Lance Allred is the only deaf player in the NBA to date and he was once a teammate of LeBron James.
The NBA is the world’s premier basketball league, the pinnacle of fame for those who love the orange ball. Not many players succeed in reaching the NBA arena, and this is even more difficult for those with congenital disabilities. However, Lance Allred, a deaf player, became an exception when he wore the Cleveland Cavaliers jersey in 2008.
Lance Allred was born on February 2, 1981 in a small town in Montana, USA. Born with only 20% hearing, Lance Allred faced many difficulties in life since he was a child. Sign language was non-existent in a remote place like Allred’s hometown, which further limited the future development of the first and only deaf NBA player.
Growing up with a physical disability, Allred was not immune to bullies. A life without the beauty of sound but filled with malicious words made the deaf boy think about ending his life. Fortunately, Lance Allred found his passion for the orange ball at the age of 13. The magical sound of the net changed the NBA veteran’s life forever, even though he could not fully perceive this sound.
In just a few years of puberty, Lance Allred grew 35cm and became a 2m11 center. In his senior year, Allred averaged 17 points and 12 rebounds per game. Ironically, the gentle big man was not selected in the NBA Draft despite possessing outstanding stats. Europe was then Allred’s destination so that he could continue his dream of playing professional basketball.
Lance Allred has excellent physicality and plays as a center forward.
One fine day in 2006, Lance Allred received a call from the G-League and became a player of this league. The deaf player was very close to the NBA, the number one arena on the planet and he tried his best to receive an invitation from any team. March 13, 2008 became history for Allred and the NBA when a deaf player officially reached the top league of basketball in the world.
After the first 10-day contract, Allred continued to receive the same contract and was then retained by the Cleveland Cavaliers for the rest of the season. From a deaf and depressed boy, Lance Allred wrote a miracle story in the basketball world. Becoming an NBA player is difficult, doing it with a congenital defect is even more admirable. Lance Allred was the first to do this and until now, there has not been a second player like him.
The Cavaliers were led by 23-year-old LeBron James at the time . Recalling his famous teammate, Lance Allred said: “He has a lot of good qualities. Many times LeBron approached me with gentle gestures to make me feel welcome.” Lance Allred is older than James and the leader of the Cavaliers was very subtle in his behavior towards his special senior.
The only deaf player the NBA has ever seen!
After finishing his football career, Lance Allred became an inspirational speaker. He wrote books, volunteered for TED projects, and shared his message with others through TEDxTalks. Allred’s fifth book was released in 2020, continuing the story of the deaf giant’s incredible journey.
Lance Allred had a fulfilling basketball career and became a popular speaker after retiring.
