Felton Spencer: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|American basketball player}} |
{{Short description|American basketball player (1968–2023)}} |
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{{More citations needed|date=March 2023}} |
{{More citations needed|date=March 2023}} |
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{{Infobox basketball biography |
{{Infobox basketball biography |
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| career_start = 1990 |
| career_start = 1990 |
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| career_end = 2002 |
| career_end = 2002 |
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| years1 = {{nbay|1990|start}}–{{nbay|1992|end}} |
| years1 = {{nbay|1990|start}}–{{nbay|1992|end}} |
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| team1 = [[Minnesota Timberwolves]] |
| team1 = [[Minnesota Timberwolves]] |
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| stat3label = [[Block (basketball)|Blocks]] |
| stat3label = [[Block (basketball)|Blocks]] |
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| stat3value = 534 (0.8 bpg) |
| stat3value = 534 (0.8 bpg) |
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| bbr = spencfe01 |
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| letter = s |
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'''Felton LaFrance Spencer''' (January 5, 1968 – March 12, 2023) was an American professional [[basketball]] player who was a [[center (basketball)|center]] for the [[Minnesota Timberwolves]], [[Utah Jazz]], [[Orlando Magic]], [[Golden State Warriors]], [[San Antonio Spurs]], and [[New York Knicks]] of the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA) from 1990 to 2002. |
'''Felton LaFrance Spencer''' (January 5, 1968 – March 12, 2023) was an American professional [[basketball]] player who was a [[center (basketball)|center]] for the [[Minnesota Timberwolves]], [[Utah Jazz]], [[Orlando Magic]], [[Golden State Warriors]], [[San Antonio Spurs]], and [[New York Knicks]] of the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA) from 1990 to 2002. |
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==High school and college== |
==High school and college== |
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⚫ | Spencer was an all-state basketball player at [[Eastern High School (Louisville)|Eastern High School]] in [[Middletown, Kentucky]] (now part of Louisville); as both a junior and a senior, he led the team to the KHSAA state tournament in [[Lexington, Kentucky|Lexington]]. In the first year, Eastern was upset by lightly regarded [[Metcalfe County, Kentucky|Metcalfe County]] in the first round, 60–58. A year later as a senior, Eastern was eliminated in the quarter-finals by [[Hazard, Kentucky|Hazard]] High School. |
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⚫ | Spencer attended the [[University of Louisville]], where he played [[college basketball]] for the [[Louisville Cardinals men's basketball|Louisville Cardinals]]. He became the all-time field goal percentage leader at 62.8%. He took over the [[center (basketball)|center]] position as a senior in 1989–90 after [[Pervis Ellison]] left to join the NBA. That season Spencer paced the Cardinals in scoring (14.9 ppg), rebounding (8.5 rpg), blocked shots (69), and field goal percentage (68.1%). |
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⚫ | Spencer was an all-state basketball player at [[Eastern High School (Louisville)|Eastern High School]] in [[Middletown, Kentucky]] (now part of Louisville); as both a junior and a senior, he led the team to the KHSAA state tournament in [[Lexington, Kentucky|Lexington]]. |
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⚫ | Spencer attended the [[University of Louisville]], where he played [[college basketball]] for the [[Louisville Cardinals men's basketball|Louisville Cardinals]]. He became the all-time field goal percentage leader at 62.8%. |
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==NBA career== |
==NBA career== |
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⚫ | The [[Minnesota Timberwolves]] selected Spencer in the first round, with the sixth overall pick, in the [[1990 NBA draft]]. As a rookie, Spencer split time at center with {{convert|7|ft|3|in|adj=on}} veteran [[Randy Breuer]], but still managed respectable numbers, averaging 7.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, and shooting 51.2% from the floor. He finished the season with 272 offensive rebounds, the seventh-most in the NBA that year.<ref name=NBAstats>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/spencfe01.html|title=Felton Spencer|website=[[Basketball Reference]]|publisher=[[Sports Reference]]|accessdate=13 March 2023}}</ref> Additionally, he blocked 121 shots, establishing a single-season record for the young franchise that would stand until [[Kevin Garnett]]'s rookie season in 1995–96. For his efforts, Spencer was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team that year. However, with the arrival of [[Luc Longley]] the following season, Spencer's playing time declined over the following two years. After the [[1992–93 NBA season|1992–93 season]], Minnesota traded Spencer to the [[Utah Jazz]] for power forward/center [[Mike Brown (basketball player)|Mike Brown]]. |
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⚫ | In Utah, Spencer became the successor to [[Mark Eaton]], and he provided the Jazz with solid scoring, rebounding and defense at the pivot position. In [[1993–94 NBA season|1993–94]], as a complement to [[John Stockton]] and [[Karl Malone]], he averaged 8.6 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 50.5% from the floor. Spencer and the Jazz seemed to be on their way to greatness in [[1994–95 NBA season|1994–95]], but 34 games into the season he ruptured his left [[Achilles tendon]] and was lost for the year. Utah went on to win 60 regular-season games but failed to reach the [[NBA Finals]] by losing in the first round. He missed the first 11 games of the 1995–96 season while recovering from his Achilles injury, but went on to play in the remaining 71, starting 70 and averaging 5.6 points and 4.3 rebounds in 17.8 minutes per game. He shot a career-high 52.0% from the field, tying [[Adam Keefe (basketball)|Adam Keefe]] for the second-best mark on the team. |
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⚫ | |||
⚫ | In Utah, Spencer became the successor to [[Mark Eaton]], and he provided the Jazz with solid scoring, rebounding and defense at the pivot position. In [[1993–94 NBA season|1993–94]], as a complement to [[John Stockton]] and [[Karl Malone]], he averaged 8.6 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 50.5% from the floor. |
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On August 10, 1996, Spencer was obtained by the [[Orlando Magic]] for guard [[Brooks Thompson]], forward [[Kenny Gattison]] and a first-round draft pick, after the Magic had lost [[Shaquille O'Neal]] to the [[Los Angeles Lakers|Lakers]] as a [[free agent]]. |
On August 10, 1996, Spencer was obtained by the [[Orlando Magic]] for guard [[Brooks Thompson]], forward [[Kenny Gattison]] and a first-round draft pick, after the Magic had lost [[Shaquille O'Neal]] to the [[Los Angeles Lakers|Lakers]] as a [[free agent]]. But he played just one game for Orlando before he was traded to [[Golden State Warriors|Golden State]] in the deal that brought [[Rony Seikaly]] to the Magic. He went on to play 71 games for the Warriors and do a solid job in the middle, ranking second on the team in rebounding and third in blocked shots. His role was diminished in 1997–98 by the arrival of second-year man [[Erick Dampier]] as the starter, as well as the drafting of rookie [[Adonal Foyle]], and he saw relatively limited action as a reserve in 68 games. He played even less in [[1998–99 NBA season|1998–99]], averaging just 6.1 minutes in his 26 appearances off the bench. |
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Spencer retired after the [[2001–02 NBA season|2001–02 season]], last playing with the Knicks |
Spencer retired after the [[2001–02 NBA season|2001–02 season]], last playing with the Knicks. |
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==Coaching== |
==Coaching== |
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In 2011, Spencer became an assistant basketball coach at [[Spalding University]].<ref>[http://spaldingathletics.com/mens-sports/basketball/basketball-adds-hometown-hero-felton-spencer-to-staff/ Spalding University Basketball Adds Hometown Hero Felton Spencer to Staff] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619154023/http://spaldingathletics.com/mens-sports/basketball/basketball-adds-hometown-hero-felton-spencer-to-staff/ |date=2013-06-19 }}</ref> |
In 2011, Spencer became an assistant basketball coach at [[Spalding University]].<ref>[http://spaldingathletics.com/mens-sports/basketball/basketball-adds-hometown-hero-felton-spencer-to-staff/ Spalding University Basketball Adds Hometown Hero Felton Spencer to Staff] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619154023/http://spaldingathletics.com/mens-sports/basketball/basketball-adds-hometown-hero-felton-spencer-to-staff/ |date=2013-06-19 }}</ref> |
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Spencer was later an assistant basketball coach at [[Bellarmine University]] in Louisville, |
Spencer was later an assistant basketball coach at [[Bellarmine University]] in Louisville, Kentucky.<ref>[http://www.wave3.com/story/33393064/bellarmine-begins-basketball-season-with-morning-madness/ Bellarmine begins basketball season with Morning Madness]</ref> |
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==Death== |
==Death== |
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Spencer died on March 12, 2023, at the age of 55 |
Spencer died at the University of Louisville Hospital on March 12, 2023, at the age of 55.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rutherford |first1=Mike |date=March 12, 2023 |title=Louisville hoops legend Felton Spencer has died |url=https://www.cardchronicle.com/2023/3/12/23636688/louisville-hoops-legend-felton-spencer-has-died |access-date=March 12, 2023 |website=Card Chronicle}}</ref> |
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==Career statistics== |
==Career statistics== |
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| 16 || 16 || '''30.8''' || '''.448''' || – || '''.660''' || '''8.4''' || '''.4''' || .2 || '''1.3''' || '''7.9''' |
| 16 || 16 || '''30.8''' || '''.448''' || – || '''.660''' || '''8.4''' || '''.4''' || .2 || '''1.3''' || '''7.9''' |
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|- |
|- |
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| style="text-align:left;"| [[1996 NBA Playoffs| |
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1996 NBA Playoffs|1996]] |
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| style="text-align:left;"| [[1995–96 Utah Jazz season|Utah]] |
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1995–96 Utah Jazz season|Utah]] |
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| '''18''' || '''18''' || 15.3 || .434 || .000 || .556 || 3.0 || .1 || '''.3''' || 1.2 || 2.8 |
| '''18''' || '''18''' || 15.3 || .434 || .000 || .556 || 3.0 || .1 || '''.3''' || 1.2 || 2.8 |
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|- |
|- |
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| style="text-align:left;"| [[2001 NBA Playoffs|2001]] |
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2001 NBA Playoffs|2001]] |
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| style="text-align:left;"| [[2000–01 New York Knicks season|New York]] |
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2000–01 New York Knicks season|New York]] |
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| 2 || 0 || 2.0 || – || – || – || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 |
| 2 || 0 || 2.0 || – || – || – || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 |
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{{basketballstats}} |
{{basketballstats}} |
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{{1990 NBA |
{{1990 NBA draft}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Spencer, Felton}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spencer, Felton}} |
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[[Category:1968 births]] |
[[Category:1968 births]] |
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[[Category:2023 deaths]] |
[[Category:2023 deaths]] |
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[[Category:African-American |
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportspeople]] |
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[[Category:American men's basketball players]] |
[[Category:American men's basketball players]] |
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[[Category:Basketball players from Louisville, Kentucky]] |
[[Category:Basketball players from Louisville, Kentucky]] |
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[[Category:Centers (basketball)]] |
[[Category:Centers (basketball)]] |
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[[Category:Golden State Warriors players]] |
[[Category:Golden State Warriors players]] |
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[[Category:Louisville Cardinals men's basketball players]] |
[[Category:Louisville Cardinals men's basketball players]] |
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[[Category:San Antonio Spurs players]] |
[[Category:San Antonio Spurs players]] |
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[[Category:Utah Jazz players]] |
[[Category:Utah Jazz players]] |
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[[Category:21st-century African-American people]] |
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Latest revision as of 14:39, 23 November 2023
This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2023) |
Personal information | |
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Born | Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. | January 5, 1968
Died | March 12, 2023 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. | (aged 55)
Listed height | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) |
Listed weight | 290 lb (132 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Eastern (Middletown, Kentucky) |
College | Louisville (1986–1990) |
NBA draft | 1990: 1st round, 6th overall pick |
Selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves | |
Playing career | 1990–2002 |
Position | Center |
Number | 50, 16 |
Career history | |
1990–1993 | Minnesota Timberwolves |
1993–1996 | Utah Jazz |
1996 | Orlando Magic |
1996–1999 | Golden State Warriors |
1999–2000 | San Antonio Spurs |
2000–2002 | New York Knicks |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Career NBA statistics | |
Points | 3,354 (5.2 ppg) |
Rebounds | 3,436 (5.4 rpg) |
Blocks | 534 (0.8 bpg) |
Stats at NBA.com | |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Felton LaFrance Spencer (January 5, 1968 – March 12, 2023) was an American professional basketball player who was a center for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, Orlando Magic, Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, and New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1990 to 2002.
High school and college[edit]
Spencer was an all-state basketball player at Eastern High School in Middletown, Kentucky (now part of Louisville); as both a junior and a senior, he led the team to the KHSAA state tournament in Lexington. In the first year, Eastern was upset by lightly regarded Metcalfe County in the first round, 60–58. A year later as a senior, Eastern was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Hazard High School.
Spencer attended the University of Louisville, where he played college basketball for the Louisville Cardinals. He became the all-time field goal percentage leader at 62.8%. He took over the center position as a senior in 1989–90 after Pervis Ellison left to join the NBA. That season Spencer paced the Cardinals in scoring (14.9 ppg), rebounding (8.5 rpg), blocked shots (69), and field goal percentage (68.1%).
NBA career[edit]
The Minnesota Timberwolves selected Spencer in the first round, with the sixth overall pick, in the 1990 NBA draft. As a rookie, Spencer split time at center with 7-foot-3-inch (2.21 m) veteran Randy Breuer, but still managed respectable numbers, averaging 7.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, and shooting 51.2% from the floor. He finished the season with 272 offensive rebounds, the seventh-most in the NBA that year.[1] Additionally, he blocked 121 shots, establishing a single-season record for the young franchise that would stand until Kevin Garnett's rookie season in 1995–96. For his efforts, Spencer was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team that year. However, with the arrival of Luc Longley the following season, Spencer's playing time declined over the following two years. After the 1992–93 season, Minnesota traded Spencer to the Utah Jazz for power forward/center Mike Brown.
In Utah, Spencer became the successor to Mark Eaton, and he provided the Jazz with solid scoring, rebounding and defense at the pivot position. In 1993–94, as a complement to John Stockton and Karl Malone, he averaged 8.6 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 50.5% from the floor. Spencer and the Jazz seemed to be on their way to greatness in 1994–95, but 34 games into the season he ruptured his left Achilles tendon and was lost for the year. Utah went on to win 60 regular-season games but failed to reach the NBA Finals by losing in the first round. He missed the first 11 games of the 1995–96 season while recovering from his Achilles injury, but went on to play in the remaining 71, starting 70 and averaging 5.6 points and 4.3 rebounds in 17.8 minutes per game. He shot a career-high 52.0% from the field, tying Adam Keefe for the second-best mark on the team.
On August 10, 1996, Spencer was obtained by the Orlando Magic for guard Brooks Thompson, forward Kenny Gattison and a first-round draft pick, after the Magic had lost Shaquille O'Neal to the Lakers as a free agent. But he played just one game for Orlando before he was traded to Golden State in the deal that brought Rony Seikaly to the Magic. He went on to play 71 games for the Warriors and do a solid job in the middle, ranking second on the team in rebounding and third in blocked shots. His role was diminished in 1997–98 by the arrival of second-year man Erick Dampier as the starter, as well as the drafting of rookie Adonal Foyle, and he saw relatively limited action as a reserve in 68 games. He played even less in 1998–99, averaging just 6.1 minutes in his 26 appearances off the bench.
Spencer retired after the 2001–02 season, last playing with the Knicks.
Coaching[edit]
In 2011, Spencer became an assistant basketball coach at Spalding University.[2]
Spencer was later an assistant basketball coach at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky.[3]
Death[edit]
Spencer died at the University of Louisville Hospital on March 12, 2023, at the age of 55.[4]
Career statistics[edit]
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
† | Won an NBA championship | * | Led the league |
NBA[edit]
Source[1]
Regular season[edit]
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1990–91 | Minnesota | 81 | 46 | 25.9 | .512 | .000 | .722 | 7.9 | .3 | .6 | 1.5 | 7.1 |
1991–92 | Minnesota | 61 | 54 | 24.3 | .426 | – | .691 | 7.1 | .9 | .4 | 1.3 | 6.6 |
1992–93 | Minnesota | 71 | 48 | 18.3 | .465 | – | .654 | 4.6 | .2 | .3 | .9 | 4.1 |
1993–94 | Utah | 79 | 79 | 28.0 | .505 | – | .607 | 8.3 | .5 | .5 | .8 | 8.6 |
1994–95 | Utah | 34 | 34 | 26.6 | .488 | – | .793 | 7.6 | .5 | .4 | .9 | 9.3 |
1995–96 | Utah | 71 | 70 | 17.8 | .520 | – | .689 | 4.3 | .2 | .3 | .8 | 5.6 |
1996–97 | Orlando | 1 | 0 | 19.0 | 1.000 | – | – | 6.0 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | 4.0 |
1996–97 | Golden State | 72 | 64 | 21.4 | .486 | – | .584 | 5.7 | .3 | .5 | .7 | 5.1 |
1997–98 | Golden State | 68 | 0 | 12.0 | .457 | – | .557 | 3.3 | .3 | .3 | .5 | 2.4 |
1998–99 | Golden State | 26 | 0 | 6.1 | .455 | – | .462 | 1.8 | .0 | .2 | .4 | 1.6 |
1999–2000 | San Antonio | 26 | 0 | 5.7 | .455 | – | .667 | 1.5 | .1 | .2 | .3 | 1.9 |
2000–01 | New York | 18 | 0 | 6.3 | .600 | – | .600 | 1.9 | .1 | .1 | .1 | 2.2 |
2001–02 | New York | 32 | 8 | 7.8 | .231 | – | .515 | 1.6 | .1 | .2 | .3 | .9 |
Career | 640 | 404 | 19.4 | .484 | .000 | .658 | 5.4 | .3 | .4 | .8 | 5.2 |
Playoffs[edit]
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1994 | Utah | 16 | 16 | 30.8 | .448 | – | .660 | 8.4 | .4 | .2 | 1.3 | 7.9 |
1996 | Utah | 18 | 18 | 15.3 | .434 | .000 | .556 | 3.0 | .1 | .3 | 1.2 | 2.8 |
2001 | New York | 2 | 0 | 2.0 | – | – | – | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 |
Career | 36 | 34 | 21.4 | .443 | .000 | .644 | 5.3 | .3 | .2 | 1.2 | 4.9 |
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Felton Spencer". Basketball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ^ Spalding University Basketball Adds Hometown Hero Felton Spencer to Staff Archived 2013-06-19 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Bellarmine begins basketball season with Morning Madness
- ^ Rutherford, Mike (March 12, 2023). "Louisville hoops legend Felton Spencer has died". Card Chronicle. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
External links[edit]
- Career statistics and player information from NBA.com and Basketball-Reference.com
- 1968 births
- 2023 deaths
- 20th-century African-American sportspeople
- 21st-century African-American sportspeople
- American men's basketball players
- Basketball players from Louisville, Kentucky
- Centers (basketball)
- Eastern High School (Louisville, Kentucky) alumni
- Golden State Warriors players
- Louisville Cardinals men's basketball players
- Minnesota Timberwolves draft picks
- Minnesota Timberwolves players
- New York Knicks players
- Orlando Magic players
- Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball)
- San Antonio Spurs players
- Utah Jazz players