Lenard Benoit Benjamin e-NOYT(; born November 22, 1964) is an American former professional

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...

player who was selected by the

Los Angeles Clippers The Los Angeles Clippers are an American professional basketball team based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The Clippers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. The ...

in the 1st round (3rd overall) of the

1985 NBA draft The 1985–86 NBA season, 1985 NBA draft took place on June 18, 1985. It was also the first NBA draft of the "NBA draft lottery, lottery" era. It was also around this time where the league decreased the amount of rounds the draft spent, with the ...

. A 7'0" center from

Creighton University Creighton University () is a private research university in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1878, the university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. In 2015 the university enrolled 8,393 graduate ...

, Benjamin played for nine NBA teams in 15 seasons from 1985 to 1999. He played for the Clippers (1985–91), Seattle SuperSonics (1991–93),

Los Angeles Lakers The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division (NBA), Pacific Division of the Western Conference (NBA ...

(1993, 1999 preseason),

New Jersey Nets New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 ** "New" (Paul McCartney song), 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, 1995 * "New" (Daya song), 2017 * "New" (No Doubt song), 1 ...

(1993–95),

Vancouver Grizzlies The Vancouver Grizzlies were a Canadian professional basketball team based in Vancouver. The Grizzlies competed in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Midwest Division (NBA), Midwest Division of the Western Conference ( ...

(1995),

Milwaukee Bucks The Milwaukee Bucks are an American professional basketball team based in Milwaukee. The Bucks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), East ...

(1995–96),

Toronto Raptors The Toronto Raptors are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Toronto. The Raptors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NBA), Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), E ...

(1996),

Philadelphia 76ers The Philadelphia 76ers, also known colloquially as the Sixers, are an American professional basketball team based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The 76ers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlan ...

(1998–99) and

Cleveland Cavaliers The Cleveland Cavaliers, often referred to as the Cavs, are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland. The Cavaliers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Divis ...

(1999). Benjamin's daughter is Khaalia Hillsman who played at

Texas A&M Texas A&M University (Texas A&M, A&M, TA&M, or TAMU) is a public university, public, Land-grant university, land-grant, research university in College Station, Texas, United States. It was founded in 1876 and became the flagship institution of ...

Career

Benjamin's best year as a professional came during the 1988–89 NBA season as a member of the Clippers, appearing in 79 games and averaging 16.4 ppg. It was also during this season that some criticized Benjamin's on-court actions, as famously exemplified by television announcer Dick Vitale after a January 1988 game against the Milwaukee Bucks: “He has a double zero on his back, but he should add another zero. I give him a zero for his offensive attitude, a zero for his defensive attitude, and a zero for his mental attitude ... he’s an absolute, flat-out disgrace to everyone that’s ever worn a basketball uniform.” In his NBA career, he had a .541 field goal percentage, recorded 4,604 defensive rebounds and 1,581 blocks and averaged 11.4 points and 2.0 blocks per game. Benjamin also played briefly in the

Continental Basketball Association The Continental Basketball Association (CBA), originally known as the Eastern Pennsylvania Basketball League, and later as the Eastern Professional Basketball League and the Eastern Basketball Association, was a men's professional basketball m ...

(CBA) in the latter part of his career. In 8 games over two seasons with the Yakima Sun Kings and Grand Rapids Hoops, he averaged 10.9 points and 8.8 rebounds per contest.1999–2000 Official CBA Guide and Register, page 246 He is the Clippers' career leader in blocked shots per game (2.75).

NBA career statistics

Regular season

, - , align="left" , 1985–86 , align="left" , L.A. Clippers , 79 , , 37 , , 26.4 , , .490 , , .333 , , .746 , , 7.6 , , 1.0 , , 0.8 , , 2.6 , , 11.1 , - , align="left" , 1986–87 , align="left" , L.A. Clippers , 72 , , 61 , , 31.0 , , .449 , , .000 , , .715 , , 8.1 , , 1.9 , , 0.8 , , 2.6 , , 11.5 , - , align="left" , 1987–88 , align="left" , L.A. Clippers , 66 , , 59 , , 32.9 , , .491 , , .000 , , .706 , , 8.0 , , 2.6 , , 0.8 , , 3.4 , , 13.0 , - , align="left" , 1988–89 , align="left" , L.A. Clippers , 79 , , 62 , , 32.7 , , .541 , , .000 , , .744 , , 8.8 , , 2.0 , , 0.7 , , 2.8 , , 16.4 , - , align="left" , 1989–90 , align="left" , L.A. Clippers , 71 , , 58 , , 32.6 , , .526 , , .000 , , .732 , , 9.3 , , 2.2 , , 0.8 , , 2.6 , , 13.5 , - , align="left" , 1990–91 , align="left" , L.A. Clippers , 39 , , 38 , , 34.3 , , .492 , , .000 , , .728 , , 12.0 , , 1.9 , , 0.7 , , 2.3 , , 14.9 , - , align="left" , 1990–91 , align="left" ,

Seattle Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...

, 31 , , 27 , , 29.0 , , .502 , , .000 , , .690 , , 8.2 , , 1.5 , , 0.9 , , 1.7 , , 12.9 , - , align="left" , 1991–92 , align="left" ,

, 63 , , 61 , , 30.8 , , .478 , , .000 , , .687 , , 8.1 , , 1.2 , , 0.6 , , 1.9 , , 14.0 , - , align="left" , 1992–93 , align="left" ,

, 31 , , 6 , , 14.5 , , .497 , , .000 , , .701 , , 3.6 , , 0.4 , , 0.5 , , 1.1 , , 6.7 , - , align="left" , 1992–93 , align="left" , L.A. Lakers , 28 , , 0 , , 10.9 , , .481 , , .000 , , .595 , , 3.4 , , 0.4 , , 0.5 , , 0.5 , , 4.5 , - , align="left" , 1993–94 , align="left" ,

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

, 77 , , 74 , , 23.6 , , .480 , , .000 , , .710 , , 6.5 , , 0.6 , , 0.5 , , 1.2 , , 9.3 , - , align="left" , 1994–95 , align="left" ,

, 61 , , 57 , , 26.2 , , .510 , , .000 , , .760 , , 7.2 , , 0.6 , , 0.4 , , 1.0 , , 11.1 , - , align="left" , 1995–96 , align="left" ,

Vancouver Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...

, style="background:#cfecec;", 13* , , 13 , , 31.1 , , .441 , , .000 , , .696 , , 7.9 , , 1.2 , , 0.8 , , 1.2 , , 13.9 , - , align="left" , 1995–96 , align="left" ,

Milwaukee Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...

, style="background:#cfecec;", 70* , , 58 , , 21.3 , , .520 , , .000 , , .732 , , 6.2 , , 0.7 , , 0.5 , , 1.0 , , 7.8 , - , align="left" , 1996–97 , align="left" ,

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

, 4 , , 3 , , 11.0 , , .417 , , .000 , , .750 , , 2.3 , , 0.3 , , 0.3 , , 0.0 , , 3.3 , - , align="left" , 1997–98 , align="left" ,

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

, 14 , , 0 , , 14.1 , , .537 , , .000 , , .633 , , 3.8 , , 0.2 , , 0.3 , , 0.3 , , 4.5 , - , align="left" , 1998–99 , align="left" ,

, 6 , , 0 , , 5.5 , , .286 , , .000 , , .000 , , 1.3 , , 0.2 , , 0.0 , , 0.0 , , 0.7 , - , align="left" , 1999–00 , align="left" ,

Cleveland Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, it is situated across the Canada–U.S. maritime border and approximately west of the Ohio-Pennsylvania st ...

, 3 , , 0 , , 2.7 , , .333 , , .000 , , .000 , , 0.3 , , 0.0 , , 0.0 , , 0.3 , , 0.7 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 807 , , 614 , , 27.2 , , .497 , , .048 , , .721 , , 7.5 , , 1.3 , , 0.6 , , 2.0 , , 11.4

Playoffs

, - , align="left" , 1990–91 , align="left" ,

, 5 , , 5 , , 32.6 , , .488 , , .000 , , .906 , , 6.6 , , 0.2 , , 0.6 , , 2.6 , , 13.8 , - , align="left" , 1991–92 , align="left" ,

, 9 , , 4 , , 17.9 , , .561 , , .000 , , .500 , , 5.1 , , 0.6 , , 0.6 , , 1.4 , , 6.1 , - , align="left" , 1993–94 , align="left" ,

, 4 , , 4 , , 27.0 , , .412 , , .000 , , .875 , , 5.3 , , 0.3 , , 0.5 , , 2.0 , , 5.3 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 18 , , 13 , , 24.0 , , .505 , , .000 , , .776 , , 5.6 , , 0.4 , , 0.6 , , 1.9 , , 8.1

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Benjamin, Benoit 1964 births Living people All-American college men's basketball players Al Riyadi Club Beirut basketball players American expatriate basketball people in Canada American men's basketball players Atenas basketball players Centers (basketball) Cleveland Cavaliers players Creighton Bluejays men's basketball players Criollos de Caguas basketball players Grand Rapids Hoops players Los Angeles Clippers draft picks Los Angeles Clippers players Los Angeles Lakers players McDonald's High School All-Americans Milwaukee Bucks players New Jersey Nets players Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball) Peristeri B.C. players Philadelphia 76ers players Seattle SuperSonics players Basketball players from Monroe, Louisiana Toronto Raptors players Vancouver Grizzlies expansion draft picks Vancouver Grizzlies players Yakima Sun Kings players 20th-century American sportsmen

Career

NBA career statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

See also

References