, his family became disenchanted with the group. They moved to Salt Lake City when he was seven, and completely broke away from the extremist sect six years later. He did not play organized basketball until eighth grade, when he joined a team in the local LDS Church league.
His skills developed quickly, and with his tremendous height (nearly seven feet), he was a star basketball player at East High School in Salt Lake City. During his senior year, he averaged 17.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game, earning many prestigious honors for his performance. He was named 1999 Gatorade
Player of the Year for the state of Utah, and earned First Team All-State selection in Class 4A by both The Salt Lake Tribune
and the Deseret News. Also, Allred was ranked as the "Best in the West" at the center position by Pac-West Hoops, and was hailed as a Top 100 Recruit by CNN
/Sports Illustrated
. He was heavily recruited by many schools, but ultimately decided to attend the University of Utah
.
in Ogden, Utah. Allred later explained his reason for leaving the Utes, revealing a terrible relationship with head coach Rick Majerus
. Allred accused Majerus of constant verbal abuse, usually focused on Allred's hearing impairment. Allred told The Salt Lake Tribune that Majerus had once said: "Lance, you've weaseled yourself through life using your hearing as an excuse. You're a disgrace to cripples. If I was a cripple in a wheelchair and saw [the way] you play basketball, I'd shoot myself." Two other Utah players confirmed some of what Allred claimed, but two assistant coaches said they never heard it. Majerus denied the allegations while describing the statements as "extremely insensitive." He was later cleared of allegations of discrimination, though the investigation did not determine whether Majerus had actually made the offensive remarks.
Allred found new hope and motivation at Weber State. With increased playing time as a junior, he averaged 11.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game for the Wildcats. He worked hard in the offseason, building enough muscle to increase his weight from 240 pounds to about 270. His senior year (2004–05) was spectacular: he led his team with 17.7 points and 12.0 rebounds per game. He ranked third in the nation in rebounding, trailing only Paul Millsap
and Andrew Bogut
. He almost single-handedly carried Weber State to the championship game of the Big Sky Conference
Tournament (where the Wildcats lost by two points) . For his efforts, he was named First Team All-Big Sky and also First Team All-Utah by the Deseret News.
LNB
club SPO Rouen Basket
. He averaged 5.5 points and 3.9 rebounds in 11 games played. In January 2006, Allred was an injury replacement for another LNB club, JL Bourg Basket. In four games he averaged 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds. Allred then played for Sedesa Lliria of the Spanish LEB2 league
averaging 15.0 points (on 60.2% shooting) and 7.2 rebounds in 10 games played.
of the NBA D-League
, Allred averaged 10.1 points on .524 shooting, and 5.7 rebounds in 20.9 minutes per game.
, Allred averaged 16.2 points on 51.2% shooting, 10.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 29.6 minutes per game. He was named to the 2008 D-League’s Red All-Star Team and was also the winner of the D-League’s Dream Factory Friday night inaugural game of H.O.R.S.E. He won the game with expert use of the back board (all of his shots were bank shots) and claimed the first official H.O.R.S.E. title awarded in about 30 years.
On March 13, 2008, the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers
signed Allred to a ten-day contract. Allred missed his only field goal attempt during 18 seconds of action in his debut for the Cavaliers on March 17, 2008. Allred is the first legally deaf player in NBA history.
On March 25, 2008, the Cavaliers signed Allred to a second ten-day contract. On April 4, Allred was signed for the remainder of the 2008 season.
Allred began the regular season outside the NBA, with a return to the Idaho Stampede.
In October he signed for 60 days for Scavolini Spar Pesaro
(Italy).
In January 2010, he returned to Idaho to play the remainder of the season with the Idaho Stampede.
of Dunedin, New Zealand. He was a member of the starting five along with fellow American Scott O'Gallagher.
| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Cleveland
| 3 || 0 || 3.3 || .250 || .000 || .500 || .3 || .0 || .0 || .0 || 1.0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 3 || 0 || 3.3 || .250 || .000 || .500 || .3 || .0 || .0 || .0 || 1.0
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. Allred is hearing impaired, with a 75-80% hearing loss. He is the first legally deaf player in NBA history. (To improve his hearing, he wears a hearing aid.) He is also the author of Longshot: The Adventures of a Deaf Fundamentalist Mormon Kid and His Journey to the NBA, his memoir/autobiography published by Harper Collins. The book was critically acclaimed and featured in several sports publications.http://www.ridiculousupside.com/2009/5/26/886784/lance-allreds-longshot-a-book
Early years
Allred was born in Salt Lake City, UtahUtah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, but he spent his very early years growing up on an isolated compound in Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
. He is a descendent of Rulon C. Allred, a prophet of a fundamentalist polygamous sect. However, his family became disenchanted with the group. They moved to Salt Lake City when he was seven, and completely broke away from the extremist sect six years later. He did not play organized basketball until eighth grade, when he joined a team in the local LDS Church league.
His skills developed quickly, and with his tremendous height (nearly seven feet), he was a star basketball player at East High School in Salt Lake City. During his senior year, he averaged 17.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game, earning many prestigious honors for his performance. He was named 1999 Gatorade
Gatorade
Gatorade is a brand of sports-themed food and beverage products, built around its signature product: a line of sports drinks. Gatorade is currently manufactured by PepsiCo, distributed in over 80 countries...
Player of the Year for the state of Utah, and earned First Team All-State selection in Class 4A by both The Salt Lake Tribune
The Salt Lake Tribune
The Salt Lake Tribune is the largest-circulated daily newspaper in the U.S. city of Salt Lake City. It is distributed by Newspaper Agency Corporation, which also distributes the Deseret News. The Tribune — or "Trib," as it is locally known — is currently owned by the Denver-based MediaNews Group....
and the Deseret News. Also, Allred was ranked as the "Best in the West" at the center position by Pac-West Hoops, and was hailed as a Top 100 Recruit by CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
/Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
. He was heavily recruited by many schools, but ultimately decided to attend the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
.
College career
Allred saw limited action as a freshman at Utah. He played in just 17 games, averaging 2.2 points and 1.8 rebounds in only 5.6 minutes per game. The following season (2001–02), his playing time increased slightly, but he continued to struggle. At the end of his sophomore year, he transferred to Weber State UniversityWeber State University
Weber State University is a public university located in the city of Ogden in Weber County, Utah, USA. It was founded in 1889 and is a coeducational, publicly supported university offering professional, liberal arts and technical certificates, as well as associate, bachelor's and master's degrees...
in Ogden, Utah. Allred later explained his reason for leaving the Utes, revealing a terrible relationship with head coach Rick Majerus
Rick Majerus
Rick Majerus is an American college basketball coach, and the men's basketball head coach at Saint Louis University. He coached previously at Marquette University , Ball State University , and the University of Utah .-Biography:Majerus graduated from Marquette University High School in 1966 and...
. Allred accused Majerus of constant verbal abuse, usually focused on Allred's hearing impairment. Allred told The Salt Lake Tribune that Majerus had once said: "Lance, you've weaseled yourself through life using your hearing as an excuse. You're a disgrace to cripples. If I was a cripple in a wheelchair and saw [the way] you play basketball, I'd shoot myself." Two other Utah players confirmed some of what Allred claimed, but two assistant coaches said they never heard it. Majerus denied the allegations while describing the statements as "extremely insensitive." He was later cleared of allegations of discrimination, though the investigation did not determine whether Majerus had actually made the offensive remarks.
Allred found new hope and motivation at Weber State. With increased playing time as a junior, he averaged 11.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game for the Wildcats. He worked hard in the offseason, building enough muscle to increase his weight from 240 pounds to about 270. His senior year (2004–05) was spectacular: he led his team with 17.7 points and 12.0 rebounds per game. He ranked third in the nation in rebounding, trailing only Paul Millsap
Paul Millsap
Paul Millsap is an American professional basketball player currently with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association. As a 6'8", 250 lbs. power forward from Louisiana Tech University, Millsap was selected by the Jazz in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draft. His game was initially...
and Andrew Bogut
Andrew Bogut
Andrew Michael Bogut is an Australian professional basketball player. He plays for the Milwaukee Bucks of the United States' National Basketball Association....
. He almost single-handedly carried Weber State to the championship game of the Big Sky Conference
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
Tournament (where the Wildcats lost by two points) . For his efforts, he was named First Team All-Big Sky and also First Team All-Utah by the Deseret News.
2005-2006
Allred began his professional career as an injury replacement for the FrenchFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
LNB
Ligue Nationale de Basketball
The Ligue National de Basket is the top men's French professional basketball league. There are two divisions: French Pro A League and French Pro B League .-Pro A:...
club SPO Rouen Basket
SPO Rouen Basket
SPO Rouen Basket is a basketball club based in Rouen, France that plays in the Ligue Nationale de Basketball.-External links:*...
. He averaged 5.5 points and 3.9 rebounds in 11 games played. In January 2006, Allred was an injury replacement for another LNB club, JL Bourg Basket. In four games he averaged 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds. Allred then played for Sedesa Lliria of the Spanish LEB2 league
Liga Española de Baloncesto
Liga Española de Baloncesto is the second league of the Spanish basketball league system behind the ACB. It is run by the FEB. The Liga Española de Baloncesto is divided into two categories and they are sponsored by Adecco. The names of the two leagues are Adecco Oro and Adecco Plata.The LEB league...
averaging 15.0 points (on 60.2% shooting) and 7.2 rebounds in 10 games played.
2006-2007
In 43 games (19 starts) with the Idaho StampedeIdaho Stampede
The Idaho Stampede is an American basketball team that plays in the NBA Development League. The team is based in the Boise, Idaho, area and as of 2005 plays at the CenturyLink Arena in Boise. The team was founded as a member of the Continental Basketball Association in 1997 and was league runner-up...
of the NBA D-League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
, Allred averaged 10.1 points on .524 shooting, and 5.7 rebounds in 20.9 minutes per game.
2007-2008
In 38 games (all starts) with the Idaho StampedeIdaho Stampede
The Idaho Stampede is an American basketball team that plays in the NBA Development League. The team is based in the Boise, Idaho, area and as of 2005 plays at the CenturyLink Arena in Boise. The team was founded as a member of the Continental Basketball Association in 1997 and was league runner-up...
, Allred averaged 16.2 points on 51.2% shooting, 10.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 29.6 minutes per game. He was named to the 2008 D-League’s Red All-Star Team and was also the winner of the D-League’s Dream Factory Friday night inaugural game of H.O.R.S.E. He won the game with expert use of the back board (all of his shots were bank shots) and claimed the first official H.O.R.S.E. title awarded in about 30 years.
On March 13, 2008, the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
signed Allred to a ten-day contract. Allred missed his only field goal attempt during 18 seconds of action in his debut for the Cavaliers on March 17, 2008. Allred is the first legally deaf player in NBA history.
On March 25, 2008, the Cavaliers signed Allred to a second ten-day contract. On April 4, Allred was signed for the remainder of the 2008 season.
2008-2009
After entering training camp with the Cavaliers for the 2008-2009 season, he was released after playing in the preseason debut against the Toronto Raptors, where he made one rebound and one blocked shot in 4 minutes and 10 seconds of gameplay.Allred began the regular season outside the NBA, with a return to the Idaho Stampede.
2009-2010
Allred signed with NSB Napoli during the summer of 2009.In October he signed for 60 days for Scavolini Spar Pesaro
Victoria Libertas Pesaro
Victoria Libertas , full name Unione Sportiva Victoria Libertas Pallacanestro, is a professional basketball team that is based in Pesaro, Italy. The club competes in the top level Italian professional basketball league, the Lega Basket Serie A...
(Italy).
In January 2010, he returned to Idaho to play the remainder of the season with the Idaho Stampede.
2011
In 2011 Allred signed with the Otago NuggetsOtago Nuggets
The OCEANAGOLD Nuggets, formerly the Otago Nuggets, are a New Zealand professional basketball team that play in the National Basketball League. They play their home games at the Edgar Centre in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.-2006 season:...
of Dunedin, New Zealand. He was a member of the starting five along with fellow American Scott O'Gallagher.
Personal Notes
- Allred is currently writing two books, a 14th century historical novel and a Victorian satire.
- His autobiography was published during 2009: 'Longshot: The Adventures of a Deaf Fundamentalist Mormon Kid and His Journey to the NBA'. Two years in the works, it focuses on his early years in a polygamous sect, overcoming obsessive-compulsive disorder, and prevailing over legal deafness to reach the NBA.
- Allred's father is a high-school history teacher.
- Allred is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- He competed in the 2002 World Deaf Basketball Championship in Athens, Greece, leading Team USA to a second place finish.
Regular season
|-| align="left" | 2007–08
| align="left" | Cleveland
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
| 3 || 0 || 3.3 || .250 || .000 || .500 || .3 || .0 || .0 || .0 || 1.0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 3 || 0 || 3.3 || .250 || .000 || .500 || .3 || .0 || .0 || .0 || 1.0
See also
- Miha ZupanMiha ZupanMiha Zupan Miha Zupan Miha Zupan (born September 13, 1982 in Kranj, Slovenia, is a Slovenian professional basketball player. Despite being deaf since birth, he plays among hearing players at the highest level in Europe...
, a deaf Slovenian basketball player who also plays professionally alongside hearing people
External links
- Lance Allred's official website
- NBA.com: Lance Allred player profile
- Lance page on Weber State's fans basketball site - WeberHoops.com
- Photo of Lance (on left side) in USA Deaf Basketball team during their time-out at 2002 World Deaf Basketball Championship in Athens, Greece
- USA Deaf Basketball official website
- Review of Lance Allred's autobiography by LDS historian Matt Bowman
