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Kelvin Upshaw

b. 1963

American basketball player-coach

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About Kelvin Upshaw

Born 1963. Kelvin Upshaw is an American basketball player and basketball coach.

Kelvin Parnell Upshaw (born January 24, 1963) is an American former professional basketball player. He is a guard and played competitively at Chicago's Marshall High School, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and the University of Utah. He played 120 games in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1988 to 1991 averaging 5.4 ppg, 2.1 apg and 1.2 rpg in 12.6 mpg.

Upshaw played with the Miami Heat, the Boston Celtics, the Golden State Warriors and with the Dallas Mavericks. He also played professionally in Stargard Szczeciński, Poland (Komfort Stargard Szczec ), Italy (Scavolini Pesaro), Argentina, Philippines, and in the CBA with the Quad City Thunder, Albany Patroons, Rapid City and Jacksonville Jets. He was selected in the second round of the 1986 CBA Draft by the Jets.

Upshaw spent the 1986–1987 season with the Jacksonville (later Mississippi) Jets and was selected to the CBA All-Defensive Second Team. Upshaw signed with the West Palm Beach Stingrays of the USBL in the spring of 1987. The Jets cut Upshaw on May 26, 1987, due to injury but recalled Upshaw in late June. Upshaw returned to the Mississippi Jets later in 1987 and was selected to the 1988 CBA All-Star Game. Upshaw later played for the CBA's Rapid City Thrillers for the rest of the season. Upshaw then played for the CBA's Albany Patroons for most of the 1988–1989 season and was selected to the All-CBA Second Team. Upshaw re-joined the Patroons on February 7. The NBA's Boston Celtics signed Upshaw in March 1989 to relieve the injured Ramón Rivas. Upshaw played in 23 games for the Celtics averaging 6.3 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists.

A week after being waived, Upshaw re-signed with the Celtics on November 24, 1989, and was waived again on December 26, 1989. In 14 games at the beginning of the season with Boston, Upshaw averaged 7.0 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. In the summer of 1992, Upshaw returned to play in the Philippine Basketball Association this time with Shell Rimula X before joining the Fury. In February 1993, Upshaw left the Fury to spend time with his family and work at a youth center.

Upshaw was meted a lifetime ban from the PBA for violating the league's anti-drug policy. But he gained notoriety with Filipino basketball fans for showing his butt to the crowd during a televised game in 1992.

He has served as an assistant coach for the CBA's Gary Steelheads, Quad City Thunder, LaCrosse Bobcats, and the NBDL's Charleston Lowgators.

In 2004, he was named as player development coach for the Dallas Mavericks.

Career statistics

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
John Marshall Metropolitan High School, University of Utah
Also known as
Kelvin Parnell Upshaw

People in Kelvin Upshaw's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Kelvin Upshaw's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Kelvin Upshaw?

American basketball player-coach

When was Kelvin Upshaw born?

Kelvin Upshaw was born on 24 January 1963 in Chicago.

What is Kelvin Upshaw's occupation?

Kelvin Upshaw is a basketball player and basketball coach.

What nationality is Kelvin Upshaw?

Kelvin Upshaw is American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Kelvin Upshaw

· Wikidata: Q3814433

· DBpedia: Kelvin Upshaw

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Kelvin Upshaw. https://biography.guide/kelvin-upshaw/

MLA: "Kelvin Upshaw." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/kelvin-upshaw/.

Chicago: "Kelvin Upshaw." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/kelvin-upshaw/.

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