American basketball player (1966?2017)
Charles Shackleford
|
Born
| (
1966-04-22
)
April 22, 1966
Kinston, North Carolina
, U.S.
|
---|
Died
| January 27, 2017
(2017-01-27)
(aged 50)
Kinston, North Carolina, U.S.
|
---|
Listed height
| 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
|
---|
Listed weight
| 225 lb (102 kg)
|
---|
|
High school
| Kinston
(Kinston, North Carolina)
|
---|
College
| NC State
(1985?1988)
|
---|
NBA draft
| 1988
: 2nd round, 32nd overall pick
|
---|
Selected by the
New Jersey Nets
|
Playing career
| 1988?1999
|
---|
Position
| Center
/
power forward
|
---|
Number
| 33, 14, 17
|
---|
|
1988
?
1990
| New Jersey Nets
|
---|
1990?1991
| Phonola Caserta
|
---|
1991
?
1993
| Philadelphia 76ers
|
---|
1993?1994
| Onyx Caserta
|
---|
1994
| Minnesota Timberwolves
|
---|
1995?1996
| Ulkerspor
|
---|
1996?1997
| Aris
|
---|
1997?1998
| P.A.O.K.
|
---|
1998?1999
| Idaho Stampede
|
---|
1999
| Charlotte Hornets
|
---|
|
---|
|
|
|
---|
|
Points
| 1,625 (5.4 ppg)
|
---|
Rebounds
| 1,448 (4.8 rpg)
|
---|
|
---|
Stats
at NBA.com
|
Stats
at Basketball-Reference.com
|
|
Charles Edward Shackleford
(April 22, 1966 ? January 27, 2017) was an American professional
basketball
player who played several seasons in the
National Basketball Association
(NBA).
He played
center
and
power forward
, he was renowned for his rebounding ? regularly leading leagues in Europe. He played six seasons in the NBA, mostly as a bench player, intersected by seasons in Europe where he had more success.
Off the court he was involved in a number of controversies and legal issues. Shackleford is sometimes remembered for telling a reporter after a
NC State
basketball game that "I can shoot with my left hand, I can shoot with my right hand, I'm amphibious."
[1]
College career
[
edit
]
Shackleford played
College basketball
for
North Carolina State
in the
Atlantic Coast Conference
(ACC) of the
NCAA Division I
from 1985 to 1988.
He was suspended in the fall of 1986 because of poor grades, being reinstated for the spring semester after an appeal and a contractual agreement to attend all classes, with the unusual involvement of chancellor
Bruce Poulton
.
[2]
Former head of the NC physical education department, Richard Lauffer, described him as a poor student, without "any interest in trying to get an education" and who "should never have been in school."
[3]
On the court, Shackleford, nicknamed Shack by fans, was described as the Wolfpack's "indispensable man" and an imposing physical presence.
[4]
He was an All-ACC selection in 1988 as he led the conference in rebounding.
[5]
He declared early for the
NBA draft
as a junior in May 1988, invoking
hardship
.
[5]
North Carolina State scandal
[
edit
]
It was implied in 1989, first through a book,
Personal Fouls
by Peter Golenbock, that North Carolina State was home to a number of mispractices, with
NBC
naming Shackleford as suspected "of deliberately losing an NCAA Tournament game to avoid
NCAA drug testing
."
[3]
Even more serious were allegations by
ABC
that Shackleford and three of his teammates took part in point-shaving during the 1987?88 season, with New Jersey businessman Robert Kramer said to have given $20,000 to Shackleford, who then distributed the cash.
[6]
While Shackleford admitted to receiving the sum from Kramer and $45,000 from agent Larry Gillman, in violation of NCAA rules, he denied shaving points, with the loan from Kramer supposedly made to pay off Gillman, he declared repaying both loans by 1990.
[7]
An investigation into the point shaving allegations ended in 1993, without charges being filed, when a New Jersey grand jury found insufficient evidence to support criminal charges.
[8]
Professional career
[
edit
]
Shackleford was selected by the
New Jersey Nets
in the 2nd round (32nd overall pick) of the
1988 NBA draft
.
He played 130 games for the Nets in two seasons, starting 37. The
1989?90 NBA season
was his statistical best in the NBA, with personal highs in minutes (22.2), points (8.2) and rebounds (6.8) per game. He had a career high of 23 points and 26 rebounds in a 20 February 1990 game against the
Milwaukee Bucks
,
[9]
his rebound tally tied second-most for the Nets in a single game until at least 2005.
[10]
He then moved to Italy, to play for
Phonola Caserta
in the
Serie A
. He contributed 19.7 points and 15.8 rebounds (a league best) as the team won the 1990?91 title, the first in their history.
[11]
Shackleford returned to the United States to play in the NBA for the
Philadelphia 76ers
in 1991, signing a three-year contract ? with two years guaranteed ? at a reported annual salary of $1.3 million.
[11]
He stayed two seasons, the first as a starter (62 games out of 72) with 6.6 points and 5.8 rebounds on average during
1991?92
.
He rejoined Caserta in Italy for 1993?94, signing a reported $1 million contract,
[8]
and again led the league in rebounds.
A return to the U.S. to play for the
Minnesota Timberwolves
followed in September 1994, but he was waived in February 1995 after 21 games.
Joining
Turkish Basketball League
side
Ulkerspor
next, he led the European first tier
EuroLeague
in rebounding during
1995?96
with 12.4 rebounds.
[12]
Despite this, Shackleford ? at the time the most expensive import in Turkish basketball history ? was released due to an injury, a cited lack of motivation and unwillingness to work.
[13]
Moving to
Aris Thessaloniki
of the
Greek Basket League
the next season, he helped the team win the European third tier
1997 Kora? Cup
, with his defensive effort in the second leg of the final described as determinant.
[14]
He also led the league in rebounding despite suffering from arthritis.
[15]
He joined the Washington Wizards after having knee surgery, though he was released in less than a week in October 1997.
[15]
Shackleford then returned to Greece, signing with
P.A.O.K.
for the season.
After a brief stint in the
Continental Basketball Association
with the
Idaho Stampede
, Shackleford joined the
Charlotte Hornets
in January 1999.
He played in 32 games for the Hornets in the
1998?99 NBA season
, the last games he would play in his professional career.
When his contract expired in July of that year, he tried out unsuccessfully for a number of NBA teams, and retired in 2000.
Legal issues
[
edit
]
Shackleford was arrested in March 1990 in
Orange, New Jersey
with several grams of marijuana in his possession, an offense but not a criminal count. This offense did not fall under the NBA's anti-drug program,
[16]
but Shackleford was sentenced to probation.
[11]
Shackleford was arrested in
Johnston County, North Carolina
in January 2006 during a routine traffic stop, and was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, and misdemeanor possession of marijuana and cocaine. He posted an $11,000 bond.
[17]
In January 2010, a car belonging to
Jayson Williams
rearended another car in
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
. Williams identified himself to police as the driver, but Shackleford later admitted he had been behind the wheel. He was charged with driving with a suspended license and hindering/resisting arrest by providing false information.
[18]
Shackleford was also arrested in
Kinston, North Carolina
in July of that year, after he sold prescription drugs to an undercover deputy during a sting operation. Since he reportedly had no assets left from his time playing in the NBA, a court-appointed attorney was assigned to him.
[19]
Death
[
edit
]
Shackleford died in his Kinston, North Carolina home on the morning of January 27, 2017 at the age of 50 after suffering from a heart attack.
[20]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Robbins, Danny (25 October 2012).
"
"I can dribble with both hands. I'm amphibious." -Charles Shackleford"
.
favething.com
. Retrieved
15 June
2015
.
- ^
"Shackleford readmitted in contract agreement"
.
The Dispatch (Lexington)
.
Associated Press
. 21 January 1989
. Retrieved
15 June
2015
.
- ^
a
b
Robbins, Danny (29 January 1989).
"Controversy is brewing at North Carolina State: Book puts Jim Valvano under siege"
.
Los Angeles Times
. Retrieved
15 June
2015
.
- ^
Logan, Bob (31 January 1988).
"De Paul Getting Ready To Run Against North Carolina State"
.
Chicago Tribune
. Raleigh (North Carolina)
. Retrieved
15 June
2015
.
- ^
a
b
"Shackleford to Turn Pro, Skip Season at North Carolina State"
.
Los Angeles Times
.
United Press International
. 11 May 1988
. Retrieved
15 June
2015
.
- ^
Chandler, Charles; O'Brien, Kevin (1 March 1990).
"4 Ex-N.C. State players linked to point-shaving"
.
Orlando Sentinel
.
The Charlotte Observer
. Retrieved
15 June
2015
.
- ^
Eskenazi, Gerald (4 March 1990).
"Pro basketball; Shackleford's two benefactors"
.
The New York Times
. Retrieved
15 June
2015
.
- ^
a
b
Jasner, Phil (20 September 1993).
"Shackleford won't be charged in scandal"
.
Philadelphia Daily News
. Retrieved
15 June
2015
.
- ^
"Game Summary ? Boxscore: New Jersey Nets ? Milwaukee Bucks"
.
NBA
. 20 February 1990. Archived from
the original
on 8 May 2015
. Retrieved
15 June
2015
.
- ^
"History ? single game records"
.
NBA
.
New Jersey Nets
. Retrieved
15 June
2015
.
- ^
a
b
c
Goldaper, Sam (18 July 1993).
"Basketball; 76ers did homework on Shackleford"
.
The New York Times
. Retrieved
15 June
2015
.
- ^
"Statistical leaders ? players: Total rebounds"
.
FIBA Europe
. 20 February 1990
. Retrieved
15 June
2015
.
- ^
"Let's salute the real champion"
.
Hurriyet Daily News
. 23 May 1996
. Retrieved
15 June
2015
.
- ^
"Tofa? hands Kora? Cup to Aris Salonica"
.
Hurriyet Daily News
. 4 May 1997
. Retrieved
15 June
2015
.
- ^
a
b
"Knicks lose Childs to injury"
.
Los Angeles Times
.
Associated Press
. 14 October 1997
. Retrieved
15 June
2015
.
- ^
Brown, Clifton (3 March 1990).
"Disorderly person charge in Shackleford drug Arrest"
.
The New York Times
. Orange (New Jersey)
. Retrieved
15 June
2015
.
- ^
"Former NBA player Shackleford arrested for drugs"
.
USA Today
.
Associated Press
. 1 January 2006
. Retrieved
15 June
2015
.
- ^
Golson, Jennifer (12 February 2010).
"Former NBA star Jayson Williams is cleared in South Carolina car crash"
.
The Star-Ledger
. Retrieved
15 June
2015
.
- ^
"Update: Shackleford gets court-appointed attorney"
.
WITN-TV
. 27 July 2010
. Retrieved
15 June
2015
.
- ^
"Kinston police: former NC State star, Kinston native Charles Shackleford found dead"
.
WNCT.com
. January 27, 2017. Archived from
the original
on January 30, 2017
. Retrieved
January 27,
2017
.
External links
[
edit
]