Keon Clark
Encyclopedia
Arian Keon Clark is a former American National Basketball Association
player.
After a collegiate career at two different junior colleges and UNLV
, Clark was selected 13th overall by the Orlando Magic
in the 1998 NBA Draft
but was traded to the Denver Nuggets
. He began his professional career with Denver where he enjoyed a stable first three years in the NBA, improving steadily. Clark would go on to play for the Toronto Raptors
, Sacramento Kings
, and Utah Jazz
. With the Jazz, he only played two games before being traded to the Phoenix Suns
for whom he never played a game.
Clark has been plagued by personal problems since leaving the NBA. In 2006, he was due to stand trial in Illinois on marijuana and weapons charges, but never showed up for trial. U.S. Marshals found him boarding a bus in Houston, Texas
and brought him back to Danville for trial. He was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison, but the sentence was thrown out because he did not have a lawyer at the time of sentencing. At a hearing, Clark admitted that he was a recovering alcoholic who had been drinking for most of the time since high school. He added that he "never played a game sober" during his NBA career, and usually drank during halftime.
In 2002, Clark posted averages of 11.3 points and 1.51 block
s per game, while also finishing ninth in the NBA in total personal fouls.
He holds career averages of 8.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.62 blocks per game.
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...
player.
After a collegiate career at two different junior colleges and UNLV
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a public, coeducational university located in the Las Vegas suburb of Paradise, Nevada, USA. The campus is located approximately east of the Las Vegas Strip. The institution includes a Shadow Lane Campus, located just east of the University Medical Center of...
, Clark was selected 13th overall 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...
in the 1998 NBA Draft
1998 NBA Draft
The 1998 NBA Draft took place on June 24, 1998 at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This draft helped turn around three struggling franchises: the Dallas Mavericks, the Sacramento Kings, and the Toronto Raptors....
but was traded to the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
. He began his professional career with Denver where he enjoyed a stable first three years in the NBA, improving steadily. Clark would go on to play for the Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
, Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, and 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...
. With the Jazz, he only played two games before being traded to the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
for whom he never played a game.
Clark has been plagued by personal problems since leaving the NBA. In 2006, he was due to stand trial in Illinois on marijuana and weapons charges, but never showed up for trial. U.S. Marshals found him boarding a bus in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
and brought him back to Danville for trial. He was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison, but the sentence was thrown out because he did not have a lawyer at the time of sentencing. At a hearing, Clark admitted that he was a recovering alcoholic who had been drinking for most of the time since high school. He added that he "never played a game sober" during his NBA career, and usually drank during halftime.
In 2002, Clark posted averages of 11.3 points and 1.51 block
Block (basketball)
In basketball, a block , not to be confused with blocking, occurs when a defensive player legally deflects a field goal attempt from an offensive player. The defender must not touch the offensive player's hands or otherwise a foul is called. In order to be legal, the block must occur while the shot...
s per game, while also finishing ninth in the NBA in total personal fouls.
He holds career averages of 8.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.62 blocks per game.