Lionel Simmons

Lionel James "L-Train" Simmons (born November 14, 1968) is an American former professional basketball player.

Lionel Simmons

Personal information
Born	(1968-11-14) November 14, 1968 (age 56) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight	210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school	South Philadelphia (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
College	La Salle (1986–1990)
NBA draft	1990: 1st round, 7th overall pick
Selected by the Sacramento Kings
Playing career	1990–1997
Position	Small forward
Number	22
Career history
1990–1997	Sacramento Kings
Career highlights and awards
NBA All-Rookie First Team (1991) National college player of the year (1990) Consensus first-team All-American (1990) Consensus second-team All-American (1989) Third-team All-American – UPI (1988) 3× MAAC Player of the Year (1988–1990) No. 22 retired by La Salle Explorers
Career NBA statistics
Points	5,833 (12.8 ppg)
Rebounds	2,833 (4.5 rpg)
Assists	1,498 (3.3 apg)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference
Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame
Medals Men's Basketball Representing  United States FIBA Americas Championship 1989 Mexico City Team competition FIBA U19 World Championship 1987 Bormio Team competition

Early life

Simmons led South Philadelphia High School to a Philadelphia Public League boys' championship in 1986, getting an MVP award in the process.^[1] He was inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.^[2]

College career

Simmons was a 6'7" small forward from La Salle University, where he won the Naismith College Player of the Year and John R. Wooden Award as a senior. Simmons is fifth in all-time NCAA career points with 3,217 and trails only Pete Maravich, Antoine Davis, Freeman Williams and Chris Clemons. Simmons became the first player in NCAA history to score more than 3,000 points and pull down more than 1,100 rebounds.^[3] He holds the NCAA Basketball record for most consecutive games scoring in double figures with 115.^[4] He led the Explorers to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances (1988–90).^[5] Simmons was Player of the Year in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference for three years. He was a four-time First Team All Big 5 selection and won the Robert V. Geasey Trophy as Big 5 MVP three times. During his career, the Explorers had a 100–31 record.^[6] Simmons was inducted into the La Salle University Hall of Athletes in 1995. Simmons was inducted into the Big 5 Hall of Fame in 1996.^[7]

College statistics

Source^[8]

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1986–87	La Salle	33	33	38.0	.526	.333	.763	9.8	1.8	1.6	1.4	20.3
1987–88	La Salle	34	34	39.0	.485	.250	.757	11.4	2.5	2.1	2.3	23.3
1988–89	La Salle	32	32	38.9	.487	.375	.711	11.4	3.0	1.7	1.9	28.4
1989–90	La Salle	32	32	38.1	.513	.477	.661	11.1	3.6	1.9	2.0	26.5
Career		131	131	38.5	.501	.415	.722	10.9	2.7	1.8	1.9	24.6

Professional career

Simmons was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the seventh pick of the 1990 NBA draft. On March 23, 1991, Simmons scored a career-high 42 points in a 100–95 loss to the Phoenix Suns.^[9] He was the runner-up to Derrick Coleman for the 1991 NBA Rookie of the Year Award. Simmons was NBA Player of the Week the week after the All-Star break during his rookie season.

He played seven seasons for the Kings, scoring 5,833 career points, until prematurely retiring in 1997 due to chronic injuries. He earned more than $21 million in a pro career that lasted seven seasons.

See also

• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds
• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career scoring leaders

References

1. "L-Train pulls into town - Nov 13, 2008 - South Philly Review | News, opinion, arts, food, real estate and sports in South Philadelphia". Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
2. "Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame".
3. "Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
4. "Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on September 5, 2009. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
5. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/34383869.html ^{[dead link‍]}
6. "La Salle University : Alumni". Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on May 25, 2009. Retrieved May 25, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
8. "La Salle University Basketball 1990-91". 1990. p. 46. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
9. "Phoenix Suns at Sacramento Kings Box Score, March 23, 1991". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 2, 2020.

External links

• Career Stats