Quick Facts
Biography
Lionel James "L-Train" Simmons (born November 14, 1968) is a retired American professional basketball player.
High school career
Simmons led South Philadelphia High School to a Philadelphia Public League boys' championship in 1986, getting an MVP award in the process. He was inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.
College career
Simmons was a 6'7" small forward from La Salle University, where he won the Naismith College Player of the Year and John R. Wooden Award as a senior. Simmons is third in all-time NCAA career points with 3,217 and trails only Pete Maravich and Freeman Williams. Simmons became the only player in NCAA history to score more than 3,000 points and pull down more than 1,100 rebounds. He holds the NCAA Basketball record for most consecutive games scoring in double figures with 115. He led the Explorers to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances (1988–90). Simmons was Player of the Year in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference for three years. He was a four-time First Team All Big 5 selection and won the Robert V. Geasey Trophy as Big 5 MVP three times. During his career, the Explorers had a 100-31 record. Simmons was inducted into the La Salle University Hall of Athletes in 1995. Simmons was inducted into the Big 5 Hall of Fame in 1996.
GAME LOGS FOR SIMMONS' 1986–87 FRESHMAN SEASON
| Date | Opponent | Result | Pts | Reb | AST | BLK | STL | FG | FT | 3-Pt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 28, 1986 | Penn St. | L, 59-58 | 18 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7-13 | 3-5 | 1-1 |
| Nov. 29, 1986 | Central Florida | W, 68-43 | 10 | 6 | 0 | ? | ? | 5-12 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Dec. 2, 1986 | vs Temple | L, 70-66 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 1 | ? | 2-7 | 2-2 | 0-0 |
| Dec. 5, 1986 | vs Army | W, 83-63 | 24 | 11 | 2 | ? | ? | 10-15 | 4-6 | 0-0 |
| Dec. 10, 1986 | at Villanova | W, 93-86 | 22 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10-14 | 2-2 | 0-0 |
| Dec. 13, 1986 | at Maine | W, 79-66 | 21 | 18 | 2 | 6 | ? | 8-20 | 5-7 | 0-1 |
| Dec. 19, 1986 | Georgia | L, 82-65 | 21 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 10-15 | 1-4 | 0-0 |
| Dec. 20, 1986 | Eastern Kentucky | W, 98-83 | 21 | 17 | 2 | ? | ? | 9-16 | 3-5 | 0-0 |
| Dec. 26, 1986 | St. Joseph's | L, 77-70 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1-11 | 5-7 | 0-0 |
| Dec. 27, 1986 | vs Northeastern | W, 102-85 | 31 | 14 | 4 | 1 | ? | 13-19 | 5-7 | 0-0 |
| Jan. 3, 1987 | vs #4 North Carolina | L, 79-72 | 22 | 6 | 0 | 0 | ? | 10-17 | 2-3 | 0-0 |
| Jan. 6, 1987 | vs Iona | L, 75-68 | 16 | 10 | 7 | 3 | ? | 6-15 | 4-4 | 0-0 |
| Jan. 8, 1987 | at Fordham | L, 87-79 | 22 | 8 | 0 | 1 | ? | 10-18 | 1-3 | 1-2 |
| Jan. 10, 1987 | at Manhattan | W, 102-69 | 24 | 15 | 0 | 0 | ? | 10-16 | 4-4 | 0-0 |
| Jan. 13, 1987 | at Holy Cross | W, 79-59 | 25 | 13 | 2 | 0 | ? | 8-15 | 9-11 | 0-0 |
| Jan. 17, 1987 | at Fairfield | L, 63-60 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | ? | 4-12 | 1-2 | 0-0 |
| Jan. 20, 1987 | vs St. Peter's | W, 65-56 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 1 | ? | 4-10 | 3-5 | 0-0 |
| Jan. 23, 1987 | vs Fordham | W, 69-66 | 20 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8-18 | 4-4 | 0-0 |
| Jan. 28, 1987 | at Iona | W, 100-85 | 22 | 9 | 3 | 2 | ? | 8-15 | 6-9 | 0-0 |
| Jan. 31, 1987 | vs #8 DePaul | L, 58-54 | 19 | 8 | 2 | ? | ? | 9-20 | 1-1 | 0-1 |
| Feb. 4, 1987 | at Notre Dame | L, 76-64 | 22 | 6 | 1 | 1 | ? | 8-17 | 6-8 | 0-0 |
| Feb. 7, 1987 | at Manhattan | W, 76-62 | 23 | 16 | 1 | 1 | ? | 7-17 | 9-11 | 0-0 |
| Feb. 10, 1987 | vs Holy Cross | W, 93-60 | 31 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 11-19 | 9-13 | 0-0 |
| Feb. 13, 1987 | vs Fairfield | W, 58-54 | 10 | 11 | 1 | 2 | ? | 5-13 | 0-1 | 0-0 |
| Feb. 16, 1987 | at Penn | W, 80-72 | 22 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 10-17 | 2-4 | 0-0 |
| Feb. 21, 1987 | at St. Peter's | W, 68-61 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 3 | ? | 5-9 | 4-4 | 0-0 |
| Feb. 24, 1987 | at Army | L, 68-59 | 24 | 9 | 0 | 2 | ? | 10-14 | 4-4 | 0-0 |
| Feb. 28, 1987 | Fairfield | L, 75-62 | 36 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 14-23 | 8-8 | 0-1 |
| Mar. 12, 1987 | at Villanova | W, 86-84 | 21 | 9 | 4 | 0 | ? | 7-12 | 7-10 | 0-0 |
| Mar. 17, 1987 | at Niagara | W, 89-81 | 23 | 9 | 2 | 0 | ? | 9-19 | 5-6 | 0-0 |
| Mar. 21, 1987 | vs Illinois St. | W, 70-50 | 18 | 15 | 2 | 1 | ? | 7-14 | 4-6 | 0-0 |
| Mar. 24, 1987 | Arkansas-Little Rock | W, 92-73 | 21 | 8 | 2 | 2 | ? | 6-8 | 9-10 | 0-0 |
| Mar. 26, 1987 | Southern Miss | L, 84-80 | 34 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12-19 | 10-10 | 0-0 |
GAME LOGS FOR SIMMONS' 1987–88 SOPHOMORE SEASON
| Date | Opponent | Result | Pts | Reb | Ast | Blk | Stl | FGM | FT | 3-Pt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 27, 1987 | Texas-San Antonio | W, 74-51 | 23 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10-24 | 3-7 | 0-0 |
| Nov. 28, 1987 | Delaware | W, 86-72 | 34 | 14 | 1 | 5 | ? | 11-21 | 12-15 | 0-0 |
| Dec. 2, 1987 | at Princeton | W, 63-62 | 30 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13-19 | 4-7 | 0-0 |
| Dec. 5, 1987 | at Penn | L, 66-61 | 27 | 12 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 10-18 | 7-10 | 0-0 |
| Dec. 10, 1987 | vs Army | W, 74-61 | 22 | 16 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 9-14 | 4-8 | 0-0 |
| Dec. 12, 1987 | at Fordham | W, 85-80 | 27 | 10 | 2 | 4 | ? | 11-17 | 5-6 | 0-0 |
| Dec. 18, 1987 | vs Villanova | L, 83-80 | 16 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7-15 | 2-4 | 0-1 |
| Dec. 19, 1987 | vs Canisius | W, 85-73 | 13 | 12 | 3 | ? | ? | 6-15 | 1-2 | 0-0 |
| Dec. 23, 1987 | Georgia | L, 79-71 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5-11 | 2-2 | 0-0 |
| Dec. 24, 1987 | Chaminade | W, 90-60 | 33 | 18 | 1 | ? | ? | 15-28 | 3-4 | 0-0 |
| Dec. 25, 1987 | Dayton | W, 69-66 | 26 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 9-25 | 8-10 | 0-0 |
| Dec. 29, 1987 | at BYU | L, 95-82 | 25 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 12-20 | 1-1 | 0-1 |
| Jan. 2, 1988 | vs Notre Dame | L, 68-59 | 26 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 10-23 | 6-6 | 0-0 |
| Jan. 9, 1988 | at #4 North Carolina | L, 96-82 | 37 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 15-27 | 5-7 | 2-3 |
| Jan. 11, 1988 | at Richmond | L, 82-81 | 13 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 5-19 | 3-4 | 0-0 |
| Jan. 14, 1988 | at #4 Temple | L, 59-56 | 14 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6-15 | 2-6 | 0-3 |
| Jan. 16, 1988 | vs Fairfield | W, 78-50 | 23 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 9-17 | 5-7 | 0-0 |
| Jan. 19, 1988 | at St. Joseph's | L, 73-63 | 18 | 15 | 1 | 1 | ? | 8-21 | 2-3 | 0-0 |
| Jan. 20, 1988 | vs Holy Cross | W, 119-108 | 33 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 11-21 | 11-14 | 0-0 |
| Jan. 23, 1988 | vs Manhattan | W, 95-70 | 24 | 13 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 8-13 | 8-11 | 0-0 |
| Jan. 28, 1988 | vs Iona | W, 101-83 | 27 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11-17 | 5-8 | 0-0 |
| Jan. 30, 1988 | at Army | W, 64-51 | 22 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 8-20 | 6-8 | 0-0 |
| Feb. 2, 1988 | vs American | W, 73-65 | 34 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 8-16 FG | 18-18 | 0-0 |
| Feb. 6, 1988 | vs Fordham | W, 76-51 | 14 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 5-11 | 4-4 | 0-0 |
| Feb. 9, 1988 | vs St. Peter's | W, 56-47 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3-8 | 9-11 | 0-0 |
| Feb. 13, 1988 | at Fairfield | W, 75-57 | 20 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 6-16 | 8-8 | 0-0 |
| Feb. 17, 1988 | at Holy Cross | W, 102-83 | 32 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 14-26 | 4-7 | 0-0 |
| Feb. 20, 1988 | Manhattan | W, 92-74 | 32 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 11-19 | 10-11 | 0-0 |
| Feb. 24, 1988 | at Iona | W, 91-86 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 5-13 FG | 4-6 | 0-0 |
| Feb. 29, 1988 | at St. Peter's | W, 67-64 | 27 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 8-20 | 11-13 | 0-0 |
| Mar. 3, 1988 | Manhattan | W, 62-51 | 17 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7-18 | 3-3 | 0-0 |
| Mar. 4, 1988 | Holy Cross | W, 88-64 | 19 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 6-18 | 7-8 | 0-0 |
| Mar. 5, 1988 | Fordham | W, 79-70 | 23 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 8-14 | 7-8 | 0-0 |
| Mar. 17, 1988 | Kansas St. | L, 66-53 | 20 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7-14 | 6-12 | 0-0 |
GAME LOGS FOR SIMMONS' 1988–89 JUNIOR SEASON
| Date | Opp | Res | Pts | Reb | Ast | Blk | Stl | FG | FT | 3-Pt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 18, 1988 | at #13 Syracuse | L, 92-76 | 19 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7-17 | 5-9 | 0-0 |
| Dec. 2, 1988 | Georgia Southern | W, 64-62 | 24 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 9-20 | 5-7 | 1-2 |
| Dec. 3, 1988 | at Austin Peay | W, 79-74 | 29 | 10 | 2 | 3 | ? | 12-23 | 5-7 | 0-1 |
| Dec. 5, 1988 | vs St. Joseph's | W, 81-57 | 31 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 12-25 | 6-9 | 1-2 |
| Dec. 9, 1988 | Penn | W, 77-61 | 32 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 13-24 | 6-8 | 0-1 |
| Dec. 10, 1988 | Long Beach St. | W, 96-63 | 26 | 14 | 1 | ? | 1 | 9-21 | 6-7 | 2-3 |
| Dec. 14, 1988 | at St. Peter's | W, 78-74 | 36 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 15-24 | 6-10 | 0-0 |
| Dec. 22, 1988 | at Villanova | W, 79-74 | 18 | 21 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 7-16 | 3-6 | 1-1 |
| Dec. 29, 1988 | #16 South Carolina | W, 85-67 | 38 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 15-22 | 7-7 | 1-2 |
| Dec. 30, 1988 | Georgia | L, 95-85 | 19 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 7-20 | 5-7 | 0-2 |
| Jan. 4, 1989 | vs Temple | L, 67-57 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9-15 | 0-2 | 0-2 |
| Jan. 7, 1989 | vs Richmond | W, 97-76 | 36 | 13 | 1 | 3 | ? | 13-22 | 10-12 | 0-0 |
| Jan. 12, 1989 | at Fordham | W, 86-73 | 27 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 8-18 | 10-12 | 1-1 |
| Jan. 14, 1989 | vs Manhattan | W, 81-57 | 28 | 16 | 3 | 1 | ? | 11-20 | 6-6 | 0-2 |
| Jan. 19, 1989 | at Holy Cross | W, 84-72 | 34 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 13-26 | 8-12 | 0-2 |
| Jan. 21, 1989 | at Fairfield | W, 65-61 | 32 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 11-26 | 5-9 | 5-7 |
| Jan. 23, 1989 | at Iona | W, 89-64 | 25 | 18 | 7 | 1 | ? | 9-19 | 5-9 | 2-2 |
| Jan. 25, 1989 | vs St. Peter's | L, 65-63 | 29 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10-19 | 9-13 | 0-1 |
| Jan. 28, 1989 | vs Fordham | W, 77-66 | 27 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 9-15 | 8-9 | 1-2 |
| Feb. 1, 1989 | vs Iona | W, 91-62 | 29 | 9 | 2 | 4 | ? | 11-24 | 7-9 | 0-1 |
| Feb. 3, 1989 | at Army | W, 94-70 | 28 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12-21 | 4-5 | 0-3 |
| Feb. 5, 1989 | at American | W, 111-91 | 33 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 14-28 | 5-6 | 0-2 |
| Feb. 9, 1989 | vs Army | W, 88-67 | 29 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9-16 | 11-15 | 0-1 |
| Feb. 11, 1989 | at Manhattan | W, 77-60 | 34 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 14-29 | 6-7 | 0-2 |
| Feb. 13, 1989 | vs Holy Cross | W, 101-82 | 27 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9-34 | 8-10 | 1-2 |
| Feb. 16, 1989 | at Notre Dame | L, 80-78 | 22 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 9-21 | 4-10 | 0-0 |
| Feb. 19, 1989 | vs Fairfield | W, 85-67 | 30 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 12-28 | 5-6 | 1-3 |
| Feb. 23, 1989 | vs #12 Florida St. | W, 101-100 | 36 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 12-21 | 10-12 | 2-2 |
| Mar. 2, 1989 | Fairfield | W, 91-62 | 31 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 12-29 | 6-9 | 1-3 |
| Mar. 3, 1989 | Fordham | W, 85-69 | 26 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 12-20 | 1-2 | 1-1 |
| Mar. 4, 1989 | St. Peter's | W, 71-58 | 29 | 9 | 0 | 4 | ? | 12-25 | 5-9 | 0-1 |
| Mar. 16, 1989 | Louisiana Tech | L, 83-74 | 26 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 12-28 | 2-5 | 0-2 |
GAME LOGS FOR SIMMONS' 1989–90 SENIOR SEASON
| Date | Opp | Res | Pts | Reb | Ast | Blk | Stl | FG | FT | 3-Pt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 24, 1989 | SEMO | W, 62-58 | 20 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8-18 | 4-7 | 0-0 |
| Nov. 25, 1989 | at Fresno St. | W. 75-63 | 24 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 9-18 | 5-8 | 1-2 |
| Dec. 2, 1989 | at DePaul | W, 83-62 | 26 | 14 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 10-26 | 5-5 | 1-2 |
| Dec. 11, 1989 | vs Penn | W, 86-83 | 20 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8-21 | 2-7 | 2-5 |
| Dec. 22, 1989 | vs Villanova | W, 71-70 | 15 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 5-17 | 4-5 | 1-2 |
| Dec. 27, 1989 | Ohio St. | W, 74-62 | 26 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 11-20 | 4-8 | 0-1 |
| Dec. 28, 1989 | Florida | W, 76-69 | 33 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 11-21 | 7-8 | 4-5 |
| Jan. 4 1990 | at Temple | W, 63-62 | 23 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7-10 | 5-6 | 4-4 |
| Jan. 6, 1990 | vs #25 Loyola-Marymount | L, 121-116 | 34 | 19 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 14-25 | 6-12 | 0-0 |
| Jan. 9, 1990 | vs Siena | W, 106-90 | 29 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 11-22 | 6-6 | 1-1 |
| Jan. 12, 1990 | vs Notre Dame | W, 86-78 | 27 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 12-22 | 3-6 | 0-1 |
| Jan. 18, 1990 | vs Canisius | W, 89-77 | 27 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 11-19 | 5-11 | 0-0 |
| Jan. 20, 1990 | at Holy Cross | W, 84-81 | 28 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 11-19 | 5-7 | 1-1 |
| Jan. 22, 1990 | vs Loyola (MD) | W, 89-69 | 36 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 15-22 | 6-8 | 0-0 |
| Jan. 25, 1990 | at Niagara | W, 87-69 | 25 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8-16 | 9-12 | 0-0 |
| Jan. 27, 1990 | at Fordham | W, 98-72 | 30 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 10-21 | 7-7 | 3-4 |
| Feb. 3, 1990 | at Iona | W, 89-73 | 26 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 11-24 | 4-7 | 0-1 |
| Feb. 5, 1990 | vs St. Peter's | W, 72-59 | 26 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 12-19 | 2-5 | 0-1 |
| Feb. 8, 1990 | at Fairfield | W, 78-51 | 22 | 13 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 9-21 | 4-7 | 0-0 |
| Feb. 10, 1990 | at Manhattan | W, 99-78 | 40 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 17-29 | 4-8 | 2-2 |
| Feb. 12, 1990 | at St. Joseph's | W, 93-76 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5-11 | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| Feb. 16, 1990 | vs Iona | W, 95-78 | 20 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7-21 | 6-9 | 0-3 |
| Feb. 18, 1990 | vs Fairfield | W, 72-49 | 24 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 10-20 | 4-11 | 0-2 |
| Feb. 20, 1990 | at Loyola (MD) | W, 110-81 | 34 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 14-21 | 6-9 | 0-3 |
| Feb. 22, 1990 | vs Manhattan | W, 100-60 | 27 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 12-22 | 1-2 | 2-3 |
| Feb. 25, 1990 | at St. Peter's | W, 74-66 | 18 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 8-19 | 2-3 | 0-0 |
| Feb. 27, 1990 | vs Army | W, 106-73 | 29 | 20 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 11-20 | 6-8 | 1-2 |
| Mar. 3, 1990 | Fairfield | W, 90-60 | 34 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 14-28 | 4-5 | 2-5 |
| Mar. 4, 1990 | at Siena | W, 106-90 | 26 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 11-19 | 3-3 | 1-1 |
| Mar. 5, 1990 | Fordham | W, 71-61 | 26 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 8-15 | 10-11 | 0-1 |
| Mar. 15, 1990 | Southern Miss | W, 79-63 | 32 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 13-26 | 3-5 | 3-5 |
| Mar. 17, 1990 | #17 Clemson | L, 79-75 | 28 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 12-21 | 3-3 | 1-6 |
Professional career
Simmons was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the seventh pick of the 1990 NBA draft. He was the runner-up to Derrick Coleman for the 1991 NBA Rookie of the Year Award. Simmons was NBA Player of the Week the week after the All-Star break during his rookie season.
He played seven seasons for the Kings, scoring 5,833 career points until prematurely retiring in 1997 due to chronic injuries. He managed to earn more than $21 million in an NBA career that lasted seven seasons.