Alton Lister facts for kids
| TNT Tropang Giga | |
|---|---|
| Assistant coach | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | October 1, 1958 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| High school | Woodrow Wilson (Dallas, Texas) |
| Listed height | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) |
| Listed weight | 240 lb (109 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
|
| NBA Draft | 1981 / Round: 1 / Pick: 21st overall |
| Selected by the Milwaukee Bucks | |
| Pro career | 1981–1998 |
| Coaching career | 2000–present |
| League | Philippine Basketball Association |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1981–1986 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1986–1989 | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1989–1993 | Golden State Warriors |
| 1994–1995 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1995–1997 | Boston Celtics |
| 1997–1998 | Portland Trail Blazers |
| As coach: | |
| 2000–2007 | Mesa Community College |
| 2007–2008 | Atlanta Hawks (assistant) |
| 2016–present | Tropang TNT / TNT Katropa / TNT Tropang Giga (assistant) |
| 2016–present | Ateneo (assistant) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As Player:
As Assistant Coach:
|
|
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 6,298 (6.6 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 5,996 (6.3 rpg) |
| Blocks | 1,473 (1.5 bpg) |
Alton Lavelle Lister (born October 1, 1958) is a former professional basketball player from the United States. He was known for being a strong rebounder and shot blocker. He played as a center in the NBA for many years.
After his playing career, Alton became a basketball coach. He is currently an assistant coach for the TNT Tropang Giga team in the Philippine Basketball Association. He also coaches the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
Contents
Early Life and High School Basketball
Alton Lister grew up in Dallas, Texas. He went to Woodrow Wilson High School. There, he was a star player for the Wildcats basketball team. He helped them win many games.
Alton was recognized as an All-American and All-State player. This means he was one of the best high school players in the country and in Texas. In 1990, he was honored by being added to Woodrow Wilson's Hall of Fame.
College Basketball Journey
Alton Lister is 7 feet tall! He started his college basketball career at San Jacinto Junior College. He was a great rebounder there and earned All-American honors.
Later, he moved to Arizona State University. During his senior year (1980–1981), he averaged 15.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. His team had an amazing record of 24 wins and only 4 losses. They were ranked fifth in the nation!
Alton was named to the All-Pac-10 team for his great play. He also won his team's Most Improved Player award. In 2000, Alton was inducted into the Arizona State Hall of Fame. His jersey number 53 was also retired by Arizona State, a big honor!
Olympic Dream
Alton Lister was chosen to be part of the 1980 USA Olympic basketball team. This was a huge achievement for him. However, the United States decided not to send its athletes to the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. This was due to a boycott ordered by President Jimmy Carter.
Even though he couldn't play, Alton and the other athletes received a special Congressional Gold Medal. This medal honored their dedication and sacrifice.
Playing in the NBA
Alton Lister was picked by the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the 1981 NBA draft. He was the 21st player chosen overall. He played for the Bucks for five seasons. During this time, he learned a lot from his teammate, Bob Lanier.
Alton was known for his rebounding and blocking shots. He wore jersey number 53 throughout his entire NBA career. He played in 953 NBA games and scored a total of 6,298 points.
NBA Teams and Highlights
After playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, Alton Lister joined the Seattle SuperSonics in 1986. His best season was in 1986–87 with the SuperSonics. He averaged 11.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game.
He then played for the Golden State Warriors for four years. Later in his career, he returned to the Milwaukee Bucks. He also played for the Boston Celtics and finished his NBA career with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Becoming a Coach
After his playing days, Alton Lister became a basketball coach. In 2000, he became the head coach at Mesa Community College. He helped the team improve a lot. Before he arrived, they had 9 wins and 21 losses. With Alton as coach, they had five seasons with 20 or more wins! Many of his players went on to play at bigger colleges.
In 2007, the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA hired Alton as an assistant coach. He later moved to the Philippines. There, he became a skills coach for the San Miguel Beermen in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Alton is still coaching in the Philippines today. He is an assistant coach for the TNT Tropang Giga and the Ateneo Blue Eagles. He has helped these teams win championships. He was part of the team that won the PBA championship in 2021. He also helped Ateneo win four UAAP championships (2017, 2018, 2019, 2022).
Personal Life
Alton Lister lives in the Philippines with his daughter, Avery. He also has four other children in the United States. Even when he was retired from playing, he coached young basketball players in California.
Alton's brother, James Lister, was also a basketball player. He was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1973. James played professionally in the Philippines and Belgium.
See Also
In Spanish: Alton Lister para niños
- List of National Basketball Association career blocks leaders
