Landon Turner (basketball) facts for kids
Turner with the Arsenal Tech basketball team in 1977
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| Personal information | |
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| Born | September 30, 1960 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| High school | Arsenal Tech (Indianapolis, Indiana) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Listed weight | 235 lb (107 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Indiana (1978–1982) |
| NBA Draft | 1982 / Round: 10 / Pick: 225th overall |
| Selected by the Boston Celtics | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Landon Montel Turner (born September 30, 1960) is a former American basketball player. He played college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers. As a junior in 1981, he helped his team win an NCAA championship. The Hoosiers' coach, Bob Knight, believed Landon had the potential to be one of the best players he ever coached.
Landon was expected to have a great senior year. Many thought he would be a top pick in the National Basketball Association (NBA) draft. However, his basketball career changed after a car accident in July 1981. He was injured and could not use his legs. Even so, he stayed with the Hoosiers as a team captain during the 1981–82 season. The Boston Celtics honored him by choosing him as the very last pick in the 1982 NBA draft. After college, Landon played wheelchair basketball for three years. Later, he became a motivational speaker. He is now a member of both the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame and the Indiana University Athletics Hall of Fame.
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Early Life and Basketball Beginnings
Landon Turner was born on September 30, 1960. His parents were Adell and Rita Turner. His father, Adell, was an athlete who played football and competed in track. He even received a scholarship to play football for the Purdue Boilermakers. Landon looks up to his father as his biggest inspiration in sports.
Landon played basketball at Arsenal Technical High School. This was the same school his father attended. He grew a lot during his high school years. By his sophomore year, he was 6 feet 9 inches tall and could slam dunk. In his senior year, Landon became a star player. He scored 616 points that season, which was a record for Arsenal Tech. He averaged 21.4 points and 15.8 rebounds per game. Because of his amazing skills, Landon was named a Parade All-American. He also played in the 1978 McDonald's All-American Game. He was the only player from Indiana chosen for that game.
College Basketball Career
Landon received about 300 offers from colleges. He decided to stay in his home state. He chose between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Purdue Boilermakers. This way, his parents could easily watch his games. His father was a big fan of the Hoosiers and their coach, Bob Knight. So, Landon decided to play for the Hoosiers in the fall of 1978.
Coach Knight was known for being very tough. Landon was surprised when Knight seemed calm during a visit to his home. He even joked that Knight was "a demon in disguise." Once Landon joined the Hoosiers, Knight pushed him very hard. Landon even thought about quitting the team during his first year. His teammate, Steve Risley, felt that Knight saw more potential in Landon than anyone else. But Knight also saw Landon not always trying his hardest. Knight believed Landon could be the best player he ever coached. He thought Landon could be the greatest Hoosiers player ever. But he became frustrated when Landon didn't seem to grow as much as he could.
After his second year, Knight was so annoyed by Landon's relaxed attitude. He told Landon to quit the team and play professionally. But Landon stayed with the Hoosiers. However, his grades dropped because he spent more time at parties than studying. This led to Coach Knight making him sit out some games during his junior year. Knight felt that Landon "couldn't think past tomorrow." He was frustrated by Landon's lack of effort in practices.
Landon worked hard to improve his grades. Coach Knight also saw him playing better. So, Landon was put back into the starting lineup for the last few games of the Big Ten Conference. He helped the team win every game for the rest of the season. In the 1981 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament, Landon, along with guard Isiah Thomas and center Ray Tolbert, formed a strong team. They were considered the Hoosiers' best players. In the final game, the Hoosiers beat the North Carolina Tar Heels 63–50. This win made them the NCAA champions! Landon was even named to the all-tournament team.
After Tolbert graduated and Thomas decided to enter the draft, Landon was expected to be the main player for the Hoosiers in the 1981–82 season. Coach Knight thought Landon could have been the best player in the country that year. Boston Celtics general manager Red Auerbach also expected him to be a top pick in the 1982 NBA draft. Isiah Thomas compared Landon to James Worthy. He believed Landon "had all the makings of being a great power forward."
Life-Changing Accident
On July 26, 1981, Landon was driving with three friends to an amusement park. He lost control of his car on a curve and it flipped over. Landon was not wearing a seat belt. He and his friends were all injured. Landon was taken to a local hospital. Later that day, he was moved to Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital. Coach Knight, who was on vacation, flew back to be with Landon and his family. Isiah Thomas also visited him.
Landon had a spinal injury. After the accident, he could not use his legs. He eventually regained full use of his arms and hands. But his legs were permanently paralyzed. His father's health insurance from Ford Motor Company helped cover his medical costs.
Landon's accident received national attention. He got many letters while in the hospital. Famous people like Richard Pryor and B. J. Thomas wrote to him. Coach Knight started a special fund called the Landon Turner Trust Fund. This fund raised $400,000 to help pay for Landon's medical bills. Knight, along with other important people, helped advise the fund. Isiah Thomas also organized an all-star basketball game in 1981. This game raised another $90,000 for Landon.
Landon stayed in the hospital for four months. Then he went home to his parents' house. During his recovery, Landon and Coach Knight became very close. Their relationship was like that of a father and son. Knight even named Landon as a team captain for the Hoosiers during the 1981–82 season.
The Boston Celtics honored Landon in a special way. They chose him as the 225th and final pick in the 1982 NBA draft. Coach Knight had suggested this idea to Celtics general manager Red Auerbach and coach Bill Fitch. Auerbach said they were honored to have Landon be part of the Celtics. He felt it was a way to show how they felt about him. Knight called the gesture "a beautiful thing." He said Auerbach was "one of the class people in sports." When Landon found out he was drafted, he jokingly sent a telegram to Auerbach. It said: "When do I report for tryout?" Auerbach stayed in touch with Landon. He even sent him two championship watches when the Celtics won the NBA Finals in 1984 and 1986.
Life After Basketball
In 1983, Landon sued the Ford Motor Company. He claimed that the roof of his 1973 Ford LTD car did not protect him during the accident. He asked for money to cover his medical bills and the earnings he lost from not being able to play professionally. In 1985, Landon reached an agreement with Ford outside of court for an amount that was not made public.
Coach Knight encouraged Landon to go back to Indiana University Bloomington (IU) to finish his degree. Landon returned in 1983 to study physical education. He had to take some classes at Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). This was because some of his classrooms at IU had stairs he couldn't use. Landon graduated in 1984. That same year, IU hired him as a coordinator for minority affairs. He held this job until 1988.
In 1987, Landon started playing wheelchair basketball for the Circle City Knight Riders. This team was connected to the Indiana Pacers. At first, he didn't want to play wheelchair basketball. He felt he couldn't play like he used to. But the team's founder, Tony Williams, convinced him to join. In 1989, Landon received the Most Courageous Award from the United States Basketball Writers Association. This was for his brave return to basketball. He played wheelchair basketball for three years. But he eventually quit because he didn't love the game in the same way.
In 1989, Landon started his own business called Landon Turner Enterprises Inc. He became a motivational speaker. He visits schools and churches to talk about disability awareness. He shares his life story and talks about accepting yourself and others. Landon also wrote a book called Landon Turner's Tales from the 1980–81 Indiana Hoosiers. This book is about his struggles during the championship-winning season. Coach Knight wrote the introduction for the book.
Landon Turner has been honored for his achievements. He was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007. In 2012, he was also inducted into the Indiana University Athletics Hall of Fame.
