Lanard Copeland

NBL Player Infobox
name = Lanard Copeland


nickname =
position = Guard
height = 198 cm
weight = 88 kg
team = Retired
nationality = Australia
birth_date = birth date and age|1965|7|26
birth_place = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
first_nbl_game = 1992
junior_association =
college = Georgia State University
previous_clubs = Melbourne Tigers 1992-2005
Brisbane Bullets 2005/06
Adelaide 36ers 2006-2008
championships = 1993, 1997
career_highlights = 1997 Grand Final MVP1999, 2002 All NBL First TeamPlayed for the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA

Lanard Copeland (born July 26 1965 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a retired American-born Australian professional basketball player in the National Basketball League, he had played with the Melbourne Tigers, the Brisbane Bullets and the Adelaide 36ers. He has recently retired.

Copeland played collegiately for Georgia State University before being picked up undrafted by the Philadelphia 76ers of the American National Basketball Association in 1989. He participated in 23 games for them as well as 10 games for the L.A. Clippers before arriving in Australia in 1992 to play for the Melbourne Tigers where he averaged 22 points per game over 13 seasons. He became one part of the famous scoring duo with Andrew Gaze, achieving NBL Championships in 1993 and 1997 where his performances were outstanding. He was named MVP of the 1997 finals series.

In May 2005, he signed a one-year deal with the Brisbane Bullets, and in April 2006 signed with the Adelaide 36ers.

On Saturday January 27 2007, Lanard played his 500th NBL career game and received a huge ovation from the crowd playing with his current team the Adelaide 36ers in a 131-99 loss to his former team Brisbane Bullets at the Distinctive Homes Dome in Adelaide. It was the 36ers' worst ever home loss in team history and they would finish 2nd last and miss the playoffs for the first time since 1997.

Copeland (42) has re-signed to play in the 2007-08 season making him the league's 2nd oldest player behind Darryl McDonald. He had his No 21 retired by the Melbourne Tigers on 19 December 2007 when Adelaide visited Melbourne but did not stand a chance in a 110-92 loss to the 2nd place Tigers. Copeland played 30 minutes for 7 points while the league's oldest player Darryl McDonald also played in this game, 21 minutes for 9 points.