The NBA’s first legally Deaf player is trying to work his way back to the big show after being cut in the preseason by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Lance Allred is playing in the NBA Development League for the Idaho Stampede. The 6’11” center made the league's All-Star team when he played with them before.Allred grew up in a polygamist compound near Salt Lake City with a 75% hearing loss. He now wears cochlear implants. He didn't play his first organized basketball game until he was an eighth grader. As a senior at Utah’s Weber State, Allred was the third best rebounder in the entire NCAA. He played hoops in Europe
Allred’s autobiographical is due out later this year. It’s called Long Shot. Because his parents encouraged him to read and write because of his hearing-impairment, Allred turned down an offer to have a professional ghost write the story for him. He’s writing the book himself.
