About Lonnie Shelton
Lived 1955 – 2018 (aged 62). Lonnie Shelton was an American basketball player.
Lonnie Jewel Shelton (October 19, 1955 – July 8, 2018) was an American National Basketball Association (NBA) player who played from 1976 to 1985.
Early years Shelton was born in Bakersfield, California. He played college basketball for Oregon State University. He was drafted by the Memphis Sounds (soon to become the Baltimore Claws) of the American Basketball Association in 1975 but elected to stay in college. He was then selected by the New York Knicks in the second round of the 1976 NBA draft.
Professional career Shelton led the NBA in personal fouls in his first two seasons with New York. On December 16, 1977, Shelton scored a career-high 41 points during a 152–150 triple overtime loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. After the Knicks obtained free agent Marvin Webster from the SuperSonics in 1978, the NBA awarded Shelton and the Knicks’ 1979 first-round pick to Seattle as compensation.
In 1979, his first season with the SuperSonics, Shelton was the team's starting power forward. That season, he set a SuperSonics record by going 13 for 13 from the field in a game (17 total consecutive field goals), and helped the SuperSonics win the NBA Finals. Shelton was one of three SuperSonics represented in the 1982 NBA All-Star Game (along with Jack Sikma and Gus Williams) and was named to the NBA's 1982 2nd All-Defense Team. Shelton played five seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics and finished his career playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers for three seasons. who played offensive tackle in the NFL, Tim Shelton, who played for the San Diego State Aztecs basketball team, Titus Shelton, who played for the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Mustangs basketball team from 2005 to 2009, and Marlon, who played for the Washington Huskies from 1998 to 2003.
NBA career statistics
Regular season
Playoffs
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Important facts
People in Lonnie Shelton's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Lonnie Shelton's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Lonnie Shelton?
American basketball player (1955-2018)
When was Lonnie Shelton born?
Lonnie Shelton was born on 19 October 1955 in Bakersfield.
When did Lonnie Shelton die?
Lonnie Shelton died on 8 July 2018 in Westminster.
What was Lonnie Shelton's occupation?
Lonnie Shelton was a basketball player.
What nationality was Lonnie Shelton?
Lonnie Shelton was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Lonnie Shelton. https://biography.guide/lonnie-shelton/
MLA: "Lonnie Shelton." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/lonnie-shelton/.
Chicago: "Lonnie Shelton." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/lonnie-shelton/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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