Lewis Lloyd

This article is about the sportsman. For the British politician, see Lewis Loyd. For the bishop, see Daniel Lewis Lloyd. For the Australian politician, see Lewis Lloyd (politician).

Lewis Kevin Lloyd (February 22, 1959 – July 5, 2019) was an American basketball player. A 6'6" swingman from Drake University, he played most of his professional career for the National Basketball Association's Houston Rockets.

Lewis Lloyd

Personal information
Born	(1959-02-22)February 22, 1959 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U. S.
Died	July 5, 2019(2019-07-05) (aged 60) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U. S.
Listed height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight	205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school	Overbrook (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
College	New Mexico Military Institute (1977–1979) Drake (1979–1981)
NBA draft	1981: 4th round, 76th overall pick
Selected by the Golden State Warriors
Playing career	1981–1990
Position	Shooting guard / small forward
Number	32, 30
Career history
1981–1983	Golden State Warriors
1983–1987	Houston Rockets
1988	Philadelphia Aces
1988–1989	Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets
1989	Houston Rockets
1990	Philadelphia 76ers
1990	Houston Rockets
1990	Philadelphia Aces
Career highlights and awards
2× Third-team All-American – AP, UPI (1980, 1981) 2× MVC Player of the Year (1980, 1981) 2× First-team All-MVC (1980, 1981) No. 30 retired by Drake Bulldogs
Career NBA statistics
Points	5,130 (13.2 ppg)
Rebounds	1,192 (3.1 rpg)
Assists	1,138 (2.9 apg)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference

Early life

Lloyd played his high school basketball at Overbrook High School in Philadelphia, the same as Wilt Chamberlain,^[1] where he earned the nickname "Black Magic."

College career

He graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa after starting his college career at the junior college, New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell. Lloyd averaged 30.2 points and 15 rebounds per game in his junior year and 26.3 per game as a Senior. He was a two-time winner of the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year while at Drake.

Professional career

Golden State Warriors (1981-1983)

Lloyd was selected in the fourth round of the 1981 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors. He played seven seasons in the NBA.

Houston Rockets (1983-1987)

After two seasons in Oakland, he moved to the Houston Rockets, where he would play three full seasons, appearing in 246 out of 246 possible regular season games while always scoring in double digits. In late 1986, however, he tested positive for cocaine alongside teammate Mitchell Wiggins, incurring a 2+1⁄2-year suspension from the league.^[2][3]

Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets (1988-1989)

While suspended from the NBA, Lloyd played for the Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets in the Continental Basketball Association during the 1988–89 season. He averaged 18.8 points and 6.6 rebounds over 18 games.^[4]

Return to Houston and Philadelphia 76ers (1989-1990)

Soon after his reinstatement in September 1989,^[5] Lloyd was released by Houston, retiring at the end of the season after two games with the Philadelphia 76ers, holding averages of 13 points, three rebounds and three assists, in 388 games. He also appeared in 20 post-season contests in 1986 as the Rockets reached the NBA Finals, losing 4–2 to the Boston Celtics.

Personal life

After retiring from basketball in the 2000s, Lloyd conducted youth basketball clinics, and coached at basketball camps in Philadelphia, Des Moines, and Wichita.

Lloyd died on July 5, 2019.^[6]

References

1. sportsillustrated.cnn.com
2. Rockets discuss drug temptation; The New York Times, 15 January 1987
3. Lloyd descends from the high life; Los Angeles Times, 27 January 1987
4. 1989–90 Official CBA Guide and Register, page 134
5. Lloyd reinstated; The New York Times, 9 September 1989
6. Bell, Daryl (July 5, 2019). "Lewis Lloyd, famed Philly basketball standout, dies at 60". Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved July 16, 2019.

External links

• Career statistics from NBA.com  and Basketball Reference