Alton Lister
Encyclopedia
Alton Lavelle Lister is a retired American
professional basketball
player, in the power forward
-center
position.
The 7' 0" Lister played at San Jacinto Junior College, where he was a teammate of future NBA journeyman shooting guard
Oliver Mack
. He later transferred and graduated from Arizona State University
, and was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks
in the first round (21st overall) of the 1981 NBA Draft
, going on to appear in 16 NBA seasons for 5 different teams: Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics
, Golden State Warriors
and Boston Celtics
, finishing his career with 7 games for the Portland Trail Blazers
. He wore jersey #53 his entire career, and was best known as a solid rebounder and shot blocker.
In his NBA career, Lister played in 953 games (incidentally, the second most games ever for a player with jersey #53, behind Artis Gilmore
) and scored a total of 6,298 points. His best year as a professional came during the 1986-87 season
as a member of the Supersonics, appearing in 75 games and averaging 11.6 ppg.
Prior to Arizona State, Lister graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School (Dallas, Texas) (in the Lakewood section of Dallas) in 1976, where he led the Wildcats to many victories and was an All-American and All-State team member. He was inducted into Woodrow
's Hall of Fame in 1990.
In 2000, Lister became head coach of at Mesa Community College. From a 9-21 season before his arrival, Lister had five consecutive seasons of 20 or more wins. In the seven years Lister served as coach, 30 players went on to play for NCAA Division I schools. While coaching at Mesa, Lister spent six summers at Pete Newell
's Big Man's Camp. The Atlanta Hawks
were impressed with Lister’s work at the Newell's camps, thus paving the way for Billy Knight
's recruitment of Lister as assistant coach to Mike Woodson
in 2007.
In November 2008, upon the recommendation of Paul Howard
, he was hired as skills coach to the San Miguel Beermen
of the Philippine Basketball Association
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player, in the power forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
-center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
position.
The 7' 0" Lister played at San Jacinto Junior College, where he was a teammate of future NBA journeyman shooting guard
Shooting guard
The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team...
Oliver Mack
Oliver Mack
Oliver Mack is a retired American professional basketball player. He was a 6'3" 185 lb shooting guard and played collegiately at San Jacinto Junior College and East Carolina University.Mack was selected with the 3rd pick of the second round in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers...
. He later transferred and graduated from Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
, and was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
in the first round (21st overall) of the 1981 NBA Draft
1981 NBA Draft
The 1981 NBA Draft was the 35th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 9, 1981, before the 1981–82 season. The draft was broadcast in the United States on the USA Network. In this draft, 23 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball...
, going on to appear in 16 NBA seasons for 5 different teams: Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
, Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
and Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
, finishing his career with 7 games for the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
. He wore jersey #53 his entire career, and was best known as a solid rebounder and shot blocker.
In his NBA career, Lister played in 953 games (incidentally, the second most games ever for a player with jersey #53, behind Artis Gilmore
Artis Gilmore
Artis Gilmore is a retired American Hall of Fame basketball player who played in the American Basketball Association and National Basketball Association...
) and scored a total of 6,298 points. His best year as a professional came during the 1986-87 season
1986-87 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-Yearly awards:* Most Valuable Player: Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers* Rookie of the Year: Chuck Person, Indiana Pacers* Defensive Player of the Year: Michael Cooper, Los Angeles Lakers...
as a member of the Supersonics, appearing in 75 games and averaging 11.6 ppg.
Prior to Arizona State, Lister graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School (Dallas, Texas) (in the Lakewood section of Dallas) in 1976, where he led the Wildcats to many victories and was an All-American and All-State team member. He was inducted into Woodrow
Woodrow Wilson High School (Dallas)
Woodrow Wilson High School is a public secondary school located at 100 South Glasgow Drive in the Lakewood neighborhood of East Dallas, Texas in the ZIP code 75214. It was named in honor of former U.S. president Woodrow Wilson, who died just three years before the school building was completed...
's Hall of Fame in 1990.
In 2000, Lister became head coach of at Mesa Community College. From a 9-21 season before his arrival, Lister had five consecutive seasons of 20 or more wins. In the seven years Lister served as coach, 30 players went on to play for NCAA Division I schools. While coaching at Mesa, Lister spent six summers at Pete Newell
Pete Newell
Peter Francis Newell was an American college men's basketball coach and basketball instructional coach. He coached for 15 years at the University of San Francisco, Michigan State University and the University of California, Berkeley, compiling an overall record of 234 wins and 123 losses...
's Big Man's Camp. The Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
were impressed with Lister’s work at the Newell's camps, thus paving the way for Billy Knight
Billy Knight
William R. "Billy" Knight is an American former professional basketball player who most recently served as the Executive Vice President and General Manager of the National Basketball Association's Atlanta Hawks from 2003–08.Knight grew up in Braddock, a suburb of Pittsburgh, where he...
's recruitment of Lister as assistant coach to Mike Woodson
Mike Woodson
Michael Dean "Mike" Woodson is a retired American basketball player and former head coach of the NBA's Atlanta Hawks.Woodson took over the job from Terry Stotts prior to the 2004-05 NBA season. He came to the Hawks after a stint as an assistant coach on the 2003-04 Detroit Pistons NBA Championship...
in 2007.
In November 2008, upon the recommendation of Paul Howard
Paul Howard
Paul Howard paulie is a journalist with The Irish Times on Saturday. Howard is best known as the author of the paper's Ross O'Carroll-Kelly columns. In addition, he has written a series of books about the character of Ross, a wealthy, rugby union-playing resident of Foxrock in South Dublin...
, he was hired as skills coach to the San Miguel Beermen
San Miguel Beermen
The Petron Blaze Boosters is a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association. The team has been a member of the league since its inception in 1975 and hold the most PBA titles with 19.The team is owned by the Petron Corporation, a subsidiary of the Philippines' largest food...
of the Philippine Basketball Association
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
.