Last Updated on April 16, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here is the detailed information about Priest Lauderdale, a former NBA player:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Priest Lauderdale
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born on August 31, 1973
  • Hometown: Chicago, Illinois, USA
  • Height: 7 feet 4 inches (224 cm)
  • Weight: 325 pounds (147 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 feet 5 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 22 (US)
  • Number: Wore jersey numbers 50 and 52
  • Position: Center
  • High School: Carver High School in Chicago, Illinois
  • College: Central State University (Ohio)
  • NBA Draft: Selected in the 1st round (28th overall pick) in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks
  • Teams Played For:
    • Atlanta Hawks (1996–1997)
    • Denver Nuggets (1997–1998)
    • Played internationally in various countries, including Greece, China, Venezuela, and Bulgaria
  • Championship Rings: None in the NBA
  • Kids: Not publicly available
  • Siblings: Not publicly available

Player Archetype / Play Style

Priest Lauderdale’s player archetype was that of a true low-post giant, an old-school reserve center whose value came from sheer size, paint presence, and interior finishing rather than mobility or perimeter skill. He fit defensively as a drop-coverage rim body who could clog the lane, absorb contact, and use his length and mass to make life difficult around the basket, even if he was not built to defend in space. Offensively, his role was narrow but clear: screen, seal, catch deep, and finish close to the rim, with most of his scoring coming from interior touches and second-chance areas instead of face-up creation. Physically, Lauderdale stood 7-foot-4 and around 325 pounds, giving him one of the biggest frames of his era and making him a naturally imposing interior presence. His overall play style was that of a situational paint specialist, a massive center who played a simple power game, occupied defenders by size alone, and gave teams a traditional big-man look when they wanted bulk near the rim. (NBA)

Sources:

NBA.com — Priest Lauderdale | Center | Denver Nuggets
Basketball-Reference — Priest Lauderdale Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
ESPN — Priest Lauderdale – Denver Nuggets Center