Last Updated on July 28, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Kent Benson was a traditional NBA center whose size, rebounding, and low-post fundamentals anchored frontcourts for the Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz, and Cleveland Cavaliers throughout the late 1970s and 1980s. The former No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick and Indiana Hoosiers star fit the classic interior big man archetype, contributing through efficient post scoring, rim protection, and physical paint play.

Here is the information on Kent Benson:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Michael Kent Benson
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born December 27, 1954
  • Hometown: New Castle, Indiana, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 meters)
  • Weight: 235 pounds (107 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 11 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 18 (US)
  • Number: Wore #54 during his NBA career
  • Position: Center
  • High School: New Castle Chrysler High School (New Castle, Indiana)
  • College: Indiana University (1973–1977)
  • NBA Draft: 1977 NBA Draft, 1st overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks
  • Teams Played For:
    • Milwaukee Bucks (1977–1980)
    • Detroit Pistons (1980–1986)
    • Utah Jazz (1986–1987)
    • Cleveland Cavaliers (1987–1988)
    • Played briefly in Italy after his NBA career
  • Championship Rings: None in the NBA (won the 1976 NCAA Championship with Indiana University, going undefeated)
  • Kids: Has four daughters, including Andrea Benson, who played college volleyball
  • Siblings: Information not publicly available

Player Archetype / Play Style

Kent Benson’s player archetype was that of a traditional low-post center, a sturdy interior big whose game was built on rebounding, screening, paint finishing, and solid positional defense rather than perimeter skill or offensive flair. Defensively, he fit as a backline interior presence who used size, strength, and discipline to hold ground in the lane, contest around the basket, and clean the glass more than chase blocks all over the floor. Offensively, Benson worked mainly as a complementary inside scorer, getting points from post touches, putbacks, short-range finishes, and physical work near the rim instead of face-up creation. Physically, he brought classic center dimensions at 6-foot-11 with a strong frame, and his overall play style reflected that old-school profile: dependable, interior-oriented, and fundamentally grounded, with his best value coming from doing the hard work in traffic on both ends.

Scouting Report

Kent Benson was the kind of centre who wanted the possession to slow down just enough for his size and footwork to take over. The first thing you notice is how comfortable he was establishing deep post position before the ball even arrived, using subtle angles, reverse seals and patience rather than simply trying to overpower defenders. Once he caught it, he rarely looked hurried. He preferred measured drop steps, short hooks and turnaround jumpers, and he had enough touch to punish defenders who played behind him without forcing difficult attempts. The interesting thing is that his passing often began before the double-team fully committed. He recognised when the low man leaned too far into the paint and could kick the ball back out or find a cutter diving behind the help, even if he wasn’t orchestrating an offence through the elbows. Defensively, Benson was at his best anchoring the paint in conventional coverages, staying between his man and the rim, contesting vertically and using his length to discourage drives rather than chasing blocks that took him out of position. The trade-off came whenever the game became more perimeter-oriented. Stretch bigs pulling him away from the basket or repeated pick-and-roll actions demanding quick changes of direction exposed some mobility limitations, and quicker forwards could attack before he fully reset his stance. That’s why his ideal environment featured physical perimeter defenders capable of steering ball handlers toward his help while allowing him to patrol the lane instead of covering excessive ground in space. To me, there were similarities to Jack Sikma before Sikma expanded his range, mixed with some of Joe Barry Carroll’s reliance on touch and timing around the basket, though Benson leaned more heavily on strength and positioning. It’s easy to overlook how much of his offence was created before the catch rather than after it, but that early work was often the difference between an efficient post possession and a difficult one.

Sources:

NBA.com — Kent Benson | Center | Detroit Pistons
Basketball-Reference — Kent Benson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
Indiana University Athletics — Kent Benson – Men’s Basketball
Indiana University Athletics — Kent Benson (1989) – Indiana University Athletics Hall of Fame