Charlie Yelverton (born December 5, 1948) is a retired American professional basketball player. At a height of 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) tall, he played as shooting guard-small forward. He is a member of the New York State Basketball Hall of Fame.
During a game on February 1, 1972, Yelverton did not participate in pre-game warmups and sat on the bench during the singing on the US national anthem. The Oregonian reported his actions were in protest of Portland's release of Willie McCarter. Blazers forward Sidney Wicks was accused of playing lackadaisical defense during the game as his protest.[3][4] Yelverton told the New York Post in 2016 his protest was in response to the Vietnam War and capitalism.[5] Portland head coachRolland Todd was fired the next day for failing to handle the situation and Yelverton went on to play 24 more games for the Blazers.[6] He was waived in September 1972, shortly before the Blazers were scheduled to travel to Hawaii for a pre-season tournament between NBA and ABA teams.[7]
Yelverton then headed to Europe, where he played with Olympiacos in Greece, and Ignis Varese in Italy. He helped Ignis Varèse to win the 1975 EuroLeague title, and he also played with the same team in two other EuroLeague Finals, in 1978 and 1979. He also won the 1978 Italian League title, while in Varèse.
On February 3, 2008, Yelverton was among the 105 player nominees for the 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors list, which commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of the EuroLeague competition.
^Brandon, Steve (November 4, 1994). "The Blazers; The early years dissension, turmoil marked Blazers early years". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. p. N07.
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