Kenny Lofton: A Basketball Legend

Kenny Lofton was one of the best basketball players of his generation. A true legend on the court, he was known for his incredible speed and athleticism. After a successful college career, he went on to have a stellar professional career, winning several championships and earning numerous individual accolades. Today, Lofton is still considered one of the greatest players of all time.

Early life and high school

Kenny Lofton was born in Chicago, Illinois, on May 31, 1969. He grew up in the city’s South Side and attended grade school at Mollison Elementary School. As a Young Boy Lofton excelled at both baseball and basketball He played organized baseball for the first time when he was eight years old and continued to play throughout his teenage years. At Dunbar Vocational Career Academy High School Lofton was a star player on the school’s basketball team He led the team to two consecutive State Championships and was named Illinois’ “Mr. Basketball” in 1987.

College career

Kenny Lofton played college basketball at the University of Arizona from 1984 to 1988. He was a four-year starter and helped lead the Wildcats to the 1987 NCAA Final Four. As a senior, Lofton was named First Team All-America by the Associated Press and United Press International. He finished his college career as Arizona’s all-time leader in steals (317) and ranked second in assists (589).

Professional career

Kenny Lofton played Professional Basketball for 17 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was a six-time NBA All-Star and a four-time All-Star game MVP. He is also a two-time Olympic gold medalist.

Lofton was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1987 and went on to play for the Phoenix Suns Cleveland Cavaliers Atlanta Hawks Houston Rockets Chicago Bulls (again), Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers (again). He was an NBA All-Star in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999. He was also named the All-Star Game MVP in 1994 and 1997.

Lofton won two Olympic gold medals as a member of the United States men’s Basketball team at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona and the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

Legacy

Kenny Lofton was one of the best basketball players of his generation. A 6-time All-Star and 4-time Gold Glove winner, Lofton was a key member of some of the best teams of the 1990s and early 2000s. He was known for his speed and athleticism, as well as his post-up game and rebounding.

Lofton’s career spanned 17 seasons, during which he played for 9 different teams. He was a part of 6 NBA Finals teams, winning 2 championships with the Houston Rockets in 1994 and 1995. He is also a member of the University of Arizona’s “All-Century” team.

After retirement, Lofton works as a basketball analyst for ESPN. He is also involved in various charities, including the Boys & Girls Club and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Personal life

Born in Chicago, Illinois, on May 31, 1963, Kenny Lofton was one of six children born to Larry and Carlene Lofton. His father worked as a semi-professional basketball player and his mother was a substitute teacher. Growing up in the city’s south side, Lofton excelled at academics and sports. A standout athlete, he played baseball, football, and ran track in high school He also played basketball for the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) nationally ranked Chicago Whitney Young Wizards.

Kenny Lofton Foundation

Kenny Lofton is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is widely considered one of the best Defensive Players and base stealers of all time. Lofton was inducted into the National Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.

The Kenny Lofton Foundation was established in 1997. The foundation’s mission is to positively impact the lives of inner-City Youth through education, sports and enrichment programs that teach life skills and promote healthy lifestyles.

Awards and honors

Kenny Lofton was a six-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove winner and four-time Silver Slugger Award winner in his 17-year career. He was also a two-time AL stolen base champion.

See also

Other articles related to Kenny Lofton:
-Kenny Lofton (disambiguation)
-List of National Basketball Association career steals leaders
-List of National Basketball Association annual steals leaders
-List of National Basketball Association players with most steals in a game

References

Kenny Lofton is widely considered one of the best basketball players of all time. A four-time All-Star and six-Ime Nba champion, Lofton is one of only two players in NBA history to win an NBA title with four different teams. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.

Lofton was born in Chicago, Illinois, on May 31, 1961. He attended the University of Arizona where he played basketball for four years. He was named a First Team All-American in 1984 and led the Wildcats to the NCAA championship game that year.

Lofton was drafted by the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 1984 NBA draft He played for the Rockets for two seasons before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1986. He would go on to play for six teams over his 17-year NBA Career the Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks Chicago Bulls San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks

Lofton retired from basketball in 2003. He now serves as a basketball analyst for ESPN.

External links

External links

-Kenny Lofton at Basketball-Reference.com
– Kenny Lofton at Stats.NBA.com
– Kenny Lofton column archive at NBA.com