Last Updated on August 7, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Clarence Weatherspoon was known for his physical style of play and relentless effort around the basket, regularly battling for rebounds and second-chance points. Despite being undersized for a power forward, he carved out a long NBA career through toughness, energy, and consistent production.

Here is the detailed profile of Clarence Weatherspoon:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Clarence Weatherspoon Sr.
  • Nationality: American
  • Date of Birth: September 8, 1970
  • Hometown: Crawford, Mississippi
  • Height: 6 ft 6 in (198 cm)
  • Weight: 240 lbs (109 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 ft 11 in (211 cm)
  • Shoe Size: Size 15 (US)
  • Jersey Number: Primarily wore No. 35
  • Position: Power Forward / Small Forward
  • High School: Motley High School, Columbus, Mississippi
  • College: University of Southern Mississippi (1988–1992)
  • NBA Draft: 1992, 1st Round, 9th Overall by Philadelphia 76ers
  • NBA Teams Played For:
    • Philadelphia 76ers: 1992–1998
    • Golden State Warriors: 1998
    • Miami Heat: 1998–2000
    • Cleveland Cavaliers: 2000–2001
    • New York Knicks: 2001–2004
    • Houston Rockets: 2003–2005
  • Championship Rings: None
  • Children: Information not publicly available
  • Siblings: Information not publicly available

Player Archetype / Play Style

Clarence Weatherspoon was an undersized but rugged power forward whose archetype fit the mold of a physical inside scorer and rebounder. Defensively, he filled a tough frontcourt role, using strength, leverage, and effort to battle bigger forwards around the paint while holding his own on the glass. Offensively, he operated mainly as a complementary interior option, scoring on put-backs, short-range finishes, and straight-line attacks rather than perimeter shooting. Listed at 6’6″ and 240 pounds, Weatherspoon had a thick build, strong balance, and the kind of sturdy frame that let him play bigger than his height. His overall play style was built on hustle and force: he attacked the boards, played through contact, and gave teams reliable frontcourt minutes through toughness, energy, and simple, effective offense.

Scouting Report

Clarence Weatherspoon played like every catch was an invitation to put pressure on the defense. What stood out to me wasn’t just his strength, but how quickly he turned face-ups into downhill drives before bigger defenders could settle into position. He loved attacking from the elbows and short corners, using one hard dribble to create enough of an angle to finish through contact or force the low man to rotate. Once that help arrived, he’d make the obvious pass to the opposite side without trying to thread impossible windows. His offense wasn’t built around polished isolation moves or back-to-the-basket footwork nearly as much as relentless, direct attacks that collapsed the paint. That’s where he became difficult to contain because defenders couldn’t simply back off and wait—he was too willing to lower a shoulder, absorb contact, and keep moving toward the rim. His mid-range jumper was functional enough to keep defenders honest, but it was always the threat of the drive that dictated how he was guarded. Defensively, he brought a physical edge to almost every possession, holding his ground on post-ups, rotating early from the weak side to crowd the lane, and battling on the glass through leverage rather than sheer length. The trade-off was that quicker forwards could pull him away from the basket and expose some stiffness changing directions, especially when possessions flowed into multiple actions after the initial pick-and-roll. That’s why his best fit came next to a rim-protecting center who could clean up behind aggressive perimeter containment, allowing Weatherspoon to spend more time disrupting forwards than chasing guards in space. It’s easy to overlook how much of his value came from creating second chances and forcing defenders into uncomfortable, physical possessions that gradually wore them down. Stylistically, there are shades of Corliss Williamson in the powerful face-up scoring game, while his willingness to attack off the catch and embrace contact brings to mind a sturdier version of Paul Millsap before the perimeter became a major part of Millsap’s offensive identity.

Sources:
basketball-reference.com — https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/weathcl01.html
sports-reference.com — https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/clarence-weatherspoon-1.html