Benoit Benjamin
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Lenard Benoit Benjamin (born November 22 1964, in Monroe, Louisiana) is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1st round (3rd overall) of the 1985 NBA Draft. A 7'0" center from Creighton University, Benjamin played for nine NBA teams in 15 seasons from 1985-2000. He played for the Clippers (1985-91), Seattle SuperSonics (1991-93), Los Angeles Lakers (1993, 1999 preseason), New Jersey Nets (1993-95), Vancouver Grizzlies (1995), Milwaukee Bucks (1995-96), Toronto Raptors (1996), Philadelphia 76ers (1998-99) and Cleveland Cavaliers (1999).[1]
Benjamin's best year as a professional came during the 1988-89 NBA season as a member of the Clippers, appearing in 79 games and averaging 16.4 ppg. In his NBA career, he had a .541 field goal percentage, 4,604 defensive rebounds, 1,581 blocks and averaged 11.4 Points and 2.0 Blocks Per Game.
He is the Clippers' career leader in blocked shots (1,117) and in blocked shots per game (2.75).
In the mid-1980s he was considered one of the greatest up-and-coming stars of the game. Benjamin never became the breakout player intended for such a high draft pick, but he did average double-digits in points and rebounds per game for most of the first half of his career. Benjamin also played overseas, in Peristeri, Greece and in South America as well as for the Harlem Globetrotters.
[edit] References
1985 NBA Draft |
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| First Round Patrick Ewing • Wayman Tisdale • Benoit Benjamin • Xavier McDaniel • Jon Koncak • Joe Kleine • Chris Mullin • Detlef Schrempf • Charles Oakley • Ed Pinckney • Keith Lee • Kenny Green • Karl Malone • Alfredrick Hughes • Blair Rasmussen • Bill Wennington • Uwe Blab • Joe Dumars • Steve Harris • Sam Vincent • Terry Catledge • Jerry Reynolds • A. C. Green • Terry Porter |
| Second Round Mike Smrek • Bill Martin • Dwayne McClain • Ken Johnson • Mike Brittain • Calvin Duncan • Manute Bol • Nick Vanos • Greg Stokes • Aubrey Sherrod • Tyrone Corbin • Yvon Joseph • Carey Scurry • Fernando Martín • George Montgomery • Mark Acres • Lorenzo Charles • Bobby Lee Hurt • Barry Stevens • Voise Winters • John "Hot Rod" Williams • Adrian Branch • Gerald Wilkins |
Categories: United States basketball biography, 1960s birth stubs | 1964 births | Living people | People from Monroe, Louisiana | African American sportspeople | American basketball players | Creighton Bluejays men's basketball players | Los Angeles Clippers players | Seattle SuperSonics players | Los Angeles Lakers players | New Jersey Nets players | Vancouver Grizzlies players | Milwaukee Bucks players | Toronto Raptors players | Philadelphia 76ers players | Cleveland Cavaliers players | Centers (basketball) | Creighton University alumni
