Wednesday, March 19, 2008

1st Deaf NBA Player

The NBA has its first legally Deaf player. Lance Allred will soon hit the floor for the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 6’11” center who’s been working out for the last two seasons with the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League (or D-league). He made the league's All-Star team, averaging more than 16 points and 10 rebounds a game. Allred may play a critical role for the Cavs because the team’s frontcourt combination of Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Ben Wallace are fighting back problems. As a senior at Weber State, Allred was the third best rebounder in the entire NCAA. He playing hoops in Europe before joining the Stampedge. Born with only 25% hearing, Allred now has cochlear implants. Born in Salt Lake City, he didn't play his first organized basketball game until he was an eighth grader.