William Bedford (basketball)
Personal information | |
---|---|
Born | Memphis, Tennessee | December 14, 1963
Nationality | American |
Listed height | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) |
Listed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Melrose (Memphis, Tennessee) |
College | Memphis (1983–1986) |
NBA draft | 1986 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6th overall |
Selected by the Phoenix Suns | |
Playing career | 1986–1993 |
Position | Center |
Number | 50, 25, 20, 00 |
Career history | |
1986–1987 | Phoenix Suns |
1987–1992 | Detroit Pistons |
1992–1993 | San Antonio Spurs |
1993 | Oklahoma City Cavalry |
1993 | Grand Rapids Hoops |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com | |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
William Bedford (born December 14, 1963) is an American retired professional basketball player who was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the first round (6th pick overall) of the 1986 NBA draft after playing at Memphis State University (now known as the University of Memphis). Bedford, a 7'0" center, played for the Suns, Detroit Pistons and the San Antonio Spurs in six NBA seasons, averaging 4.1 points and 2.4 rebounds per game in his career.
NBA career[]
Originally projected as a star player, Bedford's NBA career was marred by drug use, and he missed the 1988-89 NBA season as a result.[1]
As a member of the Pistons, on November 6, 1990 in a game against the Seattle SuperSonics, Bedford set an NBA record for fewest minutes played in a game with three or more three-pointers made, shooting 3-of-3 from deep in a single minute.[2] These were three of five total three-pointers he made in 60 games during the 1990-91 NBA season, and of seven overall in his career.
Post-NBA and legal troubles[]
His drug problems continued after he left the NBA. He was arrested for drug possession twice between 1996 and 1997. In 2001, Bedford was accused of transporting 25 pounds of marijuana in Michigan.[3] After the Michigan arrest, he was arrested two more times for marijuana, and in 2003 was given a 10-year prison sentence.[4][5] Bedford was released from prison in November 2011. As of 2012, he was coaching basketball in Memphis.[6]
Notes[]
- ^ ESPN.com - GEN - Bedford: 'People don't think about the consequences'
- ^ "fewest minutes in a game with 3 3-pointers". Statmuse. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
- ^ Bedford: 'People don't think about the consequences' Greg Garber, ESPN.com, June 4th 2001
- ^ "Public Criminal Records Search - PeopleFinders".
- ^ '85 Memphis State run went from triumph to tragedy by Mike Lopresti, Gannett News Service, April 3rd, 2008,
- ^ Out of prison, former Tigers great William Bedford trying to live 'the right way', Commercial Appeal, October 11, 2012
External links[]
- NBA stats at basketballreference.com
- 1963 births
- Living people
- African-American basketball players
- All-American college men's basketball players
- American drug traffickers
- American men's basketball players
- American people convicted of drug offenses
- American sportspeople convicted of crimes
- Basketball players at the 1985 NCAA Division I Men's Final Four
- Basketball players from Memphis, Tennessee
- Centers (basketball)
- Detroit Pistons players
- Grand Rapids Hoops players
- Memphis Tigers men's basketball players
- Oklahoma City Cavalry players
- Phoenix Suns draft picks
- Phoenix Suns players
- San Antonio Spurs players
- 21st-century African-American people
- 20th-century African-American sportspeople