William Bedford (basketball)

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William Bedford
Personal information
Born (1963-12-14) December 14, 1963 (age 61)
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Listed height7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Listed weight225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school Melrose (Memphis, Tennessee)
College Memphis (1983–1986)
NBA draft 1986: 1st round, 6th overall pick
Selected by the Phoenix Suns
Playing career1986–1993
Position Center
Number50, 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  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Stats at Basketball Reference   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

William Bedford (born December 14, 1963) is an American former 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.

Contents

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] during which the Pistons won the championship. He returned to the Pistons the following season and played a limited role on their 1989-90 team that successfully repeated as champion, seeing action in 42 of 82 regular-season games.

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

Bedford's 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] Bedford was released from prison in November 2011. As of 2012, he was coaching basketball in Memphis. [5]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high
 † Won an NBA championship

Source [6]

NBA

Regular season

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
1986–87 Phoenix 501819.6.397.000.5814.91.1.4.76.7
1987–88 Detroit 3807.8.436–.5651.7.1.2.42.7
1989–90† Detroit 4205.9.432.167.4091.4.1.1.42.8
1990–91 Detroit 6049.4.438.385.7052.2.5.0.64.5
1991–92 Detroit 32811.3.413.000.6362.0.4.2.63.6
1992–93 San Antonio 1604.1.3331.000.500.6.0.0.11.6
Career2383010.6.416.318.6052.4.5.2.54.1

Playoffs

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
1990† Detroit 503.8.167–1.000.4.0.0.2.8
1991 Detroit 838.1.208.000.6432.8.5.3.52.4
1992 Detroit 109.0.500––2.0.01.0.06.0
Career1436.8.250.000.6881.9.3.2.42.1

Notes

  1. ↑ ESPN.com - GEN - Bedford: 'People don't think about the consequences'
  2. ↑ "fewest minutes in a game with 3 3-pointers". Statmuse. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  3. ↑ Bedford: 'People don't think about the consequences' Greg Garber, ESPN.com, June 4th 2001
  4. ↑ '85 Memphis State run went from triumph to tragedy by Mike Lopresti, Gannett News Service, April 3rd, 2008,
  5. ↑ Out of prison, former Tigers great William Bedford trying to live 'the right way' Archived 2014-02-22 at the Wayback Machine , Commercial Appeal, October 11, 2012
  6. ↑ "William Bedford". Basketball Reference . Sports Reference . Retrieved June 18, 2022.
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