Last Updated on April 17, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here is detailed information about Cedric Ceballos:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Cedric Z. Ceballos
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born August 2, 1969
  • Hometown: Maui, Hawaii, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m)
  • Weight: 220 lbs (100 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 8 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 15 (US)
  • Number: 23, 1, 5, 31 (varied by team)
  • Position: Small Forward
  • High School: Dominguez High School (Compton, California)
  • College:
    • Ventura College (Junior College)
    • Cal State Fullerton (1988–1990)
  • NBA Draft 1990 NBA Draft, 48th overall by the Phoenix Suns
  • Teams Played For
    1. Phoenix Suns (1990–1994, 1997–1998)
    2. Los Angeles Lakers (1994–1997)
    3. Dallas Mavericks (1998–2000)
    4. Detroit Pistons (2000–2001)
    5. Miami Heat (2001)
    6. Denver Nuggets (2001, signed but didn’t play a game)

He also played internationally and in smaller leagues later in his career.

  • Championship Rings
    • NBA Championships: None
  • Kids: Cedric has one daughter, Cyndee Ceballos.
  • Siblings: Not widely documented.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Cedric Ceballos’s player archetype was that of a slashing scoring forward, a high-motor wing who created offense through movement, cuts, opportunistic finishing, and relentless scoring activity rather than isolation-heavy play. A Los Angeles Times profile from his breakout Lakers period described him as a “slipping, sliding, sneaking, hiding sort of a ballplayer,” which fits the way he operated offensively: finding seams near the basket, piling up points without dominating the ball, and adding value as a rebounder from the forward spot. Defensively, he was better cast as an active team wing than a shutdown stopper, using effort and mobility more than specialist lockdown technique. Physically, Ceballos was a lean 6-foot-6 to 6-foot-7 forward with enough length, bounce, and fluidity to finish in traffic and run the floor, and his overall play style blended hustle scoring, interior timing, transition play, and secondary rebounding into a productive, unconventional wing package. (Los Angeles Times)

Fun Facts

  • 1992 NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion: Known for his unique “blindfolded” dunk, which became one of the most iconic moments in Slam Dunk Contest history.
  • Scoring Prowess: Ceballos averaged 21.7 points per game during the 1994–95 season with the Lakers and was selected as an NBA All-Star that year.
  • Music Career: Cedric dabbled in music and released an album, reflecting his interests outside basketball.
  • Post-Retirement: He has worked as a broadcaster and community ambassador for the Phoenix Suns.

Sources:

Los Angeles Times — Ceballos Escapes Shadow of Suns : Laker Forward Steps Into Spotlight After Serving as Backup in Phoenix
NBA.com — Cotton Express: Rude Awakening