Width	200px
Position	Center
Number	12, 21
Height ft	7|height_in1
Weight lbs	260
Birth date	February 03, 1968Prijepolje, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia
Debutyear	1983
Finalyear	2005
Draftyear	1989
Draftround	1
Draftpick	26
Teams	KK Sloga (1983–1986) KK Partizan (1986–1989) Los Angeles Lakers (1989–1996) Charlotte Hornets (1996–1998) KK Crvena zvezda (1999) Sacramento Kings (1999–2004) Los Angeles Lakers (2004–2005)
Stats league	NBA
Stat1label	Points
Stat1value	13,398
Stat2label	Rebounds
Stat2value	9,326
Stat3label	Blocks
Stat3value	1,631
Letter	d
Bbr	divacvl01
Highlights	1989–90 NBA All-Rookie First Team 1x NBA All-Star (2001) J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (2000) Euroleague's 50 Greatest Contributors European Player of the Year: Mister Europa (1989) #21 Retired by Sacramento Kings FIBA Hall of Fame
Hof player	}}

}} }}

Vlade Divac (, ) (born February 3, 1968 in Prijepolje, Serbia, Yugoslavia) is a retired Yugoslav and Serbian professional basketball player who spent most of his career in the NBA. At , he played center and was known for his passing skills. Divac was among the first group of European Basketball players to transfer to the NBA in the late 1980s and was named as one of Euroleague's 50 greatest contributors. Divac is one of six players in NBA history to record 13,000 points, 9,000 rebounds, 3,000 assists and 1,500 blocked shots, along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tim Duncan, Shaquille O'Neal, Kevin Garnett and Hakeem Olajuwon. (The NBA hasn't always kept track of blocked shots, so some other players, such as Bill Russell, probably also had similar career achievements.) Divac is also the only NBA player born ''and trained'' outside of the United States to play in over 1,000 games in the NBA. On August 20, 2010, Divac was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in recognition of his play in international competition.

Aside from being noticed for his basketball abilities, Divac is also known as a humanitarian, helping children in his native country of Serbia, as well as in Africa. On October 16, 2008, Divac was appointed as a government adviser in Serbia for humanitarian issues. On February 24, 2009, he was elected as the President of the Serbian Olympic Committee for a 4-year term. Divac received a prestigious honor from the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame.

Basketball career

He began playing basketball in his home town Prijepolje for the team KK Elan. He began his professional career in Yugoslavia playing for KK Sloga from Kraljevo, and was immediately noted for scoring 27 points against KK Crvena zvezda. In summer 1986, he was the top star of the transfer season, signing for KK Partizan for DM14,000.

In the same year, at the age of 18, he made his debut for the senior Yugoslavia national basketball team in the 1986 FIBA World Championship in Madrid, on invitation by the selector Krešimir Ćosić. However, the excellent rookie's performance was spoiled by the event in the semi-finals against Soviet Union. 45 seconds before the end, Yugoslavia had a comfortable lead of 9 points, but Soviets scored two three-pointers within a few seconds and cut the difference to 3 points. Yugoslavia tried to hold the ball for the remaining time, opting to continue the play with throw-ins instead of free throws following fouls, but with only 14 seconds left, Divac committed a double dribble, the Soviets were awarded the ball, and tied the score with another three-pointer. In the overtime, the Soviets easily prevailed against the shocked Yugoslavs, who had to be content with the bronze.

The next year, Divac participated in the team that took the gold at the FIBA Junior World Championship (since split into separate under-19 and under-21 events) in Bormio, Italy. That event launched the young generation of Yugoslavian basketballers, also featuring stars like Dino Rađa and Toni Kukoč, regarded as likely the best in history. Before the breakup of Yugoslavia, they would also take the titles at EuroBasket 1989 and the 1990 FIBA World Championship in Argentina, where they were led by Dražen Petrović, as well as the EuroBasket 1991 title, with Aleksandar Đorđević at point guard.

In 1987, with Divac, Đorđević, Paspalj, Obradović, and Dušan Vujošević at the helm, Partizan had a "dream team", which took the Yugoslavian league title, but failed to reach the Euroleague top the next season, having lost to Maccabi Tel Aviv from Israel in the semi-finals in Belgian Ghent. Jugoplastika with Rađa and Kukoč was a stronger team in the subsequent 3 years, reigning both in Yugoslavia and in Europe.

Divac had an unusual style for centers of the time: despite the height, he possessed good mobility, had good control of the ball and was a good shooter from distance. On occasion, he would also act as a playmaker. His trademark moves included a midrange shot at the top of the key and flip shots around the rim while facing the complete opposite direction. His quirky moves complemented how he liked playing gags on the field: in the 1989 Eurobasket, he lifted teammate Zoran Radović for a slam dunk. In just 4 professional seasons in Europe, he became the most sought-after tall player in the continent after Arvydas Sabonis.

When Yugoslavia won the gold in the 1990 FIBA World Championship, fans rushed the court. One of them was holding a Croatian flag, one of the six republics that made up Yugoslavia. Divac claims that he told the man that he should not be waving that flag, since this was a win for Yugoslavia. Divac claims the man made a derogatory remark about the Yugoslav flag, at which point Divac took his flag from him. This happened during a very tense time where nationalistic pride was threatening to tear Yugoslavia apart and ignite a war. The taking of the flag made Divac a hero to Serbs, and a villain to Croatians. Divac has stated that he did not mean it as an act against Croatia and he would have taken away a Serbian flag if a Serb fan had done the same.

This action, along with the Yugoslav Wars, alienated Divac from many of his former Croatian friends, particularly Dražen Petrović, whom he considered his best friend. When Yugoslavia won EuroBasket 1995, and Croatia won bronze, Croatia, still at war with Serbs from Croatia (sponsored by Yugoslavia), walked off the podium during the medal ceremony. The teams never faced each other in the tournament.

NBA

Drafted into the NBA in 1989 by the Los Angeles Lakers, Divac became the Lakers' first-ever Serbian draft pick; Croatian Kresimir Cosic had been previously selected by the Lakers in 1973. He was also one of the first European players to have an impact in the league. Under the mentorship of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson, he improved his play and adapted to the American style of the game. Despite the fact that he didn't speak any English, he quickly became popular among the teammates and the public for his charm and joviality. In the 1989/90 season, he was selected into the NBA All-Rookie Team. During his time with the Lakers, Divac's popularity and marketing potential, in addition to his entertaining and good-natured personality, were picked up on by the American TV industry. As a result he appeared quite a few times on Los Angeles-based late night programmes such as ''The Arsenio Hall Show'' and ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno''. In 1990, he was featured in a commercial with Laker teammates A. C. Green and Mychal Thompson for the Schick brand razors company. He also appeared in American sitcoms ''Married... with Children'' and ''Coach'', as well as in the short lived ''Good Sports'' sitcom starring Farrah Fawcett. On the big screen Divac took part in basketball based movies ''Eddie'', ''Space Jam'' and ''Juwanna Mann''. Later in his career, he appeared on ''Larry King Live'' in 1999 and ''The Late Late Show'' in 2002.

Divac earned a reputation for flopping, or deceiving the officials into calling a foul on the other team by purposely falling to the floor upon contact with an opposing player. Veteran NBA forward P.J. Brown claimed that Divac might have been the best of all time at flopping. Divac freely admitted doing so, adding that he usually did it when he felt like the officials had missed some calls and owed him.

He was traded to the Charlotte Hornets for the draft rights to Kobe Bryant in 1996 and spent two seasons playing there. During the lockout period, in January 1999, he played 2 games for Partizan's "eternal rival" KK Crvena zvezda in the 1998–99 Euroleague season. He then signed as a free agent with the Sacramento Kings where he would play for six seasons alongside fellow countryman Predrag Stojaković. Along with Stojaković, Chris Webber and Mike Bibby, Divac revitalized the Sacramento Kings franchise. The Kings rose in the NBA ranks, becoming a perennial playoff contender and later on a championship contender and was at one point the best team in the NBA, leading the league in number of wins in 2001–02. The Kings however, could not get past the Los Angeles Lakers, who beat them in a 7-game series in 2002.

After the 2003–04 NBA season, he became a free agent. He signed a deal to return to the Lakers and was part of a grand plan to overhaul Laker basketball. The Lakers, following a defeat in the NBA Finals, had traded away or released most of their players, including Shaquille O'Neal, Gary Payton, Karl Malone, Derek Fisher and more; Divac was supposed to fill that void. However, Divac suffered back problems and was unable to play for most of the season, and even when he returned, was only able to play about nine minutes per game, averaging 2.3 points per game and 2.1 rebounds per game in 15 games, he played 8 games early in the season and 7 more in the final month of the season. On 14 July 2005, Divac announced his retirement, ending his sixteen-year NBA basketball career.

The Kings retired his No. 21 jersey in a ceremony on March 31, 2009.

Over his 16 years in the NBA, Divac made over $93,000,000 in salary.

Post-basketball career

Through the twilight of his playing career and afterwards, Divac focused on three fields: humanitarian work, sport management, and investment.

Sport management

KK Partizan

In late 2000, following the overthrow of the Milošević regime, Divac and former teammate Predrag Danilović took over their former club KK Partizan. They did so on initiative by Ivica Dačić, the club's outgoing president and, more importantly at that moment, a suddenly marginalized politician who due to his association with Milošević's regime got forced into leaving his post at the club. Seeing that various state-owned companies and community property were being taken over in dodgy fashion during the power vacuum that resulted from the regime overthrow, Dačić saw it prudent to bring the club's two former greats as a safe guard against the same happening to KK Partizan. Divac became the club's president while Danilović took the vice-president role. Freshly retired from playing, Danilović was actually running the club's day-to-day operations since Divac was still very actively involved with the Sacramento Kings at the time. The head coach they inherited, Darko Russo, finished out the 2000-01 season before they decided in summer 2001 to bring back their mentor Duško Vujošević to be the new head coach.

Though the duo never stated so outright, their additional motivation in getting involved with KK Partizan again was perceived to be gaining the upper hand on club's eventual privatisation process once the new Law on Sports gets passed in Serbian parliament. Since the exact ownership structure of publicly owned KK Partizan wasn't and still isn't really clear, potential investors decided to stay away, at least until the law appears. Divac and Danilović appeared pretty much out of nowhere in this regard but enjoyed plenty of fan and public support because most preferred to see their beloved club owned and operated by its former stars rather than a faceless corporation or a group of politicians, managers or businessmen close to the ruling coalition. However, after few years the duo ran out of patience and pulled out of the venture in late 2004 because it became too much of a financial burden with no end goal in sight. While he stopped performing any official functions at the club, Divac continues to be involved with it in lesser capacity.

LA Lakers

From 2005 to 2006, Divac was employed as European scout for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Real Madrid

In June 2006, through his friendship with Predrag Mijatović, Divac linked up with Ramón Calderón as part of the lawyer's candidate bid for the presidency of Real Madrid polideportivo. When Calderón closely won the club elections on July 2, 2006, Divac was introduced as the head of operations at Real Madrid basketball club.

However, Divac's role in the club's day to day operations was largely symbolic, and even he himself admitted as much in a March 2007 interview for Croatian weekly ''Globus'': "I literally do nothing and I only serve as part of the ''royal club'''s image. I only accepted the job because of Mijatović, who is currently the football director at Real".

Serbian Olympic Committee

In February 2009 Divac ran for presidency of the Olympic Committee of Serbia against incumbent president Ivan Ćurković. He won the race after Ćurković withdrew just before the scheduled voting.

Investments

Divac has been involved in many non-basketball endeavors while still actively playing in the NBA, and more so after he retired. He is an active restaurant investor in the Sacramento, California area. However, his attempts to make major investments in Serbia failed, for a variety of reasons.

The most notable affair was a highly publicized business venture—takeover bid of profitable beverage producer Knjaz Miloš. Divac's company "Apurna" in a joint venture with French dairy giant Danone ostensibly proposed the best bid, but the takeover was aborted by the Serbia's Securities Commission, because Danone/Apurna allegedly offered extra money to small shareholders. In the repeated bid, Divac and Danone eventually withdrew and the sale went to FPP Balkan Ltd., a privatization fund from Cayman Islands. The entire messy affair caused great friction within the Serbian government, wide speculation about corruption, resignation of the Securities Commission chief, and even police investigation.

Another similar, though less spectacular, episode happened with 2005 Divac's attempt to take over the ''Večernje novosti'', a Serbian high-circulation daily. He made an agreement with small shareholders to take over the company by means of registering a new company with joint capital, which would increase the share capital. However, the Serbian Government intervened and halted what should have been a mere technical move. While the attempted takeover was a "backdoor" one indeed, it was legal and similar cases had already happened. The government ostensibly feared lack of control over the influential daily. Even through the Supreme Court of Serbia eventually ruled in Divac's favor, he withdrew from the contest, citing "friendly advice" by unnamed persons. Embittered, he decided to stop his attempts to invest in Serbia: "All of this is ugly and I'm very upset... I realized that there's no place for me in Serbia and my friends can meet me in Madrid from now on... In Serbia, some different rules are in effect, and I can't conceive them".

However, that turned out not to be true, as in October 2007 Divac got legally registered as 100% owner of Voda Voda, a bottled water brand previously owned by businessman Vojin Đorđević. That transaction was also followed by a stir of controversy, as Đorđević publicly accused Divac of deceit, asserting that he broke a gentlemen's agreement they had, and questioning the validity of the contract that Divac presented to the Serbian Business Registers Agency. The circumstances surrounding the deal (as of November 2007) are still unclear: Divac claims that he indeed loaned some money to the Đorđević's Si&Si; company, which was in financial troubles, and after Đorđević failed to fulfill his part of the deal, just used the contract, already properly signed by Đorđević, to claim ownership of the company.

Humanitarian work

Divac is a proactive humanitarian worker, focusing on aid to children worldwide and refugees in his home country. Along with six Serbian basketball teammates, Divac established the charity called Group Seven, later renamed to "Divac's Children Foundation", and works closely with International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), helping them to raise around US$500,000 for humanitarian assistance in Serbia since 1997. Divac's own foundation, presided by his wife Snežana, provided over $2,500,000 in humanitarian assistance through 1998–2007.

In late 2007 Divac has founded a humanitarian organization, "You Can Too" (Serbian: ''Можеш и ти/Možeš i ti''), bent on assisting the refugees in Serbia. Serbia has around 500,000 refugees from the 1990s Yugoslav wars, making it the country with the largest refugee problem in Europe. Around 7,800 of those people still live in collective centers under poor conditions, so the organization has vouched itself to buy abandoned countryside houses, in an attempt to finally solve their accommodation problem.

On 21–23 September 2007, Divac organized an official farewell from active basketball career in his hometown Prijepolje and Belgrade, simultaneously promoting the "You Can Too" campaign. The spectacle culminated in gathering of Divac and his worldwide friends in front of 10,000 people outside the National Assembly building.

Domestic fame

In the early 1990s, the song "Vlade Divac" by Belgrade band Deca Loših Muzičara, devoted to his transfer to Lakers, was a big hit; the band finally got to personally meet Divac and perform the song with him on his farewell party in 2007.

Divac regularly appears in commercials pitching products ranging from Atlas Beer to Societe Generale Bank mortgage credit plans. He appeared in a national TV commercial in the United States alongside former NBA star Darryl Dawkins for Taco Bell.

Divac appeared as a special guest on Eurovision 2008. He threw a ball into audience, and that was sign for the beginning of televoting.

Divac appears in the ESPN ''30 for 30'' documentary ''Once Brothers'', where he discusses the exploits of the Yugoslavia national basketball team in the late 1980s and early 1990s and how the Yugoslav Wars tore them apart, especially in context of his broken friendship with Croatian player Dražen Petrović.

Divac appears in Boris Malagurski's documentary film ''The Weight of Chains'', in which he talks about the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.

Personal life

Divac and his wife, Snežana , have two sons, Luka and Matija, and an adopted daughter Petra, whose parents were killed on their way to the market by the Kosovo Liberation Army.

Major career achievements

KK Partizan

Yugoslav Championship in 1987

Final-four of Euroleague 1988

National Cup Winner 1989

Korać Cup Winner 1989

Yugoslavia national team

Earned gold medal with Yugoslavia's under-18 nationals at the European Cadet Championships in Rousse, Bulgaria in 1985

Earned gold medal with Yugoslavia's under-21 nationals at the European Junior Championships in Gmunden, Austria in 1986

Earned gold medal with Yugoslavia's under-21 nationals at the FIBA Junior World Championships of Basketball in Bormio, Italy in 1987, defeating the U.S. team twice in that tournament

Earned silver medals in 1988 (for SFRY) and 1996 Olympics (for FRY)

Earned gold medals with SFRY at the 1990 (Argentina) and with FRY at the 2002 FIBA World Championship (U.S.)

Earned gold medals at European Championships in Zagreb 1989 and Rome 1991 (with SFRY), and in Athens 1995 (with FRY)

NBA

Named to the 1989–90 NBA All-Rookie First Team after averaging 8.5 ppg and 6.2 rpg for the Lakers

Appeared in the 1991 NBA Finals against the Chicago Bulls and averaged 12.1 ppg, 7.5 rpg and 2.4 apg in 121 career NBA Playoff games

Ranks 4th in Lakers franchise history with 830 blocked shots

Ranked 2nd on the Kings in scoring (14.3 ppg), rebounds (10.0 rpg, 10th in the NBA), assists (4.3 apg) and blocked shots (1.02 bpg) in 1998–99

Ranked 12th in the NBA in field-goal percentage (.503) in 1999–2000

Named NBA All-Star, 2001

Only basketball player born and trained in Europe to play at least 1,000 NBA games (1,134)

One of only two basketball players born and trained in Europe (Dražen Petrović is the other) to have his number retired by an NBA team

See also

List of National Basketball Association players with 1000 games played

List of National Basketball Association career rebounding leaders

List of National Basketball Association career blocks leaders

List of National Basketball Association career turnovers leaders

List of National Basketball Association career playoff blocks leaders

List of National Basketball Association players with 10 or more blocks in a game

Filmography

Movies

''The Weight of Chains'' (2010) -Himself

''We are No Angels 3: Rock & Roll Fight Back'' (2008) -God

''Crossover'' (2004) -Himself

''Juwanna Mann'' (2002) -Beat Player Morse

''Driving Me Crazy'' (TV) (2000) -Viglione, Gene

''Space Jam'' (1996) -Himself (Los Angeles Lakers)

''Eddie'' (1996) -Himself (Los Angeles Lakers)

Television

''Želite li da postanete milioner?'' - Serbia, New Year's 2008 celebrity charity edition – Himself (Answered 13 questions, won RSD1,250,000)

''Crni Gruja'', "Kolac" (2003) -Vampir Toza

''Rachel Gunn, R.N''., "Rachel Sees Red" (2000)

''Married... with Children'', " A Tisket, a Tasket, Can Peg Make a Basket?" (1993) – Himself

''Coach'', "Dateline-Bangkok" (1992) -Delivery Man

''Good Sports'', "The Reviews are in" (1991) -Himself

''Once Brothers'' -Documentary about Dražen Petrović and Vlade Divac on ESPN - October 2010

Notes

External links

Vlade Divac playerfile @ NBA.com

Divac's Charity

Euroleague.net 50 greatest contributors

Vlade Divac Statistics @ Basketball-Reference.com

Šarūnas Marčiulionis | years= 1989 | after= Toni Kukoč}}

Category:1968 births Category:Living people Category:FIBA Hall of Fame inductees Category:Serbian expatriate basketball people in the United States Category:Basketball players at the 1988 Summer Olympics Category:Basketball players at the 1996 Summer Olympics Category:KK Partizan players Category:Los Angeles Lakers draft picks Category:Los Angeles Lakers players Category:Charlotte Hornets players Category:KK Crvena zvezda players Category:Sacramento Kings players Category:Yugoslav basketball players Category:Serbian basketball players Category:National Basketball Association players with retired numbers Category:Olympic basketball players of Yugoslavia Category:Olympic silver medalists for Yugoslavia Category:Centers (basketball) Category:Serbian businesspeople Category:Eurobasket-winning players Category:Olympic medalists in basketball Category:People from Prijepolje

ca:Vlade Divac de:Vlade Divac es:Vlade Divac fr:Vlade Divac hr:Vlade Divac id:Vlade Divac it:Vlade Divac he:ולאדה דיבאץ lv:Vlade Divacs mk:Владе Дивац nl:Vlade Divac ja:ブラデ・ディバッツ no:Vlade Divac pl:Vlade Divac ru:Дивац, Владе sr:Владе Дивац sh:Vlade Divac fi:Vlade Divac tr:Vlade Divac zh:弗拉德·迪瓦茨

name	Mychal Thompson
position	Power forward / Center
height ft	6
height in	10
weight lb	226
number	43
birth date	January 30, 1955
birth place	Nassau, Bahamas
nationality	BahamianAmerican
high school	Jackson (Miami, Florida)
college	Minnesota (1974–1978)
draft round	1
draft pick	1
draft year	1978
draft team	Portland Trail Blazers
career start	1978
career end	1992
years1	– | team1 Portland Trail Blazers
years2	| team2 San Antonio Spurs
years3	– | team3 Los Angeles Lakers
years4	1991–1992 | team4 Juvecaserta Basket (Italy)
highlights	2× NBA Champion (–) NBA All-Rookie First Team () Consensus NCAA All-American First Team (1978) Consensus NCAA All-American Second Team (1977)
Stats league	NBA
stat1label	Points
stat1value	12,810 (13.7 ppg)
stat2label	Rebounds
stat2value	6,951 (7.4 rpg)
stat3label	Blocks
stat3value	1,073 (1.1 bpg)
bbr	thompmy01
letter	t }}

Mychal George Thompson (born January 30, 1955) is a retired Bahamian-American professional basketball player of the NBA. Thompson played both the power forward and center positions and played for the Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers.

Early life

Thompson was born in the Bahamas, but moved to the United States as a youth, playing high school basketball in Miami, Florida. He then attended the University of Minnesota where he had a standout collegiate career.

NBA career

The Portland Trail Blazers made Thompson the number one pick in the 1978 NBA Draft, the first foreign-born player to be selected at that position.

Thompson was a fixture in the Portland lineup for eight years (though one season was missed due to injury), where he started at both power forward and center positions. He was named to the 1979 All-Rookie team, and had his statistically best season in 1981–82, where he averaged over 20 points and 11 rebounds per game. In the 1986 off-season, Thompson was traded to the Spurs in exchange for center/forward Steve Johnson.

Thompson played only half a season with the Spurs, before he was traded again, this time to Los Angeles for center/forward Frank Brickowski, center Pétur Guðmundsson and a 1990 first-round draft choice. He was brought to the Lakers in February 1987 to back up Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and defend Boston Celtics forward Kevin McHale, against whom he played great defense. Interestingly enough, this gave the Lakers a team that had four players who were overall #1 selections in the NBA draft, the others being Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, and James Worthy. Of those four, Thompson is the only one not enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Thompson helped the Lakers win consecutive titles in 1987 and 1988, and he retired in 1991.

Post-NBA career

Mychal is currently employed as the Lakers radio color commentator. He first worked with Joel Meyers, then Spero Dedes, and is currently paired with John Ireland. He was a co-host on the "Loose Cannons" radio show on KLAC AM570 in Los Angeles but was let go, due to the move of Lakers broadcasts from AM570 to KSPN AM710 for the 2009-10 season. With the move to KSPN AM710, he joined Andrew Siciliano as co-hosts on the "LA Sports Live" radio show on KSPN AM710 until the show was canceled on December 26, 2010.

Personal life

His oldest son, Mychel, played for the Pepperdine University men's basketball team; his middle son, Klay, played for the Washington State University men's basketball team and was selected with the 11th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors; and his youngest son, Trayce, signed a scholarship offer to play baseball for UCLA but after being drafted in the second round of the 2009 MLB Draft, he decided to sign with the Chicago White Sox.

References

External links

Mychal Thompson stats at ''Basketball Reference''

LA Sports Live with Mychael Thompson and Andrew Siciliano at ESPN.com

Category:1955 births Category:Living people Category:Bahamian basketball players Category:Bahamian emigrants to the United States Category:Los Angeles Lakers players Category:Los Angeles Lakers broadcasters Category:Minnesota Timberwolves broadcasters Category:Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball players Category:Portland Trail Blazers draft picks Category:Portland Trail Blazers players Category:San Antonio Spurs players Category:Centers (basketball) Category:Power forwards (basketball) Category:People from Nassau, Bahamas

es:Mychal Thompson fr:Mychal Thompson it:Mychal Thompson pl:Mychal Thompson pt:Mychal Thompson

number	25
name	Vince Carter
height ft	6
height in	6
weight lb	220
position	Shooting guard
birth date	January 26, 1977
birth place	Daytona Beach, Florida
team	Phoenix Suns
high school	Mainland
college	North Carolina (1995–1998)
nationality	American
draft round	1
draft pick	5
draft team	Golden State Warriors
draft year	1998
career start	1998
teams
years1	– |team1Toronto Raptors
years2	– |team2New Jersey Nets
years3	– |team3Orlando Magic
years4	–present |team4Phoenix Suns
highlights	NBA Rookie of the Year (1999) 8× NBA All-Star (2000–2007) All-NBA Second Team (2001) All-NBA Third Team (2000) NBA All-Rookie First Team (1999) NBA Slam Dunk Champion (2000) }}

Vincent Lamar "Vince" Carter (born January 26, 1977) is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns. He is a shooting guard who can also play small forward.

A high school McDonald's All-American, Carter went on to star for three years at the University of North Carolina before being selected as the #5 pick in the 1998 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors, who traded him to the Toronto Raptors. The NBA Rookie of the Year his first season, he shot to fame as the winner of the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest the next season, competing alongside his third cousin and then-teammate, Tracy McGrady.

An eight-time NBA All-Star, Carter joined NBA players Julius Erving and Michael Jordan as the only players to lead the NBA All-Star Game fan voting three or more times. He helped lead the Raptors to three consecutive playoff appearances before various injuries and losing seasons caused relations between Carter and the Raptors to deteriorate. In 2004, he was traded to the New Jersey Nets, where he spent five years before being moved to the Orlando Magic on the day of the 2009 NBA Draft. In December 2010 he was traded by the Magic to the Phoenix Suns.

Collegiate career

Born in Daytona Beach, Florida, Carter was a 1995 McDonald's All-American at Mainland High School in Daytona Beach before spending three seasons playing college basketball at North Carolina under Dean Smith and later, Bill Guthridge. During the 1997–1998 season, he was a member of new coach Guthridge's successful rotation of Antawn Jamison, Shammond Williams, Ed Cota, Ademola Okulaja, and Makhtar N'diaye.

Carter also became a pioneer of the Internet during his collegiate career. In 1995 he followed teammate Shammond Williams as the second collegiate athlete to have his own website.

NBA career

Toronto Raptors (1998–2004)

In 1998, Carter was drafted by the NBA's Golden State Warriors with the fifth overall pick, and then traded to the Toronto Raptors for the fourth overall pick, Antawn Jamison, his college teammate and good friend. His first agent was National Football League super agent William "Tank" Black who was later imprisoned in connection with money laundering and other charges. Carter's rookie season was the shortened 50-game 1999 season, after the NBA locked out its players in 1998–99. Carter started almost every game for coach Butch Carter, averaged 18.3 points per game (ppg), and eventually won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. The next year, Carter was selected to an All-Star Team for the first time, averaged 25.7 ppg, made the Third Team All-NBA, and showcased his athleticism and dunking abilities in the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. He won the contest by performing an array of dunks including a 360° windmill, a between the legs bounce dunk, and an "elbow in the rim" dunk (also known as a "cookie jar" dunk or the "honey dip"). Though he never competed in the dunk contest again for safety purposes, Carter was voted into the Eastern Conference NBA All-Star Team starting lineup several times through fan balloting.

In Carter's first two seasons, he and his distant cousin Tracy McGrady formed a formidable one-two punch as Raptor teammates. The two led the Raptors to their first playoff berth in the 2000 NBA Playoffs, but they were swept in the first round by the New York Knicks, in 3 games. Upon McGrady's departure to the Orlando Magic the following season, Carter became the Raptors' franchise player.

In 2000–01, his third season, Carter averaged a career-high 27.6 ppg, made the Second Team All-NBA, and was voted in as a starter in the 2001 NBA All-Star Game, while the Raptors finished the regular season with a franchise-record 47 wins. In the playoffs, the Raptors beat the New York Knicks 3–2 in the first round, and advanced to the 2001 Eastern Conference Semifinals, where they took the Philadelphia 76ers to a decisive seventh game. On the morning of the day of Game 7, May 20, 2001, Carter attended his university graduation. In that game, Carter missed a game-winning shot with 2.0 seconds remaining, and afterwards, he was criticized for his decision to attend his graduation by media and fans.

In the summer of 2001, Carter signed a $94 million, six-year extension with the Raptors. In addition, Carter announced that he would be hosting a charity basketball game featuring fellow NBA stars that would be played at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on August 3, 2001. The success of the first game encouraged Carter to make the game an annual summer event.

The next season was an injury-riddled one for Carter. He started in 60 games and he averaged 24.7 ppg. He was voted into the 2002 NBA All-Star Game, but he could not participate due to injury. The Raptors did not fare well without their All-Star player. The team lost 17 of 18 games to drop to 30–38, then won 12 of their last 14 to finish at 42–40. Carter was injured during the 2002 NBA Playoffs, and his team was defeated in the first round by the Detroit Pistons, in 5 games.

During the 2003 NBA All-Star Game, as a sign of respect, Carter gave up his starting All-Star spot to the Washington Wizards' Michael Jordan to allow Jordan to make his final start as an All-Star. During his Raptors tenure, Carter developed jumper's knee in his left knee.

In the 2004 off-season, Carter became frustrated with the Raptors' management for their desire to rebuild. In particular, Carter was unhappy with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), especially president Richard Peddie. In a private meeting, Peddie gave the impression to Carter that MLSE was serious in building a contender in Toronto, would pursue players like Steve Nash and Jamaal Magloire, and consider a G.M. like Julius Erving, who could attract players to Toronto. Frustrated with the new direction of the Raptors management who selected Rafael Araujo that summer rather than pursuing established players like Nash or Magloire, and not interviewing Julius Erving, much speculation had arisen whether he wanted to be traded. During the early part of the 2004–05 season, Carter posted a career-low 15.9 ppg on reduced playing time, under new head coach Sam Mitchell. Mitchell often benched Carter in the 4th quarter to emphasize his new coaching philosophy, spurring rumors of fights between Carter and Mitchell. Mitchell would later deny them.

New Jersey Nets (2004–2009)

On December 17, 2004, new Raptors General Manager Rob Babcock traded Carter to the New Jersey Nets for Alonzo Mourning, Eric Williams, Aaron Williams and two future first-round draft picks.

In early January 2005, when asked by TNT's John Thompson if he always pushed himself as hard as he should, Carter replied, "In years past, no. I was fortunate to have the talent. You get spoiled when you're able to do a lot of things. You see that you don't have to work at it." Though Carter's comments were perceived by Raptors fans as his confession to not giving his all as a Raptor, Thompson said the comments were misinterpreted, saying, "That boy never said to me, 'Coach, I just laid down and quit.' ...I was embarrassed and felt awful about it for his sake, because I knew what he was communicating to me. I think he was more expressing a desire of wanting to do better, as we all do." Despite Thompson's defense, the Toronto Star's Dave Feschuk wrote that Carter "cheated on (the Raptors). He quit on the floor.", and Carter is still booed by Raptors fans each time he has returned to play in Toronto. On the eve of the Raptors and Nets' playoff series in 2007, Carter told New York's WFAN radio station, "One day, maybe the fans will understand how it all went down. That's all I can say."

In the 2005–06 NBA season, he co-led the Nets to 49 wins, an Atlantic Division title, and the number three seed in the playoffs, while averaging 24.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. He led the Nets to the second round of the playoffs before losing to the eventual NBA champions Miami Heat in five games. Carter averaged 29.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 11 playoff games.

On February 1, 2007, Carter was named, along with teammate Jason Kidd, as a reserve to the 2007 NBA All-Star Game, after losing out on a starting spot to Gilbert Arenas by 3,010 votes. Both Carter and Kidd made their eighth All-Star game appearance.

In a 120–114 overtime win over the Washington Wizards, April 7, 2007, Carter and Jason Kidd became the first teammates in over 18 years to record triple-doubles in the same game since the Chicago Bulls' Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen achieved this feat against the Los Angeles Clippers in 1989. Carter finished with 46 points, a career-high 16 rebounds, and 10 assists. Kidd finished with 10 points, tied a career-high with 16 rebounds, and tied a season-high with 18 assists. Carter's triple double is the second highest total for a triple double, second only to Alvan Adams of the Phoenix Suns who tallied 47 points and 18 rebounds and 12 assists over 30 years ago.

After the Nets eliminated the Raptors, the Nets were eliminated from the playoffs by the Cleveland Cavaliers (lost series 4–2). In the offseason, rumors of the Nets trading Carter again arose. After the New York Knicks and Nets discussed a trade around February of Carter (which was ended with the trading deadline), the two teams again revisited the subject. Carter, who opted out of his contract on June 30, reportedly wanted a three-year, $60 million deal however, which the Knicks were wary of. On July 1, 2007 Carter signed a 4-year, $61.8 million contract with the Nets.

On January 24, 2008, the Nets played on the road against the Golden State Warriors. The game was broadcast on TNT, and at the half-time show, Magic Johnson claimed that Carter's game was on the decline due to chronic injuries to his knees. This was proven to be unfounded as Carter had hurt his ankle in an October game against the Boston Celtics which would hinder him throughout the 2007–2008 season. Hampered by injuries, Carter was not named as one of the reserves for the 2008 NBA All-Star Game. This marked the first time in his NBA career Carter was not named as an All-Star since his rookie season, when the game was canceled due to the NBA lockout. Despite playing with an ankle injury, Carter finished the season strong with averages of 22.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists after the All-Star break. He was one of only three NBA players, along with LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, to average at least 21 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists for the year, with averages of 21.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. He led the Nets in freethrow percentage, assists and steals per game (81.6%, 5.1, 1.2). Rod Thorn credited Carter for becoming a leader since the All-Star break, and said he believed that Carter could lead the Nets back to the playoffs the following year. Carter's injury was confirmed after undergoing a successful arthroscopic ankle surgery in the off-season.

For the 2008–09 season, Carter was voted team captain, a title that had been given to Jason Kidd for the previous 6 years.

Orlando Magic (2009–2010)

On June 25, 2009, the day of the NBA Draft, Carter was traded to his hometown-team, the Orlando Magic with Ryan Anderson for Rafer Alston, Tony Battie and Courtney Lee; the Magic were searching for a go-to scorer who could take pressure off Dwight Howard. The Nets without Carter ended up going 12-70.

Carter made his season debut with the Magic on October 28, 2009 against the Philadelphia 76ers at home, recording 15 points and 2 assists to help the Magic defeat the Sixers. On February 8, 2010, Carter scored a season-high 48 points in a 123-117 win against the New Orleans Hornets, including 34 points in the second half to help rally the Magic back from a 17-point deficit.

Vince Carter helped lead the Magic to the 2010 NBA Playoffs, sweeping the Charlotte Bobcats and the Atlanta Hawks in the first two rounds, before falling to the Boston Celtics in Eastern Conference Finals in 6 games. This marked the first time Carter made it to the Conference Finals.

Phoenix Suns (2010–present)

On December 18, 2010, Carter was traded to the Phoenix Suns along with Marcin Gortat, Mickael Pietrus, a 2011 first-round draft pick, and $3 million, for Hedo Türkoğlu, Jason Richardson, and Earl Clark.

2000 Summer Olympics

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During the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Carter performed a memorable dunk when he jumped over 7-foot-2 (2.18 m) French center Frédéric Weis. Carter stole the ball, sprinted, took off—legs spread in midair, and hit Weis's head as he bent over to avoid the collision, before slamming the ball. Teammate Jason Kidd said it was "One of the best plays I've ever seen." The French media later dubbed it "''le dunk de la mort''" ("the Dunk of Death"). The U.S. team went on to win the gold medal that year.

Awards and achievements

8× NBA All-Star selection: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 (did not play in 2002 due to injury)

2× All-NBA:

*Second Team: 2001

*Third Team: 2000

NBA Slam Dunk Champion: 2000

NBA All-Rookie First Team: 1999

NBA Rookie of the Year Award: 1999

The Sporting News NBA Rookie of the Year: 1999

NBA playoff records

Co-holds NBA playoff record for most three-point field goals made in one game: 9 (May 11, 2001 vs. Philadelphia 76ers, Eastern Conference Semifinals)

Most three-point field goals made in one half: 8 (same game as above)

Most consecutive three-point field goals made in one game: 8 (same game as above)

Most consecutive three-point field goals made in one half: 8 (same game as above)

New Jersey Nets franchise records

Most three-point field goals made in one game: 9 (December 11, 2006 vs. Memphis Grizzlies)

Most points scored in one season: 2,070 (2006–07)

Most consecutive 20 or more point games: 23 (2005–06)

He is the first Net to score at least 2,000 points in a single season. (2006–07)

Career highs

Points: 51 (2 times)

Field goals made: 20 vs. Milwaukee 01/14/00

Field goals attempted: 36 at Philadelphia 01/21/01

Three point field goals made: 9 vs. Memphis 12/11/06

Three point field goals attempted: 20 vs. Memphis 12/11/06

Free throws made: 23 at Miami 12/23/05

Free throws attempted: 27 at Phoenix 12/30/00

Offensive rebounds: 8 vs. Chicago 11/05/05

Defensive rebounds: 13 (2 times)

Total rebounds: 16 vs. Washington 04/07/07

Assists: 14 at Milwaukee 01/09/09

Steals: 6 (3 times)

Blocks: 6 vs. Chicago 03/28/99

Minutes played: 63 vs. Sacramento 02/23/01

Video game, TV and film appearances

Appeared on the cover of ''NBA Live 2004''. Appeared on the cover of ''NBA Inside Drive 2002''.

Appeared in the 2002 film ''Like Mike'', where the fictional Los Angeles Knights had to beat Carter and the Toronto Raptors in order to gain the 8th seed in the playoffs.

Appeared in Fabolous' 2002 music video for "This Is My Party", and Glenn Lewis' 2003 music video for "Back for More".

Personal life

Carter has donated to his high school, Mainland, as well as the foundation he established upon being drafted into the NBA in 1998, The Embassy of Hope. The foundation's slogan, "Believing in Your Dreams", is Carter's personal mantra for success. On February 3, 2007, a statue of Carter was unveiled at the Mainland.

Carter visited with the Duquesne University basketball team in Pittsburgh as a show of support after its shooting incident in September 2006.

He is a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

Carter married Ellen Rucker, a doctor of chiropractic medicine, in July 2004; the couple divorced in 2006. They have one daughter, Kai Michelle Carter. born on June 1, 2005.

In Spring 2010, a restaurant opened in Daytona Beach located on LPGA Boulevard named "Vince Carter's Restaurant".

NBA career statistics

Regular season

|- | style="text-align:left;"| 1998–99 | style="text-align:left;"| Toronto | 50 || 49 || 35.2 || .450 || .288 || .761 || 5.7 || 3.0 || 1.1 || 1.5 || 18.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 1999–00 | style="text-align:left;"| Toronto | 82 || 82 || 38.1 || .465 || .403 || .791 || 5.8 || 3.9 || 1.3 || 1.1 || 25.7 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2000–01 | style="text-align:left;"| Toronto | 75 || 75 || 39.7 || .460 || .408 || .765 || 5.5 || 3.9 || 1.5 || 1.1 || 27.6 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2001–02 | style="text-align:left;"| Toronto | 60 || 60 || 39.8 || .428 || .387 || .798 || 5.2 || 4.0 || 1.6 || .7 || 24.7 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2002–03 | style="text-align:left;"| Toronto | 43 || 42 || 34.2 || .467 || .344 || .806 || 4.4 || 3.3 || 1.1 || .9 || 20.6 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2003–04 | style="text-align:left;"| Toronto | 73 || 73 || 38.2 || .417 || .383 || .806 || 4.8 || 4.8 || 1.2 || .9 || 22.5 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2004–05 | style="text-align:left;"| Toronto | 20 || 20 || 30.4 || .411 || .322 || .694 || 3.3 || 3.1 || 1.2 || .8 || 15.9 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2004–05 | style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey | 57 || 56 || 38.9 || .462 || .425 || .817 || 5.9 || 4.7 || 1.5 || .6 || 27.5 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2005–06 | style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey | 79 || 79 || 36.8 || .430 || .341 || .799 || 5.8 || 4.3 || 1.2 || .7 || 24.2 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2006–07 | style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey | 82 || 82 || 38.1 || .454 || .357 || .802 || 6.0 || 4.8 || 1.0 || .4 || 25.2 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2007–08 | style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey | 76 || 72 || 38.9 || .456 || .359 || .816 || 6.0 || 5.1 || 1.2 || .4 || 21.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2008–09 | style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey | 80 || 80 || 36.8 || .437 || .385 || .817 || 5.1 || 4.7 || 1.0 || .5 || 20.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2009–10 | style="text-align:left;"| Orlando | 75 || 74 || 30.8 || .428 || .367 || .840 || 3.9 || 3.1 || .7 || .2 || 16.6 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2010–11 | style="text-align:left;"| Orlando | 22 || 22 || 30.2 || .470 || .346 || .747 || 4.1 || 2.9 || .9 || .1 || 15.1 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2010–11 | style="text-align:left;"| Phoenix | 51 || 41 || 27.2 || .422 || .366 || .735 || 3.6 || 1.6 || .9 || .3 || 13.5 |- | style="text-align:left;"| Career | style="text-align:left;"| | 925 || 907 || 36.4 || .445 || .374 || .797 || 5.2 || 4.0 || 1.2 || .7 || 22.2 |- | style="text-align:left;"| All-Star | style="text-align:left;"| | 7 || 5 || 20.7 || .477 || .375 || .600 || 2.6 || 1.9 || .9 || .1 || 10.1

Playoffs

|- | style="text-align:left;"| 1999–00 | style="text-align:left;"| Toronto | 3 || 3 || 39.7 || .300 || .100 || .871 || 6.0 || 6.3 || 1.0 || 1.3 || 19.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2000–01 | style="text-align:left;"| Toronto | 12 || 12 || 44.9 || .436 || .410 || .784 || 6.5 || 4.7 || 1.7 || 1.7 || 27.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2004–05 | style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey | 4 || 4 || 44.8 || .365 || .316 || .861 || 8.5 || 5.8 || 2.2 || .0 || 26.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2005–06 | style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey | 11 || 11 || 40.9 || .463 || .241 || .796 || 7.0 || 5.3 || 1.8 || .6 || 29.6 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2006–07 | style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey | 12 || 12 || 40.6 || .396 || .389 || .693 || 6.8 || 5.3 || .9 || .6 || 22.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2009–10 | style="text-align:left;"| Orlando | 14 || 14 || 34.4 || .402 || .235 || .826 || 4.2 || 2.3 || .9 || .2 || 15.5 |- | style="text-align:left;"| Career | style="text-align:left;"| | 56 || 56 || 40.3 || .415 || .312 || .788 || 6.2 || 4.5 || 1.3 || .7 || 23.3

See also

List of National Basketball Association career scoring leaders

List of National Basketball Association career 3-point scoring leaders

List of National Basketball Association players with 50 or more points in a playoff game

Notes

External links

Official Website

U.S. Olympic Team bio

Vince Carter Sanctuary

Category:1977 births Category:Living people Category:African American basketball players Category:American basketball players Category:American expatriate basketball people in Canada Category:Basketball players at the 2000 Summer Olympics Category:Basketball players from Florida Category:Golden State Warriors draft picks Category:McDonald's High School All-Americans Category:Male basketball guards Category:NBA Slam Dunk Contest champions Category:New Jersey Nets players Category:North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball players Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States Category:Olympic basketball players of the United States Category:Orlando Magic players Category:Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball) Category:Phoenix Suns players Category:People from Bergen County, New Jersey Category:People from Daytona Beach, Florida Category:Shooting guards Category:Small forwards Category:Toronto Raptors players Category:United States men's national basketball team members Category:Olympic medalists in basketball

bs:Vince Carter ca:Vince Carter da:Vince Carter de:Vince Carter et:Vince Carter el:Βινς Κάρτερ es:Vince Carter fa:وینس کارتر fr:Vince Carter gl:Vince Carter ko:빈스 카터 hr:Vince Carter id:Vince Carter it:Vince Carter he:וינס קרטר lv:Vinss Kārters hu:Vince Carter nl:Vince Carter ja:ヴィンス・カーター pl:Vince Carter pt:Vince Carter ru:Картер, Винс sr:Винс Картер fi:Vince Carter sv:Vince Carter ta:வின்ஸ் கார்டர் tr:Vince Carter uk:Вінс Картер vls:Vince Carter zh:文斯·卡特

Position	Wide receiver
Number	28
Birth date	November 19, 1949Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Debutyear	1972
Finalyear	1982
Draftyear	1972
Draftround	1
Draftpick	4
College	Oregon
Teams	St. Louis Cardinals (–) Buffalo Bills (–) Seattle Seahawks () Minnesota Vikings (–)
Stat1label	Receptions
Stat1value	495
Stat2label	Receiving yards
Stat2value	6,831
Stat3label	Touchdowns
Stat3value	44
Nfl	RAS249174
Highlights	4× Pro Bowl selection (1978, 1979, 1980, 1981) 1× Second-team All-Pro selection (1979) 2× First-team All-Conference selection (1979, 1980) 3× Second-team All-Conference selection (1974, 1978, 1981) 1979 Pro Bowl MVP
Collegehof	90134 }}

name	Ahmad Rashād
birthname	Robert Earl Moore
birth date	November 19, 1949
birth place	Portland, Oregon, U.S.
yearsactive	1984-present
spouse
website	}}

Ahmad Rashād (born November 19, 1949) is an American sportscaster (mostly with NBC Sports) and former professional football player. An All-American running back and wide receiver from Oregon known as Bobby Moore, Rashad was the fourth overall pick in the 1972 NFL Draft, drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals. He was the first skill-position player taken, following three linemen.

Rashād was converted back to wide receiver while with the Cardinals, where he played for two seasons. He then played for the Buffalo Bills (1974–1976), the Seattle Seahawks (1976), and, most notably, the Minnesota Vikings (1976–1982), where he earned four Pro Bowl selections from 1978 to 1981.

Early life

Born Robert Earl Moore in Portland, Oregon, he graduated from Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma, Washington, in 1967 and accepted a football scholarship to the University of Oregon.

Conversion and football career

In 1972, Moore converted to Islam and changed his name to Ahmad Rashād, which means "Admirable One Led To Truth" in Arabic. His last name comes from his mentor in St. Louis, Rashad Khalifa.

Rashād eventually graduated from the University of Oregon, where he played wide receiver as a sophomore in 1969; then was moved to running back where he was an All-American in 1971—playing with quarterback Dan Fouts. Rashād was named to the College Football Hall of Fame on May 9, 2007.

During his pro football career, Rashād caught 495 passes for 6,831 yards and 44 touchdowns, while also rushing for 52 yards. The standout catch of his career came in a December 1980 game against the Cleveland Browns. Vikings quarterback Tommy Kramer threw a Hail Mary pass to Rashād that resulted in a come-from-behind 28-23 victory and a Central Division title for the Vikings. This became known as the Miracle Catch. Rashād also has the distinction of the longest play from scrimmage that didn't score a touchdown: 98 yards in a 1972 game against the Rams.

Rashād replaced the same receiver, John Gilliam, in both St. Louis and Minnesota.

Broadcasting and television career

After his football career, he covered NFL and NBA televised contests as a studio anchor and game reporter for NBC and ABC, as well as hosting ''NBA Inside Stuff''. He also has hosted the video-clip show ''Real TV'' in 2000, the reality show ''Celebrity Mole'', the game show ''Caesars Challenge'' along with co-host Dan Doherty, and ''NBA Access with Ahmad Rashad'' on the ABC network. He starred in an episode of ''Monsters''. Rashād has also guest starred on several TV shows, mainly ones that starred his then wife Phylicia. He used to interview long-time friend Michael Jordan frequently while he was at NBC. Rashad worked on the NFL on NBC with O.J. Simpson.

Personal life

Rashād has been married four times and divorced three. In 1969, he married his first wife Deidre Waters. They had a daughter, Keva, born in 1970. In addition he has a son, Sean, born out of wedlock also in 1970. In 1976, he married his second wife, Matilda Johnson. They had two children, daughter Maiyisha (born in 1986) and son Ahmad Jr. (born in 1978). They divorced in 1979.

In 1985, Rashād married ''Cosby Show'' actress Phylicia Ayers-Allen, to whom he proposed on national television during the pregame show of NBC's broadcast of the Thanksgiving Day football game between the Detroit Lions and the New York Jets. It was a third marriage for both. Unlike many actresses, she adopted his surname shortly after the wedding, and uses the name "Phylicia Rashād" professionally to this day. Out of this marriage, he gained a stepson Billy Bowles (born 1973). After a year of marriage, Ahmad and Phylicia had a daughter, Condola Phylea Rashād (named after his mother). After nearly sixteen years of marriage, Ahmad and Phylicia divorced in 2001.

In 2007, Rashād wed his fourth wife, Sale Johnson, the ex-wife of Johnson & Johnson billionaire and New York Jets owner Woody Johnson. He has gained three stepdaughters from this marriage.

Casey Johnson (1979–2010)

Jamie Johnson (b. 1982)

Daisy Johnson (b. 1987)

References

External links

Ahmad Rashad, Executive Producer, NBA Inside Stuff

College Football Hall of Fame - 2007 - Ahmad Rashad - (Bobby Moore)

1972 NFL Draft - from the Pro Football Hall of Fame

TV acres.com - 1985 marriage

NFL Stats - Career NFL Statistics

Category:African American Muslims Category:African American players of American football Category:African American television actors Category:American football wide receivers Category:American game show hosts Category:American Muslims Category:American television reporters and correspondents Category:American television sports announcers Category:Buffalo Bills players Category:College football announcers Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees Category:Converts to Islam from Christianity Category:Minnesota Vikings players Category:National Basketball Association broadcasters Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players Category:National Football League announcers Category:Oregon Ducks football players Category:Participants in American reality television series Category:People from Tacoma, Washington Category:Players of American football from Oregon Category:Sports Emmy Award winners Category:St. Louis Cardinals (football) players Category:1949 births Category:Living people Category:African American Muslims Category:Converts to Islam Category:Sportspeople from Portland, Oregon