Lonnie Shelton
Encyclopedia
Lonnie Jewel Shelton is a retired American
National Basketball Association
player who played from 1976-1985. He played college basketball for Oregon State University
. Shelton was drafted by the Memphis Sounds
(soon to become the Baltimore Claws
) of the American Basketball Association
in 1975 but elected to stay in college. He was then selected by the New York Knicks
in the second round of the 1976 NBA Draft
.
and finishing his career playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers
for 3 seasons. Shelton led the NBA in personal fouls in his first two seasons with New York. In 1979, his first season with the SuperSonics, Shelton was the team's starting power forward and helped the SuperSonics win the NBA Finals
. Shelton was one of three SuperSonics represented in the 1982 NBA All-Star Game
(along with Jack Sikma
and Gus Williams) and was named to the NBA's 1982 2nd All-Defense Team.
's San Diego Chargers
, Tim Shelton, who plays for the San Diego State Aztecs basketball team, Titus Shelton, who played for the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Mustangs basketball team from 2005-2009, and Marlon, who played for the Washington
Huskies
from 1998 to 2003.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
player who played from 1976-1985. He played college basketball for Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
. Shelton was drafted by the Memphis Sounds
Memphis Sounds
Memphis Sounds was the final name of a franchise in the American Basketball Association. The team had begun as the New Orleans Buccaneers, and after three seasons in New Orleans, Louisiana moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where it had occasionally played some home games in the past to reasonable crowds...
(soon to become the Baltimore Claws
Baltimore Claws
The Baltimore Claws was an American basketball team which was supposed to appear in the 1975-76 season in the American Basketball Association. The team collapsed before the season started, playing only three exhibition games in its brief history.-Background:...
) of the American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
in 1975 but elected to stay in college. He was then selected by the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in the second round of the 1976 NBA Draft
1976 NBA Draft
The 1976 NBA Draft was the 30th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 8, 1976 before the 1976–77 season. In this draft, 18 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
.
Professional career
Shelton stayed with the Knicks for 2 seasons, later playing 5 seasons with the Seattle SuperSonicsSeattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
and finishing his career playing for the 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...
for 3 seasons. Shelton led the NBA in personal fouls in his first two seasons with New York. In 1979, his first season with the SuperSonics, Shelton was the team's starting power forward and helped the SuperSonics win the NBA Finals
NBA Finals
The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
. Shelton was one of three SuperSonics represented in the 1982 NBA All-Star Game
1982 NBA All-Star Game
-Western Conference: -Eastern Conference: -Score by Periods: *Halftime— East, 63-61*Third Quarter— East, 90-89*Attendance: 20,149....
(along with Jack Sikma
Jack Sikma
Jack Wayne Sikma is a retired American NBA basketball center. He was known for his distinctive curly, blonde hair in his playing days....
and Gus Williams) and was named to the NBA's 1982 2nd All-Defense Team.
Personal
Shelton's sons include L. J., current offensive tackle for the NFLNational Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Tim Shelton, who plays for the San Diego State Aztecs basketball team, Titus Shelton, who played for the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Mustangs basketball team from 2005-2009, and Marlon, who played for the Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
Huskies
Washington Huskies
Washington Huskies is the nickname of the University of Washington's athletic teams. The school is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. The athletic program is made up of 9 men's sports and 10 women's sports Washington Huskies is the nickname of the University of Washington's athletic teams. The...
from 1998 to 2003.