Felton Spencer
Encyclopedia
Felton LaFrance Spencer (born January 5, 1968 in Louisville, Kentucky
) is a retired American
professional basketball
player who played at the center
position in the National Basketball Association
.
(now part of Louisville); as both a junior and a senior, he led the team to the KHSAA state tournament in Lexington
. In the first year, Eastern was upset by lightly regarded Metcalfe County
in the first round, 60-58. A year later as a senior, Eastern was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Hazard
High School.
Spencer attended the University of Louisville
, where he became the all-time field goal percentage leader at 62.8%. He took over the center
position as a senior in 1989-90 after Pervis Ellison
left to join the NBA. That season Spencer paced the Cardinals in scoring (14.9 ppg), rebounding (8.5 rpg), blocked shots (69), and field goal percentage (68.1%).
by the Minnesota Timberwolves
. Spencer, at 7'0", entered a tough situation as starting center, averaging 7.1 points and 7.9 rebounds and shooting 51.2% from the floor, good enough for a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Luc Longley
, whom the Wolves selected immediately after drafting Spencer, gained more minutes and Spencer's production decreased. After the 1992-93 season
, Minnesota traded Spencer to the Utah Jazz
for power forward/center Mike Brown
. In Utah, Spencer became the successor to Mark Eaton
, and he provided the Jazz with solid scoring, rebounding and defense at the pivot position. In 1993-94
, as a complement to John Stockton
and Karl Malone
, he averaged 8.6 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 50.5% from the floor. Spencer and the Jazz were on their way to greatness in 1994-95, but 34 games into the season he ruptured his left Achilles tendon
and was lost for the year. Utah went on to win 60 regular-season games but failed to reach the NBA Finals
by losing in the first round. He missed the first 11 games of the 1995-96 season while recovering from his Achilles injury, but went on to play in the remaining 71, starting 70 and averaging 5.6 points and 4.3 rebounds in 17.8 minutes per game. He shot a career-high 52.0% from the field, tying Adam Keefe for the second-best mark on the team. On August 10, 1996, Spencer was obtained by the Orlando Magic
for guard Brooks Thompson
, forward Kenny Gattison
and a first-round draft pick, after the Magic had lost Shaquille O'Neal
to the Lakers
as a free agent
. But he played just one game for Orlando before he was traded to Golden State
in the deal that brought Rony Seikaly
to the Magic. He went on to play 71 games for the Warriors and do a solid job in the middle, ranking second on the team in rebounding and third in blocked shots. His role was diminished in 1997-98 by the arrival of second-year man Erick Dampier
as the starter, as well as the drafting of rookie Adonal Foyle
, and he saw relatively limited action as a reserve in 68 games. He played even less in 1998-99
, averaging just 6.1 minutes in his 26 appearances off the bench.
Spencer retired after the 2001-02 season
.
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
) is a retired American
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 who played at the 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 in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
.
High school and college
Spencer was an all-state basketball player at Eastern High School in Middletown, KentuckyMiddletown, Kentucky
The median income for a household in the city was $53,608, and the median income for a family was $61,667. Males had a median income of $45,417 versus $33,135 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,660...
(now part of Louisville); as both a junior and a senior, he led the team to the KHSAA state tournament in Lexington
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
. In the first year, Eastern was upset by lightly regarded Metcalfe County
Metcalfe County, Kentucky
Metcalfe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 10,037. Its county seat is Edmonton. The county is named for Thomas Metcalfe, Governor of Kentucky from 1828-32...
in the first round, 60-58. A year later as a senior, Eastern was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Hazard
Hazard, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,806 people, 1,946 households, and 1,266 families residing in the city. The population density was 684.6 people per square mile . There were 2,291 housing units at an average density of 326.4 per square mile...
High School.
Spencer attended the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
, where he became the all-time field goal percentage leader at 62.8%. He took over the 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 as a senior in 1989-90 after Pervis Ellison
Pervis Ellison
Pervis Ellison is a former college and professional NBA basketball player.Ellison was nicknamed "Never Nervous Pervis" for his play with the University of Louisville. At 6 ft 9 in and 242 lb, he started all four years as the center under coach Denny Crum...
left to join the NBA. That season Spencer paced the Cardinals in scoring (14.9 ppg), rebounding (8.5 rpg), blocked shots (69), and field goal percentage (68.1%).
NBA career
Spencer was selected with the 6th pick in the 1990 NBA Draft1990 NBA Draft
The 1990 NBA Draft took place on June 27, 1990, in New York City, New York. This draft produced only one perennial All-Star,Gary Payton. Among the 54 picks, Payton is considered by far the best pick of the draft. Payton went on to be considered one of the greatest point guards of all time...
by the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
. Spencer, at 7'0", entered a tough situation as starting center, averaging 7.1 points and 7.9 rebounds and shooting 51.2% from the floor, good enough for a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Luc Longley
Luc Longley
Lucien James "Luc" Longley is a retired Australian professional basketball player, who was the first Australian to play in the NBA, where he played for eleven seasons...
, whom the Wolves selected immediately after drafting Spencer, gained more minutes and Spencer's production decreased. After the 1992-93 season
1992-93 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-Yearly awards:*Most Valuable Player: Charles Barkley, Phoenix Suns*Rookie of the Year: Shaquille O'Neal, Orlando Magic*Defensive Player of the Year: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets...
, Minnesota traded Spencer to the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
for power forward/center Mike Brown
Mike Brown (basketball player)
Michael "Mike" Brown is a retired American professional basketball player. A durable 6'9" power forward/center, he played at George Washington University in the early 1980s, where he received the nickname "The New Washington Monument." After four years of college ball, Brown was selected by the...
. In Utah, Spencer became the successor to Mark Eaton
Mark Eaton (basketball)
Mark E. Eaton is a retired American professional basketball player who was a member of the NBA's Utah Jazz from 1982 to 1994. He was famous for his giant frame and his strong defense...
, and he provided the Jazz with solid scoring, rebounding and defense at the pivot position. In 1993-94
1993-94 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets*Rookie of the Year: Chris Webber, Golden State Warriors*Defensive Player of the Year: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets...
, as a complement to John Stockton
John Stockton
John Houston Stockton is a retired American professional basketball player who spent his entire career as a point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA from 1984 to 2003. Stockton is regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, holding the NBA records for most career assists and steals by...
and Karl Malone
Karl Malone
Karl Anthony Malone , nicknamed "The Mailman", is a retired American professional basketball power forward who spent the majority of his career with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association . Malone spent his first 18 seasons with the Jazz and formed a formidable duo with his teammate...
, he averaged 8.6 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 50.5% from the floor. Spencer and the Jazz were on their way to greatness in 1994-95, but 34 games into the season he ruptured his left Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
and was lost for the year. Utah went on to win 60 regular-season games but failed to reach the NBA Finals
NBA Finals
The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
by losing in the first round. He missed the first 11 games of the 1995-96 season while recovering from his Achilles injury, but went on to play in the remaining 71, starting 70 and averaging 5.6 points and 4.3 rebounds in 17.8 minutes per game. He shot a career-high 52.0% from the field, tying Adam Keefe for the second-best mark on the team. On August 10, 1996, Spencer was obtained by the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
for guard Brooks Thompson
Brooks Thompson
-External links:**...
, forward Kenny Gattison
Kenny Gattison
Kenneth Clay Gattison is an American former professional basketball player and current NBA assistant coach.-College career:...
and a first-round draft pick, after the Magic had lost Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal , nicknamed "Shaq" , is a former American professional basketball player. Standing tall and weighing , he was one of the heaviest players ever to play in the NBA...
to the Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. But he played just one game for Orlando before he was traded to Golden State
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...
in the deal that brought Rony Seikaly
Rony Seikaly
Ronald Fred "Rony" Seikaly is a retired Lebanese-born American professional basketball player.-Early life:Seikaly was born in Beirut, Lebanon. At the age of 9, Rony moved from Beirut where he'd been attending elementary school at the Athenee de Beirut to Greece, where he spent the rest of his youth...
to the Magic. He went on to play 71 games for the Warriors and do a solid job in the middle, ranking second on the team in rebounding and third in blocked shots. His role was diminished in 1997-98 by the arrival of second-year man Erick Dampier
Erick Dampier
Erick Travez Dampier is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Miami Heat. He is a 6 ft 11 in / 265 lb. center.-Career:...
as the starter, as well as the drafting of rookie Adonal Foyle
Adonal Foyle
Adonal David Foyle is a retired Vincentian-American former professional basketball center. He was selected by the Golden State Warriors with the eighth overall selection of the 1997 NBA Draft. He played ten seasons with the team until the team bought out his contract on August 13, 2007. At the...
, and he saw relatively limited action as a reserve in 68 games. He played even less in 1998-99
1998-99 NBA season
The 1999 NBA season was the 53rd season of the National Basketball Association . Due to a lockout, the season did not start until February 5, 1999 after a new six year Collective Bargaining Agreement was reached between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association...
, averaging just 6.1 minutes in his 26 appearances off the bench.
Spencer retired after the 2001-02 season
2001-02 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-Yearly awards:*Most Valuable Player: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs*Rookie of the Year: Pau Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies*Defensive Player of the Year: Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons...
.