Last Updated on April 15, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Kenneth Wayne Lofton Jr. is an American professional basketball player, born on August 14, 2002, in Port Arthur, Texas.

Player Profile

Physical Attributes:

  • Height: 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 meters)
  • Weight: 275 pounds (125 kilograms)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 11 inches (2.11 meters)
  • Shoe Size: Size 15 (US)

Basketball Career:

  • Position: Power Forward / Center
  • Jersey Number: 35
  • High School: Memorial High School in Port Arthur, Texas
  • College: Louisiana Tech University (2020–2022)
  • NBA Draft: Declared for the 2022 NBA Draft but went undrafted

Teams Played For:

  • Memphis Grizzlies: Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022; also played for their G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle
  • Philadelphia 76ers: Brief stint in 2023; played for the Delaware Blue Coats (G League affiliate)
  • Utah Jazz: Joined in 2024; also played for the Salt Lake City Stars (G League affiliate)
  • Shanghai Sharks: Currently playing for the Shanghai Sharks in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA)

Achievements:

  • NBA G League Rookie of the Year: 2023
  • All-NBA G League First Team: 2023, 2024
  • NBA G League All-Rookie Team: 2023
  • Conference USA Freshman of the Year: 2021
  • First-team All-Conference USA: 2022

Personal Life:

  • Father: Kenneth Lofton Sr., a military veteran and longtime U.S. postal worker
  • Mother: Gina Duhon-Lofton
  • Sister: Kennedi Lofton, who played college basketball for Southern University
  • Not Related to: Former MLB player Kenny Lofton

Player Archetype / Play Style

Kenneth Lofton Jr.’s player archetype is that of a bruising point-forward big, an archetype built on overwhelming strength, crafty interior scoring, and surprising passing feel for a frontcourt player. At roughly 6-foot-7 and 275 pounds, with draft-camp measurements showing a near 6-foot-11 wingspan, he has one of the most unconventional physical profiles in recent basketball memory, using a massive base, soft hands, and uncommon touch to dislodge defenders and score through contact. Defensively, his role is more about using strength, rebounding instincts, and positional size to battle in the paint and hold ground against bigger bodies than it is about switching freely or playing as a high-end vertical rim protector. Offensively, he operates as a low-post scorer, interior creator, and connective passer who can bully mismatches, carve out second-chance opportunities, and make smart reads when extra defenders collapse. The overall play style is unusual but effective: Lofton wins with power, feel, footwork, and touch, giving him the profile of an old-school interior force with enough skill to keep an offense moving. (LA Tech Athletics)

Sources:

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs — Kenneth Lofton, Jr. – 2021-22 Men’s Basketball Roster
NBADraft.net — Kenneth Lofton
Mavs Draft — Kenneth Lofton Jr Scouting Report
NBA Draft Room — Kenneth Lofton Jr.