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Charles Shackleford
Personal information
Born (1966-04-22)April 22, 1966
Kinston, North Carolina
Nationality American
Died January 27, 2017(2017-01-27) (aged 50)
Kinston, North Carolina
High school Kinston
(Kinston, North Carolina)
Listed height 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight 225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
College NC State (1985–1988)
NBA Draft 1988 / Round: 2 / Pick: 32nd overall
Selected by the New Jersey Nets
Pro career 1988–1999
Career history
1988–1990 New Jersey Nets
1990–1991 Phonola Caserta
1991–1993 Philadelphia 76ers
1993–1994 Onyx Caserta
1994 Minnesota Timberwolves
1995–1996 Ülkerspor
1996–1997 Aris
1997–1998 P.A.O.K.
1998–1999 Idaho Stampede
1999 Charlotte Hornets
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-ACC (1988)
  • Fourth-team Parade All-American (1985)
Career NBA statistics
Points 1,625 (5.4 ppg)
Rebounds 1,448 (4.8 rpg)

Charles Edward Shackleford (born April 22, 1966 – died January 27, 2017) was a talented American professional basketball player.

He played as a center and power forward. Charles was especially known for being great at getting rebounds. He often led European leagues in this important skill.

Charles played for 6 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also spent several successful seasons playing basketball in Europe. Many people remember Charles for a funny quote he once said after a game: "I can shoot with my left hand, I can shoot with my right hand, I'm amphibious."

College Basketball Career

Charles Shackleford played college basketball for North Carolina State. He played from 1985 to 1988 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). This is part of the NCAA Division I, which is the highest level of college sports.

He faced some academic challenges during his time in college. However, he worked hard to improve his grades and was able to continue playing. His coach, Jim Valvano, and other university leaders helped him.

On the court, fans called Shackleford "Shack." He was a very important player for the Wolfpack team. He was known for his strong physical presence. In 1988, he was chosen for the All-ACC team. He also led the conference in rebounds that year.

Charles decided to leave college early to join the NBA draft. He declared for the draft in May 1988.

Professional Basketball Career

Early NBA Years and Success in Europe

The New Jersey Nets picked Charles Shackleford in the 2nd round of the 1988 NBA draft. He was the 32nd player chosen overall. He played 130 games for the Nets over two seasons. He started in 37 of those games.

His best NBA season was 1989–90. He played more minutes and scored more points. He also grabbed more rebounds per game. On February 20, 1990, he had an amazing game against the Milwaukee Bucks. He scored 23 points and grabbed 26 rebounds. His 26 rebounds were one of the most ever for a Nets player in a single game.

After his time with the Nets, Charles moved to Italy. He played for Phonola Caserta in the Serie A league. He was a key player, averaging 19.7 points and 15.8 rebounds. He led the league in rebounds. His team won the 1990–91 league title, which was their first championship ever.

Return to the NBA and More European Play

Shackleford came back to the United States in 1991. He signed a three-year contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. He played two seasons with them. In his first season (1991–92), he started in most games. He averaged 6.6 points and 5.8 rebounds.

In 1993–94, he returned to Caserta in Italy. He again led the Italian league in rebounds.

He then came back to the U.S. to play for the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1994. He played 21 games before leaving the team in February 1995.

Playing in Turkey and Greece

Next, Charles joined Ülkerspor in the Turkish Basketball League. He played in the EuroLeague, which is a top European competition. In the 1995–96 season, he led the EuroLeague in rebounding. Despite his great rebounding, he left the team.

He then moved to Greece to play for Aris Thessaloniki. This was for the 1996–97 season. He helped his team win the 1997 Korać Cup. This was a European basketball tournament. His strong defense in the final game was very important for their win. He also led the Greek league in rebounding that season.

After a short time with the Washington Wizards, Charles returned to Greece. He signed with P.A.O.K. for the next season.

Final NBA Stint and Retirement

After playing briefly in the Continental Basketball Association for the Idaho Stampede, Charles joined the Charlotte Hornets. This was in January 1999. He played 32 games for the Hornets during the 1998–99 NBA season. These were the last games of his professional career.

His contract ended in July 1999. He tried out for other NBA teams but did not get a spot. He officially retired from basketball in 2000.

Death

Charles Shackleford passed away at his home in Kinston, North Carolina. He died on January 27, 2017, at the age of 50.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Charles Shackleford para niños

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