Ben McLemore is an American professional basketball player who used to play as a shooting guard for the National Basketball Association for the Sacramento Kings. His size, on-court play, and style of play have drawn comparisons with former NBA All-Star Ray Allen. We will talk about his career and how he went from playing basketball in high school and college to the bright lights of the NBA.
Ben Edward McLemore III, born on February 11, 1993, in St. Louis, Missouri, is an American basketball pro. He is a shooting guard for the Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). Before joining the CBA, Ben played for various teams in the NBA from 2013 to 2022. After completing his high school and college basketball journey, McLemore entered the NBA in 2013.
Key Takeaways
- McLemore stands at a height of 6 feet 5 inches and weighs 88 kg.
- Apart from being compared to Ray Allen, McLemore also broke the record for newcomers set by Danny Manning. He helped the Kansas Jayhawks win a Big 12 championship in his single season with the Kansas Jayhawks.
- Ben McLemore was called the Young Sav by his buddies. Sav means “Savage”.
- The street he grew up on, Wellston Avenue, was renamed Ben McLemore III Place in his honor.
Ben McLemore Bio
He was born on February 11, 1993, in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of parents Ben McLemore and Sonya Reid. The McLemore’s had a total of six children. Ben had two brothers, Keith and Kevin, and three sisters.
His full name is Ben Edward McLemore III. He attended Wellston High School in St. Louis, Missouri for three years, but then was forced to change schools when Wellston closed in 2010 just before the start of his senior year.
During his time in Wellston, he played basketball in high school and then attended Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia, and later the Christian Life Center in Humble, Texas. By the time he was ready to go to college in 2011, McLemore was already a highly respected young talent.
Even though he had signed on to play for the University of Kansas, the NCAA prevented him from playing because he had attended several high schools. His transcripts were described as “a little fuzzy. Later, McLemore was admitted to team activities in the second semester of school.
When his college career was finally launched in the 2012-13 season, he increased his underrated profile by an average of 15.9 points, 2.0 assists, and 5.2 rebounds, accompanied by 49.5% shots from the field and 87% shots from the foul line. He was a finalist for the John R. Wooden Award. At the end of his first season in college basketball, McLemore declared for the 2013 NBA Draft.
The Sacramento Kings selected McLemore as the second overall selection for the 2013 NBA Draft signed his contract for the rookie scale on July 13, 2013, and joined them for the 2013 NBA Summer League.
In the last game of the regular season, McLemore scored a season-high 31 points in a season in which he averaged 8.8 points, 1.0 assists, and 2.9 rebounds in 26.7 minutes. Even at the end of his rookie season, McLemore had played all 82 games and scored 55 stars.
McLemore helped the Kings win the NBA Summer League 2014 with an average of 12.6 points. The 2014-15 season high was 27 points in a game against the Charlotte Hornets which the Kings won.
At the end of his second season, which began in all games, he averaged 12.1 points, 1.7 assists, and 2.9 rebounds per game. The Kings activated the contract extension for the third year of his contract.
His contract would be renewed again, with the clause in his contract allowing for an extension. McLemore had his best game against the Houston Hornets, scoring 19 points and 9 rebounds in a defeat.
His highest-scoring game was against the Pelicans with 26 points. When he missed his first game in his professional career in February 2016 due to a sprained wrist, it ended a series of 211 consecutive games, surpassed only by Tristan Thompson’s 335 games in the NBA.
McLemore moved and played for the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2017-18 season. When he was injured, he was sent to the NBA G League, but he came back and set a new season-high of 21 points with a win over his former team, the Sacramento Kings. On July 17, 2018, McLemore and Deyonta Davis of the Grizzlies were traded in for Garrett Temple of the Kings.
Education
Ben went to Wellston High School in Missouri for three years. But for his senior year, he went to Oak Hill Academy and Christian Life Center. Then in 2012, he started college at the University of Kansas. In his first season, he scored an average of 15.9 points and grabbed 5.2 rebounds per season.
Family
Ben McLemore grew up in a poor family in St. Louis, Missouri. His parents had to work hard to make ends meet for their family of seven.
In 2018, McLemore tied the knot with Jasmine, and they now have two kids. Their daughter, Taegan, was born in 2017, and they welcomed a son in 2019.
Wife, Girlfriend
Ben McLemore married his girlfriend, Jasmine, on July 8, 2018. They first met on a blind date arranged by mutual friends. Their wedding took place in Pasadena, California, and it was a beautiful ceremony.
Net Worth
The shooting guard is estimated to have a net worth of about $12 million according to Sportskeeda. Besides his NBA career, he also earns money from brand endorsements. McLemore’s annual salary is approximately $3 million.
Other Facts
1. Who is Ben McLemore? He is an American professional basketball player currently playing for Río Breogán in the Spanish Liga ACB. He played college basketball for the University of Kansas.
2. When was Ben McLemore born? He was born on February 11, 1993, in St. Louis, Missouri, US.
3. What is Ben McLemore’s NBA draft history? The shooting guard was drafted by the Sacramento Kings with the seventh overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.
4. For which NBA teams have Ben McLemore played? McLemore has played for the Sacramento Kings (twice), Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, and Los Angeles Lakers.
5. What is Ben McLemore’s playing position? He is a shooting guard, although he has also played some small forwards.
6. Where did Ben McLemore play college basketball? McLemore played for the Kansas Jayhawks for one season before entering the NBA draft.
7. How tall is Ben McLemore? The shooting guard is listed at 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 meters) tall.
8. Where is Ben McLemore from? American professional basketball player was born in St. Louis, Missouri, United States.
9. What are some of Ben McLemore’s strengths as a player? McLemore is known for his athleticism and shooting ability.
10. Who is Ben McLemore’s girlfriend? Jasmine is the girlfriend of Ben. They married in July 2018.
Wrap Up
In the realm of basketball, Ben McLemore’s journey exemplifies the highs and lows of professional sports. From overcoming NCAA hurdles to showcasing his talent on the NBA stage, McLemore’s resilience and skill have left an indelible mark on the basketball world.
