Larry Sanders is an American former professional basketball player who played as a center/power forward in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and G League.
Sanders was a player who outshined on the court despite the late start. He began his professional career in 2010 and ended his brilliant tenure in 2017. Thus, he forged a span of glory and notoriety over the period.
The seed of his attainments bloomed since his high school and collegiate career. Playing for his high school team, the Associated Press named him to the First Team All-State.
During his collegiate career, he earned CAA Defensive Player of the Year twice in 2009 and 2010.
After he landed in the NBA, he had a time of ambivalence and experienced a short-lived roller coaster within his epoch.
From being the team’s gem player to undergoing depression and encountering drug charges, Sanders experienced it all in his life.
Sanders was a big player with length, athleticism, hops, and quickness. He displayed a solid shooting contour with a high release and was a big-time assignment; there is no denying that.
Uncover further interesting information about the former NBA player Larry Sanders, beneath. Also, have a quick peek at the intriguing quick facts about the player below.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Larry Sanders |
| Birth Date | November 21, 1988 |
| Birth Place | Fort Pierce, Florida |
| Nick Name | Unknown |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Unknown |
| Education |
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| Horoscope | Scorpio |
| Father’s Name | Larry Sanders Sr. |
| Mother’s Name | Marilyn Smith |
| Siblings | Two (Missy Sanders & Cheyenne Sanders) |
| Age | 35 Years Old |
| Height | 6’11″/2.11 m/211 cm |
| Weight | 104 Kg/230 lb. |
| Jersey No. |
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| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Body Type | Athletic |
| Profession | Basketball player |
| NBA Draft | 2010 / Round: 1 / Overall 15th pick |
| League | NBA & NBA G League |
| Active Years | 2010 – 2017 |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Brittany Sanders |
| Kids | Three (Jasiah, Jynesis & Jaleel) |
| Net Worth | $12 million |
| Position | Center / Power Forward |
| Last played NBA Team | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Social Media | Instagram, Facebook, Twitter |
| Merch | Bobblehead |
| Last Update | September 2024 |
Early Life & Family
Larry Sanders was born to his father, Larry Sanders Sr., and mother, Marilyn Smith, in Fort Pierce, Florida, on November 21, 1988.
He has two siblings, Missy and Cheyenne Sanders, and grew up enjoying their companionship.
The former NBA player started playing hoops until he was 15, and before that, he was interested in other things like oceanography and architecture.
Despite the delayed start in basketball, Sanders became the first-round pick for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2010.
Any other information that uncovers his family and early lifestyle is unknown, as the player has not disclosed much of the respective entity.
Moreover, the American national follows Christianity wholeheartedly.
Basketball Career
High School Career
As Sanders attended a private school, he didn’t play basketball until 9th grade as the school he enrolled at didn’t have games in their curriculum.
Sanders transferred to Port St. Lucie High School, where the basketball coach acknowledged the capability in a then 6’1″ youth.
During his junior year, he gained notice statewide as he aided his high school team to the Class 5A state semifinals.
In his senior year, the former NBA player led Port St. Lucie to the District 13-5A Championship and was named by the Associated Press to the First Team All-State.
College Career
Sanders attended VCU University and played for the VCU Rams men’s basketball team. In his first two years, he was one of the star players on the team.
During his sophomore season, he assisted the Rams in reaching the final round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament. However, they faced a 65-64 loss against the UCLA Bruins.
He averaged 14.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks in his junior year, earning him his second CAA Defensive Player of the Year award for the 2009-10 season. He received his first CAA Defensive player of the Year award for the 2008-09 season.
After his junior year, he declared his name for the NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.
Professional Career
Sanders was selected with the 15th overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft by Milwaukee Bucks.
In February 2011, he had an assignment with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA D League. The Bucks recalled him in February 2011, and he played for the parent team with commitment.
In November 2012, he logged his first career triple-double with 10 points, 12 rebounds, and ten assists against Minnesota Timberwolves.
Sanders also finished third in voting for the NBA Most Improved Player Award, after Paul George and Greivis Vasquez.
Likewise, he signed a 4-year/$44 million contract extension with Milwaukee Bucks in August 2013.
During his ongoing stint with the Bucks, he encountered many nasty situations, drug policy violations, charges, and damages. After five years in the NBA, Sanders walked away from basketball.
However, the former basketball player made his return to NBA and signed with Cleveland Cavaliers on March 13, 2017. He made his debut the following day in a 128-98 win over the Detroit Pistons.
After appearing in five games, he was waived by the Cavaliers in April 2017. Moreover, he had multiple assignments with the Canton Charge of the NBA Development League during his time with the Cavaliers.
Later in 2019, Sanders played with 3 Headed Monsters in the 2019 Big3 season.
Grants & Honors
- First-team All-CAA (2010)
- Second team All CAA (2009)
- CAA Defensive Player of the Year (2009, 2010)
- Three times CAA All-Defensive team (2008, 2009, 2010)
- CAA All-Freshman Team (2008)
Body Features
Larry Sanders was born on November 21, 1988, making him 35 years old.
About his physical stats, he stands at a soaring height of 6 feet 11 inches (2.11 meters), and his body weight is around 104 kg (230 pounds).
Sanders is a massive, athletic, and explosive towering figure, which he used as a critical advantage to run the floor professionally.
The player’s athleticism and quickness allowed him to handle and move around the court and make the scores.
Net Worth & Salary
The well-known former basketball player Larry Sanders has an estimated net worth of $12 million as of 2024.
Addressing his salary, in his rookie season in the NBA, he earned $1,731,960, and in the 2011-12 season, he accumulated $1,861,920 with the Bucks.
In the 2012-13 season, his estimated income was $1,991,760, and in 2013-14, he bagged $3,053,368.
With the Cavaliers in the 2016-17 season, he garnered $207,722. Despite retiring from the sport in 2017, he continuously kept getting paychecks from the bucks until the 2021-22 season, as per spotrac.
Throughout his NBA career, he stacked a total of $30,548,133 in salary.
NBA Payrolls
Larry Sanders once held up the load of the franchise on his widespread shoulders before Giannis Antetokounmpo revived the Milwaukee Bucks.
His eternity with Bucks was fleeting as the center gestured his NBA appearance with career-best averages and blocks.
Milwaukee Bucks were persuaded to have a flourishing star on their hands. In the meantime, the Bucks locked him up on a $44 million career extension in 2013.
Thus, the investment lost its sheen before it began, as his 2013-14 campaign never aviated due to his injuries and instability. Struggling with injuries, Sanders could not perform to his potential.
On the other hand, his stint was further hampered by the torn thumb ligament that he sustained during an altercation in a nightclub. Because of the injury, he missed his 25 games with the Bucks.
he WAS handed a five games suspension for violating NBA’s drug policy after testing positive for marijuana. He got suspended for the second time after testing positive for marijuana, for which Bucks were buying out his contracts in February 2015.
In the 2014-15 season, he didn’t play due to illness, and later, he was sidelined due to personal reasons.
A video of him circulated where he’d explained he entered into a program at Rogers Memorial Hospital for healing. Later, he disclosed he had been treated for anxiety and depression, and mood disorders.
Since then, the Milwaukee Bucks have paid him $1.9 million perennial continued till the 2021-22 season.
Charges
According to reports, police have noted Sanders for disorderly attitude, assault, and fight at a Milwaukee nightclub.
He was charged for his misbehavior, and two of the charges were municipal citations.
Moreover, the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office declared it had no plans to issue criminal charges against Sanders.
The municipal citations hold a fine of $185 for the disorderly conduct ticket and $366 for the assault and battery ticket.
Animal Cruelty
After weeks of the fight incidents, another story surfaced all over the daily papers and the internet. Sanders was cited for animal cruelty after he was found to leave his dogs out in the cold.
As one of his neighbors had complained about the vicious incident to the police, they found his dogs outside with no shelter, food, or water at a temperature of 17 degrees Fahrenheit.
Who Is Larry Sanders’ Wife?
Larry Sanders is a married man. He opted to marry his long-time girlfriend, Brittany Sanders, in 2013.
They dated one another for a few years before Larry proposed to Brittany during the BIG 3 show.
The couple’s marital life is blessed with three children; Jasiah, Jynesis, and Jaleel Sanders.
Sanders loves his family with all his heart; they are the most important part of his life.
Off The Court
During his time away from basketball, Sanders started to affirm himself artistically as a rapper, with the name “L8show.”
He dropped his debut music video for “Black Mercedes,” composed and directed by himself.
The former NBA player also featured on a track titled “Don’t Run” on PartyNextDoor’s second studio album, PartyNextDoor’s 3.
Sanders also inaugurated an artist collective, a clothing line that comes off with style and trendy design.
He started the Citizen of Matter custom jeans line because he couldn’t find trendy jeans that fit a 6’10” frame.
He initiated his clothing line with five styles of semi-custom jeans for extra-tall men. It also offered a classy, sophisticated, nonconformist style and fit for those who couldn’t get favorable market options.
Social Media Presence
The former Bucks center is an avid social media user. He keeps his fans posted about his life updates through social media handles.
You can find him on Instagram under the handle @thereal_larrysander, Twitter @L8show_thegoat, and Facebook with the name ‘Larry Sanders.’
Instagram: 372k followers
Twitter: 30.6k followers
Facebook: 67k followers
Popularity
Despite his short stint in the NBA, he earned many fans and well-wishers from around the world.
The above graph gives brief information about the popularity of Larry Sanders based on Google searches in the United States over a year.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who was Larry Sanders' coach during high school?
His coach was Kareem Rodriguez, who saw potential in newly transferred player Sanders.
Why did Larry Sanders quit basketball in between?
Sanders took a break from basketball between his stint with the Milwaukee Bucks as he was going through depression; he realized basketball was consuming so much of his life and time.
