John Shumate

John Shumate
Shumate with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in 1973
Personal information
Born(1952-04-06)April 6, 1952
Greenville, South Carolina, U.S.
DiedFebruary 3, 2025(2025-02-03) (aged 72)
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High schoolThomas Jefferson
(Elizabeth, New Jersey)
CollegeNotre Dame (1971–1974)
NBA draft1974: 1st round, 4th overall pick
Drafted byPhoenix Suns
Playing career1975–1980
PositionPower forward, center
Number34
Coaching career1983–2010
Career history
As a player:
1975–1976Phoenix Suns
19761977Buffalo Braves
19771979Detroit Pistons
1979–1980Houston Rockets
1980San Antonio Spurs
1981Seattle SuperSonics
As a coach:
1983–1986Grand Canyon
1988–1995SMU
19951998Toronto Raptors (assistant)
2003Phoenix Mercury
2009–2010Phoenix Suns (assistant)
Career highlights
As player:

As head coach:

  • SWC regular season champion (1993)
Career NBA statistics
Points3,920 (12.3 ppg)
Rebounds2,388 (7.5 rpg)
Assists574 (1.8 apg)
Stats at NBA.com 
Stats at Basketball Reference 

John Henry Shumate (April 6, 1952 – February 3, 2025) was an American professional basketball player and coach. He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Phoenix Suns, Buffalo Braves, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, and Seattle SuperSonics from 1975 to 1981. His playing career was cut short by recurring issues with blood clots. Shumate was the head coach for the Grand Canyon Antelopes and SMU Mustangs and an assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors of the NBA and Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA.