Lloyd Neal facts for kids
Neal (left) in 1977
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 10, 1950 Talbotton, Georgia |
| Nationality | American |
| High school | Talbotton (Talbotton, Georgia) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Tennessee State (1968–1972) |
| NBA Draft | 1972 / Round: 3 / Pick: 31st overall |
| Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers | |
| Pro career | 1972–1979 |
| Career history | |
| 1972–1979 | Portland Trail Blazers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career statistics | |
| Points | 4,846 (11.1 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 3,370 (7.7 rpg) |
| Assists | 632 (1.5 apg) |
Lloyd Neal (born December 10, 1950) is a former American professional basketball player. He was known for his hard work and determination on the court. Neal played his entire career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Portland Trail Blazers.
Contents
Lloyd Neal's Early Life and College
Lloyd Neal was born in Talbotton, Georgia. He grew up loving basketball. He went to Tennessee State University for college. There, he played for the Tennessee State Tigers basketball team from 1968 to 1972. His skills on the court helped him prepare for a professional career.
Playing for the Portland Trail Blazers
In 1972, Lloyd Neal was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers. He was chosen in the third round of the NBA draft. Even though he was 6 feet 7 inches tall, which was a bit shorter for a center or forward in the NBA, he made up for it with his effort.
Neal quickly became a favorite among fans. He was known for his strong play and never giving up. In his first season, the 1972–73 NBA season, he showed how good he was. He averaged 13.4 points and 11.8 rebounds per game. This is called a double-double because he had double-digit numbers in two different stats. Because of his great start, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1973.
Winning an NBA Championship
One of the biggest moments in Lloyd Neal's career was winning the NBA Championship in 1977. He was a key player for the Portland Trail Blazers during their amazing 1976–77 season. The team worked together to achieve this huge victory. It was a very exciting time for the team and their fans.
His Jersey Number Retired
Lloyd Neal's career ended in 1979 because of a knee injury. Even though his time in the NBA was not very long, he made a big impact. The Portland Trail Blazers honored him by retiring his jersey number, 36. This means no other player on the team will ever wear that number again. It shows how much he meant to the team and its history.
Life After Basketball
After his basketball career, Lloyd Neal went back to college. He finished his degree in 1980. He then started a new career. He worked for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in Portland for many years. He later retired from the IRS.
Lloyd Neal is remembered as a hardworking player who helped the Portland Trail Blazers win their first NBA championship.
See also
In Spanish: Lloyd Neal para niños
