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Dwight School
The Dwight School is an independent, college preparatory school located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Dwight offers the International Baccalaureate curriculum to students ages two through grade twelve. Approximately forty countries are represented among its student body.
Founded in 1872 by Dr. Julius Sachs as part of the Sachs Collegiate Institute, The Dwight School was first known as “The Sachs School,” then The Franklin School. Originally located on West 34th Street and Broadway, it relocated several times as it grew, ultimately moving to 18 West 89th Street in 1912. Dr. Sachs, a noted educator and author (and brother of Samuel Sachs, who founded Goldman Sachs in 1882 with his father-in-law, banker Marcus Goldman,) headed the school until 1901, when he was appointed Professor of Education at Columbia University.
In 1880, the New York School of Languages was founded on 15 West 43rd Street as an academy of classical studies. Timothy Dwight, President of Yale University asked the school to pioneer a math and science program to replace traditional Greek and Latin as an entrance requirement. The New York School of Languages was later renamed The Dwight School in honor of that historic partnership.
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Dwight, Kansas
Dwight is a city in Morris County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 272.
In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a main line from Topeka through Dwight to Herington. The Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway was foreclosed in 1891 and taken over by Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway, which shut down in 1980 and reorganized as Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad, merged in 1988 with Missouri Pacific Railroad, merged in 1997 with Union Pacific Railroad. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Rock Island".
Dwight is located at 38°50′41″N 96°35′42″W / 38.844602°N 96.594935°W / 38.844602; -96.594935 (38.844602, -96.594935). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2), all of it land.
As of the census of 2000, there were 330 people, 143 households, and 90 families residing in the city. The population density was 886.8 people per square mile (344.4/km2). There were 163 housing units at an average density of 438.0 per square mile (170.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.85% White, 0.30% African American, 0.61% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 1.52% from other races, and 2.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.85% of the population.
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Dwight, Nebraska
Dwight is a village in Butler County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 204 at the 2010 census.
Dwight is located at 41°04′59″N 97°01′16″W / 41.083013°N 97.021060°W / 41.083013; -97.021060 (41.083013, -97.021060).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2), all of it land.
As of the census of 2000, there were 259 people, 116 households, and 64 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,070.0 people per square mile (416.7/km2). There were 128 housing units at an average density of 528.8 per square mile (205.9/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 99.23% White, 0.39% Native American, and 0.39% from two or more races.
There were 116 households out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.8% were non-families. 43.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 3.13.
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Dwight, North Dakota
Dwight is a city in Richland County, North Dakota in the United States. The population was 82 at the 2010 census. Dwight was founded in 1881. It is part of the Wahpeton, ND–MN Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Dwight is located at 46°18′15″N 96°44′21″W / 46.30417°N 96.73917°W / 46.30417; -96.73917 (46.304147, -96.739242).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2), all of it land.
As of the census of 2000, there were 75 people, 33 households, and 17 families residing in the city. The population density was 377.7 people per square mile (144.8/km²). There were 36 housing units at an average density of 181.3 per square mile (69.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.67% White, and 1.33% from two or more races.
There were 33 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.4% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.5% were non-families. 45.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 3.22.
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A. C. Green
A.C. Green, Jr., (born October 4, 1963) is a retired American NBA basketball player who played in more consecutive games than any other player in NBA and ABA history. With 1,192 straight games played, he earned the nickname "Iron Man". He played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat. He was born and raised in Portland, Oregon and attended Benson Polytechnic High School. He was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. He played in 1278 out of 1281 games in his career (99.8%), with the three he missed coming in his second season, 1986–87.
Green was a four-year star at Oregon State University, where he finished second in school history in rebounding and fourth in scoring. He was an All-Pac-10 selection as a sophomore, and as a junior he ranked fourth in the nation in field goal percentage at .657. As a senior he averaged 19.1 points and 9.2 rebounds and was named to the All-America Third Team. He was inducted into the Pac-12 Basketball Hall of Honor during the 2012 Pacific-12 Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, March 10, 2012.
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Abby Waner
Abigail Nellie Waner (born October 31, 1986 in Englewood, Colorado) is an American basketball player who, after a collegiate career at Duke, played professionally for the New York Liberty of the WNBA. She was selected in the 2009 WNBA Draft, and was waived on May 29, 2009. She is currently a college basketball analyst for ESPN.
As a senior Waner won the Morgan Wootten award, given to the McDonald's All American player who exemplifies outstanding character, exhibits leadership and embodies the values of being a student-athlete in both schoolwork and community service activities. She led ThunderRidge high school to three Class 5A State Basketball Championships during her high school career. In 2004, Waner was named Colorado Miss Basketball and Colorado Player of the Year while leading the state in scoring. She also broke the Colorado girl's single game scoring record when she tossed in 61 points against Grandview in the second round of the playoffs. Waner finished her high school career with an impressive 92-8 record. Waner was named a WBCA All-American. She participated in the 2005 WBCA High School All-America Game, where she scored sixteen points.
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Adam Morrison
Adam John Morrison (born July 19, 1984) is an American basketball player who last played for Beşiktaş Milangaz in Turkey.
Morrison played for three years at Gonzaga University and was considered to be one of the top college basketball players in 2005–06. He was a finalist for the Naismith and the Wooden Award. He was named Co-Player of the Year with Duke University's J. J. Redick by the United States Basketball Writers Association and won the 2006 Chevrolet Player of the Year award.
Morrison's father John is a basketball coach, and the family moved with his coaching career: Casper College in Northwest Casper, Wyoming, Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota, and Dawson Community College in Glendive, Montana. When Morrison was in the fourth grade, his father left coaching and the family moved to Spokane, Washington. Adam became the Gonzaga men's team's ball boy.
When he was in the eighth grade, he lost 30 pounds (14 kg), and while attending a basketball camp at Gonzaga during this time, he felt sick, later saying about his experience at the camp, "I think I made one shot the whole three days. I was sicker than a dog. I didn't want to play. I couldn't do anything." Shortly after this, Morrison was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. He took his diagnosis surprisingly well; the second time a nurse came to administer insulin, he stopped her, telling her, "Since I'm going to be doing this the rest of my life, you might as well show me how to do it." However, his illness did not keep him from becoming a star at Mead Senior High School in Spokane. In his senior year he broke single-season and career scoring records in his high school conference, and led Mead to the finals of the state tournament. Despite playing in the final game with hypoglycemia so severe that he nearly suffered a seizure, he scored 37 points in a losing effort. It was Mead's only loss that season. Morrison was not heavily recruited out of high school.
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Adrian Dantley
Adrian Delano Dantley (born February 28, 1956 in Washington, D.C.) is a retired American basketball player who played 15 seasons in the NBA, including seven as a member of the Utah Jazz. A forward/guard and six-time NBA All-Star, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008. In 2010, he was appointed acting head coach of the Denver Nuggets in the absence of stricken head coach George Karl.
Dantley attended basketball powerhouse DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland where he played under legendary basketball coach Morgan Wootten.
Dantley was a forward at Notre Dame from 1973-76. He was a consensus first team All-American in 1974-75 and 1975–76 and was named 1976 National Player of the Year. He ranks second on the Notre Dame career scoring list with 2,223 points and holds the school record for free throws made (615) and free throws attempted (769).
Dantley had a stellar collegiate career for the Fighting Irish. As a freshman, he played an important role in one of the biggest games in college basketball history, Notre Dame's stunning 1974 upset to end UCLA's record 88-game winning streak. That UCLA team, coached by the legendary John Wooden, featured Bill Walton, Jamaal Wilkes (then known as Keith Wilkes), and Dave Meyer.
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Al Harrington
Albert "Al" Harrington (born February 17, 1980 in Orange, New Jersey) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the NBA's Denver Nuggets. The forward stands six feet nine inches (2.06 m), and weighs 250 pounds (113 kg).
Harrington is a cousin of Indiana Pacers guard/forward Dahntay Jones.
Harrington grew up in Orange, New Jersey, but then his family moved to Roselle, New Jersey. He played high school basketball at St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth, New Jersey. In 1998, he was selected as player of the year by USA Today.
At only 18 years of age, Al was selected by the Pacers with the 25th pick of the 1998 NBA Draft, and spent six seasons with them, primarily coming off the bench. Harrington really began to come into his own in the 2001–02 season, in which he averaged 13.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, but his season came to an end in a game against the Boston Celtics when he suffered a knee injury that forced him to miss the final 38 games of the season.
He made a comeback in the 2002–03 season, becoming the only Pacer to play in all 82 games that year. He averaged 12.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per game while starting in 37 games. The following season, he boosted his averages slightly to 13.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, and finished second in voting for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award. He was an integral part of the Pacers' first run to the Eastern Conference Finals since 2000.
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Alex English
Alexander English (born January 5, 1954 in Columbia, South Carolina) is a retired American basketball player who played at the forward position. He is currently an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association. He played at the University of South Carolina and most notably with the National Basketball Association's Denver Nuggets.
He averaged 21.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game during his NBA career and was the NBA's most prolific scorer during the 1980s. He was named to eight NBA All-Star teams, his #2 jersey was retired by the Nuggets, and he was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1997.
English spent the majority of his career with the Nuggets, but also played briefly with the Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers and Dallas Mavericks. He was drafted in 1976 by the Bucks, and was part of a rookie class that includes fellow Hall of Famers Robert Parish, Adrian Dantley and Dennis Johnson.
Most of his time in Milwaukee was spent as a back-up on a rebuilding team that lost Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. However, it was not until he was sent to Indiana in 1978 that he began his reputation as a scorer, averaging 16 points there on another subpar team before being traded to Denver.
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Alex Rodriguez
Alexander Emmanuel "Alex" Rodriguez (born July 27, 1975) is an American professional baseball third baseman with the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. Known popularly by his nickname A-Rod, he previously played shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers.
Rodriguez is considered one of the best all-around baseball players of all time. He is the youngest player ever to hit 500 home runs, breaking the record Jimmie Foxx set in 1939, and the youngest to hit 600, besting Babe Ruth's record by over a year. Rodriguez has fourteen 100-RBI seasons in his career, more than any other player in history. On September 24, 2010, Rodriguez hit two home runs, surpassing Sammy Sosa's mark of 609 HRs, and became the all-time leader in home runs by a player of Hispanic descent.
In December 2007, Rodriguez and the Yankees agreed to a 10-year, $275 million contract. This contract was the richest contract in baseball history (breaking his previous record of $252 million).
In February 2009, after previously denying use of performance-enhancing drugs, including during a 2007 interview with Katie Couric on 60 Minutes, Rodriguez admitted to using steroids, saying he used them from 2001 to 2003 when playing for the Texas Rangers due to what he called "an enormous amount of pressure" to perform.
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Allen Iverson
Allen Ezail Iverson (born June 7, 1975) is an American professional basketball player, playing both the point guard and shooting guard positions. Iverson attended Bethel High School and was a dual-sport athlete; he earned The Associated Press High School Player of the Year award in both football and basketball, and won the Division AAA Virginia State Championship in both sports. After high school, Iverson attended Georgetown University for two years, where he set the school record for career scoring average (22.9 points per game) and won Big East Defensive Player of the Year awards both years.
Following two successful years at Georgetown, Iverson declared eligibility for the 1996 NBA Draft, and was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the number one pick. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in the 1996–97 season. Iverson is an eleven-time NBA All-Star which includes winning the All-Star MVP award in 2001 and 2005.
Winning the NBA scoring title during the 1998–99, 2000–01, 2001–02 and 2004–05 seasons, Iverson was one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history, despite his small stature (listed at 6 feet, 0 inches). His regular season career scoring average of 26.7 points per game ranks sixth all-time, and his playoff career scoring average of 29.7 points per game is second only to Michael Jordan. Iverson was also the NBA Most Valuable Player of the 2000–01 season and led his team to the 2001 NBA Finals the same season. Iverson represented the United States at the 2004 Summer Olympics, winning the bronze medal. He also played for the Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons and the Memphis Grizzlies, before returning to the 76ers for part of the 2009–10 season.
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Alonzo Mourning
Alonzo Harding Mourning, Jr. (born February 8, 1970) is a former American professional basketball player, who played most of his 15-year NBA career for the Miami Heat.
Nicknamed "Zo", Mourning played at center. His tenacity on defense twice earned him NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award and perennially placed him on the NBA All-Defensive Team. He made a comeback after undergoing a kidney transplant and later won his only NBA Championship with the Heat. He has also played for the Charlotte Hornets and New Jersey Nets. On March 30, 2009, Mourning became the first Miami Heat player to have his number retired.
During his time at Indian River High School in Chesapeake, Virginia, he led the team to 51 straight victories and a state title his junior year (1987). As a senior he averaged 25 points, 15 rebounds and 12 blocked shots a game. He was named Player of the Year by USA Today, Parade, Gatorade, and Naismith. Mourning played college basketball for the Georgetown University Hoyas. He led the nation in blocked shots his freshman year and was an All American his last year there.
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Amal McCaskill
Amal Omari McCaskill (born October 28, 1973 in Maywood, Illinois) is an American professional basketball player, at the center position.
After a four-year career at Marquette University, McCaskill was selected by the National Basketball Association's Orlando Magic with the 49th pick (2nd round) of the 1996 NBA Draft. He appeared in 4 seasons with as many teams: 1996-97 with Orlando, 2001-02 with the San Antonio Spurs, 2002-03 with the Atlanta Hawks and 2003-04 with the Philadelphia 76ers.
After his release from Orlando in 1997 (and Philadelphia in 2004), McCaskill played as an import in Greece, Spain, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Italy and Lebanon. In the United States, McCaskill also appeared for the CBA's Fort Wayne Fury in 1997-98, and the Albany Patroons (2007–08).
In June 2008, McCaskill moved to the Philippine Basketball Association, as an import for the Magnolia Beverage Masters, helping the team reach the semi-finals.
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Andrew Bynum
Andrew Bynum (born October 27, 1987) is an American professional basketball center who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has won two NBA Championships with the Lakers, and he was a first-time All-Star in 2012. Bynum was drafted with the 10th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft by the Lakers. He became the youngest player ever to play an NBA game later that year. Amidst the 2007–08 season, he suffered an injury on his left kneecap and eventually missed the rest of the season and all of the playoffs. He made a successful return at the beginning of the 2008–09 season. In January 2009, however, he suffered another injury, this time to his right knee. He was able to come back before the playoffs started and was part of the Lakers squad that won the 2009 NBA championship. In the 2010 post-season, Bynum played in every single playoff game with a torn meniscus and strained Achilles tendon and the Lakers repeated as NBA champions against the Boston Celtics.
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Ann Strother
Ann Elise Strother (born December 11, 1983) is an American basketball coach, and former professional player, most recently for the Indiana Fever. Strother played at the collegiate level for the Connecticut Huskies, helping the team to two national titles.
Strother spent her childhood in midwestern Iowa. Her family moved to Castle Rock, Colorado when she was in 8th grade. Strother was introduced to basketball by her father Kenneth, who played at the University of Northern Iowa for a semester. She became so good at basketball that she received her first college-recruiting letter from the University of Iowa, when she was only in eighth grade.
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Antoine Walker
Antoine Devon Walker (born August 12, 1976, in Chicago, Illinois) is an American former professional basketball forward. He was drafted with the sixth overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft out of the University of Kentucky and played in the NBA from 1996 to 2008.
Walker attended Mount Carmel High School, where he played with future NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb and attained all-state status as a senior, earning a full scholarship to play for Rick Pitino at the University of Kentucky. He was a starting forward on the Wildcats' 1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship-winning team. As a freshman at Kentucky he was named SEC Tournament MVP. In his sophomore year, Walker was named All-SEC First, All-SEC Tournament and to the All-NCAA Regional Teams.
After his sophomore season he declared for the 1996 NBA Draft and was picked sixth overall by the Boston Celtics. In the 1996–1997 season, Walker made the All-Rookie 1st Team and led the team in scoring (17.5 ppg) and rebounds (9.0). However, the team had its worst season in franchise history, 15–67. The following season, Walker made the All-Star team as a reserve while averaging 22.4 ppg and 10.2 rpg. He also scored a career-high 49 points in a loss against the Washington Wizards. The Celtics posted another bad record: 36–46. In the '98 draft, the Celtics had the 10th pick and chose swing man Paul Pierce. The next few years, Pierce and Walker were the 1–2 punch for the Celtics. In the 2001–2002 season, Walker had his best overall season by helping lead the Celtics to a 49–33 record and their first playoff berth in 7 years. He was second in his team in scoring (22.0 ppg), first in rebounds (9 rpg), and 1st in assists, (5.0 apg). Pierce and Walker took the team all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals where they fell to the New Jersey Nets in 6 games. The next season, Walker made his 3rd All-Star team.
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Arash Markazi
Arash Markazi (born March 4, 1980) is an Iranian-American sports journalist currently writing for ESPN.
Markazi, who is of Iranian decent, was born in Oklahoma City and raised in Los Angeles, graduating from Notre Dame High School. He attended Arizona State University and later University of Southern California. He wrote a regular column for the Daily Trojan and also had work published in several magazines and newspapers outside of USC, including SLAM Magazine, XXL, King magazine, Vibe, Playboy, the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Daily News and Associated Press. He graduated with a degree in Print Journalism from the USC Annenberg School for Communication in 2004.
Markazi wrote for Sports Illustrated on Campus, appearing on the cover of the March 31, 2005 issue, and began writing a weekly column for Sports Illustrated’s website SI.com called "The Hot Read." Markazi's intimate and quirky portraits of Wayne Gretzky, Ronaldo, Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush caused the Los Angeles Times to name him one of the Faces to Watch in 2006
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Arn Tellem
Arn Herschel Tellem (February 21, 1954) is a sports agent best-known for his representation of basketball and baseball players. He is the principal of WMG Management, a part of the Wasserman Media Group headed by Casey Wasserman. From 2009-2010 he wrote a semi-weekly sports column for The Huffington Post. He has also written for the Op-ed page of The New York Times.
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Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II (
i/bəˈrɑːk huːˈseɪn oʊˈbɑːmə/; born August 4, 1961) is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. In January 2005, Obama was sworn in as a U.S. Senator in the state of Illinois. He would hold this office until November 2008, when he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.
Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Obama is a graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, where he was the president of the Harvard Law Review. He was a community organizer in Chicago before earning his law degree. He worked as a civil rights attorney in Chicago and taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992 to 2004. He served three terms representing the 13th District in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004.
Following an unsuccessful bid against the Democratic incumbent for a seat in the United States House of Representatives in 2000, Obama ran for the United States Senate in 2004. Several events brought him to national attention during the campaign, including his victory in the March 2004 Illinois Democratic primary for the Senate election and his keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in July 2004. He won election to the U.S. Senate in Illinois in November 2004. His presidential campaign began in February 2007, and after a close campaign in the 2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries against Hillary Rodham Clinton, he won his party's nomination. In the 2008 presidential election, he defeated Republican nominee John McCain, and was inaugurated as president on January 20, 2009. Nine months later, Obama was named the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. In April 2011, he announced that he would be running for re-election in 2012.
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Baron Davis
Baron Walter Louis Davis (born April 13, 1979) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A two-time NBA All-Star, he was drafted as the third pick in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. He went on to play for the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers before signing with New York as a free agent in 2011. Davis played college basketball at the UCLA, where he was an All-America honoree before turning professional after his sophomore year. He was a star high school player while at Crossroads School.
Davis was born in Los Angeles. His grandmother and guardian, Lela Nicholson, was instrumental in pushing him to play basketball. With her encouragement, he eventually enrolled at Crossroads School, a prestigious private school in Santa Monica, California.
As a senior at Crossroads, Davis led his team to the Championship of The Beach Ball Classic tournament in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina over perennial prep powerhouse Christ The King Regional High School (Queens, New York), while earning MVP honors and a spot on the All-Tournament team along with future St. John's standout Erick Barkley at that prestigious event. That year, Davis was also named Gatorade National Player of the Year and a Parade All-American. He was also selected to play in the prestigious McDonald's All-American High School Basketball Game in Colorado Springs in 1997, playing with future NBA players Elton Brand, Shane Battier, Larry Hughes and Ron Artest, and winning the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest despite being the smallest man in the competition at 6'2."
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Bernard King
Bernard King (born December 4, 1956 in Brooklyn, New York) is a retired American professional basketball player at the small forward position in the NBA. He played 14 seasons with the New Jersey Nets, Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks and the Washington Bullets.
Bernard King attended college at the University of Tennessee and was selected 7th overall in the 1977 NBA Draft by the New York Nets, who months later relocated from Uniondale, New York to New Jersey and became known as the New Jersey Nets.
At 6'7" and 205 pounds, Bernard King epitomized the NBA small forward of the 1980s. With his long arms and quick release, King was an explosive runner on the fast-break and a tremendous scorer. King led the NBA in scoring in 1985 with 32.9 points per game and was selected twice to the All-NBA First Team and three times to the NBA All-Star Game.
In 1977-78, his rookie season, he set a New Jersey Nets franchise record for most points scored in a season with 1,909, at 24.2 points per game. He would later surpass this record with his 2,027 point season in 1983-84, earning the first of his back-to-back All-NBA First Team selections.
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Bill Macdonald
Bill Macdonald is an American sportscaster who has worked for Fox Sports West/Prime Ticket. Macdonald joined the network, then called Prime Ticket, at its inception in 1985. Currently he is the TV play-by-play voice of the Los Angeles Lakers on Fox Sports West and KCAL9 alongside Stu Lantz.
In the past, Macdonald has hosted the following pre-game and in-game shows:
He is also the former host of the Los Angeles Kings' pregame show Break the Ice and calls play-by-play for Los Angeles Avengers Arena Football, UCLA college football and basketball for FSN Prime Ticket. He has also been the host of FSN's Pacific-10 Conference Men's Basketball Tournament coverage at the Staples Center for the past several years. For the past three years, Macdonald has hosted the UCLA Press Conference Show, with Matt Stevens in 2005 and 2006, and James Washington in 2007. Macdonald called the game (January 22, 2006) in which Kobe Bryant scored 81 points, the second-highest total in NBA history. He filled in for Joel Meyers, who had another broadcasting commitment that day.
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Bill Russell
William Felton "Bill" Russell (born February 12, 1934) is a retired American professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A five-time winner of the NBA Most Valuable Player Award and a twelve-time All-Star, Russell was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty that won eleven NBA Championships during Russell's thirteen-year career. Along with Henri Richard of the National Hockey League's Montreal Canadiens, Russell holds the record for the most championships won by an athlete in a North American sports league. Before his professional career, Russell led the University of San Francisco to two consecutive NCAA championships (1955, 1956). He also won a gold medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics as captain of the U.S. national basketball team.
Russell is widely considered one of the best players in NBA history. Listed as between 6'9" (2.06 m) and 6'10" (2.08 m), Russell's shot-blocking and man-to-man defense were major reasons for the Celtics' success. He also inspired his teammates to elevate their own defensive play. Russell was equally notable for his rebounding abilities. He led the NBA in rebounds four times, and remains second all-time in both total rebounds and rebounds per game. He is one of just two NBA players (the other being prominent rival Wilt Chamberlain) to have grabbed more than fifty rebounds in a game. Though never the focal point of the Celtics' offense, Russell also scored 14,522 career points and provided effective passing.
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Bill Sharman
William Walton "Bill" Sharman (born May 25, 1926 in Abilene, Texas) is a former professional basketball player and coach. Sharman completed high school in the rural city of Porterville, California and is mostly known for his time with the Boston Celtics in the 1950s, partnering with Bob Cousy in what some consider the greatest backcourt duo of all time. While Cousy was primarily the playmaker, Sharman was the shooter.
From 1950 to 1955 Sharman played professional baseball in the Brooklyn Dodgers minor league system. He was called up to the Dodgers late in the 1951 season but did not appear in a game; as a result of a September 27 game in which the entire Brooklyn bench was ejected from the game for arguing with the umpire, Sharman holds the distinction of being the only player to have ever been ejected from a major league game without ever appearing in one.
Sharman was one of the first guards to shoot better than .400 from the field. He led the NBA in free throw percentage seven times, and his mark of 93.2% in the 1958–59 season remained the NBA record until Ernie DiGregorio topped it in 1976–77. Sharman still holds the record for consecutive free throws in the playoffs with 56. Sharman was named to the All-NBA First Team from 1956 through 1959, and was an All-NBA Second Team member in 1953, 1955, and 1960. Sharman played in eight NBA All-Star games, and was named the 1955 NBA All-Star Game MVP. Sharman ended his career after 11 seasons in 1961.
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Bill Walton
William Theodore "Bill" Walton III (born November 5, 1952) is a retired American basketball player and television sportscaster. The "Big Red-Head", as he was called, achieved superstardom playing for John Wooden's powerhouse UCLA Bruins in the early '70s, winning three straight College Player of the Year Awards, while leading the Bruins to two Division I national titles. He then went on to have a prominent career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) where he was a league Most Valuable Player (MVP) and won two NBA championships. His professional career was significantly hampered by multiple foot injuries. Walton was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on May 10, 1993 and the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame that same year. He is the father of current Cleveland Cavaliers forward Luke Walton.
Walton was born in La Mesa, California, the son of Gloria Anne (née Hickey) and William Theodore "Ted" Walton. His listed adult playing height was 6 feet 11 inches; it has been reported that Walton was actually taller (7 feet 2 inches, or more), but did not like being categorized as a seven-footer.
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Blake Griffin
Blake Austin Griffin (born March 16, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Griffin had a renowned high school career at Oklahoma Christian School, winning state titles each of his four years under his father, Tommy Griffin, who was the head coach. He played college basketball for the University of Oklahoma Sooners and was awarded numerous accolades in his second year including the Naismith College Player of the Year, Oscar Robertson Trophy and the John Wooden Award.
Griffin left college after two seasons to enter the 2009 NBA Draft where he was selected first overall by the Clippers. In his first season, he broke his left kneecap, which he injured during the final pre-season game, and underwent surgery missing the entire 2009–10 season. He made his NBA debut as a rookie the following season and was selected as an All-Star, won the 2011 NBA Slam Dunk Contest and was named the NBA Rookie of the Year. In 2011, Sports Illustrated ranked him as one of the NBA's 15 Greatest Rookies of All Time.
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Bob Cousy
Robert Joseph "Bob" Cousy (born August 9, 1928) is a retired American professional basketball player. Cousy played point guard with the Boston Celtics from 1950 to 1963 and briefly with the Cincinnati Royals in the 1969-70 season. Cousy first demonstrated his basketball abilities while playing for his high school varsity team in his junior year. He obtained a scholarship to the College of the Holy Cross, where he led the Crusaders to berths in the 1948 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and 1950 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and was named an NCAA All-American for 3 seasons. Cousy was initially drafted as the third overall pick in the first round of the 1950 NBA Draft by the Tri-Cities Blackhawks, but after he refused to report, he was picked up by Boston. Cousy had a very successful career with the Celtics, playing on six championship teams, being voted into 13 NBA All-Star Games and 12 All-NBA First and Second Teams and winning the NBA Most Valuable Player Award in 1957.
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Bob McAdoo
Robert Allen 'Bob' McAdoo (born September 25, 1951) is a retired American professional basketball player who spent a fourteen-year career playing the center and power forward positions in the National Basketball Association. McAdoo is currently an assistant coach for the Miami Heat.
Drafted in the first round of the 1972 NBA Draft by the Buffalo Braves (now the Los Angeles Clippers) following two seasons at Vincennes Junior College, and one season at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, McAdoo soon became one of the NBA's premier players. McAdoo won the 1973 NBA Rookie of the Year Award in his first season, and earned the first of three consecutive NBA scoring titles in only his second season. His 2nd season (1973–74) remains the last time an NBA player has averaged both 30.0 points per game and 15.0 rebounds per game over the course of a season. McAdoo also led the NBA in field goal percentage in 1973-74, shooting 54.7 percent. That year he enjoyed his first of five All-Star selections. In 1974-75 he was awarded the NBA Most Valuable Player Award, averaging 34.5 points, 14.1 rebounds and 2.12 blocks per game, while shooting 51.2 percent from the field and 80.5 percent from the free throw line. He also led the league in fan voting for the 1975 All-Star Game with 98,325 votes.
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Bob Pettit
Robert Lee "Bob" Pettit Jr. (born December 12, 1932, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.) is a retired American professional basketball player. He played 11 seasons in the NBA, all with the Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks (1954-1965). He was the first recipient of the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970. He also went by the nickname "Dutch" in college. He also won the NBA All-Star MVP award four times.
Pettit's basketball career had humble beginnings. At Baton Rouge High School, he was cut from the varsity basketball team as both a freshman and sophomore. His father, Sheriff of East Baton Rouge Parish (1932-1936), pushed him to practice in the backyard of the Kemmerly house until he improved his skills. It worked: Pettit became a starter as a junior, and led Baton Rouge High to its first State Championship in over 20 years in his senior year.
After high school, Pettit accepted a scholarship to play at Louisiana State University. He was a three-time All-Southeastern Conference selection and a two-time All American as a member of the LSU men's basketball team. (Freshmen were not allowed to play varsity basketball in those days.) During those three years, Pettit averaged 27.8 points per game. He was also a member of the Zeta Zeta Chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon at LSU.
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Bradley Beal
Bradley Beal (born June 28, 1993) is an American college basketball player. After his freshman season for the University of Florida Gators men's basketball team, Beal announced he would enter the 2012 NBA Draft.
Beal attended Chaminade College Preparatory School in St. Louis, Missouri. He competed in the 2010 FIBA Under-17 World Championship for the USA, which won the championship with Beal averaging 18 points per game. During his senior year of high school, Beal averaged 32.5 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game and 2.8 assists per game. At the end of Beal's senior season, he was named the 2011 Mr. Show-Me Basketball which recognized him as the top high school basketball player in the state of Missouri. He was also named the 2011 Gatorade National Player of the Year. According to ESPNU recruits, Beal was the fourth ranked recruit and second ranked shooting guard and he was also the fourth ranked recruit according to Rivals.com.
On November 30, 2009 Beal committed to the University of Florida.
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Brandon Jennings
Brandon Jennings (born September 23, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA) who plays at point guard.
Jennings was a highly acclaimed high school player, averaging 32.7 points and 7.4 assists as a senior, and won all major player of the year awards in his senior year. After graduating from Oak Hill Academy, he decided to play professional basketball with the Italian club Lottomatica Roma instead of playing collegiately for the University of Arizona Wildcats, leading to controversy and debate on the NBA's "prep-to-pro" policy adopted in 2006. After a year in Italy, Jennings declared for the 2009 NBA Draft and was selected 10th overall by the Bucks.
Brandon Jennings was born to Alice Knox. He has a brother named Terrence Phillips.
Jennings attended Dominguez High School in Compton, California for his freshman and sophomore year. Before his junior year, Jennings transferred to powerhouse Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia. In his last year of high school, Jennings averaged 32.7 points, 7.4 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game and set the school record for points in a season. This performance earned him some of high school basketball’s most prestigious awards: the 2008 Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award, 2007–08 Gatorade Player of the Year (Virginia), 2008 Parade Magazine Player of the Year and 2008 EA Sports Player of the Year. He led his 2006–2007 team to a 41–1 record and the top ranking in the USA Today Super 25 list of high school teams. He was rated as the nation's #1 high school basketball prospect in the class of 2008 by Scout.com, the #1 prospect in the ESPNU 150, and the #4 prospect by Rivals.com.
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Brandy Norwood
Brandy Rayana Norwood (born February 11, 1979), known professionally as Brandy, is an American R&B singer, songwriter, producer, model, actress, and dancer. In 2009, she introduced her rap alter-ego Bran'Nu.
Born into a musical family in McComb, Mississippi and raised in Carson, California, Norwood first appeared in a supporting role on the short-lived ABC sitcom Thea in 1993. Her engagement led to her own star vehicle, successful UPN sitcom Moesha in 1996, and resulted in roles in the 1998 horror sequel I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, and the TV films Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella (1997) and Double Platinum (1999), two of television's best-rated special programs.
In 1993, she signed a recording contract with Atlantic, releasing her self-titled debut album a year after. Following a major success with Grammy Award-winning "The Boy Is Mine", a duet with singer Monica, and her second album Never Say Never in 1998, a series of successful records established her as one of the most successful of the new breed of urban R&B female vocalists to emerge during the mid-to late 1990s. Her latest studio album, Human (2008), was her first effort to be released on the Epic label after a label change in 2005.
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Brian Grant
Brian Wade Grant (born March 5, 1972 in Columbus, Ohio) is a retired American basketball player. He played the power forward and center positions for five teams during 12 seasons in the National Basketball Association. He was known for his tenacious rebounding and blue-collar defense. During his career, he played with the Sacramento Kings (where he made First Team All-Rookie in the 1994–95 season), Portland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns.
He was picked up on the Xavier University basketball team where he was second on the all-time leading scorers' list. He became the two-time Midwest Collegiate Conference Player of the Year at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. All four seasons with Xavier University he led his team in rebounding, and was third on the all-time leading rebounding list. He was named to the Associated Press' honorable mention All-American team in his junior year, after ranking second in the nation in field goal percentage with 65.4 percent.
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Brian Shaw
Brian K. Shaw (born March 22, 1966) is a retired American professional basketball player and current assistant coach for the Indiana Pacers. At 6' 6" he could play both guard spots, but was used primarily at point guard over the course of his 14 seasons in the league.
Shaw grew up in Oakland, California with other future basketball stars such as Antonio Davis, Jason Kidd, and Gary Payton, as well as Demetrius "Hook" Mitchell.[citation needed] He attended Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland and then St. Mary's College of California for his freshman and sophomore years of college. He then transferred to UC Santa Barbara for his junior and senior seasons. In his senior year, he was named Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA) player of the year as he led the Gauchos to their first ever NCAA tournament berth. He was taken with the 24th overall pick by the Boston Celtics in the 1988 NBA Draft.
In 1988, Shaw signed a one year contract with the Celtics. In 1989, Shaw signed a two-year contract to play with an Italian team, Il Messaggero Roma. At the end of January 1990, Shaw signed a 5 year deal with the Celtics. In June of that year, Shaw told the Celtics he planned to play for Il Messaggero during the 1990 season. The ensuing contract dispute, Boston Celtics v. Brian Shaw, which Shaw lost, became a relatively famous sports law case and is read in many law school contracts classes.[citation needed]
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Candace Parker
Candace Nicole Parker (born April 19, 1986) is an All-American basketball player for the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks and UMMC Ekaterinburg of Russia. She is the younger sister of NBA player Anthony Parker. She attended the University of Tennessee and was drafted by the Sparks in 2008. She may be best known for being the first woman to dunk in an NCAA tournament game and the first woman to dunk twice in a college game—she set both milestones as a redshirt freshman on March 19, 2006. She also became only the second player to dunk in a WNBA game on June 22, 2008.
A versatile player, she is mainly a forward, but was listed on Tennessee's roster as a forward, center, and guard. She was a starter on the Lady Vols basketball team, winners of the 2007 and 2008 NCAA championships.
Parker won the 2009 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice award as the favorite female athlete in the sports category.
Candace Parker was born on April 19, 1986 to Natasha, who currently works for the front office of the Chicago Sky, and Larry, who is in the insurance business. She has two older brothers: Anthony Parker, who is an NBA player, and Marcus, who is a doctor.
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Carlos Boozer
Carlos Austin Boozer, Jr. (born November 20, 1981) is an American professional basketball player with the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association. As a member of the Team USA, Boozer won an Olympic bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and an Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Although born at a military base in Aschaffenburg, West Germany, Boozer grew up in Juneau, Alaska, in the US. As a child, Boozer and his father practiced outside at his local middle school, throughout the cold Alaska seasons. He attended Juneau-Douglas High School. Boozer was married to his wife CeCe for six years before he filed for divorce in March 2009. Boozer and CeCe have three children together: Carmani (who had a bone marrow transplant in 2007 to treat sickle-cell disease), and twins, Cameron and Cayden. He also has a younger brother, Charles, who previously played basketball for the Iowa State Cyclones. Boozer was reported as having an affair with actress Michelle Money, which Money later confirmed.
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Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Kiyan Anthony (born May 29, 1984), nicknamed "Melo", is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). After a successful high school career at Towson Catholic High School and Oak Hill Academy, Anthony attended Syracuse University for college where he led the Orangemen to their first National Championship in 2003. He earned the tournament's Most Outstanding Player award and was named the Most Valuable Player of NCAA East Regional. After one season at Syracuse University, Anthony left college to enter the 2003 NBA Draft, where he was selected as the third pick by the Nuggets. He was traded to the Knicks several days prior to the 2011 trade deadline.
Since entering the NBA, Anthony has emerged as one of the most well-known and popular players in the league. He was named to the All-Rookie team, to the All-Star team five times and to the All-NBA team five times. Anthony led the Nuggets to two division titles and to the playoffs every year from 2004 to 2010. In 2009, he helped the Nuggets advance to the Conference Finals for the first time since 1985. As a member of the USA National Team, Anthony won a bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics and a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics.
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Caron Butler
James Caron Butler, widely known as Caron Butler (born March 13, 1980), is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA.
Butler was born and raised in Racine, Wisconsin, where he suffered through a rough childhood; he was a drug dealer at age 11 and arrested 15 times before the age of 15. Caron discovered his love for basketball while at the detention center. Butler played in AAU basketball in '98 and '99. After a brief career at Washington Park High School, he enrolled at Maine Central Institute where he was successful enough to receive a scholarship to play at UConn for coach Jim Calhoun for two years.
He lives in Centreville, Virginia with his wife, Andrea, and daughter, Mia. He has another daughter, Camary, and son, Caron Jr., who live in Racine. He has a habit of chewing on straws which he picked up back in AAU ball in '98 or '99. His straws of choice are from McDonald's.
Butler attended a surprise birthday party for Anthony Fadel, a 16-year-old in the Washington, D.C. area when invited by the boy's family. The party was held in May 2007, and the event was primarily reported by Internet blogs, since Wizards PR purposely did not cover the event to preserve the sincerity of Butler's gesture.
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Cedric Ceballos
Cedric Z. Ceballos (born August 2, 1969 in Maui, Hawaii) is an American professional basketball player. As a small forward, he played most notably for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns, later finishing his NBA career with the Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat.
Ceballos attended college at Ventura College and later Cal State Fullerton.
His career highlights include leading the NBA in field goal percentage (57.6) in 1992-93 with the Suns, who reached the NBA finals that year. He also led the Lakers in scoring in 1994-95 with a 21.7 average and made the All-Star team, but couldn't participate due to an injury. In 1995-96 season, Ceballos again led the Lakers with a 21.2 average, notching the Lakers' first 50-point game in over 20 years in 1995, and won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest with a blindfolded dunk in 1992. In 2002 Ceballos signed with Israeli team Hapoel Tel Aviv, but was waived after a couple of games. Shortly after, he moved to Russia and was signed by BC Lokomotiv Mineralnye Vody. He also played for the San Miguel Beermen in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
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Charles Barkley
Charles Wade Barkley (born February 20, 1963) is a former American professional basketball player and current analyst on the television program Inside the NBA. Nicknamed "Sir Charles" and "The Round Mound of Rebound", Barkley established himself as one of the National Basketball Association's (NBA's) most dominating power forwards. He was selected to the All-NBA First Team five times, the All-NBA Second Team five times, and once to the All-NBA Third Team. He earned eleven NBA All-Star Game appearances and was named the All-Star MVP in 1991. In 1993, he was voted the league's Most Valuable Player and during the NBA's 50th anniversary, named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. He competed in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic games and won two gold medals as a member of the United States' Dream Team. In 2006, Barkley was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Barkley was popular with the fans and media and made the NBA's All-Interview Team for his last 13 seasons in the league. He was frequently involved in on- and off-court fights and sometimes stirred national controversy, as in March 1991 when he mistakenly spat on a young girl, and as in 1993 when he declared that sports figures should not be considered role models. Short for a power forward, Barkley used his strength and aggressiveness to become one of the NBA's most dominant rebounders. He was a versatile player who had the ability to score, create plays, and defend. In 2000, he retired as the fourth player in NBA history to achieve 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 4,000 assists.
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Chick Hearn
Francis Dayle "Chick" Hearn (November 27, 1916 – August 5, 2002) was an American sportscaster. Known primarily as the long-time play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association, Hearn was remembered for his rapid fire, staccato broadcasting style, inventing colorful phrases such as slam dunk, air ball, and no harm, no foul that have become common basketball vernacular, and for broadcasting 3,338 consecutive Lakers games starting on November 21, 1965. Additionally, Hearn started the now common tradition of estimating the distance of shots taken.
Of note is that most of Hearn's games in the television era were simulcast on both radio and television, even after most teams chose to use different announcers for the different media.
Hearn grew up in Aurora, Illinois in west suburban Chicago and attended high school at Marmion Academy and college at Bradley University. He earned the nickname "Chick" while an Amateur Athletic Union basketball player at Bradley, when teammates played a prank on him: giving him a shoebox to see his surprised reaction when he opened it and found not sneakers inside, but instead a dead chicken.
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Chris Bosh
Christopher Wesson Bosh (born March 24, 1984) is an American professional basketball player who plays power forward for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
A high school "Mr. Basketball" in Texas, Bosh left college at Georgia Tech after one season with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's basketball team to enter the 2003 NBA Draft. He was selected fourth overall by the Toronto Raptors in a very competitive draft class. While at Toronto, Bosh emerged as one of the young stars in the league; he became a five-time NBA All-Star, was named to the All-NBA second team once, appeared for the US national team (with whom he won a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics), and took over former fan-favorite Vince Carter as the face and leader of the Raptors franchise. In the 2006–07 season, Bosh led the Raptors to their first NBA Playoffs berth in five years, and their first ever division title. He left Toronto as its all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocks, double doubles, free throws made and attempted, and minutes played.
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Chris Paul
Christopher Emmanuel Paul Sr. (born May 6, 1985) is an American professional basketball point guard for the Los Angeles Clippers. Paul was born and raised in North Carolina. Despite only playing two varsity basketball seasons in high school, he was a McDonald's All-American and accepted a scholarship with nearby Wake Forest University. After his sophomore year with the Demon Deacons, he declared for the draft. Since being selected 4th overall in the 2005 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Hornets, Paul has been a NBA Rookie of the Year (2006), a five-time All-Star, and a multiple All-NBA and All-Defensive team honoree. He led the Hornets to the second round of the 2008 NBA Playoffs. He has also won an Olympic Gold Medal with the United States national basketball team.
Off the court, Paul has also achieved success in the sport of bowling and is a sponsored spokesperson for the United States Bowling Congress (USBC). He has participated in numerous celebrity and youth bowling events as the head of the CP3 Foundation to benefit programs in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina, and charities in Winston-Salem.
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Chris Webber
Mayce Edward Christopher "Chris" Webber III (born March 1, 1973), nicknamed C-Webb, is a retired American professional basketball player. He is a five-time NBA All-Star, a former All-NBA First Teamer, a former NBA Rookie of the Year, and a former #1 overall NBA Draftee. As a collegiate athlete, he was an NCAA Men's Basketball first team All-American and led the University of Michigan Wolverines' 1991 incoming freshman class known as the Fab Five that reached the 1992 & 1993 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship games as freshmen and sophomores. However, Webber was indicted by a federal grand jury and stripped of his All-American honors by the NCAA as a result of his direct involvement in the Ed Martin scandal. He is also a former National High School Basketball Player of the Year who led his high school Detroit Country Day to three Michigan State High School Basketball Championships.
Webber attended Detroit Country Day School and at the time was the most recruited Michigan high school basketball player since Magic Johnson. Webber led Country Day to three MHSAA State championships. As a senior in high school Webber averaged 29.4 points and 13 rebounds per game. He was named Michigan's Mr. Basketball and the 1990–1991 National High School player of the year. He was named MVP in both the McDonald's and Dapper Dan All-Star games.
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Christian Eyenga
Christian Eyenga Moenge (born June 22, 1989) is a Congolese professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). In June 2009, Eyenga was drafted by the Cavaliers with the 30th pick in that year's NBA Draft. When drafted, he played for the Spanish Second Division club Prat, an affiliate of the ACB club DKV Joventut.
Eyenga played the 2010 NBA Summer League for the Cleveland Cavaliers. After that, he officially signed a two-year contract with the Cavaliers on July 23, 2010. He signed for $2 million over two years, with years three and four being options. On November 18, Eyenga was sent to the Cavaliers' NBA Development League affiliate, the Erie BayHawks. On January 2, he was recalled by the Cavs and made his debut in the same day, against the Dallas Mavericks, he scored 4 points and grabbed 3 rebounds.
On March 15, 2012, Eyenga was traded along with Ramon Sessions to the Los Angeles Lakers for a protected first round pick in 2012 NBA Draft, Jason Kapono and Luke Walton.
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Chubby Cox
John Arthur "Chubby" Cox III (born December 29, 1955 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), is a retired American professional basketball player.
A 6'2" guard, Cox attended Roxborough High School in Philadelphia. Cox played two years at Villanova University, and then starred at the University of San Francisco (USF), where he still ranks among the top 10 in single-season assists.
He was drafted in the 8th round (7th pick) by the NBA's Chicago Bulls in 1978. However, Cox did not make an NBA roster until the 1982-83 season, when he played seven games for the Washington Bullets, scoring 29 total points.
Cox played professionally in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) from 1978-1981. Over three seasons with the Philadelphia Kings, Pennsylvania Barons, and Wilkes-Barre Barons, Cox averaged nearly 22 points per game. He scored 50 points in a December 28, 1979, game against the Lancaster Red Roses.
Cox married his girlfriend and former USF cheerleader Victoria and together they have a son, John Cox IV (born July 6, 1981). Cox IV followed his dad's footsteps by attending and playing college basketball for USF.
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Clyde Lovellette
Clyde Edward Lovellette (born September 7, 1929 in Petersburg, Indiana) is a former professional basketball player; the first basketball player in history to play on an NCAA, Olympics and NBA championship squad. His high school team fell one game short of a state championship.
Lovellette fostered the trend of tall, physical and high-scoring centers. A two-time All-State performer at Garfield High School in Terre Haute, Indiana, the six-foot-nine Lovellette later attended the University of Kansas where he became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. While at the University of Kansas he led Jayhawks to the 1952 NCAA title, capturing MOP honors and scoring a then-NCAA-record 141 points. A three-time All-America at Kansas, Clyde led the Big Seven in scoring in each of his three seasons. Playing for Basketball Hall of Fame Coach Forrest "Phog" Allen, Lovellette led the nation in scoring his senior year (1952, 28.4 ppg) and was named the Helms College Player of the Year. Lovellette played alongside basketball legend Dean Smith at Kansas. He is still the only college player to lead the nation in scoring and win the NCAA title in the same year. Lovellette's dominance in the paint landed him a place on the 1952 Summer Olympics gold medal team in Helsinki, Finland and he was the team's dominating player and leading scorer.
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D. J. Mbenga
Didier Ilunga-Mbenga, commonly referred to as D. J. Mbenga (pronounced: Benga) (born December 30, 1980), is a Belgian professional basketball player who last played for the New Orleans Hornets. He also plays for the Belgian national basketball team.
Mbenga was born in and raised in Kinshasa in Zaire, now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where his father was a government employee. When a new regime took over power, it sought everyone who worked for the previous leader. As unrest in the country escalated, Mbenga's father was imprisoned. Although he was eventually unable to save himself, he did manage to negotiate on behalf of his sons, who were also imprisoned and waiting to be executed. Mbenga fled the country on a plane to Belgium, where he received asylum. While living in a refugee center, he was discovered by Belgian basketball legend Willy Steveniers, who eventually served as Mbenga's personal basketball mentor. Mbenga is a dual citizen of both his native countries.
In Europe, Mbenga played in two professional teams: with Spirou Gilly of the Belgian Division II league in the 2001-2002 season and with Pallacanestro Varese of Lega Basket Serie A for two seasons from 2002 to 2004. At the ULEB Cup 2003–04, Mbenga averaged 4.1 points and 3.6 rebounds.
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Dajuan Wagner
Dajuan Marquett Wagner (born on February 4, 1983) is an American former professional basketball player.
Wagner is the son of former University of Louisville and NBA player Milt Wagner. He was forced out of the NBA by debilitating health problems early into his career, but he made a comeback after undergoing major surgery to remove his colon.
Wagner had a phenomenal career at Camden High School and is perhaps better remembered for scoring 100 points in a high school game than his exploits at the collegiate and professional levels. He averaged 42.5 points as a senior, scored 3,462 points in high school (the most in New Jersey high school history, breaking former high school star Lorne Singleton's scoring record of 3,451 points) and scored 25 points in the McDonald's All-American Game.
He played one year of college basketball at the University of Memphis. His coach, John Calipari, revoked Wagner's scholarship after his freshman year to force him to enter the NBA, because Calipari believed that Wagner should not avoid the money he would receive as a first-round draft pick. Wagner was chosen the sixth overall pick of the 2002 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Often compared to Allen Iverson for his scoring ability, he had mixed success in his rookie season; although he averaged 13.4 points per game, he shot only 36.9% from the field. Wagner was hampered by injuries and health problems thereafter. He averaged a career low 4.0 points in only 11 games played during the 2004-05 season, and was hospitalized for ulcerative colitis. The Cavaliers did not exercise their option on his contract for the 2005-06 season and subsequently Wagner was out of the league.
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Damon Bailey
Damon Bailey (born October 21, 1971 in Heltonville, Indiana) is a retired American basketball player. Bailey shot to national prominence after being recruited by Indiana coach Bob Knight as an 8th grader, an unusual event at the time. Bailey went on to become Indiana's all-time high school leading scorer and would earn All-America honors playing for the Indiana Hoosiers. He became a cult figure during the late '80′s and early '90′s in Indiana.
In early 1986, when Bailey was a 14-year-old eighth-grader, Indiana coach Bob Knight watched a game featuring Bailey's team. At the time, Knight and his 1985-86 team were being covered by author John Feinstein for his book A Season on the Brink, which would later go on to be a major best-seller. After taking in the game, Knight went back to his team and said, "Damon Bailey is better than any guard we have right now. I don't mean potentially better, I mean better today." According to Feinstein, Knight's remarks about Bailey were largely intended to motivate Indiana's starting guard Steve Alford. However, due to the national and state-wide popularity of Feinstein's book, Bailey's legend took off.
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Danny Ferry
Daniel John Willard "Danny" Ferry (born October 17, 1966) is a retired American professional basketball player and the Vice President of Basketball Operations for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Considered one of the best high school basketball athletes in the country from the class of 1985, Danny Ferry was Parade Magazine's prep Player of the Year and one of the most highly recruited high school seniors in the nation before committing to Duke University. Known for his superb outside shooting, strong rebounding abilities and full-court vision while in college, Ferry's talents on the court likened him to that of a younger Larry Bird during his career with the three-time Final Four-bound Duke Blue Devils. The consensus All-American standout left Duke setting many school records while earning several national player of the year awards as one of the country's most celebrated college basketball athlete during his senior year. Drafted into the NBA in 1989 as the second overall pick in the draft, Ferry would go on to spend the majority of his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers where he became the team's all-time leader in games played (723 games) until Žydrūnas Ilgauskas surpassed his record on December 2, 2009. Danny Ferry is ranked among the top 50 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) men's basketball players of all-time as well as one of Duke's top basketball players in the school's history.
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Darius Morris
Darius Aaron Morris (born January 3, 1991) is an American professional basketball point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Morris was selected as the 41st pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers.
Morris had completed his sophomore season with the Michigan Wolverines basketball team for the 2010–11 team. He was the 2010–11 Big Ten assists leader and is Michigan Wolverines all-time single-season assist record-holder. He earned third team All-Big Ten honors as a sophomore.
Morris led Windward School to the 2009 state championship while earning the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section John Wooden High School Player of the Year Award. He was a 2010–11 All-Big Ten 3rd team selection by the coaches and the media. The National Association of Basketball Coaches named him as a 2nd team All-District selection for the district composed of Big Ten schools.
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Darnell Robinson
Darnell Robinson (born May 30, 1974, in Oakland, California) is a retired American professional basketball player and a member of the University of Arkansas Razorbacks 1994 NCAA champion men's basketball team, playing center.
Robinson was selected a McDonald's All-America following an exceptional high school career at Emery High School, where he finished as the leading scorer in California men's high school basketball history.He scored 19 points, outplaying the more highly regarded Rasheed Wallace, and getting him thrown out the game.
Robinson was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks with the 29th pick of the 2nd round of the 1996 NBA Draft after leaving Arkansas a season early. He later signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, but never played in the NBA. Robinson ended up playing professionally in Italy, Greece, Israel, Puerto Rico and France.
Robinson's coach in Greece referred to him as "one of the greatest underachievers I've ever been involved with."
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Darvin Ham
Darvin Ham (born July 23, 1973) is an American former professional basketball player and current assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA. He played eight seasons in the NBA from 1996 to 2005 and later for the Philippine Basketball Association and NBA Development League until 2008.
After attending Saginaw High School, Ham went to Texas Tech University in 1993. While playing for Texas Tech, he gained national attention by shattering the backboard on a slam dunk during the 1996 NCAA Tournament against UNC. The dunk shifted momentum for the Red Raiders, catapulting them to the second Sweet Sixteen in school history. The dunk was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Ham won the NCAA slam dunk contest in 1996, following former college teammate Lance Hughes' win in 1995. In his 90 game college career, he averaged 8.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.5 turnovers in 22.9 minutes, on top of .597 FG and .498 FT shooting.
Ham was signed by the Denver Nuggets as a free agent on 1 October 1996. He was then traded by to the Indiana Pacers for Jerome Allen on February 1997. Ham then signed as free agent with the Washington Wizards (1997), Milwaukee Bucks (1999), Atlanta Hawks (2002) and Detroit Pistons (2003). In his eight-season 417-game NBA career, he averaged 2.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.8 fouls in 12.4 minutes, on top of .598 FG and .494 FT shooting. Ham is estimated to have made $6.58 million in his NBA career.
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Dave Bing
David "Dave" Bing (born November 24, 1943) is the mayor of Detroit, Michigan, a businessman, and a retired American professional basketball player who played 12 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), primarily for the Detroit Pistons (1966–75). He was a seven-time All-Star. After retiring, he founded the Bing Group, which was one of the largest steel companies in Michigan.
His #21 was retired by the Detroit Pistons, and in 1996 he was named as one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players of all time.
He was elected mayor of Detroit in a special election on May 5, 2009 and was sworn in on May 11, 2009. Bing won the full-term mayoral election on November 3, 2009, defeating challenger Tom Barrow.
Bing was born and raised in northeast Washington, D.C., as a son of a bricklayer. At age five, Bing accidentally poked his left eye with a nail of a wooden horse that he improvised. With the family unable to afford an eye operation, the eye healed on its own but left Bing with fuzzy vision since then.
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Dave Cowens
David William Cowens (born October 25, 1948, in Newport, Kentucky) is a retired American professional basketball player and NBA head coach. At 6'9", he played the center and occasionally the power forward position. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991. He was recently an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons, and currently serves as a special assistant to Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars.
After starring in high school at Newport Catholic High in his hometown of Newport, Kentucky, Cowens played his collegiate basketball at Florida State University from 1967 to 1970. He scored 1,479 points in 78 games at Florida State, at 19.0 points per game, and ranks among Florida State's top 10 all-time scoring leaders.
He is the all-time Florida State leading rebounder with 1,340 rebounds (17.2 rebounds per game). He holds the team record for best seasonal rebound average (17.5 in the 1968-1969 season). He once grabbed 31 rebounds (second best all-time) against LSU in the 1968-69 season.
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Dennis Johnson
Dennis Wayne Johnson (September 18, 1954 – February 22, 2007) nicknamed "DJ", was an American, professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Seattle SuperSonics, Phoenix Suns and Boston Celtics and coach of the Los Angeles Clippers. He was an alumnus of Dominguez High School, Los Angeles Harbor College and Pepperdine University.
A prototypical late bloomer, Johnson overcame early struggles and had a successful NBA playing career. Drafted 29th overall in 1976 by the Seattle SuperSonics, Johnson began his professional career as a shooting guard. He eventually led the Sonics to their only NBA championship in 1979, winning the Finals MVP Award. After a short stint with the Phoenix Suns, he became the starting point guard for the Boston Celtics, with whom he won two more championships. Johnson was voted into five All-Star Teams, one All-NBA First and one Second Team, and nine consecutive All-Defensive First and Second Teams. Apart from his reputation as a defensive stopper, Johnson was known as a clutch player who made several decisive plays in NBA playoffs history.
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Derek Fisher
Derek Lamar Fisher (born August 9, 1974) is an American professional basketball point guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the National Basketball Association (NBA). His NBA career has spanned more than 15 years, during which he won five NBA Championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. He currently serves as the president of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA).
Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Fisher started out his basketball career at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Selected with the twenty-fourth pick by the Lakers in the 1996 NBA Draft, Fisher spent his first eight seasons with the franchise. During that time, he played a role in the Lakers' "three-peat", and was the third-leading scorer on the team behind Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. After his success with Los Angeles, Fisher signed with the Golden State Warriors, but was later traded to the Utah Jazz, where he helped lead the team to the Western Conference Finals. Due to his daughter's health, he asked to be released from his contract and rejoined the Lakers in 2007. In 2010, he won his fifth NBA Championship with the Lakers. Only he and Kobe Bryant have played in all five of the Lakers' most recent championships. The Lakers, in 2012, traded Fisher to the Houston Rockets, who bought out his contract and waived him. He was subsequently claimed by the Thunder.
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Deron Williams
Deron Michael Williams (
/ˈdɛrən/ DERR-in; born June 26, 1984), is an American basketball player currently with the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Williams has also played for the Utah Jazz of the NBA and Beşiktaş of the Turkish Basketball League. Williams was drafted 3rd overall in the 2005 draft by the Utah Jazz, for whom he played before being traded in the middle of his sixth season to the Nets. He is a three-time All-Star and was a gold medal winner at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Williams played college basketball at the University of Illinois.
In elementary school and middle school, Williams won two state wrestling championships. In 1993, as an eight-year-old, he won the 67 lb. weight class Texas State championship. Four years later in 1997, he won the twelve-year-old 116 lb. weight class championship. Williams attended The Colony High School in The Colony, Texas and averaged 17 points, 9.4 assists, and 2 steals per game as a junior in 2001. That year he led his team, the Cougars, to a 32–2 record and the Class 5A state semifinals against Bryan High. In 2002, as a senior, he averaged 17.6 points, 8.5 assists, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.6 steals per game. His team, the Cougars, went 29–2 that season, losing the 5A Texas State semifinals. Williams was a teammate of Bracey Wright who went on to play for Big Ten rival Indiana University.
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Derrick Favors
Derrick Bernard Favors (born July 15, 1991) is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is a 6-foot-10-inch (2.08 m) power forward who played for Georgia Tech. On June 24, 2010, he was drafted 3rd overall by the New Jersey Nets.
Favors, from South Atlanta High School, was ranked as one of the best high school basketball players in the class of 2009. Scout.com rated him the #1 player in the country, #2 in the ESPNU100, and #4 by Rivals.com. On March 14, 2009, he led South Atlanta to the Georgia Class AAA state championship. He scored 38 points and had 21 rebounds in the championship game against Westover High School. He was named to the 2009 McDonald's All-American Team. He led the East to a 113–110 victory and was named the MVP of the game. He scored 19 points and had 8 rebounds. Favors was selected to participate in the 2009 Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Oregon but pulled out due to personal reasons and he was also selected to play in the 2009 Jordan Brand Classic at Madison Square Garden where he scored a game-high 21 points and was named MVP for the black team, while Renardo Sidney was named MVP for the white team. He finished his senior season averaging 28.1 points, 13.3 rebounds, 5.0 blocks, 3.0 steals and 2.0 assists per game and holds the career records in points (2,341), rebounds (1,511) and blocked shots (741).
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Desmond Mason
Desmond Tremaine Mason (born October 11, 1977) is an American former professional basketball player. He was designated as a shooting guard and small forward.
Desmond Mason was drafted out of Oklahoma State University by the Seattle SuperSonics with the 17th pick of the 2000 NBA Draft. In 2001, he became the first Seattle player in franchise history to win the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. He also finished second place in the 2003 contest behind Jason Richardson. In 2003, he and Gary Payton were traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Ray Allen and Ronald "Flip" Murray. On October 26, 2005, he was traded along with a 2006 first-round draft pick to the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets in exchange for Jamaal Magloire. On July 23, 2007 Mason signed a contract with the Bucks after a two-season absence. Initially angry with Bucks general manager Larry Harris for trading him in 2005, Mason said he was happy to be back in Milwaukee. On August 13, 2008, Mason was traded back to the Oklahoma City Thunder (formerly the Seattle SuperSonics) in a three-team, six-player deal involving the Thunder, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Cleveland Cavaliers, that sent Milwaukee's Mo Williams to Cleveland, Mason and Cleveland's Joe Smith to Oklahoma City, and Cleveland's Damon Jones and Oklahoma City's Luke Ridnour and Adrian Griffin to Milwaukee. This marked his return to the former Sonics franchise. On September 17, 2009, Mason signed a contract with the Sacramento Kings at league minimum. After playing in just five games (and starting 4), he was waived by the Kings.
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Devean George
Devean Jamar George (born August 29, 1977) is an American professional basketball player. He typically plays small forward but because of his athleticism and defensive activity, can defend many shooting guards as well.
He attended high school at Benilde-St. Margaret's School in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, where he played basketball. During his college career at Augsburg College, George was named Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Most Valuable Player two consecutive years (1997–98 and 1998–99), and set school records as a senior by scoring 770 points and averaging 27.5 ppg in leading Augsburg to 24–4 record and the NCAA Division III tournament for the second year in a row.
He was taken by the Lakers with the 23rd overall pick of the 1999 NBA Draft, and showed considerable promise, especially by his third season where his hustle, outside shooting, and defense made him a key substitute and he appeared in every single game. The Lakers gave him a contract extension in 2002 as a result and over the years, his effort, defensive activity, three-point shooting, and willingness to do what the Lakers required of him endeared him to many Laker fans.
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Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk Werner Nowitzki (German pronunciation: [ˈdɪʁk ˈvɛʁnɐ noˈvɪtski]) (born June 19, 1978) is a German professional basketball player who plays for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). An alumnus of Röntgen Gymnasium and DJK Würzburg basketball club, Nowitzki was drafted ninth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1998 NBA Draft, and was immediately traded to the Mavericks, where he has played ever since. Standing 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m), Nowitzki plays the power forward position but also has the athleticism and shooting ability to play the other frontcourt positions, center and small forward.
Nowitzki has led the Mavericks to 12 consecutive NBA Playoffs (2000–01–2011–12), including an NBA Finals appearance in 2006 and the franchise's first championship in 2011, making him one of only 5 players in NBA history to win a championship while being the only NBA All-Star on the team. He is an 11-time All-Star and 12-time member of the All-NBA Teams, and the first European-born player in NBA history to receive the NBA Most Valuable Player Award. He is the first Maverick ever to be voted into an All-NBA Team and also holds several all-time Mavericks franchise records. Only Nowitzki and three other players have ever averaged more than 25 points and 10 rebounds in the NBA playoffs, and only Nowitzki and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar have managed 4 consecutive 30-point, 15-rebound games in the playoffs. Additionally, Nowitzki is the only player in NBA history to get 100 blocks and 150 3-pointers in a single season.
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Donnell Harvey
Donnell Eugene Harvey (born August 26, 1980) is an American professional basketball player for Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters of the Philippine Basketball Association. He previously played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the New Jersey Nets, Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, Orlando Magic, and Phoenix Suns. Harvey is 2.03 m tall.
Harvey was born in Shellman, Georgia. He attended Randolph-Clay High School in Cuthbert, Georgia where he was the consensus 1999 national high school player of the year. In 1999, he was in the McDonald's All-America Game, was in the USA Today All-USA 1st Team in 1999, and got the Naismith Award as nation's top high school player in 1999.
Harvey accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played for coach Billy Donovan's Florida Gators men's basketball team during the 1999–2000 season. After starting three-fourths of the Gators' first 12 games, he lost his starting spot to Brent Wright after returning home over the New Year's break because of homesickness. Harvey averaged 10.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game and was voted to the SEC All-Freshman Team in his only season playing college basketball.
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Dontae' Jones
Dontae' Antijuaine Jones (born June 2, 1975 in Nashville, Tennessee) is an American professional basketball player, formerly of the Boston Celtics of the NBA.
Jones was named Most Valuable Player of the 1996 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament after leading Mississippi State University in their win over top-ranked University of Kentucky in the SEC tournament championship game. Later that year he led Mississippi State to the NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four, picking up a Regional MVP honor along the way.
He was selected out of Mississippi State University as the 21st pick by the New York Knicks in the 1996 NBA Draft but was traded, along with Walter McCarty, John Thomas and Scott Brooks to the Celtics in exchange for Chris Mills shortly before the 1997-98 season began (he had previously taken part in no games in 1996-97 with the Knicks due to a foot injury).
After his NBA season, Jones played for the Memphis Houn'Dawgs in the ABA, and in Greece, Turkey, Italy, Korea and China.
An apostrophe was intentionally placed on the end of his first name by his mother for distinctiveness.
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Doron Sheffer
Doron Sheffer (Hebrew: דורון שפר)(born 12 March 1972 in Ramat Efal), is an Israeli professional basketball player formerly with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Sheffer first gained fame at age 21 when he led Hapoel Galil Elyon to a 1993 victory in the Israeli League semifinals over Maccabi Tel Aviv. Following fellow Israeli, Nadav Henefeld, Sheffer then played guard for coach Jim Calhoun at the University of Connecticut from 1993 to 1996, where he became Big East Conference Rookie of the Year and the only player from UConn with 1,000 points and 500 assists in three varsity seasons. He was selected in the 1996 Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers with the 36th overall pick but chose to sign with Maccabi. After four years with Maccabi winning four straight Israeli League championships, Sheffer retired suddenly, walking away from the public eye to travel the world to India, South America and Costa Rica. During this time he had a cancerous tumor removed without the use of chemotherapy. Despite the illness and time away from basketball, Sheffer decided to make a comeback. After finishing his contract with Maccabi, he signed with Hapoel Jerusalem. In 2004 he won the ULEB Eurocup with Hapoel.
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Dwight Howard
Dwight David Howard (born December 8, 1985) is an American basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Howard, who usually plays center but can also play power forward, had an outstanding high school career at Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy. He chose to forgo college and entered the 2004 NBA Draft, and was selected first overall by the Magic. A six-time All-Star, six-time All-NBA team selection, five-time All-Defensive member, and three-time Defensive Player of the Year, Howard has been ranked consistently as one of the best in the league in rebounds, blocks, field goal percentage and free throw attempts, and has set numerous franchise and league records. He has led the Magic to three division titles and one conference title, and he was the winner of the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. In the 2008 Olympics, he was the starting center for Team USA, which went on to win the gold medal.
Before he was drafted in 2004, Howard said that he wanted to use his NBA career and Christian faith to "raise the name of God within the league and throughout the world". In November 2009, he was named one of the 10 finalists for the Jefferson Awards for Public Service, which awards athletes for their charitable work.
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Dwyane Wade
Dwyane Tyrone Wade, Jr. (born January 17, 1982), nicknamed Flash or D-Wade, is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat. Awarded 2006 Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated, Wade has established himself as one of the most well-known and popular players in the league. He had the top selling jersey in the NBA for nearly two years, as he led the NBA in jersey sales from the 2005 NBA Playoffs, until the mid-point of the 2006–07 season.
After entering the league as the fifth pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, Wade was named to the All-Rookie team and the All-Star team the following eight seasons. In his third season, Wade helped lead the Miami Heat to their first NBA Championship in franchise history. He was named the 2006 NBA Finals MVP as he helped lead the Heat to a 4–2 series win over the Dallas Mavericks. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Wade led the United States Men's Basketball team, commonly known as the "Redeem Team", in scoring, as they captured gold medal honors in Beijing, China. In the 2008–09 season, Wade led the league in scoring and earned his first NBA scoring title.
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Ed Macauley
Charles Edward "Ed" Macauley (March 22, 1928 – November 8, 2011) was a professional basketball player in the NBA. His playing nickname was "Easy Ed."
Macauley spent his prep school days at St. Louis University High School, then went on to Saint Louis University, where his team won the NIT championship in 1948. He was named the AP Player of the Year in 1949.
Macauley played in the NBA with the St. Louis Bombers, Boston Celtics, and St. Louis Hawks. Macauley was named MVP of the first NBA All-Star Game (he played in the first seven), and was named to the NBA's All-NBA First Team three consecutive seasons. He was named to the All-NBA second team once, in 1953–54—the same season he led the league in field goal percentage. Macauley's trade (with Cliff Hagan) to St. Louis brought Bill Russell to the Celtics.
Macauley scored 11,234 points in ten NBA seasons and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1960. At age 32, he still holds the record for being the youngest player to be admitted. His uniform number 22 was retired by the Boston Celtics, and he was also awarded a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame.
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Elgin Baylor
Elgin Gay Baylor (born September 16, 1934 in Washington, D.C.) is a retired Hall of Fame American basketball player and former NBA general manager who played 13 seasons as a forward for the NBA's Minneapolis Lakers/Los Angeles Lakers.
Baylor was a gifted shooter, strong rebounder, and an accomplished passer. Renowned for his acrobatic maneuvers on the court, Baylor regularly dazzled Lakers fans with his trademark hanging jump shots. The No. 1 draft pick in 1958, NBA Rookie of the Year in 1959, and an 11-time NBA All-Star, he is regarded as one of the game's all-time greatest players. In 1977, Baylor was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Baylor spent twenty-two years as GM of the Los Angeles Clippers, being named the NBA Executive of the Year in 2006, before being relieved of his duties shortly before the 2008-09 season began.
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Frank Hamblen
Frank Hamblen is a National Basketball Association (NBA) coach and scout, and a former college basketball player at Syracuse University. He has served as an interim head coach for two different teams; for the Milwaukee Bucks in 1992 and the Los Angeles Lakers in 2005. He also has served as an assistant coach on four NBA teams (Kansas City/Sacramento Kings, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers), often alongside Phil Jackson. Hamblen has been an assistant coach on seven championship teams, two with Jackson's Bulls and five with Jackson's Lakers. Jackson retired after the 2010–11 season, and Hamblen's contract with the Lakers expired as well.
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Gail Goodrich
Gail Charles Goodrich Jr. (born April 23, 1943 in Los Angeles, California) is a retired American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is best known for scoring a then record 42 points in the 1965 NCAA championship game vs. Michigan, and his part in the Los Angeles Lakers' 1971–72 season. During that season the team won a still-record 33 games consecutively, posted what was at the time the best regular season record in NBA history, and also won the franchise's first NBA championship since relocating to Los Angeles. Goodrich was the leading scorer on that team. He is also acclaimed for leading UCLA to its first two National Championships under the legendary coach John Wooden, the first in 1963-64 being a perfect 30-0 season. In 1996, 17 years after his retirement from professional basketball, Goodrich was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
A native of the Los Angeles area, Goodrich was the captain of the John H. Francis Polytechnic High School basketball team that dominated the 1961 Los Angeles City high school basketball championship.
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Gary Payton
Gary Dwayne Payton (born July 23, 1968) is a former American professional basketball point guard. He is best known for his 13-year tenure with the Seattle SuperSonics, and holds Seattle franchise records in points, assists, and steals. He has also played with the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics and Miami Heat, the last with whom he won an NBA Championship.
The only point guard ever to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, Payton is widely considered one of the greatest of all time at that position. He was selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team nine times, an NBA record he shares with Michael Jordan, Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant. Payton got his nickname "The Glove" when Payton's cousin called him during the 1993 Western Conference Finals series against Phoenix and told him, "you're holding Kevin Johnson like a baseball in a glove," and the nickname was born.
Considered the "NBA's reigning high scorer among point guards" in his prime, Payton is referred to as "probably as complete a guard as there ever was" by NBA Hall of Famer Gail Goodrich.
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George Gervin
George "The Iceman" Gervin (born April 27, 1952) is a retired American professional basketball player who played in both the American Basketball Association (ABA) and National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Virginia Squires, San Antonio Spurs, and Chicago Bulls. Gervin averaged at least 14 points per game in all 14 of his ABA and NBA seasons, and finished with an NBA career average of 26.2 points per game. Gervin is widely regarded to be one of the greatest shooting guards in NBA history.
Nicknamed Iceman for his cool demeanor on the court, Gervin was primarily known for his scoring talents. He led teams at both Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan and Long Beach State. After leaving college due to an altercation, Gervin was set to try out for the Virginia Squires of the ABA. According to legend, Gervin made 22 of 25 three-point attempts at the tryout; he was immediately signed despite the fact that Virginia officials had never seen him play competitively.
His first scoring crown came in 1978, when he narrowly edged David Thompson for the scoring title by seven hundredths of a point (27.22 to 27.15). Although Thompson came up with a memorable performance for the last game of the regular season, scoring 73 points, Gervin maintained his slight lead by scoring 63 points (including an NBA-record at the time 33 points in the second quarter) in a loss in his last game of the season. With the scoring crown in hand, he sat out some of the third, and all of the fourth quarter. Gervin went on to lead the NBA in scoring average three years in a row from 1978 to 1980 (with a high of 33.1 points per game in 1979-80), and again in 1982. The Spurs drafted high scoring guards Oliver Robinson of UAB and Tony Grier from South Florida to take some offensive pressure off Gervin. Prior to Michael Jordan, Gervin had the most scoring titles of any guard in league history.
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George Mikan
George Lawrence Mikan, Jr. (June 18, 1924 – June 1, 2005), nicknamed Mr. Basketball, was an American professional basketball player for the Chicago American Gears of the National Basketball League (NBL) and the Minneapolis Lakers of the NBL, the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA). Invariably playing with thick, round spectacles, the 6 ft 10 in 245 lb. Mikan is seen as one of the pioneers of professional basketball, redefining it as a game of so-called big men with his prolific rebounding, shot blocking and his talent to shoot over smaller defenders with his ambidextrous hook shot, result of his own Mikan Drill.
Mikan had a successful player career, winning seven NBL, BAA and NBA championships, an All-Star MVP trophy, three scoring titles and being member of the first four NBA All-Star and the first six All-BAA and All-NBA Teams. Mikan was so dominant that he caused several rule changes in the NBA, among them widening the foul lane—known as the "Mikan Rule"—and introducing the shot clock.
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George Yardley
George Harry Yardley III (November 3, 1928 in Hollywood, California – August 12, 2004 in Newport Beach, California, USA), best known as simply George Yardley, was an NBA Hall of Fame basketball player. He was the first player in history to score 2,000 points in one season, breaking the 1,932-point record held by fellow Hall of Famer George Mikan. He was nominated (but not selected) into NBA 25th Anniversary Team in 1971.
A two-time All-American at Stanford University, Yardley was a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, and earned the nickname "Yardbird" due to the chores he was required to complete by his fraternity brothers. [1] The nickname was later shortened to "Bird". After his three year career at Stanford, Yardley played one year of AAU basketball and served in the United States Navy for two years. During his navy stint, Yardley's amateur team won the national A.A.U. championship in 1951, with Yardley being selected the national amateur player-of-the-year. He was drafted by the NBA Fort Wayne Pistons in 1950.
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Gerald Green
Gerald Green, Jr. (born January 26, 1986) is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected by the Boston Celtics with the 18th pick of the first round in the 2005 NBA Draft. He has performed well in many slam dunk competitions, having won the 2005 McDonald's All-American Slam Dunk Contest and the 2007 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, while finishing as the runner-up in the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
Green did not play high school basketball until his sophomore year, when he played junior varsity for J. Frank Dobie High School. In his junior year he made the varsity team, but his play was cut short because of academic issues.[citation needed]
He transferred[citation needed] to a charter school, Gulf Shores Academy in Houston, where he repeated his junior year.[citation needed] In his senior year at Gulf Shores, he averaged 33 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 blocked shots per game. He was named an All-American and was the high scorer in the 2005 McDonald's All-American game scoring 24 points., which features two teams composed of the best high school basketball players in the US. Green also won the McDonald's All-American Slam Dunk Contest that year, defeating future Duke player Josh McRoberts.
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Gerald Wallace
Gerald Jermaine Wallace (born July 23, 1982) is an American professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the NBA.
Wallace attended Childersburg High School in Childersburg, Alabama, where he had a very successful career. For his senior season efforts he was named the Naismith Prep Player of the Year, an honor given to the best high school basketball player.
Wallace attended the University of Alabama for one season before declaring himself eligible for the 2001 NBA Draft. At Alabama, he averaged 9.8 points per game.
In three seasons with the Sacramento Kings, Wallace rarely played, but in the brief appearances he made himself known for his versatility and extraordinary athleticism. In the 2002 Slam Dunk Contest, Wallace finished second to two-time winner Jason Richardson.
In 2004, Wallace was drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats in their expansion draft. Wallace started immediately for the club, and went on to have a season of averaging 11.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.3 blocks a game. He continued to improve in 2005–06, before getting injured in January, averaging 14.5 points and 7 rebounds, and ranking in the top 10 in the NBA in field goal percentage (54.142), blocks (2.19), and steals per game (2.44). Since the NBA began counting blocks as a statistic in 1973, only two other players (David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon) in league history have averaged over 2.0 blocks and 2.0 steals per game in a single season.
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Glen Rice
Glen Anthony Rice (born May 28, 1967) is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the NBA. The 6'8" tall Rice was a three-time NBA All-Star guard/forward, ranking 11th in NBA history with 1,559 three-point field goals made during his 15-year career. As a player, Rice won an NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship and an NBA Championship. Rice has won both the NBA All-Star Game MVP and the NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player awards. In recent years, Rice has taken up MMA fight promotion as owner and head of G-Force Fights, based out of Miami, Florida.
Rice played college basketball for the University of Michigan Wolverines for four seasons (1985–1989), a starter for three of those seasons. He became the school's all-time leading scorer with 2,442 points. He led Michigan to the 1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship, scoring an NCAA-record 184 points in tournament play, a record that still stands. Rice was also voted the tournament's Most Outstanding Player and was part of the Associated Press All-America second-team, after averaging 25.6 points for the season, while shooting 58% from the floor and 52% from three-point range. After Rice's junior year, he was invited to try out for the 1988 United States Olympic basketball team, but was cut before reaching the group of 48. On February 20, 2005, Rice's No. 41 jersey was retired during a ceremony at Michigan's Crisler Arena. Rice made the cover of Sports Illustrated on April 10, 1989.
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Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon (/ɵˈlaɪdʒəwɒn/; [olaɟuwɔ̃]; born January 21, 1963) is a retired Nigerian-American professional basketball player. From 1984 to 2002, he played the center position in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors. He led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. In 2008, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Listed at 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) (but closer to 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) by his own admission), Olajuwon is considered one of the greatest centers ever to play the game.
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Hal Greer
Harold Everett Greer (born June 26, 1936, in Huntington, West Virginia) is a retired American professional basketball player.
He attended Douglass Junior and Senior High School in Huntington. He played college basketball at Marshall University and was drafted by the Syracuse Nationals of the NBA in 1958. Greer played for Syracuse for five seasons, raising his scoring average to 22.8 points a game in 1961. He was selected for the NBA All-Star team that year. In 1963, the Syracuse Nationals moved to Philadelphia to become the Philadelphia 76ers. There, Greer became well known as a teammate of Wilt Chamberlain, and starred on the powerful 1966-67 team that ended the eight-year championship reign of the Bill Russell-led Boston Celtics. In the 76ers' 15 playoff games that season, Greer averaged a team-best 27.7 points. Greer had an unusual but highly effective free throw technique, shooting a jump shot from the charity stripe. He is usually considered the third-best guard of the 1960s, behind Oscar Robertson and Jerry West.
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Harold Miner
Harold David Miner (born May 5, 1971 in Inglewood, California) is a retired American professional basketball player and two-time champion of the National Basketball Association (NBA) Slam Dunk Contest. He attended college at the University of Southern California (USC) and was a star player on that school's men's basketball team. He left school in 1992 to pursue his professional career, and played in the NBA for the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers.
A native of Inglewood, California, Miner first came to prominence as a high school player. A stand-out on his team at Inglewood High School, Miner's spectacular dunking ability resulted in his being given the nickname "Baby Jordan", in reference to fellow NBA high flyer Michael Jordan.
Miner attended USC from 1989 until 1992. As a junior in what would be his final season with the team, Miner's play earned him Sports Illustrated magazine's selection as the college basketball player of the year over such notable candidates as Christian Laettner, Shaquille O'Neal, and Alonzo Mourning. Miner led the USC Trojans men's basketball team to a #2 seeding in the 1992 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. The Trojans were upset in the second round, however, falling on one of the most famous baskets in the tournament's history — a three-pointer at the buzzer by James Forrest of Georgia Tech.
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Harrison Barnes
Harrison Bryce-Jordan Barnes (born May 30, 1992) is an American college basketball player. He is a sophomore at North Carolina and was one of the top rated basketball players in the recruiting class of 2010. Barnes is sometimes known by the nickname "Black Falcon."
Harrison Barnes was rated as the number 1 player in the class of 2010 by Scout.com and in the ESPNU 100. He was rated as the number 2 player by Rivals.com. In his junior year, Barnes led Ames High School to an Iowa 4A state championship where he had 24 points and 8 rebounds, capping off a 26-0 season. In his senior year, Barnes led Ames to a 27-0 season and a second straight Iowa 4A state championship becoming Iowa's big-school class's first team to go undefeated in consecutive seasons. In the finals he scored 19 points against Southeast Polk. He averaged 26.1 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.1 steals and 3.0 assists during his senior year and was selected to the USA Today All-USA First Team. Barnes capped off his Ames High School career as their all-time leading scorer with 1,787 points. Barnes played in the 4th annual Boost Mobile Elite 24 Hoops Classic where he scored 18 points for Skip To My Lou. On January 20, 2010, it was announced that Barnes was selected to the 2010 Junior National Select Team. The team played at the 2010 Nike Hoop Summit at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon on April 10. He was also selected to play in the 2010 McDonald's All-American Game where he led the West team to a 107-104 victory. He scored a team high 18 points and was named co-MVP with Jared Sullinger. He also played in the 2010 Jordan Brand Classic where he was named co-MVP with Kyrie Irving. On March 10, 2010, Barnes won the Morgan Wootten Player of the Year Award, which goes to the nation's top player.
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Horace Grant
Horace Junior Grant (born July 4, 1965) is a retired American basketball player. He attended and played college basketball at Clemson University, before playing professionally in the National Basketball Association (NBA), where he became a four-time champion with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. He was easily recognizable by many NBA fans because of his trademark wraparound protective eyeglasses. His twin brother, Harvey Grant, also played in the NBA. His nephew Jerai Grant played for Clemson's basketball team.
Grant was born in Augusta, Georgia and attended Clemson University. He was drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the 10th overall pick of the 1987 NBA Draft. The 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) tall power forward/center immediately teamed with fellow draft-day acquisition Scottie Pippen to form the Bulls' forward tandem of the future, although he initially backed up incumbent Charles Oakley, one of the league's premier rebounders and post defenders.
In 1989, Grant moved into the starting lineup when Oakley was traded to the New York Knicks for center Bill Cartwright. He immediately became the Bulls' main rebounder, and established himself as the Bulls' third scoring option after Michael Jordan and Pippen, forming one of the league's best trios. Grant was noted for his defensive play; he was selected four times for the NBA All-Defensive Team. He helped Chicago win three consecutive NBA championships (1990–91, 1991–92, and 1992–93), securing the third with a last-second block.
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Isaiah Rider
Isaiah Rider, Jr., nicknamed J.R. (born March 12, 1971), is an American former professional basketball player.
Rider was born in Oakland, California, and was raised in nearby Alameda. He starred in both baseball and basketball at Encinal High School before going on to a college career with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and a professional career in the National Basketball Association.
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Isiah Thomas
Isiah Lord Thomas III ( /aɪˈzeɪ.ə/; born April 30, 1961), nicknamed "Zeke", is a retired American basketball player who played collegiately for the Indiana University Hoosiers. He went on to play professionally as point guard for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1981 until 1994 and led the "Bad Boys" to the NBA Championship in the 1988–89 and 1989–90 seasons. He was a 12-time NBA All-Star and named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. After his playing career, he was an executive with the Toronto Raptors, a television commentator, an executive with the Continental Basketball Association, head coach of the Indiana Pacers, and an executive and head coach for the New York Knicks. He was later the men's basketball coach for the Florida International University (FIU) Golden Panthers for three seasons from 2009 to 2012.
Thomas was born on April 30, 1961, in Chicago, Illinois. The youngest of nine brothers and sisters, he commuted from the North Lawndale neighborhood on the West Side of Chicago to play high school basketball at St. Joseph High School in Westchester, Illinois for Gene Pingatore. He would wake up at 5 am and commute 90 minutes to attend the private school. During his junior year, he led St. Joseph to the State Finals and was considered one of the top college prospects in the country.
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J. R. Reid
Herman Reid, Jr., better known as J. R. Reid (born March 31, 1968 in Virginia Beach, Virginia), is a retired American professional basketball player for several NBA teams. He is currently an assistant coach at Chowan University in Murfreesboro, North Carolina.
The 6'9", 247-pound (2.06 m, 112 kg) Reid, after starring at Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach, played college basketball at North Carolina. He was the 1986 Gatorade and USA TODAY player of the year and one of most highly recruited players of his time. He was ranked #1 by Bob Gibbons of All-Star Sports, and certified his reputation by getting 29 points in the Capital Classic, and 23 points in the McDonald's Game, being MVP of both games.
He competed to become an analyst on the former ESPN TV show Dream Job, but lost. In 2011, he was named an assistant coach for NCAA Division II school Chowan University, working primarily with post players.
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Jack Kent Cooke
Jack Kent Cooke (October 25, 1912 – April 6, 1997) was a Canadian entrepreneur and former owner of the Washington Redskins (NFL), the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA), and the Los Angeles Kings (NHL), and built The Forum in Inglewood, California and FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland.
Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Cooke moved with his family to The Beaches area of Toronto in 1921, where he attended Malvern Collegiate Institute.
At age 14, Cooke got a job selling encyclopedias door to door. At the end of his first day, he took home over $20 to his mother, and is reported as later saying "I think that was the proudest moment of my life." He later became a runner on the floor of the Toronto Stock Exchange. He was selling soap in Northern Ontario for Colgate-Palmolive in 1936 when he met Roy Thomson, who hired Cooke to run radio station CJCS in Stratford, Ontario. The two became partners in 1941, buying radio stations and newspapers in Ontario and Quebec.
With the financial backing of J. P. Bickell, Cooke purchased CKCL in 1945, changing the call letters to CKEY. He also continued to work with Thomson, and the two acquired the Canadian edition of Liberty magazine in 1948, naming it New Liberty. The following year, Thomson sold his half of the magazine to Cooke.
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Jack Nicholson
Not to be confused with Nicholas Jackson
John Joseph "Jack" Nicholson (born April 22, 1937) is an American actor, film director, producer and writer. He is renowned for his often dark portrayals of neurotic characters. His twelve Oscar nominations make him the second most nominated actor of all time, behind only Meryl Streep, and tied with Katharine Hepburn.
Nicholson has been nominated for an Academy Award twelve times and has won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice: for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and for As Good as It Gets. He also won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the 1983 film Terms of Endearment. He is tied with Walter Brennan for most acting wins by a male actor (three). Nicholson is well known for playing villainous roles such as Jack Torrance in The Shining, Frank Costello in The Departed, and the Joker in 1989's Batman, among many other roles.
Nicholson is one of only two actors who have been nominated for an Academy Award for acting in every decade from the 1960s to 2000s; the other is Michael Caine. He has won seven Golden Globe Awards, and received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2001. In 1994, he became one of the youngest actors to be awarded the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award. Notable films in which he has starred include Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, Chinatown, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Passenger, The Shining, Reds, Terms of Endearment, Batman, A Few Good Men, As Good as It Gets, About Schmidt, The Departed and Anger Management .
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James Worthy
James Ager Worthy (born February 27, 1961) is a retired Hall of Fame American college and professional basketball player. Named as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, "Big Game James" was a seven-time NBA All-Star and three-time NBA champion. A standout for the North Carolina Tar Heels, the 6 ft 9 in (2.05 m) small forward was the MOP of the 1982 NCAA Tournament and #1 pick of the 1982 NBA Draft. He was born in Gastonia, North Carolina.
Worthy was an All-American high school basketball player at Ashbrook High School in Gastonia. Worthy averaged 21.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists during his senior season, for a team that lost in the state championship game. Worthy was also selected to play in the 1979 McDonald's All-American game that also featured future Naismith Hall of Famers Isiaih Thomas, Dominique Wilkins and Ralph Sampson.
After graduating high school, Worthy attended the University of North Carolina (UNC). He quickly became a standout at UNC but saw his freshman year cut short by a broken ankle suffered near mid-season. As a sophomore he was a key member of that school's 1981 NCAA runner-up team, playing with Al Wood and Sam Perkins.
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Jamie Feick
Jamie Feick (born July 3, 1974 in Lexington, Ohio) is retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2nd round (48th overall) of the 1996 NBA Draft. A 6'9" center from Michigan State University, Feick played in five NBA seasons from 1996 to 2001. He played for the Charlotte Hornets, San Antonio Spurs, Milwaukee Bucks and New Jersey Nets.
In his NBA career, Feick played in 201 games and scored a total of 911 points. In the lockout-shortened 1999 season, Feick averaged 11 rebounds per game in 26 games for the New Jersey Nets, and on January 20, 2000 recorded 12 points and 25 rebounds in one game. His last games were in the 2000–01 season, when his career was ended by an Achilles' heel injury. Oddly enough he remained officially on New Jersey's roster until April 2003 despite the Nets attempting to have his contract terminated as early as June 2002.
He won a high school state championship with Lexington High School in 1991.
In 2008 Feick joined the Walmart FLW bass fishing tournaments tour. In 2009 and 2010 he competed in the majors division, entering seven tournaments and earning $10,500. In late 2010 he left professional fishing to take the job of head basketball coach at Lexington High School in Mansfield, Ohio, where he had attended as a student and won two state basketball titles.
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Jared Jeffries
Jared Scott Carter Jeffries (born November 25, 1981) is an American professional basketball player for the New York Knicks. He was drafted in 2002 by the Washington Wizards as the 11th overall pick. At 6'11", he plays at the forward/center position, although he started at shooting guard position on many occasions with the Wizards.
Before competing in the college ranks, Jeffries attended high school at Bloomington High School North, advancing to the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) basketball finals in 2000 before losing to Marion High School, led by current Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph. In his last two years in high school, one of his teammates was future North Carolina player Sean May. Jeffries was recognized as the 2000 Indiana Mr. Basketball.
Jeffries played basketball for the Indiana University Hoosiers, where he played for two years before forgoing his junior and senior years to enter the NBA draft. Jeffries was a key cog in the Hoosiers' Cinderella run to the 2002 NCAA title game. Against #1 Duke in the East Regional Semifinals, Jeffries had 24 points and 15 rebounds to lead IU to a 74-73 upset victory. Jeffries received the 2002 Silver Basketball from the Chicago Tribune as the Most Valuable Player of the Big Ten.
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Jared Sullinger
Jared Sullinger (born March 4, 1992) is an American college basketball player. As a sophomore at Ohio State, Sullinger announced at a press conference on April 4, 2012 that he will be leaving school to enter the 2012 NBA Draft.
He was rated as the number 2 player in the class of 2010 in the ESPNU 100 the number 4 player by Scout.com, and the number 5 player by Rivals.com. In his senior year, Sullinger led Northland High School to a 21-0 season and a #1 national ranking. He averaged 24.5 points and 11.7 rebounds for the season. Sullinger played in the 4th annual Boost Mobile Elite 24 Hoops Classic.
Sullinger was selected to play in the 2010 McDonald's All-American Game in Columbus, Ohio, where he was named co-MVP with Harrison Barnes. He was also selected to play in the 2010 Nike Hoop Summit at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon and the 2010 Jordan Brand Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York.
On March 10, 2010, Sullinger won the James A. Naismith Award, which goes to the boys basketball player of the year.
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Jason Kidd
Jason Frederick Kidd (born March 23, 1973) is an American professional basketball point guard who plays for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association. Raised in Oakland, California, Kidd played college basketball at the University of California, Berkeley and was drafted second overall by the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 1994 NBA Draft. Then, from 1996 to 2001, Kidd played for the Phoenix Suns and later for the New Jersey Nets from 2001 to 2008. In the middle of the 2007–2008 season, Kidd was traded back to Dallas. Along with his three NBA Finals appearances including a championship win in 2011, Kidd won two Olympic gold medals with the US national team in 2000 and 2008.
He led his former team, the New Jersey Nets to two consecutive NBA Finals appearances (2002 and 2003) before winning in 2011 with Dallas. His on-court versatility also makes him a regular triple-double threat, and he is in third place all-time for regular season triple-doubles in the NBA with a career total of 107 and second in playoffs triple-doubles with a career total of 11.
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Jason Richardson
Jason Anthoney "J-Rich" Richardson (born January 20, 1981) is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association.
A 6'6", 225 lb. shooting guard/small forward, Richardson was taken by the Golden State Warriors as the fifth overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft from Michigan State, earning the NBA Rookie Challenge MVP and All-Rookie Team First Team honors his debut season in the league.
He is regarded as one of the NBA's most demonstrative dunkers, winning the NBA Slam Dunk crown in 2002 and 2003, joining Michael Jordan and Nate Robinson as the competition's only back-to-back champions.
Born in Saginaw, Michigan, Richardson graduated from Arthur Hill High School in 1999. Having led the Arthur Hill basketball team to the Class A championship game, Richardson was Mr. Basketball of Michigan and a McDonald's High School All-American in his senior year. In his freshman season with the Spartans basketball team at Michigan State University, Richardson averaged 5.1 points per game in 37 games (including three starts) and made 50.3% of attempted field goals. In his sophomore season, he averaged 14.7 points per game en route to a Final Four appearance which ended in a loss to Arizona. He was named Big Ten First Team that year.
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Jason Sasser
Jason Jermane Sasser (born January 3, 1974) is an American former professional basketball player. He was a 6'7" (201 cm) 225 lb (102 kg) small forward who graduated Justin F. Kimball High School in Dallas, Texas, and played collegiately for the Texas Tech Red Raiders. He played in the NBA from 1997 to 1999.
He played for the US national team in the 1998 FIBA World Championship, winning the bronze medal.
Sasser was selected with the 12th pick of the second round in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings. He played for three different teams in parts of two NBA seasons, and played in the CBA for the Gary Steelheads and Yakama Sun Kings and overseas in Spain, Germany, Portugal, Kuwait, and South Korea.
His younger brother, Jeryl, also played in the NBA.
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Jay Chou
Jay Chou; (born 18 January 1979) is a Taiwanese musician, singer-songwriter, music and film producer, actor and director. In 1998 he was discovered in a talent contest where he displayed his piano and song-writing skills. Over the next two years, he was hired to compose for popular Mandarin singers. Although he was trained in classical music, Chou combines Chinese and Western music styles to produce songs that fuse R&B, rock and pop genres. He composes all his own songs, as well as songs for other singers.
In 2000, Chou released his first album, titled Jay, under the record company Alfa Music. Since then he has released one album per year except in 2009, selling several million copies each. His music has gained recognition throughout Asia, most notably in regions such as Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and in overseas Asian communities. He has sold more than 28 million albums worldwide up to 2010. He debuted his acting career in Initial D (2005), for which he won Best Newcomer Actor in both the Hong Kong Film Awards and the Golden Horse Awards, and was nominated for Best Supporting Actor by Hong Kong Film Awards for his role in Curse of the Golden Flower (2006). He produced the theme song for the film Ocean Heaven starring Jet Li. His career now extends into directing and running his own record company JVR Music.
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Jeff McInnis
Jeff Lemans McInnis (born October 22, 1974) is an American former professional basketball player. He played in the NBA, in Greece (1996–97) and in the CBA (1998–99).
He previously played for the New Jersey Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers, Washington Wizards and Denver Nuggets. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was a 1996 2nd round draft pick of the Nuggets. He stands 6 ft 4 in (192 cm).
At the Staples Center prior to a Los Angeles Clippers December 1, 2000 game against the visiting Toronto Raptors, Charles Oakley and McInnis were involved in a fistfight. Oakley was suspended for three games and fined US$15,000. McInnis attempted to retaliate but was not disciplined. The fight was believed to be over a woman.
McInnis signed as a free agent with the New Jersey Nets prior to the 2005-06 season, primarily to back up Jason Kidd. He received limited playing minutes, and on January 15, he tore cartilage in his left knee, causing him to miss significant time. While he was ready to return to action for the 2006 playoffs, the Nets decided to keep him inactive.
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Jeff Nordgaard
Jeff Wallace Nordgaard (born February 23, 1973 in Dawson, Minnesota) is a naturalized Polish former professional basketball player who grew up in the United States.
When playing basketball at Dawson-Boyd High School in Minnesota, in 1991 Nordgaard became the first player in Minnesota state history to achieve a quadruple double. After playing college basketball at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, Nordgaard was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the 1996 NBA Draft. He began his professional career in Europe, spending the 1996-97 season with two different clubs, Dijon (France) and Bilbao (Spain). The following season, he briefly played for the Bucks before finishing the season with the CBA's Fort Wayne Fury.
He then returned to Europe, first going to Viola Reggio Calabria in Italy for the 1998-99 season, where he was a teammate of future NBA star Manu Ginobili. The next season, he returned to France with Besançon. Nordgaard briefly returned to America in 2000 with the Indiana Legends in the ABA before he signed a contract that brought him back to France with Chalon.
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Jelani McCoy
Jelani Marwan McCoy (born December 6, 1977) is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Meralco Bolts. A 6'10" power forward/center, he played in the NBA from 1998-2007 for the Seattle SuperSonics, Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, and Denver Nuggets. He attended college at UCLA and high school at St. Augustine High School in San Diego, California.
In 1998, was UCLA's career leader in blocked shots.
McCoy was suspended in late September 1997 for violating "unspecified" team rules but reinstated three months later.
McCoy compiled NBA career averages of 4.7 points and 3.6 rebounds. He was part of the Los Angeles Lakers team that won the 2002 NBA Finals, but he was injured most of the season and was not on their playoff roster.
McCoy played for the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. In five games, McCoy averaged 9 points and 9 rebounds in 21 minutes per game. After averaging 8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4 blocks and 3.5 assists in two games with the D-League's Los Angeles D-Fenders, McCoy was signed during the 2007-08 season in late November 2007 by the Nuggets to fill their depleted frontcourt after players Kenyon Martin, Nene and Steven Hunter were unavailable due to injuries.Mike Wilks was waived to make room on the roster. On December 19, 2007 he was waived by the Denver Nuggets. McCoy started the 2008-09 preseason with the Los Angeles Clippers, but was waived before the start of the season.
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Jerod Ward
Jerod Davanta Ward (born May 5, 1976) is an American professional basketball player, currently playing for Adepal in Spain Leb Oro.
Ward was the #1 recruit in the nation coming out of Clinton, Mississippi in 1994.[citation needed] He signed with the University of Michigan and comprised part of its highly-touted Fab Five II that included Robert Traylor, Maceo Baston, Willie Mitchell, and Maurice Taylor.[citation needed] Though plagued by injuries at Michigan, Ward ranked 5th in career three-point field goals.[citation needed]
The 6'9", 234 lbs forward has played for Grand Rapids of the CBA, CB Granada in Spain, and Cibona Zagreb (Croatia). He also was part of the Toronto Raptors training camp in 2002.[citation needed]
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Jerry Buss
Gerald Hatten "Jerry" Buss (born January 27, 1934) is an American businessman, real estate investor, and a former chemist. He is the majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers professional basketball team along with other professional sports franchises in Southern California. Announced as a member of the 2010 induction class of the Basketball Hall of Fame on April 5, 2010, he was formally enshrined as a contributor to the sport on August 13 of that same year.
Buss worked his way through the University of Wyoming, graduating with a B.S. degree in two and a half years in 1953. He moved to Los Angeles and attended the University of Southern California, where he earned a M.S. and Ph.D. in physical chemistry by age 24. Buss started as a chemist for the Bureau of Mines (now the Mine Safety and Health Administration); he then briefly worked in the aerospace industry and was on the faculty of USC's chemistry department. He originally went into real estate investing in order to provide an income so he could continue teaching. His first investment in the 1960s was $1,000 in a West Los Angeles apartment building. Finding great success in the real estate business, he pursued real estate investing full time. In 1979 Jerry purchased Pickfair Mansion in Beverly Hills from the estate of Mary Pickford. He was also the co-owner of a real estate investment company called Mariani-Buss Associates with his long time business partner Frank Mariani.
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Jerry Colangelo
Jerry Colangelo (born November 20, 1939), is an American businessman and sports executive.
He formerly owned the Phoenix Suns of the NBA, the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA, the Arizona Sandsharks of the Continental Indoor Soccer League, the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League and the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball. He was also instrumental in the relocation of the Winnipeg Jets of the NHL to Phoenix to become the Phoenix Coyotes.
In the summer of 2005, Colangelo was named director of USA Basketball whose team represented the United States in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2010 FIBA World Championship. Colangelo also serves as Chairman of the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), a nonprofit nonpartisan educational foundation that promotes Italian American culture and heritage.
Colangelo has been known for a no-nonsense ownership style. Players like the Suns' Dennis Johnson and Jason Kidd and the Diamondbacks' Bobby Chouinard have been traded or released after their personal problems became public.
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Jerry Lucas
Jerry Ray Lucas (born March 30, 1940) is a former basketball player who played from the 1950s to the 1970s. He is now a memory education expert. In 1996, the NBA's 50th anniversary, he was named one of the 50 greatest players in National Basketball Association history. He was named to Sports Illustrated's five-man College All-Century Team in 1999.
Lucas was born in Middletown, Ohio, then a community of 30,000+ halfway between Dayton and Cincinnati, that in the 1940s and 1950s boasted one of the most respected high school basketball programs in the United States. Greatly encouraged, Lucas began pouring hours each day into the town's game during his early teens.
Lucas had become a local playground legend by age 15, in Sunset Park. Sunset Park was then a regional summer hotbed for high school, college and even some pro players. Future Cincinnati Royals teammates Wayne Embry and Oscar Robertson were visitors there. Lucas was already at almost his full-grown height of 6 ft 8 in (2.06 m) by age 15, out-playing college players with his advanced game.
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Jerry West
Jerry Alan West (born May 28, 1938) is a retired American basketball player who played his entire professional career for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). His nicknames include "Mr. Clutch," for his ability to make a big play in a clutch situation, such as his famous buzzer-beating 60-foot shot that tied Game 3 of the 1970 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks; "The Logo," in reference to his silhouette being incorporated into the NBA logo; and "Zeke from Cabin Creek," after the creek near his birthplace of Chelyan, West Virginia. Playing the small forward position early in his career, West was a standout at East Bank High School and at West Virginia University, leading the WVU Mountaineers to the 1959 NCAA championship game, earning Most Valuable Player honors despite the loss. He then embarked on a 14-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, and was the co-captain of the 1960 U.S. Olympic gold medal team in Rome, a squad that would be inducted as a unit into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.
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Jim Cleamons
James Mitchell "Jim" Cleamons (born September 13, 1949 in Lincolnton, North Carolina) is a retired American professional basketball player and current coach. He played collegiately at The Ohio State University, and was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 13th pick of the 1971 NBA Draft. He had a nine-year NBA career for four different teams (the Los Angeles Lakers, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the New York Knicks, and the Washington Bullets). In 1976, Cleamons was selected to the NBA All-Defense 2nd team.
In addition to his playing career, Cleamons was the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks for slightly over one year, from 1996 to 1997. He was then the head coach of the Chicago Condors, and he has served as an assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, and New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets. He was hired as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers on July 19, 2006.
For a few games during his tenure with the Lakers, he has served as acting head coach while Phil Jackson was absent.
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Jim Pollard
James Clifford "Jim" Pollard (July 9, 1922 – January 22, 1993) was an American professional basketball player.
In college, Pollard played for Stanford and was a key member of Stanford's 1942 national championship team (though due to illness, he did not play in the final game). During WWII he starred in Coast Guard teams from Alameda to Honolulu. Following the War, Pollard played for the San Diego Dons and the Oakland Bittners, making four trips to Denver for AAU playoffs. In the NBA, Pollard was considered one of the best forwards in the 1940s and 1950s, and was known for his leaping ability (Pollard would occasionally dunk from the free throw line during warmups) earning him the nickname "The Kangaroo Kid".
In 1952, players who had performed in the NBA since its inception (after the merging of the NBL and the BAA) selected Pollard as the best player of the period. Pollard teamed with George Mikan and Vern Mikkelsen for the Minneapolis Lakers, forming one of the best front courts in basketball history. The Lakers won six professional basketball titles: 1948 (NBL), 1949 (BAA), 1950 (NBA), 1952 (NBA), 1953 (NBA), 1954 (NBA).
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Jimmy Kimmel
James Christian "Jimmy" Kimmel (born November 13, 1967) is an American comedian, actor, voice artist and television host. He is the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, a late-night talk show that airs on ABC. Prior to that, Kimmel was best known as the co-host of Comedy Central's The Man Show and Win Ben Stein's Money. Kimmel is also a television producer, having produced shows such as Crank Yankers, Sports Show with Norm Macdonald, and The Andy Milonakis Show.
Kimmel was born in the Mill Basin neighborhood of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, the eldest of three children of Joann (née Iacono), a homemaker, and James Kimmel, an IBM executive. He is Roman Catholic and, as a child, served as an altar boy. Kimmel is of German and Irish descent on his father’s side and Italian descent on his mother’s side. His uncle, Frank Potenza, appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! as a regular from 2003 until his death in 2011.
The family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, when he was nine years old. He graduated from Ed W. Clark High School and then attended University of Nevada, Las Vegas for one year before attending Arizona State University for two years without completing a degree.
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Jo Jo White
Joseph Henry "Jo Jo" White (born November 16, 1946) is an American former professional basketball player.
White was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of a minister. He played college basketball at the University of Kansas, entering the NCAA Tournament and losing a double overtime thriller to UTEP, then known as Texas Western, in the Midwest regional final (UTEP went on to win the championship).
After college, White played on the 1968 USA Olympic basketball team in Mexico, which went undefeated (9-0), beating Yugoslavia 65-50 in the title game.
After the Olympics, White was drafted in 1969 in the first round (9th pick overall) by the NBA's Boston Celtics, who at that time had just won their 11th championship in 13 years. However, before White even reported to training camp, the Celtics' center and player-coach Bill Russell announced his retirement. White would endure a rebuilding season while the Celtics got back on track, drafting Dave Cowens and trading for Paul Silas. Along with these two and veteran John Havlicek, White would be the cornerstone of two Celtic championship teams in the 1970s (1973–74 and 1975–76).
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Joe Bryant
Joseph Washington "Jellybean" Bryant (born October 19, 1954) is a retired American professional basketball player, current coach, and the father of Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant. Bryant was the head coach of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks from August 22, 2005 until April 4, 2007. He returned to that position after Jennifer Gillom was fired by the Los Angeles Sparks on July 10, 2011.
After starring at La Salle University, Bryant, a 6'9" (2.07 m) forward, was drafted in the first round by the Golden State Warriors in 1975. Before the season started, though, he was dealt to his hometown team, the Philadelphia 76ers, with whom he played for four seasons. Bryant headed back to the West Coast when he was traded by the 76ers to the San Diego Clippers, for whom he played from 1980-82.
After a final NBA season with the Houston Rockets in 1983, Bryant headed to Europe, playing seven seasons in Italy with clubs of the Italian A1 League and the Italian A2 League. He played with the Italian clubs Sebastiani Rieti (1984–86), Reggio Calabria (1986–87), Pistoia (1987–89) and Reggio Emilia (1989–91). He twice had 53-point games with Pistoia in the 1987-88 season.
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Joe Dumars
Joe Dumars III (born May 24, 1963), nicknamed Joe D, is a retired American basketball player in the NBA, and currently the Detroit Pistons' President of Basketball Operations. At 6'3" (190 cm) Dumars could play either shooting guard or point guard on offense and was a highly effective defender. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Dumars and Isiah Thomas combined to form one of the best backcourts in NBA history. Initially a shooting guard, Dumars moved over to point guard following Thomas's retirement in 1994, sharing ball-handling duties with Grant Hill. Dumars was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
Dumars was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. Dumars' mother, Ophelia, was a custodian at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches while his father, Joe (Big Joe), was a truck driver.
Dumars grew up in an athletic family, but, surprisingly, basketball was not his favorite sport as a child. Football was more popular in the region and all five of his brothers were defensive standouts at Natchitoches Central High School. His brother David later played professional football in the USFL. Dumars followed in his brothers’ footsteps playing defensive back on the football team until junior high school when a big hit on the field directed him toward basketball. Ever the supportive father, Big Joe built a hoop, made of an old bicycle wheel and half of a wooden door, in the Dumars' backyard where Little Joe spent hours practicing his jumper.
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Joe Fulks
Joseph Franklin "Jumping Joe" Fulks (October 26, 1921 - March 21, 1976) was an American professional basketball player, sometimes called "the first of the high-scoring forwards". He was one of the first players, albeit posthumously, enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1978. The 63 points Fulks scored on February 10, 1949, was the most in an NBA game (then called the Basketball Association of America) until Elgin Baylor scored 64 points on November 8, 1959. Fulks' 63-point outburst came during a Warriors 108-87 victory over the Indianapolis Jets. Fulks made 27 of 56 field goal attempts and nine of 14 free throws. Along the way he shattered the record for most points in one half (33), field goals, and field goal attempts.
Fulks was born in Birmingham, Kentucky, a small town in the state's far-western Purchase region that was inundated in the 1940s after the Tennessee Valley Authority dammed the Tennessee River to create Kentucky Lake. He played college ball at Murray State University for two years before leaving school to join the Marines.
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Joe Vogel
For American author, see Joseph Vogel
Joseph (Joe) Vogel (born 1973 in North Platte, Nebraska, USA) is an American-Lebanese basketball player. Vogel attended Colorado State. Upon graduation, he was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1996 NBA Draft. He played as a professional player in Taiwan, Turkey, Japan, Saudi Arabia and a number of Lebanese basketball teams including Sagesse Beirut, Champville SC and Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut.
After his naturalization as a Lebanese citizen, he also became a member of the Lebanese national basketball team. At 6'11", he was Lebanon's starting center.
The now American-Lebanese basketball player presently plays for Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut as a team captain.
Vogel was drafted with the 45th overall pick by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1996 NBA Draft.
Vogel attended Colorado State and was ranked 2nd in blocked shots with 180 and 7th all time in games played with 115 to his credit.
After Seattle, Vogel joined Turkey's basketball Galatasaray Café Crown for season 1996-1997; however, he was replaced by Mills during the season. In 1997, he signed with Red Wolves basketball team in Japan, and returned to Seattle SuperSonics at their summer camp to train. Al Ittihad basketball team was Vogel's next spot to join in Saudi Arabia for 1998-1999 season.
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John Amaechi
John Uzoma Ekwugha Amaechi OBE ( /əˈmeɪtʃi/; born November 26, 1970) is an English retired basketball player who currently works as a psychologist, educator and political activist in Europe and the United States.
In February 2007, after his retirement from the NBA, Amaechi became the first former NBA player to come out publicly after doing so in his memoir Man in the Middle. Since then he has been regarded as "one of the world's most high-profile gay athletes".
The son of a Nigerian, Igbo father, Amaechi was born in Boston in the USA. He was raised in Heaton Moor, Stockport, England, with his two younger sisters by his English mother, attending Stockport Grammar School. Amaechi moved to the United States to play high school basketball at St. John's Jesuit High School in Toledo, Ohio.
He began playing college basketball at Vanderbilt but transferred to Penn State, where he was a two-time First Team Academic All-American selection. While at Penn State, Amaechi became a motivational public speaker and a mentor for area youth.
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John Celestand
John Celestand (born March 6, 1977) is a retired American professional basketball player.
A 6'4" (1.93 m) shooting guard, Celestand attended Piscataway Township High School in Piscataway Township, New Jersey before playing collegiately at Villanova University. Celestand was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the No. 30 overall pick of the 1999 NBA Draft. He was a member of the Lakers' 1999–2000 championship team, and has spent several years playing professionally in Italy—for Skipper Bologna for two months in late 2001—, France and Germany.
Celestand is currently living in New Jersey. He is the co-owner of the company All-State Basketball where he trains young aspiring basketball players in Central New Jersey. He works as an announcer for ESPN Plus and ESPNU covering college basketball games. He is also a studio analyst on 76ers Post Game Live for Comcast Sportsnet Philadelphia. In addition John is the color analyst for IMG College Radio covering the National Big East Game of the Week and MSG Varsity covering high school basketball in New Jersey.
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John Havlicek
John J. "Hondo" Havlicek (pronounced /ˈhævlɨtʃɛk/ HAV-lə-chek; born April 8, 1940 in Martins Ferry, Ohio) is a retired American professional basketball player who competed for 16 seasons with the Boston Celtics, winning eight NBA titles, half of them coming in his first four seasons.
In the NBA, only teammates Bill Russell and Sam Jones won more championships during their playing careers. Havlicek is considered one of the best NBA players in history, especially on defense, and was inducted as a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984. He was a three sport star at Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Ohio and one of his boyhood friends was Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Phil Niekro. The Bridgeport High School Gymnasium was renamed the "John J Havlicek Gymnasium" in January 2007. He shares the honor with National High School Hall of Fame member Frank Baxter, a long time coach at Bridgeport High School. The court is named after Baxter.
One of the most famous play-by-play calls in NBA history came on April 15, 1965, when Celtics broadcaster Johnny Most exclaimed "Havlicek steals it! Havlicek stole the ball!" after Havlicek intercepted Hal Greer's inbound pass to clinch the Eastern Conference Championship against the Philadelphia 76ers.
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John Kuester
John Dewitt Kuester, Jr. (pronounced: (/ˈkjuːstər/; QUE-ster) (born February 6, 1955, in Richmond, Virginia) is an American basketball coach.
He played in the NBA from 1977 to 1980 and then coached in the college ranks before moving on to the NBA sidelines as an assistant. Kuester was named head coach of the Detroit Pistons on July 9, 2009. An agreement was made after the Pistons and their first choice, Avery Johnson, broke off contract talks. Kuester coached the Pistons for two seasons.
He was a 6'2" (1.88 m) and 180 lb (82 kg) guard and played collegiately with the University of North Carolina Tar Heels from 1973–77.
Kuester played four years at Benedictine for legendary coach Warren Rutledge. His senior year the Cadets were 33-1.
Kuester played four seasons with the UNC Tar Heels under head coach Dean Smith, for whom he won two ACC championships and helped reach the NCAA Tournament four times, including an appearance in the 1977 NCAA Finals, in which they lost to Marquette 67–59. In both his junior and senior year (1976 and 1977), Kuester was voted UNC's best defensive player. Also in his senior year, as was voted Most Valuable Player of the ACC Tournament and the NCAA East Regionals.
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John Kundla
John Albert Kundla (born July 3, 1916 born in Star Junction, PA) is a former college and professional basketball coach.
After attending and playing baseketball for Minneapolis Central High School in Minneapolis (which closed in 1982), Kundla was a standout for the Minnesota Gophers basketball team in the late 1930s. Following graduation, he stayed on at the university as an assistant coach to Dave MacMillan. He would then move to the high school ranks as the head coach of DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis, MN. After two years there, the United States entered World War II and Kundla joined the Navy, where he was assigned to LST units in both the European and Pacific theaters. After the war, he was hired to coach the College of St. Thomas.
Following the Tommies' 1946-47 season, the infant Minneapolis Lakers would extend an offer to Kundla to coach the team, then playing in the National Basketball League. However, Kundla turned the offer down as he was not impressed with the professional ranks. Team representatives returned, and this time the offer had been upped to $6,000 (twice his St. Thomas salary) and Kundla took the job.
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John Lucas II
John Harding Lucas II (born October 31, 1953 in Durham, North Carolina) is a retired American professional basketball player.
Lucas attended the University of Maryland where he was an all-American in basketball, and also in tennis. Lucas was a Second-team All-American for the excellent Terrapins team in 1973 - 74, along with his teammates Len Elmore and Tom McMillen. The Terrapins has a record of 23 - 5 in the regular season, and 9 - 3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). However, they lost during the ACC Tournament, and they could not go to the NCAA Tournament. Elmore and McMillan graduated in 1974, but in the following 1974 - 75 season, Lucas was a First-team All-American. The Terrapins recorded a 24 - 5 regular season record, 10 - 2 in the ACC, and they won the ACC regular season crown. However, they lost to NC State in the semifinals of the ACC tournament. The NCAA tournament, however, had been expanded to include 32 teams. Also, for the first time, more than one team per conference was allowed into the tournament. Maryland gained entry and advanced to the Elite Eight before losing to Louisville.
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John Salley
John Thomas Salley (born May 16, 1964) is a retired American professional basketball player, actor and talk show host. He was the first player in NBA history to play on three different championship-winning franchises.
After being drafted in the first round out of Georgia Tech in 1986, the 6'11" (2.11 m) Salley played both power forward and center for the Detroit Pistons, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, Panathinaikos BC and Los Angeles Lakers. He was a long-time host of the former Fox Sports Net show The Best Damn Sports Show Period.
Salley was born in Brooklyn, New York. Salley played high school ball at Canarsie High School in Brooklyn. He is a 1988 graduate of Georgia Tech's College of Management. He holds Georgia Tech's blocked shot record, and has had his jersey number 22 retired—a very rare honor in college basketball.
Salley was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the 1986 NBA Draft out of Georgia Tech. After joining the Pistons, he became close friends with Adrian Dantley, who taught him proper nutrition, how to exercise, and how to conduct himself off the court. Salley, for his part, called Dantley "The Teacher." Salley would become good friends with comedian Eddie Murphy and made several appearances at comedy clubs in the off-season. In 1989 and 1990, he played on two Pistons championship teams. He is among the Pistons' all-time leaders in blocked shots.
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John Stockton
John Houston Stockton (born March 26, 1962) is a former American professional basketball player who spent his entire career as a point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA from 1984 to 2003. John Stockton is regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, holding the NBA records for most career assists and steals by considerable margins. Stockton is a former All-Star and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.
Stockton was born in Spokane, Washington to Clementine Frei and Jack Stockton and had Irish and Swiss German ancestry. He attended grade school at St. Aloysius and moved on to high school at Gonzaga Prep, graduating in 1980. He then played college basketball for Gonzaga University in his hometown where he averaged 20.9 points per game while shooting 57% from the field in his senior year. His grandfather, Houston Stockton had also been a well known athlete at Gonzaga University. John Stockton was selected by the Utah Jazz with the 16th overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft.
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Jordan Farmar
Jordan Robert Farmar (born November 30, 1986) is an American professional basketball point guard for the Brooklyn Nets of the NBA.
In high school, he was the Los Angeles Times High-School Player of the Year in 2003–04. Playing for UCLA in college, he was the Rivals.com National Freshman of the Year in 2004–05. He was a first round draft pick by the Los Angeles Lakers, and played for the Lakers from 2006 to 2010, winning NBA Championships with them in 2009 and 2010.
Farmar was born in Los Angeles, California, to his father Damon Farmar (a former minor league baseball outfielder who was a second round draft pick in both 1982 and 1983), and mother, Melinda. His parents divorced when he was 2, and he went to live with his mother, who soon met and married her current husband (Farmar's stepfather), Israeli Yehuda Kolani from Tel Aviv. His mother and stepfather are Jewish. His father is African-American.
Farmar started playing basketball at age 4. Farmar inherited his competitive drive from his father and mentor, Damon Farmar, who played football and baseball at University High and baseball in the minor leagues. The younger Farmar spent hours in his father's clubhouses, with his father's teammates, and watching his father play. He learned from his stepfather what persistence and obligation are all about, noting that "I never met a person who worked so hard." Farmar has a half-sister, Shoshana Kolani. Farmar's godfather is former major league baseball player Eric Davis.
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Joseph Blair
Joseph Blair (born June 12, 1974 in Akron, Ohio, USA) is a retired American professional basketball player. He is 2.10 m (6 ft 10.75 in) tall and he weighs 120 kg (265 pounds). He played as a forward-center. He is well known for his spectacular style of play among other things, and has been a member of the Harlem Globetrotters.
After being drafted 35th overall by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1996 NBA Draft, he made a successful career of international play, spending 12 seasons in Europe, including stops in France, Italy, Turkey, Greece, and Russia. He never played in the NBA, although he participated in a Chicago Bulls preseason game in 2007. His performances in the Euroleague earned him a spot in the All-Euroleague Second Team for the Euroleague 2001-02 season, while he was playing with Scavolini Pesaro. He also won the Euroleague 2002-03 regular season MVP award, while playing with Ülkerspor.
On October 30, 2008, in a Russian Cup quarterfinal game between Spartak Saint Petersburg and Lokomotiv Rostov, Blair started an on-court brawl which led to the ejection of 16 players. When play resumed, it was a 4-on-4 match, before ultimately becoming a 3-on-3 match. Strangely, Blair was not ejected.
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Josh McRoberts
Joshua Scott McRoberts (born February 28, 1987 in Indianapolis, Indiana) is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. He was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 37th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. McRoberts, a 6-foot-10-inch (2.08 m) power forward–center, played in college for the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team during the 2006 and 2007 seasons.
McRoberts attended Carmel High School in Carmel, Indiana and led the Greyhounds in both scoring and rebounding during his senior year.
He averaged 17.9 points to go along with 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 3.0 blocked shots per game and shot an impressive .593 (166-of-280) from the field while guiding the Greyhounds to a 21–4 record and a trip to the sectional championship game in 2005. McRoberts was considered the number one power forward prospect out of high school, and was projected to be drafted in the 2005 NBA Draft had he declared.
At Duke University, McRoberts averaged 8.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.3 blocked shots while leading the team (60.5%) in field goal percentage. McRoberts was named to the ACC All-Freshman team. He helped the Duke Blue Devils to a record of 32–4, the ACC regular season title, and the 2006 ACC tournament championship title by defeating the Boston College Eagles. He was also named to the third team Freshman All-America by collegehoops.net.
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Josh Powell
Josh Powell (born January 25, 1983, in Charleston, South Carolina) is an American professional basketball player.
While playing at NC State, Powell averaged 12.4 ppg and 5.2 rpg in his sophomore year (2002–2003). He was not selected in the 2003 NBA Draft and played in Europe. However, he worked out for numerous teams and was eventually signed by the Dallas Mavericks, who were looking for a power forward to develop behind star Dirk Nowitzki. He played two games in 2003–04 with Lokomotiv-Rostov in the Russian Superleague before finishing the season with Euroride Scafati of the Italian Lega 2. In 2004–05, Powell averaged 16.6 PPG and 11.9 RPG with Pepsi Caserta of the Italian League.
At the beginning of the 2005–2006 season, Powell was in the D-League and put up solid numbers until he was called up to the NBA, where he played only in "garbage time," when the game had already been practically decided. But, after injuries to starting small forward Josh Howard and backup power forward Keith Van Horn, he began to get more time when Nowitzki was in need of rest.
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Josh Smith
Josh Smith (born December 5, 1985 in College Park, Georgia) is an American professional basketball player with the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA. Josh is one of five children born to Paulette and Pete Smith. His siblings are Walter, Phebe, Kasola and Shanti. His popular nickname is "J-Smoove".
Smith attended John McEachern High School. For his senior year, Smith transferred to Oak Hill Academy. As a player for Oak Hill's basketball team, he first earned his reputation as a consummate shot-blocker, which he would maintain in the NBA. He played alongside former Atlanta Hawk teammate Randolph Morris and the Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard on the highly regarded Atlanta Celtics AAU team in the summer of 2003.
Smith was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the 17th overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft.
Having entered the league straight out of high school, Smith has publicly disagreed with the rule change that prohibited high school players from entering the NBA Entry Draft.
He won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest during his rookie year in the 2005 NBA All-Star Weekend. He averaged 9.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.95 blocks per game for the 2004–05 season and was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. For the 2005–06 season, Smith averaged 2.25 blocks per game, ranking seventh in the NBA.
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Julius Erving
Julius Winfield Erving II (born February 22, 1950), commonly known by the nickname Dr. J, is a retired American basketball player who helped launch a modern style of play that emphasizes leaping and play above the rim. Erving helped legitimize the American Basketball Association (ABA). He was the best known player in the ABA when the ABA-NBA merger joined it with the National Basketball Association (NBA) after the 1976 season.
Erving won three championships, four Most Valuable Player Awards, and three scoring titles while playing with the ABA's Virginia Squires and New York Nets, and the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers. He is the fifth-highest scorer in professional basketball history, with 30,026 points (NBA and ABA combined). He was well known for slam dunking from the free throw line in Slam Dunk Contests and was the only player to have been voted Most Valuable Player in both the ABA and the NBA.
Erving was named to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time team and in 1993 was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. In 2004, he was inducted into the Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame. Many consider him among the most spectacular basketballers ever, and one of the best dunkers of all time. While players such as Connie Hawkins, "Jumping" Johnny Green, Elgin Baylor, and Gus Johnson were performing spectacular dunks before Erving's time, "Dr. J" is usually the one most people credit with bringing the practice into the mainstream. His signature dunk was the "slam" dunk, since incorporated into the vernacular and basic skill set of the game, in the same manner as the "cross-over" dribble and the "no look" pass.
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, Jr., April 16, 1947) is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season MVP Awards. In college at UCLA, he played on three consecutive national championship teams, and his high school team won 71 consecutive games. At the time of his retirement, Abdul-Jabbar was the NBA’s all-time leader in points scored, games played, minutes played, field goals made, field goal attempts, blocked shots, defensive rebounds, and personal fouls. Abdul-Jabbar also has been an actor, basketball coach and an author. In 2012, he was selected as a U.S. cultural ambassador.
Abdul-Jabbar was born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, Jr., on April 16, 1947, and grew up in Manhattan in New York City, the only child of Cora Lillian, a department store price checker, and Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, Sr., a transit police officer and jazz musician. At birth, he weighed 12 pounds, 10 ounces (5.73 kg), and was twenty-two-and-a-half inches (57.2 cm) long. He was raised as a Roman Catholic and attended St. Jude School in the Inwood section of Manhattan. Later in life, he converted to Islam. He initially joined the Nation of Islam in 1968, before retaking the Shahada and converting to Sunni Islam that same summer.
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Karl Malone
Karl Anthony Malone (born July 24, 1963), nicknamed "The Mailman," is a retired American professional basketball power forward. In his basketball career, Malone spent his first 18 seasons (1985–2003) with the Utah Jazz and formed a formidable duo with his teammate John Stockton. He played his final season (2003–04) with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Malone grew up in rural Summerfield, Louisiana and played college basketball at Louisiana Tech University. In his three seasons with Louisiana Tech, he helped the Bulldogs basketball team to its first-ever NCAA tournament in 1984 and to first place in the Southland Conference in 1985. The Jazz drafted Malone in 1985 with the 13th overall pick in the first round.
Having scored 36,298 points in his career, the second most career points in NBA history, and holding the record for most free throws both attempted and made, Malone is generally considered one of the greatest NBA power forwards. In 1997 and 1999, Malone won the NBA Most Valuable Player award. Malone appeared in the playoffs every season in his career, including three NBA Finals: in 1997 and 1998 with the Jazz and in 2004 with the Lakers. Internationally, Malone competed with the United States national team in the Summer Olympic games of 1992 and 1996; in both years he won gold medals. After retiring from the NBA, Malone joined the staff of the Louisiana Tech basketball team in 2007 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.
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Katie Smith
Katherine May "Katie" Smith (born June 4, 1974) is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA. Her primary position is shooting guard, although she sometimes plays small forward or point guard. She is the all time leading scorer in women's professional basketball, having notched over 7000 points in both her ABL and WNBA career. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the Top 15 players in WNBA history.
Smith was born in Lancaster, Ohio and spent her formative years in Logan, Ohio. She began playing basketball as early as the 5th grade on a boys' team and took tap dance and ballet lessons as a youngster.
She grew up in a family of student-athletes. Her father, John, Jr., played football at Ohio University (OU), and won three varsity letters in the 1960s before becoming a dentist. Her younger brother, Tom, earned three varsity letters playing football at OU as well as being a member on their track and field team. Tom won the 1996 Mid-American Conference championship in the discus throw. Her older brother, John, was a member of one of nine Mount Union College football teams that won the NCAA Division III title. He now is the head football coach at Bexley High School.
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Kenny Walker
Kenneth "Kenny" Walker (born August 18, 1964 in Roberta, Georgia) is a former professional basketball player, primarily for the New York Knicks of the NBA. Walker played college basketball at the University of Kentucky. He is currently a radio host for WVLK in Lexington, Kentucky.
After being named Mr. Basketball in the state of Georgia in 1982, Walker chose to play collegiately at the University of Kentucky. Walker had a very successful college career, being named to an All-SEC team four times and the All-American team twice. Walker's 1984 Kentucky team made it to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament before losing to the Georgetown Hoyas.
In 1986, Walker set a record by scoring 11 times on 11 field goal attempts in the NCAA playoffs.
Walker was selected with the 5th pick of the 1986 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks. Walker played for five coaches in five years with the Knicks. On February 11, 1989, Walker won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, competing three days after the death of his father. He also secured 3rd place in the 1990 contest. However, his success on the court was dwindling, and knee injuries forced him to leave the NBA and join the ACB league in Spain.
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Kermit Washington
Kermit Alan Washington (born September 17, 1951 in Washington, D.C.) is an American former professional basketball player. Washington is best remembered for punching opposing player Rudy Tomjanovich during an on-court fight in 1977. The punch nearly killed Tomjanovich, and it resulted in severe medical problems that ultimately ended his playing career. During his pro years and after his retirement, Washington has struggled with the negative perception of him that resulted from the punch.
Washington was not a highly coveted player coming out of high school and barely got into college on an athletic scholarship. He averaged a mere four points per game (ppg) during his senior season of high school. He improved rapidly once at American University, and became one of only seven players in NCAA history to average 20 points and 20 rebounds throughout the course of their career.
A big defensive forward, Washington was known for his ability to gather rebounds. He averaged 9.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in ten National Basketball Association (NBA) seasons and played in the All-Star Game once. Washington was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the fifth overall pick in the 1973 NBA Draft. He played sparingly his first three seasons, and sought the help of retired basketball coach Pete Newell before his fourth season. Under Newell's tutelage, Washington's game rapidly improved and he became a starter for several teams. He played for the Lakers, Boston Celtics, San Diego Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers and Golden State Warriors.
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Kerry Kittles
Kerry Kittles (born June 12, 1974 in Dayton, Ohio) is an American former professional basketball player who last played with the Los Angeles Clippers in the National Basketball Association in 2004-05. He was raised in New Orleans and attended St. Augustine High School.
The 6' 5", 179 lb (81 kg) shooting guard attended Villanova University and was later selected by the New Jersey Nets with the eighth pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. He sat out his entire fifth season, in 2000-01, due to rehabilitation from offseason surgery on his right knee. After seven seasons with the Nets, Kittles was finally traded to the Clippers in a salary purge. After one injury-riddled year in Los Angeles, Kittles departed from the Clippers. Kittles now works for the Nets as a part time scout. Kittles is also a Merchant Banking Associate at Ledgemont Capital Group LLC and completed an MBA at Villanova University's School of Business.
He holds the Villanova University record for most points scored, with 2,243. Kittles is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.
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Kevin Durant
Kevin Wayne Durant (born September 29, 1988) is an American professional basketball forward with the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A 6'9" small forward, Durant was the consensus 2007 National College Player of the Year and the 2006–2007 Big 12 Player of the Year, amongst other awards. After a standout freshman season at the University of Texas, Durant opted to enter the NBA Draft, where he was selected second overall by the Seattle SuperSonics. There he went on to win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award after his debut season. In 2007, Durant signed an endorsement contract with Nike. In the 2009–10 season Durant led the NBA in scoring and became the youngest player ever to win the NBA scoring title. He would later be named to the 2010 All NBA First Team.
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Kevin Garnett
Kevin Maurice Garnett (born May 19, 1976) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). In high school, Garnett was a 1995 McDonald's All-American at Farragut Career Academy and won a national player of the year award. Garnett entered the 1995 NBA Draft, where he was selected with the 5th overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves and became the first NBA player drafted directly out of high school in 20 years.
Garnett made an immediate impact with the Minnesota Timberwolves leading them to eight-consecutive playoff appearances. In 2004, Garnett led the Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals and was voted Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the 2003–04 season. Since his second season in the NBA, Garnett has been named to 14 All-Star Games, winning the All-Star MVP award in 2003, and is currently tied for 3rd-most All-Star selections in NBA history. He was awarded the regular season's NBA Defensive Player of the Year in the 2007–08 season and has been a nine-time member of the All-NBA Teams selection and a twelve-time member of the All-Defensive Teams selection. Garnett currently holds several all-time Timberwolves franchise records.
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Kevin Love
Kevin Wesley Love (born September 7, 1988) is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The two-time All-Star is one of the top rebounders in the NBA, and he holds the longest streak for consecutive games recording double figures in points and rebounds since the merger between the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the NBA. The Associated Press called Love the new face of the Timberwolves franchise. He is also known for his outlet passing, which led to comparisons to Wes Unseld.
A top ranked prospect out of Lake Oswego High School in Oregon, Love played one season of college basketball for the UCLA Bruins and led the team to a Final Four appearance in the 2008 NCAA Tournament. Love was named the Pac-10 Conference Player of the Year and consensus First Team All-American following the season. Love chose not to complete his three remaining years of college eligibility and entered the 2008 NBA Draft. He was taken fifth overall by the Memphis Grizzlies, and was traded to the Timberwolves on draft night for the third overall selection, O. J. Mayo, in an eight-player deal. Love was a member of the gold medal-winning United States men's national basketball team at the 2010 FIBA World Championship.
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Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bean Bryant (born August 23, 1978) is an American professional basketball player who plays shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School, where he was recognized as the top high school basketball player in the country. He decided to declare his eligibility for the NBA Draft upon graduation, and was selected with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets, then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. As a rookie, Bryant earned himself a reputation as a high-flyer and a fan favorite by winning the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest.
Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal led the Lakers to three consecutive NBA championships from 2000 to 2002. A heated feud between the duo and a loss in the 2004 NBA Finals was followed by O'Neal's trade from the Lakers after the 2003–04 season. Following O'Neal's departure Bryant became the cornerstone of the Los Angeles Lakers franchise. He led the NBA in scoring during the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons, setting numerous scoring records in the process. In 2006, Bryant scored a career-high 81 points against the Toronto Raptors, the second most points scored in a single game in NBA history, second only to Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game in 1962. He was awarded the regular season's Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) in 2008. After losing in the 2008 NBA Finals, Bryant led the Lakers to two consecutive championships in 2009 and 2010, earning the NBA Finals MVP Award on both occasions.
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Kobe Doin' Work
Kobe Doin' Work is a 2009 documentary film directed by Spike Lee. It focuses on Kobe Bryant during one day of the 2007–08 Los Angeles Lakers season. Bryant granted filmmaker Spike Lee and 30 cameras unprecedented access to his life for one day. Kobe: Doin' Work premiered on ESPN on May 16, 2009.
The documentary follows Kobe Bryant during the 2007–08 NBA season throughout the April 13, 2008 game against the San Antonio Spurs. The 83-minute documentary ran on ESPN commercial free. The documentary also focuses on Bryant and the team in huddles and during time-outs. The cameras also get full access of coach Phil Jackson in the locker room with the team during half-time. Bryant provided the voiceover for the documentary on February 2, 2009, hours after he scored 61 points against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, a single-game record at the arena.
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Kris Durham
Kris Durham (born March 17, 1988) is an American football wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seahawks in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia.
Durham was born in Rome, Georgia, US, and was a stand-out receiver for the Calhoun High School Yellow Jackets. In his senior year Durham helped lead the Jackets to a 14-1 record and an appearance in the state championship under coach Hal Lamb. Coming out of high school Durham was rated as a 3-star prospect by both Scout.com and Rivals Inc. Durham signed a scholarship to play for the University of Georgia and enrolled in January 2006.
Kris finished the 2006 season with 8 catches for 82 yards as a freshman with Georgia. Durham improved in his sophomore season finishing with 11 catches for 169 yards. Durham played in the 2008 Sugar Bowl against the University of Hawaii, catching 3 passes for 48 yards. Durham appeared in 10 games during his junior season in 2008. He caught 13 passes for a total of 199 yards and caught his first touchdown pass of his college career. While participating in spring practice in 2009, Durham tore the labrum in his left shoulder and it was later announced that he would miss the entire 2009 season.
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Kurt Rambis
Darrell Kurt Rambis (born February 25, 1958) is a retired American professional basketball player and former head coach for the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves.
Rambis was born in Terre Haute, Indiana. His family moved to Cupertino, California in his preschool years; his number is retired at Cupertino High School. He graduated from Santa Clara University, where he played from 1976 to 1980, becoming its second leading rebounder and all-time leading scorer with 1,736 points. During his Santa Clara years he was awarded the WCC Freshman of the Year and Conference Player of the Year as a senior. His jersey #34 was retired on December 29, 2008.
Rambis was drafted by the New York Knicks as the 58th pick in the 1980 NBA Draft, but he was subsequently waived by the Knicks before playing in Greece, where he also holds citizenship. There he joined the Greek League club AEK Athens, under the name Kyriakos Rambidis, and he won the Greek Cup in 1981.
He was re-signed by the Knicks in 1981 but never played a game for them. His success as an NBA player started when he was signed as a free agent by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1981. Rambis spent most of his 14 seasons in the NBA with the Lakers, winning championships in 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988. Rambis also played for the Charlotte Hornets, Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings before returning to the Lakers in 1993.
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Kyle Korver
Kyle Elliot Korver (born March 17, 1981) is an American basketball player, who currently plays for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association. He plays as a shooting guard/small forward.
Before going on to be Creighton University's fifth all-time scorer, he attended Pella High School in Pella, Iowa, where he later had his jersey retired.
Korver was drafted out of Creighton University by the New Jersey Nets in the second round (51st overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft; his draft rights were traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for cash considerations in a draft night deal.
Korver competed in both the 2004 and 2005 Foot Locker Three-Point Shootouts, coming in third and second in those contests respectively. In the 2004–05 season, Korver tied for first place in the league in three-pointers made with Quentin Richardson who both had 226, also a 76ers franchise record. Korver had a career high 31 points at Milwaukee on February 24, 2006, something he duplicated on February 21, 2007 at home against the New York Knicks. He notably drained a game-tying buzzer-beater against the Boston Celtics on January 12, 2006, sending the game into triple overtime which the 76ers would eventually win.
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La'Keshia Frett
La'Keshia Frett (born June 12, 1975 in Carmel, California, U.S.) is a former collegiate and professional basketball player. She is currently an assistant coach for the women's basketball team at the University of Georgia.
Frett attended Phoebus High School in Hampton, Virginia, where she was named a High School All-American by the WBCA. She participated in the WBCA High School All-America Game in 1993, scoring six points. Additionally, Frett was named the 1993 Gatorade Female Basketball Player of the Year.
After being named the 1993 National Prep Player of the Year at Phoebus High School in Hampton, Virginia, Frett attended the University of Georgia and played for their women's basketball team, averaging 15.2 points and 6.9 rebounds during her collegiate career from 1993 to 1997.
She was a three–time All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) first team selection, and was named the 1993-94 "SEC Freshman of the Year". In 1996, Frett was named to the Final Four All Tournament team.
By the time she graduated, she had scored 242 points in 15 NCAA tournament appearances, ranking third time all-time among scorers in the university's history. She competed with USA Basketball as a member of the 1994 Jones Cup Team that won the Gold in Taipei.
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LaBradford Smith
LaBradford Corvey Smith (born April 3, 1969, in Bay City, Texas) is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Washington Bullets in the 1st round (19th overall) of the 1991 NBA Draft. Smith played in 3 NBA seasons for the Bullets and Sacramento Kings, averaging 6.7 ppg in his career. His best year as a pro came during the 1992-93 season as a member of the Bullets, when he appeared in 69 games and averaged 9.3 ppg. He played collegiately at the University of Louisville.
LaBraford Smith is known for scoring 37 points on Michael Jordan on March 19, 1993.
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Larry Bird
Larry Joe Bird (born December 7, 1956) is a former American NBA basketball player and coach. Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, spearheading one of the NBA's most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish and forward Kevin McHale. Due to chronic back problems, he retired as a player in 1992. Bird was voted to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996 and inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998. He served as head coach of the Indiana Pacers from 1997 to 2000. In 2003, he assumed the role of president of basketball operations for the Pacers, which he currently holds. He is the only person in NBA history to be named Most Valuable Player, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year.
Larry Bird was born in West Baden, Indiana, the son of Georgia (née Kerns) and Claude Joseph "Joe" Bird. He grew up in both West Baden and the adjacent town French Lick, which earned him the nickname "the Hick from French Lick" in his professional basketball career. Bird recalled how his mother would make do on the family's meager earnings: "If there was a payment to the bank due, and we needed shoes, she'd get the shoes, and then deal with them guys at the bank. I don't mean she wouldn't pay the bank, but the children always came first." According to Bird, his being poor as a child "motivates me to this day". He sometimes was sent to live with his grandmother due to the family's struggles. The Bird family's struggle with poverty was compounded by the alcoholism and personal difficulties of Joe Bird, who likely suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder from serving in the Korean War. Joe Bird committed suicide on February 3, 1975, when Larry was 18 years old.
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Larry Drew
Larry Donnell Drew (born April 2, 1958) is an American basketball coach and the current head coach of the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association. He is also a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Detroit Pistons in the 1st round (17th overall) of the 1980 NBA Draft. A 6'1" point guard from the University of Missouri, Drew played in 10 NBA seasons. He played for the Pistons, Kansas City/Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers. In 1988–89, Drew played in the Italian League with Scavolini.
In his NBA career, Drew played in 714 games and scored a total of 8,110 points. His best year as a professional came during the 1982–83 season as a member of the Kings, appearing in 75 games and averaging 20.1 points, 8.1 assists and 1.7 steals per contest.
Before becoming the head coach, Drew was an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks from 2004 to 2010. He had also previously served as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers (starting in the 1992–93 season), Detroit Pistons (1999–2000), Washington Wizards (2000–2003) and New Jersey Nets (2003–2004).
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Larry Nance
Larry Donnell Nance (born February 12, 1959 in Anderson, South Carolina) is a retired American professional basketball player. A 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) power forward/center from Clemson University, Nance played thirteen seasons (1981–1994) in the NBA as a member of the Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Nance scored 15,687 career points and grabbed 7,352 career rebounds, but he is perhaps best known as the first winner of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 1984, earning him the nickname "The High-Ayatolla of Slamola". Nance was a model of consistency throughout his NBA career. He averaged over 16 points and 8 rebounds per game for all eleven seasons as a starter. His best scoring average year was in the 1986–1987 NBA season, where he averaged 22.5 points per game. Always among the highest in field goal percentage, Nance was an excellent mid-range shooter as well as a talented inside player.
Nance was involved in a trade between the Suns and the Cavaliers in 1988. Nance's stint in Phoenix came to an end on Feb. 25, 1988, when, with the Suns struggling to a 16–35 mark, he was traded with Mike Sanders and Detroit's No. 1 pick in 1988 (used to pick Randolph Keys) to Cleveland for Kevin Johnson, Mark West, Tyrone Corbin and Cleveland's first (used for Dan Majerle) and second round (used for Dean Garrett) picks in 1988 and the Lakers' second round pick in 1989.
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Lawrence Tanter
Lawrence Tanter is an American public address announcer best known for his work for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. In addition to his duties with the Lakers, Tanter is also the program director for public jazz radio station KKJZ.
Tanter began working as the Lakers' public address announcer at the start of the NBA's 1981-82 season and has been a fixture at Laker home games ever since. He is the longest tenured Lakers PA announcer ever. During his tenure behind the microphones of both The Forum and the Staples Center, Tanter has seen the Lakers win 15 NBA Western Conference titles and 9 NBA Championships. In addition, he has seen the Lakers miss the NBA Playoffs only twice (1994 & 2005) during his time as the team's PA announcer.
When World Wrestling Entertainment fought with the Denver Nuggets over an arena booking for a playoff game in 2009, Tanter was recruited as guest ring announcer for the main event of a newly relocated Raw at Staples Center. In the match, five heel (villain) wrestlers in Denver Nuggets jerseys competed against five face (good guy) wrestlers in Lakers garb, and the Lakers team won. Soon afterward, the Lakers eliminated the Nuggets in the 2009 Western Conference Finals 4-2. They then went on to defeat the Orlando Magic in the 2009 NBA Finals and capture another NBA title.
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LeBron James
LeBron Raymone James (/ləˈbrɒn/; born December 30, 1984) is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a sophomore at St. Vincent – St. Mary High School. He was selected with the number one pick in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Listed as a small forward, James has set numerous youngest player records since joining the league. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2003–04, was named the NBA Most Valuable Player in 2009, 2010, and 2012 and has been both an All-NBA selection and an All-Star every season since 2005. In 2010, a much-publicized free agency process ended with James signing with the Miami Heat.
James led the Cleveland Cavaliers to consecutive playoff appearances from 2006 through 2010. In 2007, the Cavaliers advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history, but lost to the San Antonio Spurs. In 2011, James and the Miami Heat advanced to the NBA Finals but lost to the Dallas Mavericks. James has been a member of the USA national team, winning a bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics and gold at the 2008 Olympics.
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Lenny Wilkens
Leonard Randolph "Lenny" Wilkens (born October 28, 1937, in Brooklyn, New York, U.S.) is a retired American basketball player and coach in the NBA. He has been inducted three times into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, first in 1989 as a player, as a coach in 1998, and as part of the US Olympic "The Dream Team" for whom he was an assistant coach.
He is only three victories behind Don Nelson for most career regular season wins as an NBA coach, with 1332, but he has five more playoff wins than Nelson.
Wilkens grew up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. His father was African American and his mother was Irish. Wilkens was raised in the Roman Catholic faith.
At Boys High School, Wilkens was a basketball teammate of longtime Major League Baseball star Tommy Davis.
Wilkens was a two-time All-American (1959 and 1960) at Providence College. He led the team to their first NIT appearance in 1959, and to the NIT finals in 1960. When he graduated, Wilkens was, with 1,193 points, the second-ranked scorer in Friar history (he has since dropped to twentieth as of 2005). In 1996, Wilkens' No. 14 jersey was retired by the college, the first alumnus to receive such an honor.
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Lindsey Hunter
Lindsey Benson Hunter, Jr. (born December 3, 1970) is a former American professional basketball player. He was a point guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1993 to 2010, spending most of his career with Detroit Pistons.
After playing basketball at Murrah High School in Jackson, Mississippi, alongside phenom James Robinson, Hunter enrolled at Jackson State University. While playing for the Tigers, he became arguably the school's highest profile athlete since the days of Walter Payton and Jackie Slater.
The Detroit Pistons had two first-round picks in the 1993 NBA Draft. They selected Hunter with the 10th pick and chose Tennessee guard Allan Houston with the 11th. Hunter spent most of his professional career playing with the Pistons organization. His first stint in Detroit lasted from 1993 to 2000 when he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for Billy Owens. He played with the Bucks for one season, before being sent to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Greg Foster. Hunter was a contributor on the Lakers team that won the NBA championship in 2001–02.
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Lionel Simmons
Lionel James "L-Train" Simmons (born November 14, 1968 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a retired American professional basketball player.
Simmons led South Philadelphia High School to a Philadelphia Public League boys’ championship in 1986. He was inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.
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.
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Lisa Harrison
Lisa Harrison (born January 2, 1971 in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.) is a former American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).
Lisa Harrison learned to play basketball from a young age. In 1989, she was named the High School Player of the Year while attending Southern High School, by Parade magazine. She also was named 1989's Kentucky Miss Basketball. In 1991, as a sophomore while attending the University of Tennessee, she was a member of their women's basketball team that won the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship.
After graduating from Tennessee in 1993, Lisa played one season (1996–1997) for the Columbus Quest of the American Basketball League and two seasons (1997–1999) for the Portland Power.
In the 1999 WNBA Draft, she was selected by the Phoenix Mercury in the third round (34th pick overall). In the WNBA, Lisa was once ranked eighth in free throw shooting accuracy at 86.4% in 2001.
Harrison was inducted into the Kentucky High School Athletics Hall of Fame on September 10, 2001. On September 12, 2006, Harrison was named an outreach coordinator for the athletic department at the University of Louisville.
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Lisa Leslie
Lisa Deshaun Leslie-Lockwood (born July 7, 1972) is a former American professional women's basketball player in the WNBA. She is a three-time WNBA MVP and a four-time Olympic gold medal winner. The number seven pick in the 1997 inaugural WNBA draft, she followed a superb career at the University of Southern California with seven WNBA All-Star appearances and two WNBA championships over the course of eleven seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks, before retiring in 2009. Leslie, a 6'5" center, is the first player to dunk in a WNBA game. She was considered a pioneer and cornerstone of the league during her WNBA career. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the Top 15 players in WNBA history.
Leslie is the daughter of Christine Lauren Leslie, who started her own truck driving business to support her three children, and Walter Leslie, a semiprofessional basketball player. Walter left the family when her mother was four months pregnant with her. Lisa's mother stood 6 ft 5 in. Leslie has two sisters: Dionne, who is five years older, and Tiffany, who is eight years younger. Lisa played basketball on an all boy basketball team in middle school. She also played on an all girls team with the record 33-1.
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Louis Williams
Louis "Lou" Tyrone Williams (born October 27, 1986) is an American professional basketball player with the National Basketball Association's Philadelphia 76ers, who selected him with the 45th pick of the 2005 NBA Draft. Williams was born in Memphis, Tennessee and grew up in Snellville, Georgia.
Williams played at Snellville's South Gwinnett High School under Roger Fleetwood, where he was a four-time All-State selection, was named Georgia's "Mr. Basketball" during his junior and senior year and was voted as the "Most Athletic" Senior Superlative by his peers. As a junior, Williams led South Gwinnett to win the 5A Georgia State Championship. As a senior, Williams averaged 27.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game while leading South Gwinnett to a 28–3 record and fourth place finish in the state. Williams also won the 2005 Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award which identifies the nation's top high school player, and was named to the 2005 McDonald's All-American East Team. Both Williams and Mike Mercer, high school teammates at South Gwinnett High School, committed to play at the University of Georgia, but Williams declared for the 2005 NBA Draft. Williams is the second all-time leading scorer in Georgia high school basketball history.
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Luke Walton
Luke Theodore Walton (born March 28, 1980) is an American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). His primary position is at small forward. After the 2010 NBA Finals, Walton and his father, Hall of Famer Bill Walton, became the first father and son to both have won multiple NBA championships. Bill won in 1977 and 1986, and Luke in 2009 and 2010.
Luke Walton is the son of former NBA great Bill Walton, and was named after Bill's close friend and former Portland Trail Blazers teammate Maurice Lucas. He has three brothers — Adam, Nathan (who unsuccessfully ran for governor during the 2003 California recall), and Chris. He attended University of San Diego High School in San Diego, California.
After graduating from University of San Diego High School in 1998, Walton enrolled at the University of Arizona and majored in family studies and human development. There, he played for the Wildcats under coach Lute Olson. In his junior year, Walton averaged 15.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.6 blocks per game. As a fifth-year senior, he averaged 10.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 0.9 steals.
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Magic Johnson
Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. (born August 14, 1959) is a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). After winning championships in high school and college, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Lakers. He won a championship and an NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award in his rookie season, and won four more championships with the Lakers during the 1980s. Johnson retired abruptly in 1991 after announcing that he had contracted HIV, but returned to play in the 1992 All-Star Game, winning the All-Star MVP Award. After protests from his fellow players, he retired again for four years, but returned in 1996, at age 36, to play 32 games for the Lakers before retiring for the third and final time.
Johnson's career achievements include three NBA MVP Awards, nine NBA Finals appearances, twelve All-Star games, and ten All-NBA First and Second Team nominations. He led the league in regular-season assists four times, and is the NBA's all-time leader in average assists per game, at 11.2. Johnson was a member of the "Dream Team", the U.S. basketball team that won the Olympic gold medal in 1992.
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Malik Rose
Malik Jabari Rose (born November 23, 1974 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American former professional basketball player, and current broadcaster for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Rose graduated from Overbrook High School in Philadelphia, the same high school as Wilt Chamberlain. He graduated from Drexel University with All-American honors after leading the Dragons to their lone NCAA Tournament victory with an upset of the University of Memphis 75-63. At Drexel, Malik averaged over 16 points and 12 rebounds per game throughout his four-year college career. He was a student teacher at Robert E. Lamberton School. In 2011, the 1995-96 men's basketball team, led by Rose, was inducted into the Drexel athletic Hall of Fame.
Rose was drafted in 1996 in the second round by the Charlotte Hornets. Rose is the second Drexel basketball player to participate in the NBA, following Michael Anderson. He was traded to the San Antonio Spurs in 1997, and quickly became one of their more popular players due to his displays of hustle, defense, and skill despite being undersized. Rose was on the Spurs' NBA championship teams in 1999 and 2003. On February 24, 2005, Rose was traded along with a pair of first-round draft picks to the New York Knicks for Nazr Mohammed and Jamison Brewer, much to the dismay of Spurs fans. A highlight during his tenure with the Knicks was a 10-point, 15-rebound and 9-assist performance in a 94–93 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on April 18, 2007, just missing a triple-double. After being relegated to a minor supporting role for the Knicks for four years, Rose was traded from the Knicks to the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 19, 2009 for Chris Wilcox.
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Manu Ginóbili
Emanuel David "Manu" Ginóbili (born 28 July 1977) is an Argentine professional basketball player. Coming from a family of professional basketball players, he is a member of the Argentine men's national basketball team and the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Ginóbili spent the early part of his basketball career in Argentina and Italy, where he won several individual and team honors. His stint with Italian side Kinder Bologna was particularly productive, earning two Italian League MVP awards, the Euroleague Finals MVP and the 2001 Euroleague and Triple Crown championships. The shooting guard was selected as the 57th overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft and is considered one of the biggest draft steals of all time. Ginóbili returned to Italy and only joined the Spurs in 2002. He did not take long to establish himself as a key player for the Spurs, and has since earned three NBA championship rings as well as being named an All-Star in 2005 and 2011. In the 2007–08 season, he was named the NBA Sixth Man of the Year.
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Marcus Brown
Marcus James Brown (born April 3, 1974, in West Memphis, Arkansas, United States) is a retired American professional basketball player. At 6'4" (1.93 m), he played as a shooting guard. A three time All-Euroleague selection, Brown has been mentioned as being one of the top U.S. players ever to play abroad. He was most recently a player-coach with BC Žalgiris.
Brown, a 6'4" (193 cm) shooting guard, is the Euroleague's second leading scorer, counting only games played since the year 2000, with over 2,500 career points scored.
A high-quality player who was always able to make a big impact in top-level European teams, Brown played at the Euroleague Final Four in 2004, 2005 and 2007. He also earned All-Euroleague Team selections in 2003, 2004 and 2005. He was selected to the All-Euroleague Second Team for the 2002-03 season when he played for Efes Pilsen, and he was selected to the All-Euroleague First Team for the 2003-04 season and to the Second Team for the 2004-05 season when he played for CSKA Moscow. He was nominated to the 2007 50 Greatest Euroleague Contributors list, as one of the Euroleague's 35 greatest all-time players, although he was not selected to the final list.
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Marcus Camby
Marcus D. Camby (born March 22, 1974 in Hartford, Connecticut) is an American professional basketball center with the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was named Defensive Player of the Year during the 2006–07 NBA season, leading the league in blocked shots per game. Camby is also a four-time member of the NBA all-defensive team.
Camby, a native of Connecticut, began his high school career at Conard High School in West Hartford. He transferred to Hartford Public High School where he finished his high school education. In his senior season, Camby averaged 27 points, 11 rebounds, 8 blocks and 8 assists, en route to a 27-0 record and state title. He was named Gatorade's Connecticut Player of the Year.
Camby played three seasons for the UMass Minutemen. He is second all-time in total blocked shots (336) at UMass and the fourth-ever college player to have at least 300 total career blocked shots. He had an NCAA freshman record 105 total rejections during his first year at UMass, and was named the Atlantic 10's Freshman of the Year. Camby was named to the A-10's First Team during his sophomore season in 1994-95, as the Minutemen reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.
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Marcus Liberty
Marcus Liberty (born October 27, 1968, in Chicago, Illinois) is a retired American professional basketball player.
Liberty attended Chicago King High School from 1983 to 1987. During his time at King, Liberty led his basketball teams to an IHSA State Championship in 1986 and a second-place finish in 1987. During the 1987 tournament run, Liberty scored 41, 23, 38 and 41 points consecutively. His 143 point effort during that tournament stands as a class AA record in the state of Illinois. In 2007, Liberty was voted one of the "100 Legends of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament," recognizing his superior performance in his appearances in the tournament. He was considered the top senior prep player in the nation by Sports Illustrated.
Liberty played collegiately at the University of Illinois, and was a member of the team that advanced to the 1989 NCAA Final Four. That Fighting Illini team gained the moniker "Flyin' Illini" by Dick Vitale while broadcasting a game during the 1988-89 season. Along with Liberty, the other members of that team included Nick Anderson, Kendall Gill, Stephen Bardo, Kenny Battle, and Lowell Hamilton. He was then selected by the Denver Nuggets in the 2nd round (42nd overall) of the 1990 NBA Draft. A 6'8" (2.03 m) and 205 lb (93 kg) small forward, Liberty played for the Nuggets and Detroit Pistons in 4 NBA seasons. His best year as a pro was during the 1991-92 NBA season when he appeared in 75 games for the Nuggets, averaging 9.3 ppg.
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Mark Hendrickson
Mark Allan Hendrickson (born June 23, 1974) is an American baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. Hendrickson is also a former professional basketball player who played as power forward in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Continental Basketball Association (CBA) for four years before becoming a full-time baseball player. He is one of just 12 athletes to play in both MLB and the NBA.
Hendrickson is notable for his size, at 6' 9". The only players in Major League Baseball as of 2010 who are taller than Hendrickson are Jon Rauch, at 6'11", and Chris Young, at 6'10". Hendrickson is a groundball pitcher, with a fastball in the high 80s and a decent 12–6 curveball. Hendrickson also has a 10–4 slider, but his slider only reaches the high 70s to low 80s. Thus, when Hendrickson has success, it is due to control, movement, and location and not power.
Hendrickson was a three-sport standout in tennis, basketball, and baseball at Mount Vernon High School in the state of Washington. During his sophomore year, he was a member of the state championship baseball team and the runner-up state basketball team. He was a member of the state championship basketball team during his junior year, where he earned recognition as the co-MVP of the tournament for his play. He was also named team captain, team MVP, and named to the All-Area and All-State teams. A tennis state qualifier, Hendrickson was also named to the baseball All-Area team.
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Mark Pope
Mark Edward Pope (born September 11, 1972 in Omaha, Nebraska) is a American basketball coach and is currently an assistant coach for Brigham Young University. A former college and professional player, he played for the national championship Kentucky Wildcats and later the Indiana Pacers, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Denver Nuggets of the NBA.
Pope was a high school star in Seattle and played two years at the University of Washington. He earned Pac-10 Freshman of the Year honors in 1992 after setting a UW freshman single-season record with 8.1 rebounds per game. He transferred to the University of Kentucky and was a member of Kentucky's 1996 NCAA Men's Basketball Champion team. Pope was a second round pick of the Pacers in the 1996 NBA Draft. The last year of his career was the 2004-05 season as he was cut in training camp with the Nuggets the following season.
Pope enrolled in medical school in 2006 at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. In 2009, he left medical school and joined the staff of Mark Fox at the University of Georgia. Fox was an assistant coach when both were at the University of Washington. The following season (2010–11), Pope moved to Wake Forest University to serve as an assistant under Jeff Bzdelik.
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Marko Jarić
Marko Jarić (Serbian Cyrillic: Марко Јарић; born October 12, 1978 in Belgrade, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia) is a Serbian professional basketball player. He is married to Brazilian model Adriana Lima.
Jarić is the only player ever to win back-to-back Italian Championships on two different teams. He won it in 2000 with Fortitudo Bologna and in 2001 with Virtus Bologna.
Jarić was selected as the 30th overall pick by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2000 NBA Draft. He was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves on August 12, 2005, along with Lionel Chalmers by the Clippers, in exchange for Sam Cassell and a future first-round draft pick. He was traded to the Grizzlies on June 26, 2008 in an eight-player deal involving rookie guard O. J. Mayo and rookie forward Kevin Love.
For the 2009–10 NBA season, Marko Jarić and the Memphis Grizzlies mutually agreed that Jarić would not attend training camp or any of the preseason games. Jarić was granted permission to seek a new team and a possible contract buyout for the remaining 2 years and $15 million of his contract. He then signed with Real Madrid on December 22, 2009. On January 14, 2011 he signed with Montepaschi Siena until the end of the 2010–11 season.
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Martin Müürsepp
Martin Müürsepp (born September 26, 1974 in Tallinn, Estonia) is an Estonian retired professional basketball player and basketball coach.
In the 1996 NBA Draft he was selected in the 1st round (25th overall) by the Utah Jazz. After the draft, Müürsepp was traded to Miami Heat for a future draft pick (no. 23 in the 2000 draft).
He has played 83 games in the NBA for Dallas Mavericks and the Heat, averaging 4.7 points, 2.2 rebounds in 11.5 minutes per game. His career highs include 24 points, 14 rebounds and 37 minutes played. He still stands as the only Estonian to have ever played basketball in the NBA.
After the NBA he spent three years playing in Greece for Aris Thessaloniki and AEK Athens. With AEK he won the 2000 Saporta Cup and the 2000 and 2001 Greek Basketball Cups.
Müürsepp became the silver medalist of the 2001–02 and 2003–04 Russian National League with UNICS Kazan and the 2002–03 with Ural Great Perm. He competed in the 2003–04 Uleb Cup with UNICS Kazan. He played with CSKA Moscow in 2004–05 before returning to UNICS Kazan. After playing for one season in Estonia, Müürsepp signed for the Australian NBL's Melbourne Tigers On August 2007. Because of an injury, he left the team mid-season, returning to Estonia. In February 2008 he signed with BC Kalev/Cramo. He was a member of the team for almost a year, but played no official games. In March 2010 Müürsepp made his comeback with BC Rakvere Tarvas in KML.
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Matt Barnes
Matt Kelly Barnes (born March 9, 1980) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association.
Barnes attended Del Campo High School in Fair Oaks, California, where he was a letterman in football and basketball. He earned All-American, All-State, All-CIF, All-City, and All-League honors in each sport.
After a college career at UCLA, Barnes was a second-round draft choice of the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2002 NBA Draft. He was then traded that summer along with Nick Anderson to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Wesley Person, but was cut that October. He has since played for the Los Angeles Clippers, the Sacramento Kings, the New York Knicks, the Philadelphia 76ers, the Golden State Warriors, the Phoenix Suns, and the Orlando Magic.
He was traded by the Kings halfway through the 2004–05 season along with Chris Webber to the 76ers, in exchange for Kenny Thomas, Corliss Williamson and Brian Skinner, though he never suited up for a game with them due to knee tendinitis. He was waived and then signed a free agent contract with the New York Knicks in the 2005 NBA offseason. He was waived by the Knicks during the 2005–06 season after playing six games. He was then claimed by the 76ers to serve a second stint in Philadelphia, where he finished out the season.
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Max Zaslofsky
Max "Slats" Zaslofsky (December 7, 1925 – October 15, 1985) was an American professional basketball player and coach.
Zaslofsky attended Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn, and St. John's University. He was Jewish.
While playing for the Chicago Stags, Zaslofsky was named All-NBA First Team 1946–47 at the age of 21. He held the distinction of being the youngest player named such for near 60 years until he was surpassed by LeBron James (2005–06). The next season, 1947-48, he led the league in scoring. At 22 years, 121 days old, he was the youngest player to lead the league in scoring until 2010, when Kevin Durant broke his mark. In 1949–50 he led the league in free throw percentage.
After the Stags broke up, Zaslofsky joined the New York Knicks. In 1956 he ended his career as 3rd leading scorer all-time (up to that point), behind George Mikan and Joe Fulks. In addition to his 1946–47 All-NBA First Team honors, Zaslofsky was named to the All-NBA First Team in 1947–48, 1948–49, and 1949–50. He also played in the 1952 NBA All-Star Game.
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Maya Moore
Maya April Moore (born June 11, 1989) is an American basketball forward for the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA and Ros Casares Valencia of Euroleague. Moore was the winner of the 2006 and 2007 Naismith Prep Player of the Year. She was selected as the John Wooden Award winner in 2009 after leading Connecticut to the undefeated national championship. The following season, Moore led Connecticut to its second straight national championship and continued its overall undefeated streak at 78; in the 2010–11 season, she led the Huskies in extending that streak to an NCAA both-gender record (all divisions) of 90. On May 18, 2011, Moore became the first female basketball player to sign with Jordan Brand.
Moore was the first overall pick in the 2011 WNBA Draft, and joined a Minnesota Lynx team that already featured all-star caliber players in Seimone Augustus and Lindsay Whalen. Moore was the third-leading scorer on the team during the regular season with 13.2 points per game, which led all rookies. Moore earned Rookie of the Year honors. Moore then helped lead her team to its first WNBA championship, the first number one draft pick to do so.
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Michael Cooper
Michael Jerome Cooper (born April 15, 1956) is an American basketball coach and retired professional player. He is the head coach of the USC Women of Troy college basketball team. He is a former player in the National Basketball Association (NBA) who spent his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers, and has coached in both the NBA and WNBA. Michael Cooper is the only person to win a championship, as either a coach or a player, in the NBA, WNBA, and the NBA Development League.[citation needed]
Born in Los Angeles, California, he attended Pasadena City College before transferring to the University of New Mexico. He played for the New Mexico Lobos for two seasons, 1976–78, and was named first team All-Western Athletic Conference. In his senior season the Lobos won the WAC title, with Cooper averaging 16.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.
Drafted out of New Mexico by the Lakers in the third round of the 1978 NBA Draft (60th overall), "Coop" became an integral part of the "Showtime" Lakers teams of the 1980s with his defensive skills. In a twelve-year career, he was named to eight NBA All Defensive Teams, including five First Teams. He won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1987. He, along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson, was a member of five Lakers championship teams in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988.
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Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963) is a retired American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. His biography on the National Basketball Association (NBA) website states, "By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time." Jordan was one of the most effectively marketed athletes of his generation and was considered instrumental in popularizing the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 1990s.
After a three-season career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a member of the Tar Heels' national championship team in 1982, Jordan joined the NBA's Chicago Bulls in 1984. He quickly emerged as a league star, entertaining crowds with his prolific scoring. His leaping ability, illustrated by performing slam dunks from the free throw line in slam dunk contests, earned him the nicknames "Air Jordan" and "His Airness". He also gained a reputation for being one of the best defensive players in basketball. In 1991, he won his first NBA championship with the Bulls, and followed that achievement with titles in 1992 and 1993, securing a "three-peat". Although Jordan abruptly retired from basketball at the beginning of the 1993–94 NBA season to pursue a career in baseball, he rejoined the Bulls in 1995 and led them to three additional championships (1996, 1997, and 1998) as well as an NBA-record 72 regular-season wins in the 1995–96 NBA season. Jordan retired for a second time in 1999, but returned for two more NBA seasons from 2001 to 2003 as a member of the Washington Wizards.
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Michael Phelps
Michael Fred Phelps (born June 30, 1985) is an American swimmer who has, overall, won 16 Olympic medals—six gold and two bronze at Athens in 2004, and eight gold at Beijing in 2008, becoming the most successful athlete at both of these Olympic Games editions. In doing so he has twice equaled the record eight medals of any type at a single Olympics achieved by Soviet gymnast Alexander Dityatin at the 1980 Moscow Summer Games. His five gold medals in individual events tied the single Games record set by compatriot Eric Heiden in the 1980 Winter Olympics and equaled by Vitaly Scherbo at the 1992 Summer Games. Phelps holds the record for the most gold medals won in a single Olympics; his eight at the 2008 Beijing Games surpassed American swimmer Mark Spitz's seven-gold performance at Munich in 1972. Phelps' Olympic medal total is second only to the 18 Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina won over three Olympics, including nine gold. Phelps also holds the all-time record for most gold Olympic medals, at 14.
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Michelle Marciniak
Michelle Marciniak (born October 29, 1973 in Macungie, Pennsylvania) is a former All American collegiate and professional basketball player, who played point guard in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). As a floor general, Marciniak competed for two National Championships during her three year career at the University of Tennessee. Michelle led the Tennessee Lady Vols to their 4th National Championship and was named MVP in the 1996 Final Four held in Charlotte, NC. She was most recently the recruiting coordinator/assistant coach of the women's basketball team at the University of South Carolina from 2003-2008. Marciniak was responsible for two back to back top recruiting classes, rated #18 in 2007 and #7 in 2008, the highest ranked class ever recruited at South Carolina.
Marciniak participated on the USA team as part of the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada. The team went 4–3 and earned a bronze medal.
Marciniak is currently the co-founder and co-CEO of SHEEX, Inc., a bed linen company specializing in sheets and pillowcases constructed from advanced athletic-performance fabrics.
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Mike Krzyzewski
Michael William "Mike" Krzyzewski ( /ʃəˈʃɛvski/ shə-SHEV-ski; Polish: Krzyżewski [kʂɨˈʐɛ(f)ski]; nicknamed "Coach K"; born February 13, 1947) is an American basketball coach and former player. Since 1980, he has served as the head men's basketball coach at Duke University. At Duke, Krzyzewski has led the Blue Devils to four NCAA Championships, 11 Final Fours, 12 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) regular season titles, and 13 ACC Tournament championships. Krzyzewski is also the coach of the United States men's national basketball team, whom he led to a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2010 FIBA World Championship. He was an assistant coach on the 1992 "Dream Team".
From 1975 to 1980, Krzyzewski was the head basketball coach at the United States Military Academy, where he played from 1966 to 1969 under Bob Knight. Krzyzewski has amassed a record 79 NCAA tournament victories, while averaging 25 wins per season. He was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame following the 2001 season. On November 15, 2011, Krzyzewski led Duke to a 74–69 victory over Michigan State at Madison Square Garden to become the winningest coach in NCAA Division I men's basketball history. Krzyzewski's 903rd victory surpassed the previous record of 902, held by his former coach, Bob Knight.
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Mike Penberthy
Mike Penberthy (born November 29, 1974) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Slam of the ABA. A 6'3" (1.90 m) point guard from The Master's College, Penberthy was not drafted by an NBA team but did manage to play for the Los Angeles Lakers for two years (2000-01 to 2001–02). Penberthy was part of their 2000–01 championship team.
Born in Los Gatos, California, Penberthy graduated from Herbert Hoover High School at Fresno, California in 1993. He played college basketball for The Master's College in Santa Clarita, California, where he played with distinction, broke numerous school records (including most career points), and was later a charter member of the college for the 2003-2004 season. He graduated from The Master's College in 1997 with a B.A. degree in biblical studies.
Penberthy tried out for the Indiana Pacers and tore his right hamstring; he took three months off and joined the Continental Basketball Association team Idaho Stampede, which drafted him from college. The Stampede cut Pemberthy, who said he "hated" playing there, and he transferred to the German team Hamburg Tigers.
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Mitch Kupchak
Mitchell "Mitch" Kupchak (born May 24, 1954) is a retired American basketball player and current general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers since the 2000–01 NBA season after predecessor Jerry West moved to the Memphis Grizzlies organization.
Kupchak played for Brentwood High School, Brentwood, Long Island, NY, and was instrumental in Brentwood's Division Titles from 1970-72.
Kupchak was an All-American on the North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team. Kupchak played on the gold medal winning team at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.
Kupchak was drafted by the Washington Bullets in 1976 and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team. He had four productive seasons with Washington and was part of the team that won the NBA Championship in 1978. He signed a long term contract with the Lakers in 1981 on the behest of Earvin "Magic" Johnson, who told owner Jerry Buss, "If we could get Mitch Kupchak, I know we could win," after the team's playoff upset. Unfortunately, 26 games into the season, Kupchak injured his knee and did not play again until the 1983-84 season. However, Kupchak played a key role in the Lakers' 1985 championship team against the Boston Celtics, who had intimidated them in the prior year's Finals. Kupchak retired after the 1985-86 season, having played 510 regular season and 68 playoff games, with regular season averages of 10.2 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game (7.7 points per game and 4.7 rebounds per game in the playoffs).
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Mitch Richmond
Mitchell James "Mitch" Richmond (born June 30, 1965 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida) is a retired American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played collegiately at Kansas State University. He was a 6-time NBA All-Star, a 5-time All-NBA Team member and a former NBA Rookie of the Year. In 976 NBA games, Richmond averaged 21.0 points per game and 3.5 assists per game. His nicknames include "The Rock." #2 has been retired in his honor by the Sacramento Kings, for whom he played seven seasons. He was on the cover of video game NBA Live 97. Richmond is now a scout for the Golden State Warriors, for whom he played from 1988 to 1991.
Richmond was drafted 5th overall in the 1988 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors, following two years at Kansas State, where he averaged 20 points per game, and two years at Moberly Junior College in Missouri.
Richmond captured the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in the 1988–89 season, after averaging 22 points per game for the Warriors. He was a key part of Don Nelson's fast-paced offense, which was dubbed "Run TMC" after the first names of its three main components, Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin, respectively. The trio were named after the influential rap group Run DMC. In addition to the shooting he provided, he complemented Hardaway's passing and fast break skills and Mullin's shooting skills by slashing to the hoop as part of the Warriors' attack.
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Moses Malone
Moses Eugene Malone (born March 23, 1955 in Petersburg, Virginia) is a retired American Hall of Fame basketball player who starred in both the American Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association. A three-time NBA MVP and one of the NBA's 50 greatest players, Malone was the most successful prep-to-pro player of his era, going straight from Petersburg High to a 21-year career in professional basketball. By the time Malone retired after 19 seasons in the NBA he was the last former ABA player active and held numerous distinctions in both leagues, including a championship ring and NBA finals trophy won with the 1983 Philadelphia 76ers.
Right after graduating from Petersburg High School, Malone signed a letter of intent to play for the University of Maryland. However, Malone was drafted by the ABA's Utah Stars in 1974 and became one of the first basketball players to jump straight from high school into the professional leagues.
Malone began his professional career with the Utah Stars. He later played for the ABA's Spirits of St. Louis. In two seasons in the ABA, Malone averaged 17.2 points and 12.9 rebounds per game. Malone's ABA career ended with the ABA–NBA merger in June 1976, when Malone moved to the NBA.
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Mychal Thompson
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.
Thompson was born in Nassau, in the Bahamas, but moved to the United States as a youth, playing high school basketball at Miami Jackson High School (1974) in Miami, Florida. He then attended the University of Minnesota where he had a standout collegiate 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.[citation needed]
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.
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Nate Archibald
Nathaniel "Tiny" Archibald (born September 2, 1948, New York City) is a retired American professional basketball player. He spent 14 years playing in the NBA, most notably with the Kansas City Kings and Boston Celtics.
Archibald was a willing passer and an adequate shooter from midrange. However, it was his quickness and speed and shiftiness that made him difficult to guard in the open court, as he would regularly drive past defenders on his way to the basket.
Archibald, a playground legend while growing up in a rough-and-tumble neighborhood in the South Bronx, New York City, only played high school basketball for one-and-a-half seasons, and was cut from the varsity squad at DeWitt Clinton High School as a sophomore. He returned to the team as a junior. During his time without basketball, Archibald briefly flirted with dropping out of school after having been largely truant in past years. But with the help of two mentors, Floyd Layne and Pablo Robertson, Archibald turned it around. Robertson, a former standout at Loyola of Chicago and a Harlem, NY, playground impressario, had seen the gifted, mercurial Archibald in action on the playgrounds and convinced the young man's high school coach to re-instate him on the squad. Despite only playing in blowouts as a junior, the shy, quiet teen managed to blossom into a high-school star, being named team captain and an All-City selection in 1966. Off the court, Archibald began to attend school regularly and worked to improve his poor academic standing, which deterred most colleges from offering him a scholarship. To improve his chances of playing major college basketball, Archibald enrolled at Arizona Western College, transferring to the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) the following year. He had three standout seasons at El Paso, from 1967 to 1970 under the legendary coach Don Haskins.
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Nate Robinson
Nathaniel Cornelius Robinson (born May 31, 1984) is an American professional basketball player who is currently with the Golden State Warriors. Robinson is listed at 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m).
Born in Seattle, Robinson played college basketball at the University of Washington in Seattle and was the 21st pick in the 2005 NBA Draft. In his professional career, Robinson has been a point guard for the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder and now the Golden State Warriors. Robinson is the NBA's first three-time slam dunk champion.
Robinson spent his first 2 years of high school at Rainier Beach High School in Seattle. He moved to Union City, California, where he played for James Logan High School for one year, and then returned to Rainier Beach. At Beach, he excelled in basketball, football, and track. He led his basketball team to a 28–1 record and won the AAA state championship as a senior with University of Louisville star Terrence Williams, USC alumnus Lodrick Stewart, and former University of Kansas player Rodrick Stewart. He averaged 17.9 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals per game as a senior in 2002, and was named the AAA State player of the year in Washington. He led his team to a no. 7 national ranking in USA Today, and was one of the 100 finalists for the McDonald's High School All-America team.[citation needed] Rainier Beach retired Robinson's No. 2 jersey on September 10, 2010.
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Neil Johnston
Donald Neil Johnston (February 4, 1929 – September 28, 1978) was an American Hall of Fame basketball player at the center position who played 8 years in the NBA from 1951 to 1959.
He led the NBA in scoring for three consecutive seasons: 1952-53, 1953–54, and 1954-55. During the 1954-55 season, he also won the league's rebounding title. Johnston played his entire career with the Philadelphia Warriors, playing on their championship team in 1956. He played in six NBA All-Star Games, was an All-NBA First Team selection four times, and was an All-NBA Second Team selection once.
During his career, the 6 foot 8 inch Johnston was well known for his right-handed hook shot, which contributed to his leading the league in field goal shooting three times. Johnston was forced to retire after a serious knee injury in the 1958-59 season.
After his playing career, he coached the Warriors to a 95-59 winning record for the first two seasons of Wilt Chamberlain's NBA career.
Johnston also coached the Pittsburgh Rens, with Connie Hawkins, of the American Basketball League.
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Nick Van Exel
Nickey Maxwell "Nick" Van Exel (born November 27, 1971 in Kenosha, Wisconsin) is a retired American professional basketball player and currently an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks. Van Exel, a 6'1" (1.85 m) and 170 lb (77 kg) left-handed point guard, was most well known for his flashy style of play and his ability to hit critical shots during games.
Van Exel attended St. Joseph High School, a private high school in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He played from 1987-’89, scored 1,282 points, including 772 as a senior. He led the WISAA (private schools) state tournament in scoring as a junior and senior when his team lost in the finals both years. He was named to the Associated Press all-state team as a senior.
Van Exel played his college basketball at Trinity Valley Community College and the University of Cincinnati.
In his senior year, Van Exel led the University of Cincinnati Bearcats in points (18.3 ppg) and assists (4.5 apg). He earned Third Team All-America honors (AP, Basketball Times and Basketball Weekly) and was a finalist for the Wooden Award as a senior. In only two seasons he became Cincinnati's all-time leader in three-point field goals made (147), attempted (411) and percentage (.358). These records have since been surpassed.
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Nicole Kaczmarski
Nicole Kaczmarski (born April 30, 1981) is a former professional basketball player. A standout player in high school, she received a Gatorade Player of the Year award, was named Miss New York Basketball and earned a spot on the 1999 USA Today All-USA high school basketball team. Heavily recruited by colleges, Kaczmarski eventually enrolled at UCLA, but took time off during her sophomore year to deal with health issues and personal problems. She then transferred to the University of Georgia, but left the school before the team’s first practice.
Kaczmarski then left college basketball altogether and enrolled at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Afterward, she had brief stints with two WNBA teams, the New York Liberty and the Los Angeles Sparks. In 2011, she became an analyst for the television network MSG Varsity.
Kaczmarski’s high school career and college recruitment were chronicled in the documentary film Running Down a Dream.
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Nikki Teasley
Nikki Teasley (born March 22, 1979 in Washington, D.C.) is a basketball player in the WNBA.
She played college basketball at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
In the 2002 WNBA Draft, Teasley was selected as the #5 overall pick by the Portland Fire. But shortly afterwards, she was traded with Sophia Witherspoon to the Los Angeles Sparks for Ukari Figgs and second-round pick Gergana Slavtcheva.
Teasley helped the Sparks win their second consecutive title by hitting a series-winning three-pointer in the final seconds.
On March 24, 2008, Teasley was waived by the Washington Mystics.
The Atlanta Dream signed Teasley in 2008 and she suited up for the 2009 season. Teasley was then waived for Ivory Latta.
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Nneka Ogwumike
Nnemkadi "Nneka" Ogwumike (born July 2, 1990) is an American basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA, after being drafted #1 overall. She is 6'2" and plays power forward. Her website, http://www.NnemkadiOgwumike.com - links to her twitter page. She attended Cypress Fairbanks High School in Cypress, Texas and led them to a 5A State Championship in her senior season., as well as playing in four Final Fours with Stanford University.
Ogwumike was named a WBCA All-American. She participated in the 2007 WBCA High School All-America Game, where she scored 17 points, and earned MVP honors for the White team.
Ogwumike chose Stanford over Baylor, Duke, Connecticut, Tennessee and Notre Dame. She was a member of USA Under 18 Team that won gold in Argentina on July 23–27, 2008. Nneka tallied 20 points and 15 rebounds in the championship game of the Under-18 FIBA Americas. She led team USA to a 5-0 record while leading the team in scoring and rebounding. She was named MVP of this tournament in Argentina.
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Oscar Robertson
Oscar Palmer Robertson (born November 24, 1938 in Charlotte, Tennessee), nicknamed "The Big O", is a former American National Basketball Association player with the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Robertson played the shooting guard/point guard position, and was a twelve-time All-Star, eleven-time member of the All-NBA Team, and one-time winner of the MVP award in fourteen professional seasons. He is the only player in NBA history to average a triple-double for a season. He was a key player on the team which brought the Bucks their only NBA title in the 1970-71 NBA season. His playing career, especially during high school and college, was plagued by racism.
For his outstanding achievements, Robertson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980, and was voted one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996. The United States Basketball Writers Association renamed their college Player of the Year Award the Oscar Robertson Trophy in his honor in 1998, and he was one of five people chosen to represent the inaugural National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame class in 2006.
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Othella Harrington
Othella Harrington (born January 31, 1974) is a retired American professional basketball player and current assistant coach for the Georgetown University men's basketball team. After he finished his high school career at Murrah High School, he played in college at Georgetown University where he teamed with NBA superstar Allen Iverson. Harrington was drafted 30th overall (1st pick of the second round) in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets. In 2011, Harrington was hired as an assistant coach at his alma mater Georgetown.
Playing at basketball powerhouse Murrah, Harrington was ranked number one or two (depending on the publication), along with Jason Kidd, as the best player in the nation. In his senior year, he averaged 28.9 points, 24.9 rebounds, and 5.8 blocked shots a game. After winning Mr. Basketball in the state of Mississippi for the second consecutive year and being named first team All-American by both Parade and USA Today, Harrington was selected MVP of the 1992 McDonald's All American game as he set a game record with 21 rebounds to go along with 19 points.
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Pat Riley
Patrick James "Pat" Riley (born March 20, 1945) is an American professional basketball executive, and a former coach and player in the NBA. Currently, he is team president of the Miami Heat. Widely regarded as one of the greatest NBA coaches of all time, Riley has served as the head coach of five championship teams and an assistant coach to another. He most recently won the 2006 NBA Championship with the Miami Heat. Prior to his tenure in Miami, he served as head coach for the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks. He was named NBA Coach of the Year three times (1989–90, 1992–93 and 1996–97, as head coach of the Lakers, Knicks and Heat, respectively). He was head coach of the NBA All-Star Game teams nine times: eight of the Western team (1982, 1983, 1985–1990, all as head coach of the Lakers) and once of the Eastern team (1993, as head coach of the Knicks). In 1996 he was named one of the 10 Greatest Coaches in the NBA history. As a player, he played for the Los Angeles Lakers' championship team in 1972, bringing his personal total to seven NBA titles.
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Patrick Soon-Shiong
Patrick Soon-Shiong' (黄馨祥 b. 1952) is a South African-born American surgeon, medical researcher, businessman and philanthropist. He is currently Chairman of the Chan Soon-Shiong Family Foundation and Chairman and CEO of the Chan Soon-Shiong Institute for Advanced Health, National LambdaRail, the Healthcare Transformation Institute and NantWorks, LLC. He is minority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers and ranked by Forbes as the wealthiest American in the healthcare industry.
Dr. Soon-Shiong was born in South Africa to Chinese immigrant parents, who fled from China during World War II. He graduated from high school at age 16 and received his medical degree at age 23 from the University of Witwatersrand, finishing fourth out of 189. After finishing his internship at Johannesburg’s General Hospital, Dr. Soon-Shiong earned a Master of Science degree from the University of British Columbia, where he was the first resident to receive multiple research awards simultaneously from the American College of Surgeons, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and the American Association of Academic Surgery. He then moved to the United States where he initiated his surgical training at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), became a board-certified surgeon. Dr Soon-Shiong is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (Canada) and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
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Pau Gasol
Pau Gasol i Sáez (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈpaw ɡəˈzɔɫ]) (born July 6, 1980) is a Spanish professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was born to Marisa Sáez and Agustí Gasol, and he spent his childhood in Spain. Gasol was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2001 NBA Draft, but his rights were traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, with whom he won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. He currently holds the Memphis Grizzlies franchise records for career games played, minutes played, field goals made and attempted, free throws made and attempted, offensive, defensive, and total rebounds, blocked shots, turnovers, and points. After seven seasons with the team, Gasol was traded to the Lakers on February 1, 2008. His younger brother, Marc Gasol, who was involved in that trade, is also a professional basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA.
Pau Gasol was born in Barcelona. He began playing basketball with his school team called Alvirne, and he eventually signed with Cornellà. When he was sixteen, he began playing for Barcelona's junior team. He also won both the 1998 Albert Schweitzer Tournament and the 1998 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship. After moving to the senior team of Barcelona, Gasol played just 25 total minutes in the Spanish ACB League 1998–99 season, and averaged 13.7 minutes per game in the ACB the next year. However, in his final season in the ACB, Gasol averaged 12.4 points and 5.8 rebounds in 24.7 minutes per game. Barcelona was victorious in the Spanish National Cup championship game in 2001, and Gasol was named Most Valuable Player. After entering the NBA Draft, Gasol was selected third overall in the first round in the 2001 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks, who traded his draft rights to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Shareef Abdur-Rahim.
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Paul Arizin
Paul Joseph Arizin (April 9, 1928 – December 12, 2006), nicknamed "Pitchin' Paul," was an American basketball player who spent his entire National Basketball Association career with the Philadelphia Warriors from 1950 to 1962. He retired with the third highest career point total (16,266) in NBA history, and was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History upon its 50th anniversary in 1996. He was a high-scoring forward at Villanova University before being drafted by the Warriors of the fledgling NBA.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Arizin did not play basketball at La Salle College High School, failing to make the team in his only tryout as a senior. Arizin graduated just a year before another NBA hall of famer, Tom Gola, entered La Salle College High School as a freshman.
During his freshmen year at Villanova, Arizin played CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) basketball in Philadelphia. Late in that season, Al Severance, the then Villanova varsity basketball coach, attended one of Arizin's CYO games. Afterwards, Severance approached Arizin and asked, "How would you like to go to Villanova?" His answer: "I go to Villanova."
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Paul Pierce
Paul Anthony Pierce (born October 13, 1977), nicknamed The Truth, is an American professional basketball forward with the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Pierce was a high school McDonald's All-American and earned First Team All-America honors in his junior year at Kansas. Pierce has been a starter every season since being selected by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft. He is a ten-time All-Star and four-time All-NBA team selection, and also led Boston to the NBA Finals in 2008 and 2010, winning the 2008 NBA Finals. He was named the 2008 NBA Finals MVP in his first trip to the NBA Finals. Pierce also is one of only three Celtics, alongside Larry Bird and John Havlicek, who have scored over 20,000 points in their career with the Celtics alone. He holds the Celtics' record for most three-point field goals made. He also ranks third in team history in games played, second in points scored, seventh in total rebounds, fifth in total assists, and second in total steals. His nickname "The Truth" was given to him by Shaquille O'Neal on March 15, 2001.
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Peja Stojaković
Predrag Stojaković (Serbian Cyrillic: Предраг Стојаковић, Serbo-Croatian pronunciation: [predraːg stojaːkoʋitɕ]; born June 9, 1977), also known by his nickname Peja (Пеђа), is a Serbian former professional basketball player who last played for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing at 6 ft 10 (2.08 m), Stojaković played the small forward position. Known for his shooting abilities, he was the winner of the NBA All-Star Weekend Three-Point Shootout twice, and the first European-born player to win one of the All-Star Weekend competitions. Stojaković is sixth all-time in regular season three-point field goals made in the NBA.
After playing for KK Crvena zvezda and PAOK BC basketball club, Stojaković was drafted fourteenth overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 1996 NBA Draft. After two seasons on the bench, he had a breakthrough season in 2000–01, averaging 20.4 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting .400 from three-point range in his first season as a starter. He finished second in voting for the 2001 Most Improved Player Award. A three-time All-star and a member of 2004 All-NBA Second Team, Stojaković enjoyed success with the Kings reaching 2002 Western Conference Finals. He also played for the Indiana Pacers, New Orleans Hornets and Toronto Raptors. Stojaković won an NBA Championship in 2011 as a member of the Dallas Mavericks.
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Pete Maravich
Peter "Pistol Pete" Press Maravich (June 22, 1947 – January 5, 1988) was an American professional basketball player. Born and raised in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Maravich starred in college at Louisiana State University (LSU) and played for three NBA teams until injuries induced him to retire in 1980. He is still the all-time leading NCAA Division I scorer with 3,667 points scored and an average of 44.2 points per game. (All of his accomplishments were achieved before the three-point line was introduced to NCAA basketball, and despite being unable to play varsity as a freshman under then-NCAA rules.) Maravich died suddenly at age 40 during a pick-up game as a consequence of a previously undetected congenital heart defect. One of the youngest players ever inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Maravich was cited by the Hall as "perhaps the greatest creative offensive talent in history". In an April 2010 interview, Hall of Fame player John Havlicek said "the best ball-handler of all time was (Pete) Maravich."
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Priest Lauderdale
Priest Lauderdale (born August 31, 1973 in Chicago, Illinois) is a naturalized Bulgarian professional basketball player who grew up in the United States.
A 7' 4", 325 lb center, Lauderdale was selected 28th overall in the 1996 National Basketball Association Draft by the Atlanta Hawks, after playing collegiately at Central State University and professionally in the Greek League for Peristeri Nikas. He also attended Kaskaskia College in Centralia, Illinois but did not play basketball there competitively.
He concluded his brief NBA career with the Denver Nuggets, in 1997–1998.
After 2001 he played professionally in Bulgaria for Lukoil Academic, and received Bulgarian citizenship three years later.
Lauderdale is represented by Gary Ebert in his career as a basketball player.
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Quin Snyder
Quin Snyder (born October 30, 1966) is currently an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA. Snyder, was formerly in charge of player development for the 76ers and accepted the role in June 2010 after coaching the NBDL's Austin Toros for three seasons. Snyder was the head coach of the Toros from 2007–2010; the head coach at the University of Missouri from 1999–2006; an assistant coach at his alma mater, Duke under Mike Krzyzewski from 1993–1999; and an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Clippers under Larry Brown from 1992-1993.
Snyder attended Mercer Island High School in the state of Washington. His high school basketball team was coached by the winningest coach in Washington state history, Ed Pepple. A two-time state player of the year, Snyder led the team to the 1985 state championship. During this time Mercer Island achieved a No. 1 ranking in USA Today's high school polls. Snyder was named a McDonald's All American player, being the first chosen from the state of Washington.
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Ralph Sampson
Ralph Lee Sampson, Jr. (born July 7, 1960) is a retired American college and professional basketball player.
A 7-foot-4 phenom, three-time College Player of the Year, and No. 1 pick in the 1983 NBA Draft, Sampson brought heavy expectations with him to the NBA.
The NBA Rookie of the Year, Sampson averaged 20.7 points and 10.9 rebounds for his first three seasons with the Houston Rockets before injuries began to take their toll. Three knee surgeries later he retired a four-time All-Star whose career highlight ended up being a buzzer-beating shot to dethrone the Los Angeles Lakers as Western Conference champions, derailing their hopes for coveted back-to-back NBA titles and sending the Rockets to their second NBA Finals in the team's history to that point.
Sampson was already 6-foot-7 inches tall by the ninth grade, reaching 7-foot-3 in high school in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He averaged nearly 30 points, 19 rebounds, and 7 blocked shots as a senior (after averaging 14 points and 11 rebounds as a sophomore, and 19 points and 17 rebounds as a junior), at Harrisonburg High, leading the team to state AA basketball championships in 1978 and 1979. His senior year he lost the high school player of the year award to another talented center, Sam Bowie. However, he did get a form of revenge against Bowie, outplaying him in the Capital Classic, getting 23 points and 21 rebounds with 4 blocks in a game styled "Battle of the Giants".
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Ramon Sessions
Ramon Sessions (born April 11, 1986) is an American professional basketball player for the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers. He was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 56th pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. Sessions played collegiately at the University of Nevada for three years. Sessions ranks second in career assists at Nevada with 478. In Sessions' final season at Nevada he averaged 12.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 0.9 steals per game.
Although some[who?] felt Sessions should have returned for his senior year at Nevada, he put on a very strong performance at the NBA pre-draft camp in Orlando and decided to stay in the draft. He was considered by scouts to be a very good ballhandler, passer, and decision-maker, although his athleticism and NBA-scoring ability were questioned.
Sessions was the first NBA player to be assigned to the NBA Development League in the 2007–08 season, when he was sent by the Bucks to the Tulsa 66ers; Sessions was named D-League Performer of the Week for the opening weekend of the season, November 26, 2007, averaging 30.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists. Later in the season, for January 28, 2008, he was also named Performer of the Week, becoming the first two-time performer for the season. He averaged 29.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 12.3 assists in three wins for the 66ers.
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Randy Livingston
Randy Livingston (born April 2, 1975 in New Orleans, Louisiana) is a former American professional basketball player who last played point guard for the NBA Development League's Idaho Stampede. He stands 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) and weighs 209 lb (95 kg). Since 2010 he has been the head coach for the Idaho Stampede.
Livingston attended New Orleans' Isidore Newman School along with standout quarterback Peyton Manning, where he was named the High School co-player of the year in 1992 (with Jason Kidd) and 1993 (with Rasheed Wallace). Livingston also played in the McDonald's All-American Game and Magic's Roundball Classic.
After high school, Livingston attended Louisiana State University but only appeared in 32 games over two seasons because of knee problems. He was drafted by the Houston Rockets in the second round (42nd overall) of the 1996 NBA Draft, being signed as a free agent by the Atlanta Hawks in his second year. He played for the Phoenix Suns during the 1999 season and, miraculously (as this situation never occurred again for Livingston in the NBA), he repeated with them next season, playing his most consistent season so far (79 games, 14 mpg, 4.8 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game).
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Rasheed Wallace
Rasheed Abdul Wallace (born September 17, 1974) is a retired American professional basketball power forward and center who played from 1995 to 2010 in the National Basketball Association (NBA). A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he played college basketball at the University of North Carolina before joining the NBA.
Originally selected by the Washington Bullets (now the Washington Wizards) as the fourth pick in the 1995 NBA Draft, Wallace was named to the All-Rookie second team following his first season. He was then traded to the Portland Trail Blazers after the season. With Portland he was a key member of the Blazers team that made it to the Western Conference Finals in 1999 and 2000, and was an NBA All-Star in 2000 and 2001. Wallace averaged a career best 19.4 points per game in 2002 for the Blazers.
During the 2003–04 season Portland traded him to the Atlanta Hawks where he played one game before he was traded to the Detroit Pistons. With the Pistons he won the NBA championship in 2004 and lost the NBA Finals the following season, and individually he was an All-Star in 2006 and 2008. After the 2008–09 season he left Detroit as a free agent and signed with the Boston Celtics.
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Ray Allen
Walter Ray Allen (born July 20, 1975) is an American professional basketball player who is currently playing for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. He has played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, and the Boston Celtics; and collegiately for the University of Connecticut Huskies. One of the most accurate 3-point and free throw shooters in NBA history, he is a ten-time NBA All-Star and won an Olympic gold medal as a member of the 2000 United States Men's Basketball Team. Allen has acted in two films, including a lead role in the 1998 Spike Lee film He Got Game. On 02011-02-10February 10, 2011, Allen became the NBA's all-time leader in regular season 3-point field goals made, surpassing Reggie Miller's mark of 2,560. On 02011-03-11March 11, 2011, Allen surpassed Miller's career total of 6,486 3-point field goal attempts.
The third of five children, Ray Allen was born at Castle Air Force Base near Merced, California, the son of Flora and Walter Allen. A military child, he spent time growing up in Saxmundham in England, Altus in Oklahoma, Edwards Air Force Base in California, and Germany. He attended high school in Dalzell, South Carolina, where he led Hillcrest High School to a basketball state championship.
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Raymond Felton
Raymond Bernard Felton, Jr. (born June 26, 1984 in Marion, South Carolina) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A point guard, Felton is listed at 6'1 and 205 lbs. Felton played college basketball for the North Carolina under head coach Roy Williams. At North Carolina, Felton led the Tar Heels to a national championship before declaring for the NBA Draft. Felton was drafted 5th overall in the 2005 NBA Draft. Over his career, Felton has been a member of the Charlotte Bobcats, New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, and Portland Trail Blazers.
Felton began his basketball career at Latta High School in Latta, South Carolina. There he led his high school to two state championships and a career record of 104–9. In the process, he set state scoring records with 2,992 points and 117 3 pointers.
Felton won the South Carolina Mr. Basketball award as both a junior and senior, and was named Naismith Prep Player of the Year in 2002. He was MVP of the 2002 Roundball Classic at the United Center in Chicago, and was named to the 2002 McDonald's All-American Team. Felton played in the McDonald's All-American game with two future Tar Heel teammates, Sean May and Rashad McCants.
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Reggie Geary
Reggie Elliot Geary (born August 31, 1973, in Trenton, New Jersey) is a retired American professional basketball guard for the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers (1996–97) and San Antonio Spurs (1997–98). As of 2011 he is coaching in Japan's professional basketball league.
He played college basketball at the University of Arizona under head coach Lute Olson. As a player at Arizona, the Wildcats had a 104-23 (.819) record, two Pac-10 Conference championships, and an appearance in the 1994 Final Four. He remains Arizona's fourth all-time steals leader (208) and sixth all-time leader in assists (560). Aside from his NBA career, Geary played two seasons in the Continental Basketball Association (1998 to 2000), and in Israel, Portugal, France and the Ukraine.
In 2005, Geary became recruiting and basketball operations coordinator at Arizona, working under Lute Olson. He then became head coach of the NBA D-League's Anaheim Arsenal for 18 months, before returning to Olson's staff as an assistant coach in 2008. From 2009 to 2011, Geary was an assistant coach at Southern Methodist University under head coach Matt Doherty.
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Reggie Miller
Reginald Wayne "Reggie" Miller (born August 24, 1965) is a retired American professional basketball player who played his entire 18-year National Basketball Association (NBA) career with the Indiana Pacers. Miller was known for his precision three-point shooting, especially in clutch situations and most notably against the New York Knicks for which he earned the nickname "Knick Killer". When he retired, he held the record for most career 3-point field goals made. He is currently second on the list behind Ray Allen. A five-time All-Star selection, he led the league in free throw accuracy five times and won a gold medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Miller is one of five Pacers to have his jersey (#31) retired by the team (the others are Roger Brown, Mel Daniels, Bobby "Slick" Leonard and George McGinnis). Miller was also selected for the Pacers' 40th anniversary team in 2007. Currently, he works as an NBA commentator for TNT. Miller has been announced as a 2012 inductee of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and will formally enter the Hall on September 7.
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Rick Barry
Richard Francis Dennis Barry III (born March 28, 1944), better known as Rick Barry, is a retired American professional basketball player. He is considered by many veteran basketball observers[who?] to be one of the greatest pure small forwards of all time as a result of his very precise outside shot, uncanny court vision, knowledge and execution of team defense principles, tenacious and ofttimes demanding will to win, and unorthodox but accurate underhanded free throw shooting. Barry is one of the few elite players who altered their games without losing effectiveness; he broke into the professional ranks as a rebounder and all-purpose scorer before he became a primary ball distributor and lethal perimeter threat.
Named one of the 50 Greatest Players in history by the NBA in 1996, Barry is the only player to lead the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), ABA and NBA in scoring for an individual season. In 1987, Barry was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
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Robert Horry
Robert Keith Horry Jr. ( /ˈɒri/; born August 25, 1970) is a retired American basketball player and current sports commentator. He played 16 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), winning seven championships, the most of any player not to have played on the 1960s Boston Celtics. He is one of only two players (the other is John Salley) to have won NBA championships with three different teams: two with the Houston Rockets, three with the Los Angeles Lakers and two with the San Antonio Spurs. He earned the nickname Big Shot Rob because of his clutch shooting in important games. Horry now works as a commentator on ESPN.
Born in Harford County, Maryland to Staff Sergeant Robert Horry Sr. and mother Leila, Horry grew up in Andalusia, Alabama. Although Horry's father moved to South Carolina after divorcing his mother soon after his birth, the father and son would meet weekly when Robert Sr. was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia.
As a senior at Andalusia High School, Horry won the Naismith Alabama High School Player of the Year award. He attended the University of Alabama on a basketball scholarship, where he was a teammate of fellow future NBA player Latrell Sprewell.
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Ron Harper
Ronald "Ron" Harper (born January 20, 1964) is a retired American professional basketball player whose career spanned from 1986 to 2001 with four teams in the NBA. At 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m), his position was shooting guard/point guard.
Harper starred at Miami University in Ohio, where his high flying playing style drew rousing comparisons to Julius Erving. Harper averaged 24.3 points per game, 11.2 rebounds per game, 3.2 steals per game, and 2.4 blocked shots per game.
After Harper's collegiate basketball career he was selected 8th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1986 NBA Draft. He averaged 22.9 points per game in his rookie season, placing second in Rookie of the Year balloting, finishing behind Chuck Person of the Indiana Pacers. After initially spending 3 seasons with the Cavaliers, Harper was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers for Danny Ferry.
While with the Clippers, Harper sustained a knee injury which robbed him of much of his speed and jumping ability, though he averaged just under 2 steals per game which still remains a team record.
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Ron Mercer
Ronald (Ron) Eugene Mercer (born May 18, 1976) is an American former professional basketball player. After his career at the University of Kentucky, Mercer played for several teams in the National Basketball Association; he ended his career with the New Jersey Nets in 2005.
Ron Mercer was twice named "Mr. Basketball" of Tennessee while at Goodpasture Christian School in Madison, Tennessee. He then transferred to Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia, and was rated by Bob Gibbons to be the best prep player of the class of 1995, over Kevin Garnett, Vince Carter, Antwan Jamison and Stephon Marbury.
Mercer had a very successful collegiate career, having been an All-American and all-Southeastern Conference player at Kentucky, and part of a national championship team in his freshman year. He was selected with the 6th overall pick of the 1997 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics and was reunited with fellow Kentucky teammate Antoine Walker, and Rick Pitino, his coach at Kentucky who had just become the coach of the Celtics. Prior to Mercer's drafting, Pitino was recorded as saying that he did not envisage Mercer as having the necessary talent to be selected very high. Some felt this was just a ploy to scare the other teams away from him so as to increase the likelihood of Mercer being available by the time the Celtics got an opportunity to make their draft selection.
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Ronaldinho
Ronaldo de Assis Moreira (born 21 March 1980 in Porto Alegre), commonly known as Ronaldinho (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʁonawˈdʒĩɲu]) or Ronaldinho Gaúcho, is a Brazilian footballer who is currently a free agent and plays for the Brazilian national team as an attacking midfielder or forward. He is a two-time winner of the FIFA World Player of the Year, awarded to the best player over the year. He won the award in both 2004 and 2005.
"Ronaldinho," the diminutive and term of endearment for "Ronaldo," is accompanied in Brazilian usage by the nickname "Gaúcho," in order to distinguish him from fellow footballer and countryman Ronaldo, who was known as "Ronaldinho" in Brazil beforehand. Ronaldo simply went by his first name upon his move to Europe, thereby allowing Ronaldinho to drop the "Gaúcho" and go by the name Ronaldinho abroad.
Prior to his move to Flamengo, he played for Paris Saint-Germain F.C., FC Barcelona and A.C. Milan. With the Spanish club, he won his first Champions League in 2006 and the Ballon d'Or in 2005. He became a Spanish citizen in January 2007.
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Ronnie Henderson
Ronnie Henderson (born March 29, 1974, in Gulfport, Mississippi), a 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) shooting guard, was an American basketball player.
A cousin of fellow Gulfport native and two time "Mr. Basketball" for the state of Mississippi Chris Jackson a.k.a. Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Henderson moved to Jackson, MS, where he was rumored to have scored 85 points in a thirty-two minute Junior High game and to have a 45 in (1.1 m) vertical leap. He became a high school phenom and helped establish Murrah High School as a national powerhouse in basketball.
The school had already produced Steve Galloway (Mississippi's Mr. Basketball, 1986), McDonalds All-American James Robinson (Mr. Basketball, 1989) and NBA veteran Lindsey Hunter. But the lineup Henderson starred in was the most formidable yet. Along with fellow future Southeastern Conference (SEC) standouts Joezon Darby (Ole Miss) and Jesse Pate (University of Arkansas), Henderson teamed with the number one recruit in the nation, Othella Harrington (Mr. Basketball, 1991 and '92). Henderson was the leading scorer for the now legendary high scoring team that would routinely draw thousands of onlookers.
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Rudy Tomjanovich
Rudolph Tomjanovich, Jr. (born November 24, 1948), nicknamed Rudy T., is an American retired basketball player and coach who coached the Houston Rockets to two consecutive NBA championships. He is currently a scout for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Tomjanovich was born in Hamtramck, Michigan to a family of Croatian descent. He attended high school in Hamtramck and later the University of Michigan (from 1967 to 1970)
In college, Tomjanovich set Michigan Wolverines men's basketball career rebounding records that continue to stand. In 1968 he earned second team All-Big Ten honors, which he followed with first-team honors in 1969 and 1970. During 1970 he was also an All-American.
Tomjanovich was selected in the 1970 NBA Draft as the second overall pick by the San Diego Rockets (the franchise relocated to Houston in 1971), for whom he would play the entirety of his NBA career. He was also drafted in both 1970 and 1974 by the Utah Stars of the ABA. In his eleven years in the NBA, Tomjanovich had a scoring average of 17.4 points and a rebounding average of 8.1, earning five All-Star Game selections in the process (1974–1977, 1979). He is the third-leading scorer in Rockets history behind Hall of Famers Calvin Murphy and Hakeem Olajuwon. Because his last name was so long, the back of Tomjanovich's jerseys would read "RUDY T.", rather than his 11 character name.
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Russ Millard
Russ Millard (born March 1, 1973 in Bradenton, Florida) is an American basketball player who was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the 2nd round (39th overall) of the 1996 NBA Draft. A 6'8" forward from University of Iowa, Millard never appeared in an NBA game.
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Ryan Minor
Ryan Dale Minor (born January 5, 1974 in Canton, Ohio) is a retired American professional baseball third baseman and college basketball player. He played all or part of four seasons in Major League Baseball, from 1998 to 2001, with the Baltimore Orioles and Montreal Expos. He is currently the manager of the Delmarva Shorebirds of the South Atlantic League. He is known for replacing Cal Ripken, Jr., when Ripken ended his consecutive games played streak on September 20, 1998.
Ryan Minor was an All-American basketball player at the University of Oklahoma and was selected in the second round of the 1996 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. However, he chose to play baseball instead, and went on to be drafted in the 33rd round of the 1996 MLB Amateur Draft.
After playing two-plus seasons in the minor leagues, Minor made his major league debut in 1998. He split the next two seasons between the Orioles and their farm clubs, mostly the Rochester Red Wings. After the 2000 season, he was traded to the Expos for pitcher Jorge Julio. He then split 2001 between the Expos and the Ottawa Lynx. Overall, Minor played 142 games during his major league career.
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Samaki Walker
Samaki Ijuma Walker (born February 25, 1976) is an American professional basketball power forward and center. Walker played college basketball at the University of Louisville and was drafted in 1996 by the Dallas Mavericks, where he played until 1999. Walker continued to play for the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers (2001–2003), Miami Heat (2003–2004), Washington Wizards (2004–2005), and Indiana Pacers (2005–2006). Since 2006, Walker has played for various international and minor leagues.
Walker was born in Columbus, Ohio, the youngest of seven children. He attended Eastmoor High School and Whitehall-Yearling High School.
The 6' 9" power forward was selected ninth overall by the Dallas Mavericks in the 1996 NBA Draft out of Louisville. Walker became the youngest-ever Maverick to appear in a regular season game.
Walker went on to play for the Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Washington Wizards and the Indiana Pacers from 1996–2006, having had very limited playing time in his final three years in the league. He averaged 5.3 points and 4.7 rebounds during his 10-year tenure, including 6.7 points per game and 7.0 rebounds in 2001-02, as the Lakers eventually won the NBA Finals. On February 19, 2002, Walker entered the injured list because of a hyperextended elbow. In Game 4 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals on May 26, 2002, Walker made a 3-pointer at the end of halftime, and by then the Sacramento Kings led over the Lakers 65-51. Although the shot counted, television replays showed Walker had released the ball after the buzzer went off. The Lakers won the game 100-99 on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Robert Horry that tied the series at 2. The Lakers won the series in 7 to advance to the Finals. This shot influenced the NBA's decision to institute instant replay for review the following season.
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Sasha Vujačić
Aleksandar "Sasha" Vujačić (Serbian Cyrillic: Александар »Саша« Вујачић, Slovene: Saša Vujačič, rendered in English as Sasha Vujacic; born March 8, 1984) is a Slovenian basketball player who has played in Italy, the United States (for the Los Angeles Lakers), and more recently for Anadolu Efes in Turkey. Though he has played the point guard position in Europe, he found more playing time at the shooting guard spot while in the Lakers' triangle offense.
His father Vaso Vujačić is a Serbian basketball coach. Vujačić was a member of the Slovenian junior national team. He won a silver medal at the 2002 European Junior Championship.
Vujačić began his professional career at the age of 16, playing with Snaidero Udine of Italy. The same year, he was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 27th overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft.
During the 2005–06 season Vujačić made the go-ahead three-pointer in overtime to give the Lakers the lead for good in a win against the Utah Jazz.
During the 2006–07 season he made a shot against the Dallas Mavericks to end their 13-game winning streak.
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Scottie Pippen
Scottie Pippen (born September 25, 1965) is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association. He is most remembered for his time with the Chicago Bulls, with whom he was instrumental in 6 NBA titles and their record 1995–96 season of 72 wins. Pippen, along with Michael Jordan, played an important role in transforming the Bulls team into a vehicle for popularizing the NBA around the world during the 1990s.
Considered one of the best small forwards of all time, Pippen was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team 8 straight times and the All-NBA First Team three times. He was a seven-time NBA All-Star and was the NBA All-Star Game MVP in 1994. He was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History during the 1996–97 season, and is one of four players to have his jersey retired by the Chicago Bulls (the others being Jerry Sloan, Bob Love, and Michael Jordan). During his seventeen-year career, he played twelve seasons with the Bulls, one with the Houston Rockets and four with the Portland Trail Blazers, making the postseason sixteen straight times. Pippen is also the only person to have won an NBA title and Olympic gold medal in the same year twice (1992, 1996). Pippen was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame on August 13, 2010.
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Shandon Anderson
Shandon Rodriguez Anderson (born December 31, 1973) is an American former professional basketball forward and guard who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1996 to 2006. Growing up in Atlanta, Anderson attended the University of Georgia and played for four teams during his ten-year NBA career after being drafted by the Utah Jazz in 1996: the Jazz, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, and Miami Heat.
Anderson attended Alonzo A. Crim High School in Atlanta, then played basketball at the University of Georgia. He was drafted in the second round (54th overall) of the 1996 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz, and played for the Jazz, the Houston Rockets, the New York Knicks and the Heat. His best season was in 1999–2000, when he averaged 12.3 points per game with the Rockets. His career average is 7.8 points per game.
He is the younger brother of former Knicks and Heat player Willie Anderson.
Anderson won an NBA championship in 2006 with the Miami Heat as a backup.
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Shannon Brown
Shannon Brown (born November 29, 1985) is an American professional basketball player who plays at the shooting guard and point guard positions. He plays in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Phoenix Suns. Brown attended Proviso East High School in Maywood, Illinois, was named Illinois Mr. Basketball in 2003, and played college basketball at Michigan State University. The Cleveland Cavaliers drafted Brown in 2006; Brown played his rookie season with Cleveland and has played for three teams in the NBA Development League.
Brown attended Proviso East High School in Maywood, where his teammates included fellow 2006 draftee Dee Brown (no relation). In 2003, he was named Illinois Mr. Basketball and a McDonald's All-American .
Brown played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans. He was second-team All-Big Ten as a junior and an All-Big Ten Defensive selection.
Brown was drafted in the first round with the 25th pick of the 2006 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Appearing in only 23 games (5 starts) in his debut season, he showed promise, scoring in double figures twice (10 points vs. New York on November 29 and 14 vs. Toronto on 3/3), but was hampered by an injury to his shin.
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Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal ( /ʃəˈkiːl/ shə-KEEL; born March 6, 1972), nicknamed "Shaq" ( /ˈʃæk/ SHAK), is a retired American basketball player and current analyst on the television program Inside the NBA. Standing 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) tall and weighing 325 pounds (147 kg), he was one of the heaviest players ever to play in the NBA. Throughout his 19-year career, O'Neal used his size and strength to overpower opponents for points and rebounds.
Following his career at Louisiana State University, O'Neal was drafted by the Orlando Magic with the first overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft. He quickly became one of the top centers in the league, winning Rookie of the Year in 1992–93 and later leading his team to the 1995 NBA Finals. After four years with the Magic, O'Neal signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers. He won three consecutive championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Amid tension between O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat in 2004, and his fourth NBA championship followed in 2006. Midway through the 2007–2008 season he was traded to the Phoenix Suns. After a season-and-a-half with the Suns, O'Neal was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2009–10 season. O'Neal played for the Boston Celtics in the 2010–11 season before retiring.
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Shareef Abdur-Rahim
Shareef Abdur-Rahim (born December 11, 1976) is a retired American professional basketball player and current assistant general manager for the Sacramento Kings. He last played for the Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA). On the basketball court, he played both forward or center positions. Abdur-Rahim was a standout player during his high school days. He left University of California, Berkeley after one year to enter the 1996 NBA Draft.
In his early NBA career, Abdur-Rahim was the star of the Vancouver Grizzlies franchise for five seasons. He was traded by the Grizzlies in 2001 and then played for the Atlanta Hawks and Portland Trail Blazers before joining his last team, the Sacramento Kings. Nicknamed "Reef", Abdur-Rahim was named an NBA All-Star in the 2001–02 season. He also played on the United States men's national basketball team that won the gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Prior to joining the Kings, despite the fact that he achieved solid statistics throughout his career, Abdur-Rahim held the NBA record for most number of games played without making a playoff appearance. Following persistent injuries to his right knee, Abdur-Rahim announced his retirement from basketball on September 22, 2008.
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Shyra Ely
Shyra Ely (born August 9, 1983) is an American basketball player who last played in the WNBA for the Chicago Sky. The 6–2 power forward had originally played for two seasons with the San Antonio Silver Stars. She was selected with the 14th overall pick in the 2005 WNBA Draft in the second round, out of Tennessee.
Ely played for Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis, Indiana, where she was named a WBCA All-American. She was also recognized as the 2001 Indiana Miss Basketball award winner. She participated in the 2001 WBCA High School All-America Game where she scored two points.
Through three seasons in the league, she has scored 245 points, and has collected 132 rebounds, 48 assists, 17 steals, and 5 blocks. She scored a career high 15 points, in the 2005 season, against the Phoenix Mercury.
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Skylar Diggins
Skylar Diggins (born August 2, 1990 in South Bend, Indiana) is currently a women's basketball player for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. She was a McDonald's All-American coming out of high school. As a freshman, Diggins became the fourth Indiana native to join the Irish roster in 2009-10, along with fellow South Bend-area guard (and co-captain) Melissa Lechlitner, Indianapolis guard Ashley Barlow (and co-captain) and Valparaiso forward Becca Bruszewski. In addition, she was one of three Miss Basketball honorees on the '09-10 Notre Dame roster, along with Lindsay Schrader (Illinois 2005) and Kellie Watson (Michigan 2008).
Diggins rose to national prominence in her sophomore year, finishing the regular season first on the team in assists per game (4.8 average), while placing second in scoring (14.4) and third in steals (1.9). Since the season began, she has scored in double figures 30 times, including eight 20-point outings, and has notched at least five assists in 21 games.
Diggins continued her stellar play in the NCAA tournament, leading the Irish to the second championship game appearance in school history, ten years after Notre Dame captured the national title in 2001. However, the Fighting Irish lost to the Texas A&M Aggies in the final game of the 2011 women's basketball tournament, by a score of 76-70. In the losing effort, Diggins finished with 23 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals. She made 8 of 9 free-throws in the game, including two with 40.7 seconds remaining. But the sophomore struggled from beyond the arc, sinking only 1 of 5 three-point attempts. Diggins also committed 6 turnovers, the last one ending Notre Dame's chances for good as the game clock wound down. As the Associated Press reported, "Diggins, fighting back tears, said the Irish couldn't handle A&M's pressure. 'We turned it over too much. I don't know if it was nerves or what,' she said. 'We just didn't handle the pressure.'"
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Slater Martin
Slater Nelson "Dugie" Martin Jr. (born October 22, 1925) is an American retired professional basketball player and coach who played the guard position for 11 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was born in El Mina, Texas and played in seven NBA All-Star Games.
Martin was one of the NBA's best defensive players in the 1950s while playing for the George Mikan-led Minneapolis Lakers that won four NBA championships between 1950 and 1954. In 1956 he joined Bob Pettit's St. Louis Hawks and won another NBA title in 1958.
Martin is an alumnus of Jefferson Davis High School in Houston, where he led his school to two state basketball championships in 1942 and 1943.[1] He is also a graduate of University of Texas at Austin, where he set a record in 1949 for putting up 49 points playing for the Texas Longhorns against the opposing Texas Christian University team. Throughout his career with the Longhorns, Martin averaged 12.7 points per game.[2] His former high school now holds an annual funder raiser in his name, the "Slater Martin Golf Tournament", which successfully raises tens of thousands of dollars each year as an aid to high school student clubs and sports teams.
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Slava Medvedenko
Stanislav "Slava" Medvedenko (Ukrainian: Станіслав "Слава" Медведенко, born April 4, 1979 in Karapyshi, Kiev Oblast, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, USSR) is a Ukrainian former professional basketball player, who last played with the Atlanta Hawks in the National Basketball Association. His position was power forward.
Medvedenko, who joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000, is known for his shoot-first mentality. His shooting technique and skill have never been in doubt, but his work ethic and defense were far behind his offensive skills in his early career (much to the ire of sports commentators, especially Stephen A. Smith).
The 2003–04 season was his breakout year, as Karl Malone injured his knee and Medvedenko started the majority of games. As such, his scoring and rebounding averages doubled and he was no longer seen as a liability in the fans' eyes. Unfortunately, an injury kept him out of the 2004 pre-season and he dropped down the depth chart, unable to find his way back into the lineup under Rudy Tomjanovich. With Phil Jackson's return to the Lakers, there was hope that Medvedenko would play a greater role due to his experience with the triangle offense. However, due to a herniated disc in his lower back that required surgery, he missed almost the entire 2006 season. He was waived at the beginning of March 2006, to clear roster space to enable the Lakers to sign guard Jim Jackson.
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Spud Webb
Anthony Jerome "Spud" Webb (born July 13, 1963) is a retired American NBA professional basketball point guard most notable for winning a slam dunk contest despite being one of the shortest players in NBA history. He is currently the President of Basketball Operations for the Texas Legends, the D-League team for the Dallas Mavericks in Frisco, Texas.[citation needed]
Webb was born in Dallas, Texas, into poverty. He was raised in a small two-bedroom home and used basketball as an inspiration. Webb was never tall, but he used his quickness and jumping ability to outplay the other kids. At Wilmer-Hutchins High School, he played on the junior varsity team where he made a large impact. When he made the varsity team, he averaged 26 points per game. During his senior season, when he first made a dunk at a school game, he was 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm) tall.[citation needed] After high school, he attended Midland College and North Carolina State University, where he averaged 10.4 points and 5.7 assists per game throughout college.
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Steve Blake
Steven Hanson "Steve" Blake (born February 26, 1980) is an American professional basketball point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers. Previously, he played for the Washington Wizards, Milwaukee Bucks, Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Clippers.
Blake spent his freshman and sophomore year at Miami Killian High School and then transferred to Miami High School, where he played with another future NBA player, Udonis Haslem. Miami won consecutive state championships, but after the Miami New Times exposed the fact that Blake and other players, under current South Carolina head coach Frank Martin, were using fake addresses to enroll in the school, the Stingarees were forced to forfeit their entire 1998 schedule. After being banned from playing again anywhere in the FHSAA, he then attended Oak Hill Academy before coming to Maryland.
After high school, he attended the University of Maryland. Blake was the team's starter from the first game of his freshman year and was the first ACC player to compile 1,000 points, 800 assists, 400 rebounds and 200 steals. He finished his career 5th in NCAA all-time career assists with 972. Widely known for his superb passing ability, Blake helped lead the Terrapins to a Final Four appearance (2001) and the 2002 NCAA championship; less well known for his scoring, Blake did average eleven points per game in his senior year. He averaged over six assists per game in each of his four years, including averages of 7.9 and 7.1 in 2002 and 2003, respectively. For his efforts, he was named to a variety of all-ACC teams during his career, including the rookie and defensive squads, capped by a first-team All-ACC spot his senior year. At the start of the 2003–04 basketball season, Blake's uniform number (25) became only the 15th to be retired to the rafters of Maryland's Comcast Center.
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Steve Hamer
Steve Ray Hamer (born November 13, 1973 in Memphis, Tennessee) is a retired American professional basketball player. He had a brief National Basketball Association career.
The 7-foot center played at the University of Tennessee. He was the #38 pick in the second round of the 1996 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics and appeared in 35 games (starting three) during the 1996–97 NBA season for the 15–67 Boston Celtics.
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Steve Nash
Stephen John "Steve" Nash, OC, OBC (born 7 February 1974) is a South African-born Canadian professional basketball player who plays point guard for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nash enjoyed a successful high-school basketball career, and he was eventually given a scholarship by Santa Clara University. In his four seasons with the Broncos, the team made three NCAA Tournament appearances, and Nash was twice named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year.
After graduating from Santa Clara as the team's all-time leader in assists, Nash entered the 1996 NBA Draft and was selected as the 15th pick by the Phoenix Suns. He made a minimal impact, and was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 1998. By his third season with the Mavericks, he was voted into his first NBA All-Star Game and had earned his first All-NBA selection. Together with Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley, Nash led the Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals the following season. However, he became a free agent after the 2003–04 season and returned to the Phoenix Suns.
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Stu Lantz
Stuart (Stu) Burrell Lantz (born July 13, 1946, in Uniontown, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is a retired American basketball player and the current television commentator for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) on Fox Sports West and KCAL. He has been the Lakers' color commentator since 1987, sharing the microphone with Chick Hearn and winning numerous awards for his work along the way. The Southern California Sports Broadcasters Association has named Lantz best radio commentator in six of the last seven years.
Lantz played in the National Basketball Association from 1968 until 1976. He was drafted by the San Diego Rockets in the third round (1st pick) of the 1968 NBA Draft and by the Oakland Oaks in the 1968 ABA Draft after attending the University of Nebraska.
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Sun Yue (basketball)
Sun Yue (simplified Chinese: 孙悦; traditional Chinese: 孫悅; pinyin: Sūn Yuè, born November 6, 1985) is a 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) Chinese professional basketball player. He is currently playing for the Beijing Olympians. He became the fifth Chinese player to play in the NBA.
Sun started playing with the Beijing Olympians, which was the only privately owned club of the CBA, in 2002 at the age of 17. In 2004, Sun was selected to the Chinese national under-20 team, but when his team refused to release him to play, the CBA banned the Olympians from playing in the CBA. After touring in Taiwan, the team moved to play in the ABA. In Sun's first year in the ABA, the 2005-06 season, his final numbers included 9.5 points per game, 7 rebounds per game, and 6.7 assists per game. Sun also had his first triple-double of his career, with 12 points, 14 assists, and 12 rebounds, and was named to the All-ABA 2nd team. In the following year, Yue improved his numbers, making the All-ABA First Team with averages of 13.5 points per game, 6 rebounds per game, 10.5 assists per game, 1.9 steals per game, and 2 blocks per game.
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Taiwan
Taiwan (
i/ˌtaɪˈwɑːn/ TY-WAHN; Chinese: 臺灣 or 台灣; pinyin: Táiwān; see below), officially the Republic of China (ROC; Chinese: 中華民國; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Mínguó), is a state in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China now governs the island of Taiwan (formerly known as Formosa), which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu, and other minor islands. Neighboring states include the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east and northeast, and the Philippines to the south. Taipei is the capital city and economic and cultural centre of the country, and New Taipei is the most populous city.
The earliest evidence of inhabitation of Taiwan dates back to the late Paleolithic era. The island of Taiwan was mainly inhabited by Taiwanese aborigines before being colonized in the 17th century by the Dutch and the Spanish Empire. The first Han Chinese polity on Taiwan began when Koxinga's troops defeated Dutch forces and established the Kingdom of Tungning. The island was subsequently ruled by the Qing Dynasty after the kingdom's defeat in the Battle of Penghu in 1683, a period that lasted for over 200 years. Following Japan's victory over the Qing Dynasty in the first Sino-Japanese war, Taiwan was ceded to Japan under the Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895.
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Tamika Williams
Tamika Maria Raymond (born April 12, 1980, in Dayton, Ohio) is an Assistant Coach at Kansas University. She was a professional basketball player for the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA. She was known as Tamika Williams before marrying former University of Minnesota Duluth basketball player Ben Raymond in April 2007[1].
Raymond started playing organized basketball at age 9 in the Dayton Lady Hoopstars AAU program, played on Lady Hoopstar teams which won one national AAU age group championship and finished in top four twice.
Raymond had a stellar basketball career at Chaminade-Julienne, a Catholic high school in Dayton, Ohio. She was named the 1997 and 1998 Ohio Player of the Year and was named in the 1997-98 Associated Press girls Division I All-Ohio high school basketball team. She was named "Ohio's Miss Basketball" by the Associated Press and chosen by a state-wide media panel. Raymond was also named a WBCA All-American. and the WBCA high school player of the year. Raymond participated in the WBCA High School All-America Game, where she scored eight points.
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Tayshaun Prince
Tayshaun Durell Prince (born February 28, 1980) is an American basketball player who plays for the Detroit Pistons in the National Basketball Association. Prince is a small forward, listed at 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) and 215 lb (98 kg; 15.4 st). A graduate of Dominguez High School and the University of Kentucky, Prince was drafted in the first round (23rd overall) by the Pistons in the 2002 NBA Draft. Prince wears the jersey #22 as a result of his draft position, signifying the 22 teams that passed on drafting him. His college #21 was previously retired by the Pistons in honor of guard Dave Bing.
Prince played four seasons (1998 to 2002) for the University of Kentucky Wildcats, averaging 13.2 points and 5.7 rebounds as the Wildcats posted a 97–39 record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament each year. The furthest the Wildcats made in the tournament was the regional finals, losing to the Michigan State Spartans. Prince won SEC Player of the Year in his junior season (2000–2001) – also leading the SEC in free throw percentage (84.3%) – and was named to the Associated Press All-SEC Teams in both his junior and senior years. Kentucky won the SEC Tournament in 1999 and 2001, and Prince was awarded the 2001 tournament's Most Valuable Player award.
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Tex Winter
Morice Fredrick "Tex" Winter (born February 25, 1922) is an American basketball coach and innovator of the triangle offense.
Born near Wellington, Texas (a fact which later provided him with his nickname), Winter attended Huntington Park High School in Huntington Park, California and went on to graduate from the University of Southern California in 1947, where he learned the triangle offense from Sam Barry. At USC, Winter was a teammate of Gene Rock, a future professional basketball player. Also a track athlete at the college level as a pole vaulter, Winter was considered a strong candidate for the US Olympic team in 1944. However, the Olympics were cancelled by World War II. He left USC in early 1943 and entered the United States Navy for flight training. His pilot's wings were conferred late the same year. He remained in Illinois for the duration of his service.
After graduating college, Winter immediately entered the coaching profession as an assistant to Hall-of-Famer Jack Gardner at Kansas State University. He would stay in coaching for the next 57 consecutive years.
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Tim Duncan
Timothy Theodore "Tim" Duncan (born April 25, 1976) is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The 6-foot 11-inch (2.11 m), 255-pound (116 kg)power forward/center is a four-time NBA champion, two-time NBA MVP, three-time NBA Finals MVP, and NBA Rookie of the Year. The Spurs' team captain, he is a 13 time NBA All-Star and the only player in NBA history to be selected to both All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams during each of his first 13 seasons.
Duncan started out as a swimmer and only began playing basketball in ninth grade after Hurricane Hugo destroyed the only Olympic-sized pool on his home of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. He soon became a standout for St. Dunstan's Episcopal High School, and had an illustrious college career with the Wake Forest University Demon Deacons, winning the Naismith College Player of the Year, USBWA College Player of the Year and John Wooden awards in his final year. Duncan graduated from college before entering the 1997 NBA Draft as the number one pick. His list of accomplishments, remarkable consistency, and leadership in the Spurs' NBA championship runs in 1999, 2003, 2005, and 2007 have led basketball experts to consider him to be one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history.
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Todd Fuller
Todd Douglas Fuller (born July 25, 1974) is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Golden State Warriors with the 11th overall pick of the 1996 NBA Draft. He played in five NBA seasons from 1996-2001 for the Warriors, Utah Jazz, Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat averaging 3.7 ppg. This has led many sports sources to include Fuller on NBA draft lottery "bust" lists. He also played six seasons overseas, on pro teams in: Spain,PolandGreece and Australia.
Fuller graduated from Charlotte Christian School in 1992 and played collegiately at North Carolina State University (NC State). While with NC State, he led the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in scoring during his senior year with 20.9 ppg and 9.9 rpg. He was an Academic All-American, and declined to accept a Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford in order to play professional basketball. He was also inducted in to Phi Beta Kappa and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics from NC State. Fuller is also a frequent public speaker.
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Tony Delk
Tony Lorenzo Delk (born January 28, 1974) is an American former professional basketball player and current assistant coach for the New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball team. He was team leader of the 1996 University of Kentucky Wildcats team that won the 1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. After college, he played for seven NBA teams over ten seasons.
Delk attended Haywood Junior High School and Haywood High School in Brownsville, Tennessee. During his 1992 senior year of high school, Delk was named "Mr. Basketball" in the state of Tennessee (TSSAA Class 3A Mr.Basketball 1992) and also to the Parade and McDonald's All-American Teams.
As a sophomore at Kentucky, Delk was voted All-SEC 2nd Team by the coaches and All-SEC 3rd Team by the Associated Press, while also making the All-SEC Tournament Team for his outstanding play. Delk was named to the All-SEC 1st and All-NCAA Regional teams during the 1994-95 season. In the 1995-96 season, Delk was named to the All-American and All-SEC first teams and was named NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player. He also received SEC Player of the Year honors during the season. Delk joined Omega Psi Phi Fraternity while at Kentucky.
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Tony Hawk
Anthony Frank "Tony" Hawk (born May 12, 1968), nicknamed "The Birdman" is an American professional skateboarder and actor. Hawk gained significant fame for completing the first 900 as well as his licensed video game titles distributed by Activision. He is widely considered one of the most successful and influential pioneers of modern vertical skateboarding.
Raised in San Diego, California, Hawk was described as being "hyperactive" as a child. His parents supported his skateboarding because it served as an outlet for his excessive energy, and as Hawk's skills developed, he became a professional skateboarder at age fourteen. In 1999, he became the first skater to land a 900. In 2002, he created the Boom Boom HuckJam, an extreme sports exhibition and tour which launched in Las Vegas.
Throughout his career, Hawk has made numerous appearances in films and other media, as well as his own series of video games. He has also been involved in various philanthropic activities including his own Tony Hawk Foundation which helps build skateparks in underprivileged areas, and also including collaborations with other athletes in the charity Athletes for Hope.
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Tony Parker
William Anthony "Tony" Parker Jr. (born 17 May 1982) is a French professional basketball player with the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
The son of a professional basketball player, Parker played for two years in the French basketball league before entering the 2001 NBA Draft. He was selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the 28th overall pick in the draft and quickly became their starting point guard, helping the Spurs win three NBA Championships in 2003, 2005 and 2007. Employing his pace and high field goal percentage to great effect, Parker has been named to four NBA All-Star games, an All-NBA Second Team, and an All-NBA Third Team. He was the 2007 NBA Finals MVP.
Parker is also a music artist with his own music album TP. He married actress Eva Longoria, best known for her role in the ABC television series Desperate Housewives, on 7 July 2007. In November 2010, both parties filed for divorce.
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Tracy McGrady
Tracy Lamar McGrady, Jr. (born May 24, 1979) is an American professional basketball player with the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA.
Entering the league after graduating from high school, McGrady eventually became a seven-time All-Star. He led the league in scoring in 2003 and 2004. He has also played for the Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, and Detroit Pistons. McGrady was ranked on SLAM Magazine's "Top 75 Players of All-Time" in 2003. McGrady's style of play has been compared to that of George Gervin.
Tracy McGrady played high school basketball at Auburndale High School in Auburndale, Florida for three years. He then transferred to Mount Zion Christian Academy, in Durham, North Carolina. McGrady created a national buzz after his performance in the Adidas ABCD Camp, where the best high school players in the U.S. are invited annually. He was named High School Player of the Year by USA Today. McGrady has stated that if he had not gone straight to the NBA from high school, he would have attended Kentucky.
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Trevor Ariza
Trevor Anthony Ariza (born June 30, 1985 in Miami, Florida) is an American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association who plays for the New Orleans Hornets.
Ariza played AAU basketball for 4d, a traveling youth basketball team that had numerous All-Americans[who?] on the roster. Ariza attended Westchester High School in Los Angeles, California, where as a junior he combined with teammates and fellow future NBA players Hassan Adams, Brandon Heath, and Bobby Brown to lead the Comets to the California State championship.
After one season at UCLA Ariza declared for the NBA draft and was a second round choice (43rd overall) of the New York Knicks in 2004.
Ariza started his rookie season coming off the bench; at 19 he was the second-youngest rookie in Knicks history to play in 80 games. As the season progressed he impressed coach Larry Brown enough to start 12 games. In Ariza's second season, he played in 36 games and started in 10. In February 2006, Ariza was traded along with Penny Hardaway to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Steve Francis. After the trade he played in 21 games and averaged 4.7 per game. In the 2006-07 season he played in 57 games and started in 7, averaging a career high 8.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.
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Tyronn Lue
Tyronn Jamar Lue (born on May 3, 1977 in Mexico, Missouri) is a former American professional basketball player who last played for the Orlando Magic in the National Basketball Association. The 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m), 175 lb (79 kg; 12.5 st) point guard was selected out of the University of Nebraska by the Denver Nuggets with the 23rd overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft, but was traded shortly thereafter to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he won two NBA championships in his first three seasons. Lue now works as Director of Basketball Development for the Boston Celtics.
Lue attended Raytown Senior High School in Raytown, Missouri. He later went to University of Nebraska. He played basketball and studied Sociology. He finished his Nebraska career ranked third on the all-time list in assists (432), fourth in three-pointers made (145) and attempted (407), fifth in steals (154) and seventh in scoring (1,577). Declaring for the NBA draft after his Junior season, he led the Cornhuskers in assists in each of his three seasons, and finished his career tied with Dave Hoppen for most games with 30 or more points (7).
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Vern Mikkelsen
Arild Verner Agerskov "Vern" Mikkelsen (born October 21, 1928) is an American former professional basketball player. He was one of the NBA's first power forwards in the 1950s and was known for his tenacious defense.
Mikkelsen was born in Fresno, California and was raised in Askov, Minnesota in a town of primarily Danish-Americans. He entered Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota on a basketball scholarship at the age of 16. In his senior year at Hamline, Mikkelsen was voted an All-American. He would later receive a masters degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota.
Mikkelsen played with George Mikan and Jim Pollard in the frontcourt of the Minneapolis Lakers. The Lakers won four NBA titles during Mikkelsen's career. Mikkelsen played in six NBA All-Star Games and was named to the All-NBA Second Team four times in his career.
Mikkelsen ended his career after ten seasons in the NBA in 1959, having played in 798 of a possible 800 games. He finished his career with 10,063 points scored and led the NBA in both personal fouls and disqualifications for three straight seasons. Mikkelsen still holds the league record for career disqualifications with 127.
wn.com/Vern_Mikkelsen -
Vince Carter
Vincent Lamar "Vince" Carter (born January 26, 1977) is an American professional basketball player with the Dallas Mavericks. He is a shooting guard who can also play small forward.
A high school McDonald's All-American, Carter played three years at the University of North Carolina, where he twice reached the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament before being selected as the fifth overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors, who traded him to the Toronto Raptors. He won the 1999 NBA Rookie of the Year Award and won the Slam Dunk Contest at the 2000 NBA All-Star Game the following season. That summer, he represented the United States in the Summer Olympics, winning a gold medal.
He quickly emerged as a league star, entertaining crowds with his leaping ability and slam dunks, earning him nicknames such as "Vinsanity," "Air Canada," and "Half-Man, Half-Amazing."
He led the Raptors to their first three playoff appearances. In 2004, he was traded to the New Jersey Nets, and he helped lead them to three playoff berths. In July 2009, Carter was traded to the Orlando Magic, helping them to advance to the Eastern Conference finals before being traded to the Phoenix Suns in December, 2010.
wn.com/Vince_Carter -
Vitaly Potapenko
Vitaly Nikolaevich Potapenko (Ukrainian: Віталій Миколайович Потапенко, pronounced vee-TAH-lee poe-TAH-pen-koe, born March 21, 1975 in Kiev, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, USSR) is a Ukrainian former professional basketball player. He played college basketball at Wright State University and was selected 12th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1996 NBA Draft. Nicknamed "The Ukraine Train", he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Boston Celtics, the Seattle SuperSonics, and the Sacramento Kings of the NBA, as well as MMT Estudiantes in the Spanish ACB.
Since retiring as a player, Potapenko has served as an assistant coach with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the Indiana Pacers, and the Dakota Wizards.
wn.com/Vitaly_Potapenko -
Vlade Divac
Vlade Divac (Serbian: Владе Дивац, pronounced [ʋlǎːde dǐːʋats]) (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 7 ft 1 in, 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 the 50 Greatest Euroleague 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.
wn.com/Vlade_Divac -
Walt Frazier
Walter "Clyde" Frazier (born March 29, 1945, in Atlanta, Georgia) is a retired American basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was blessed with a unique combination of court vision, quickness, and size (he stands 6'4") for a guard. As their floor general, he led the New York Knicks to the franchise's only two NBA Championships (1970 & 1973), and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987. Upon his retirement from basketball, Frazier went into broadcasting; he is currently a color commentator for telecasts of Knicks games on the MSG Network.
The eldest of nine children, Frazier attended Atlanta's David Tobias Howard High School. He quarterbacked the football team and played catcher on the baseball team. He learned basketball on a rutted and dirt playground, the only facility available at his all-black school in the racially segregated South of the 1950s. After having a great career at Howard, Frazier attended Southern Illinois University. Although he was offered other scholarships for his football skills, Frazier accepted a basketball offer from Southern Illinois University.
wn.com/Walt_Frazier -
Walter McCarty
Walter Lee McCarty (born February 1, 1974) is an American former basketball player who played for the NBA's New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, and the Los Angeles Clippers.
Born in Evansville, Indiana, the 6-foot, 10-inch (2.08 m) McCarty played college basketball at the University of Kentucky where he was a part of the team that won the NCAA championship in 1996. In 1994, Walter's made three pointer completed Kentucky's 31 point comeback over LSU—the biggest second-half rally in NCAA history. He was selected by the Knicks with the 19th pick in the 1996 NBA Draft.
McCarty played for the Knicks until October 1997, when he was traded to the Celtics. McCarty played in all 82 games that season, starting 64 of them. He also established career highs in virtually every category during this season. Over the next few years, he was one of Boston's top options off the bench, often making a key defensive play or three point shot. He became a fan favorite in Boston for his gutsy play, hustle, and penchant for making the big shot. He was also a favorite of former Hall of Fame player and current announcer Tommy Heinsohn, who often exclaimed "I love Walter!" after some of McCarty's plays.
wn.com/Walter_McCarty -
Wes Unseld
Westley Sissel "Wes" Unseld (born March 14, 1946 in Louisville, Kentucky) is an American former basketball player. He spent his entire NBA career with the Baltimore/Capital/Washington Bullets, and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1988.
Unseld starred on a Seneca High School team that won two state championships. In 1965, Unseld began playing center for the University of Louisville, where he averaged 35.8 points per game and 23.6 rebounds per game in 14 games with a freshman team. He was a 3-year letter winner, scored 1,686 points in 82 games (20.6 points per game), grabbed 1,551 rebounds (18.9 rebounds per game), led the conference in rebounding in 1966, 1967 and 1968, and led Louisville to a 60-22 record with two trips to the NCAA tournament and one trip to the NIT tournament. Unseld is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
Unseld was drafted by the Kentucky Colonels in the 1968 American Basketball Association draft and was drafted second overall in the first round by the Baltimore Bullets in 1968, and helped lead the Bullets (who had finished in last place in the Eastern division the previous year) to a 57-25 record and a division title. Unseld averaged 18.2 rebounds per game that year, and became only the second player ever to win both Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in the same season (Wilt Chamberlain being the first). Unseld was also named the Sporting News MVP that year. He was one of the best defensive players of his era, and in 1975, he led the NBA in rebounding. The following season, he led the NBA in field goal percentage with a .561 percentage.
wn.com/Wes_Unseld -
Willis Reed
Willis Reed, Jr. (born June 25, 1942) is a retired American basketball player, coach and general manager. He spent his entire professional playing career (1964–1974) with the New York Knicks. In 1982, his outstanding record and achievements were recognized by his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In 1997, he was voted one of the "50 Greatest Players in NBA History".
After retiring as a player, Reed served as assistant and head coach with several teams for nearly a decade, then was promoted to General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations (1989 to 1996) for the New Jersey Nets. As Senior Vice President of Basketball, he led them to the NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003.
Reed was born in 1942 in Hico, Louisiana and named after his father, Willis Reed. He grew up on a farm in nearby Bernice, a lumber town in an area of pine woods. His parents worked to ensure Reed got an education in the segregated South. Reed showed athletic ability at an early age and played basketball at West Side High School in nearby Lillie.
wn.com/Willis_Reed -
Wilt Chamberlain
Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain (August 21, 1936 – October 12, 1999) was an American basketball player. He played for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA; he played for the University of Kansas and also for the Harlem Globetrotters before playing in the NBA. The 7 foot 1 inch Chamberlain weighed 250 pounds as a rookie before bulking up to 275 and eventually to over 300 pounds with the Lakers. He played the center position and is widely considered one of the greatest and most dominant players in NBA history.
Chamberlain holds numerous NBA all-time records in scoring, rebounding and durability categories. He is the only player to score 100 points in a single NBA game or average more than 40 and 50 points in a season. He also won seven scoring, nine field goal percentage, and eleven rebounding titles, and once even led the league in assists. Although he suffered a long string of professional losses, Chamberlain had a successful career, winning two NBA championships, earning four regular-season Most Valuable Player awards, the Rookie of the Year award, one NBA Finals MVP award, and being selected to 13 All-Star Games and ten All-NBA First and Second teams. Chamberlain was subsequently enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1978, elected into the NBA's 35th Anniversary Team of 1980, and chosen as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History of 1996.
wn.com/Wilt_Chamberlain -
Zach Braff
Zachary I. "Zach" Braff (born April 6, 1975) is an American actor, screenwriter, producer, comedian, and director. Braff first became known in 2001 for his role as Dr. John Dorian on the television series Scrubs, for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award and three Golden Globe Awards.
In 2004, Braff made his directorial debut with Garden State. Braff returned to his home state New Jersey to shoot the film, which was produced for $2.5 million. The film made over $35 million at the box office and was praised by critics. Braff wrote the film, starred in it, and compiled the soundtrack record. He won numerous awards for his directing work, and also won the Grammy Award for Best Soundtrack Album in 2005.
Braff was born in South Orange, New Jersey. His mother, Anne Brodzinsky (born Anne Hutchinson Maynard), is a clinical psychologist, and his father, Harold Irwin "Hal" Braff, is a trial attorney and sociology professor. His parents divorced and re-married others during Braff's childhood. One of his siblings, Joshua, is an author. Braff's father was born into a Jewish family, and Braff's mother, originally a Protestant, converted to Judaism before marrying his father (through his mother's New England ancestors, Braff is a distant cousin of politician Mitt Romney). Braff was raised in Conservative Judaism, and has said that he is "not a huge organized religion guy".
wn.com/Zach_Braff -
Žydrūnas Ilgauskas
Žydrūnas Ilgauskas (Lithuanian pronunciation [ʒʲǐːˈdruːnɐs ɪlˈɡɐ̂uskɐs] (
listen); born June 5, 1975), or "Big Z" (his nickname), is a Lithuanian former professional basketball center who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association. He played for the Cavaliers from 1997 to 2010, and is the team's career leader in several categories, including games played and blocks. In 2012, Ilgauskas became assistant general manager for the Cavaliers under general manager Chris Grant.
Ilgauskas made his pro debut in his birthplace of Kaunas with the Atletas Basketball Club. He averaged 20.3 points, 12.8 rebounds and 2.8 blocks.
Ilgauskas was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 20th pick of the 1996 NBA Draft.
In the earliest parts of his career he suffered through myriad foot and ankle injuries. He spent the entire 1996–97 season on the injured list due to a broken bone in his right foot. After having missed so much time with his foot injuries it took some time for Zydrunas to get back to where he was prior to it.
wn.com/Žydrūnas_Ilgauskas
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The Best of Dwight Schrute Moments
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:00
- Updated: 19 Dec 2012
tylertarver.com I own none of this. I have no money so please don't sue me.
http://wn.com/The_Best_of_Dwight_Schrute_Moments
tylertarver.com I own none of this. I have no money so please don't sue me.
Dwight Meets Asian Jim - The Office
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:25
- Updated: 19 Dec 2012
Subscribe now for more The Office: full.sc Dwight is perplexed out of his mind when Pam and Jim have their actor friend Steve pretend to be Jim for the morning. Thursdays 9/8c on NBC Get more The Office: www.nbc.com Full Episodes: www.nbc.com Like The Office: www.facebook.com Follow The Office: twitter.com The Office Pinterest: pinterest.com Get more NBC: Full Episodes: NBC.com NBC YouTube: www.youtube.com Follow NBC: Twitter.com Like NBC: Facebook.com NBC Pinterest: Pinterest.com NBC Tumblr: NBCtv.tumblr.com Dwight Meets Asian Jim - The Office www.youtube.com
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Subscribe now for more The Office: full.sc Dwight is perplexed out of his mind when Pam and Jim have their actor friend Steve pretend to be Jim for the morning. Thursdays 9/8c on NBC Get more The Office: www.nbc.com Full Episodes: www.nbc.com Like The Office: www.facebook.com Follow The Office: twitter.com The Office Pinterest: pinterest.com Get more NBC: Full Episodes: NBC.com NBC YouTube: www.youtube.com Follow NBC: Twitter.com Like NBC: Facebook.com NBC Pinterest: Pinterest.com NBC Tumblr: NBCtv.tumblr.com Dwight Meets Asian Jim - The Office www.youtube.com
- published: 05 Oct 2012
- views: 2263675
- author: theofficeonnbctv
Dwight Yoakam - "3 Pears" captured in The Live Room
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:56
- Updated: 18 Dec 2012
Dwight Yoakam performs his song "3 Pears" in an exclusive recording session live in the legendary Studio One at EASTWEST STUDIOS in Hollywood, CA for The Live Room on The Warner Sound. Watch more of Dwight Yoakam in The Live Room: goo.gl Executive Producer Phil Botti Director Michael Thelin Recorded & Mixed by Marc Desisto Editor Steven Pierce Captured live at EASTWEST STUDIOS Hollywood, CA The Live Room with Dwight Yoakam was captured exclusively with Nikon D4 HD-SLRs camera and NIKKOR lenses. The Live Room is an exclusive Warner Sound original series that captures today's most innovative artists performing live recording sessions in the most iconic recording studios across America. Subscribe to The Warner Sound: goo.gl The Warner Sound on the Web: youtube.com thewarnersound.com http twitter.com
http://wn.com/Dwight_Yoakam_3_Pears_captured_in_The_Live_Room
Dwight Yoakam performs his song "3 Pears" in an exclusive recording session live in the legendary Studio One at EASTWEST STUDIOS in Hollywood, CA for The Live Room on The Warner Sound. Watch more of Dwight Yoakam in The Live Room: goo.gl Executive Producer Phil Botti Director Michael Thelin Recorded & Mixed by Marc Desisto Editor Steven Pierce Captured live at EASTWEST STUDIOS Hollywood, CA The Live Room with Dwight Yoakam was captured exclusively with Nikon D4 HD-SLRs camera and NIKKOR lenses. The Live Room is an exclusive Warner Sound original series that captures today's most innovative artists performing live recording sessions in the most iconic recording studios across America. Subscribe to The Warner Sound: goo.gl The Warner Sound on the Web: youtube.com thewarnersound.com http twitter.com
- published: 17 Sep 2012
- views: 93074
- author: TheWarnerSound
A Female-Friendly Dwight - The Office
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:16
- Updated: 18 Dec 2012
Subscribe now for more The Office: full.sc The women of the office stage an intervention to help Dwight make a sale. Thursdays 9/8c on NBC Get more The Office: www.nbc.com Full Episodes: www.nbc.com Like The Office: www.facebook.com Follow The Office: twitter.com The Office Pinterest: pinterest.com Get more NBC: NBC YouTube: full.sc Like NBC: Facebook.com Follow NBC: Twitter.com NBC Google+: plus.google.com NBC Pinterest: Pinterest.com NBC Tumblr: NBCtv.tumblr.com A Female-Friendly Dwight - The Office www.youtube.com
http://wn.com/A_Female-Friendly_Dwight_The_Office
Subscribe now for more The Office: full.sc The women of the office stage an intervention to help Dwight make a sale. Thursdays 9/8c on NBC Get more The Office: www.nbc.com Full Episodes: www.nbc.com Like The Office: www.facebook.com Follow The Office: twitter.com The Office Pinterest: pinterest.com Get more NBC: NBC YouTube: full.sc Like NBC: Facebook.com Follow NBC: Twitter.com NBC Google+: plus.google.com NBC Pinterest: Pinterest.com NBC Tumblr: NBCtv.tumblr.com A Female-Friendly Dwight - The Office www.youtube.com
- published: 16 Nov 2012
- views: 54020
- author: theofficeonnbctv
Dwight Howard for Three?!
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:56
- Updated: 19 Dec 2012
Check out Lakers big man Dwight Howard as he drains only the second three pointer of his career at the end of the game to cap off a 28 point, 20 rebound performance! In an interview after the game, Dwight talks with Doris Burke about the big shot!
http://wn.com/Dwight_Howard_for_Three?!
Check out Lakers big man Dwight Howard as he drains only the second three pointer of his career at the end of the game to cap off a 28 point, 20 rebound performance! In an interview after the game, Dwight talks with Doris Burke about the big shot!
- published: 01 Dec 2012
- views: 419875
- author: NBA
Dwight Howard Talks Kobe Bryant
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 5:38
- Updated: 19 Dec 2012
He couldn't wait to meet Dory! Dwight told Ellen what made him so excited to meet her, and did his impression of Kobe Bryant!
http://wn.com/Dwight_Howard_Talks_Kobe_Bryant
He couldn't wait to meet Dory! Dwight told Ellen what made him so excited to meet her, and did his impression of Kobe Bryant!
- published: 27 Sep 2012
- views: 575251
- author: TheEllenShow
Dwight Howard Los Angeles Lakers introductory press conference, August 10th 2012
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 11:10
- Updated: 10 Sep 2012
Dwight Howard LA Laker introductory press conference from Friday August 10th, 2012.
http://wn.com/Dwight_Howard_Los_Angeles_Lakers_introductory_press_conference,_August_10th_2012
Dwight Howard LA Laker introductory press conference from Friday August 10th, 2012.
- published: 11 Aug 2012
- views: 6291
- author: CyberDeviant
Dwight Howard Laker Introduction 8-10-12
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 34:12
- Updated: 18 Dec 2012
Dwight Howard is introduced as a Los Angeles Laker
http://wn.com/Dwight_Howard_Laker_Introduction_8-10-12
Dwight Howard is introduced as a Los Angeles Laker
- published: 11 Aug 2012
- views: 184845
- author: kray97
Dwight Yoakam - A Thousand Miles From Nowhere
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:28
- Updated: 19 Dec 2012
Get 3 Pears on iTunes - smarturl.it Watch Dwight Yoakam perform in The Live Room - smarturl.it www.dwightyoakam.com © 2005 WMG
http://wn.com/Dwight_Yoakam_A_Thousand_Miles_From_Nowhere
Get 3 Pears on iTunes - smarturl.it Watch Dwight Yoakam perform in The Live Room - smarturl.it www.dwightyoakam.com © 2005 WMG
- published: 27 Oct 2009
- views: 1718380
- author: dwightyoakam
Dwight Howard's Top 10 Defensive Plays of the 2011-2012 NBA Season
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:23
- Updated: 18 Dec 2012
Check out the top 10 defensive plays from Magic All Star center Dwight Howard from this season as he recorded another monster season for Orlando!
http://wn.com/Dwight_Howard's_Top_10_Defensive_Plays_of_the_2011-2012_NBA_Season
Check out the top 10 defensive plays from Magic All Star center Dwight Howard from this season as he recorded another monster season for Orlando!
- published: 02 May 2012
- views: 564848
- author: NBA
Dwight Howard "Save The Centers" - The NOC
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:13
- Updated: 19 Dec 2012
Dwight Howard wants your help in saving Centers who have been taken off the All-Star ballot in this Sarah McLachlan-inspired PSA. Learn more about The Center Center for Centers at thecentercenterforcenters.org/ Support The CCC on Facebook: www.facebook.com SUBSCRIBE to The NOC so you don't miss any of The CCC's important PSAs! SUBSCRIBE on YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com LIKE us on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com FOLLOW us on TWITTER: twitter.com ABOUT US: The NOC is an entertainment channel about the personalities and lives of athletes. Catch the world's most famous sports stars saying and doing the unexpected each week on The NOC!
http://wn.com/Dwight_Howard_Save_The_Centers_The_NOC
Dwight Howard wants your help in saving Centers who have been taken off the All-Star ballot in this Sarah McLachlan-inspired PSA. Learn more about The Center Center for Centers at thecentercenterforcenters.org/ Support The CCC on Facebook: www.facebook.com SUBSCRIBE to The NOC so you don't miss any of The CCC's important PSAs! SUBSCRIBE on YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com LIKE us on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com FOLLOW us on TWITTER: twitter.com ABOUT US: The NOC is an entertainment channel about the personalities and lives of athletes. Catch the world's most famous sports stars saying and doing the unexpected each week on The NOC!
- published: 12 Dec 2012
- views: 99986
- author: NOC
Dwight Howard's Block Party in DC!
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 0:44
- Updated: 19 Dec 2012
Check out these two BIG blocks by Lakers big man Dwight Howard as he shows off his defensive abilities against the Wizards, swatting these shots out of bounds and into the stands!
http://wn.com/Dwight_Howard's_Block_Party_in_DC!
Check out these two BIG blocks by Lakers big man Dwight Howard as he shows off his defensive abilities against the Wizards, swatting these shots out of bounds and into the stands!
- published: 15 Dec 2012
- views: 62889
- author: NBA
The Dwight Howard and Steve Nash Effect on the Lakers
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 7:03
- Updated: 18 Dec 2012
Coach Nick breaks down how Dwight Howard and Steve Nash will attack out of Eddie Jordan's Princeton offense. While Andrew Bynum is arguably considered just behind Dwight Howard, we'll show you some stats that show you Dwight is appreciably better. Steve Nash will be devastating in the pick and roll, primarily because the Princeton gets good ball movement before they execute it.
http://wn.com/The_Dwight_Howard_and_Steve_Nash_Effect_on_the_Lakers
Coach Nick breaks down how Dwight Howard and Steve Nash will attack out of Eddie Jordan's Princeton offense. While Andrew Bynum is arguably considered just behind Dwight Howard, we'll show you some stats that show you Dwight is appreciably better. Steve Nash will be devastating in the pick and roll, primarily because the Princeton gets good ball movement before they execute it.
- published: 23 Aug 2012
- views: 386966
- author: bballbreakdown
Dwight Howard's Top 10 Career Dunks
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:59
- Updated: 17 Dec 2012
Check out the top 10 dunks from one of the best big-man dunkers of all-time.
http://wn.com/Dwight_Howard's_Top_10_Career_Dunks
Check out the top 10 dunks from one of the best big-man dunkers of all-time.
- published: 22 Feb 2012
- views: 338109
- author: NBA
Dwight Howard's Monster Night
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:03
- Updated: 11 Dec 2012
Dwight Howard's double-double, 28 points and 20 boards, leads Lakers to 122-103 win over Nuggets.
http://wn.com/Dwight_Howard's_Monster_Night
Dwight Howard's double-double, 28 points and 20 boards, leads Lakers to 122-103 win over Nuggets.
- published: 01 Dec 2012
- views: 14371
- author: ESPN
Dwight Howard Top 10 Plays
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:48
- Updated: 18 Nov 2012
Visit thehoopdoctors.com for more great videos, blogs, news and rumors about NBA basketball.
http://wn.com/Dwight_Howard_Top_10_Plays
Visit thehoopdoctors.com for more great videos, blogs, news and rumors about NBA basketball.
- published: 13 Aug 2012
- views: 24303
- author: TheHoopDoctors
Lakers Nation Interviews Dwight Howard
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:29
- Updated: 16 Dec 2012
www.LakersNation.com | http | facebook.com - Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters interviews Dwight Howard at introductory press conference. Howard compares twitter followers, talks about his defensive presence and new goals with the Lakers. Howard even gives us a preview to a Mike Brown impersonation. Watch to see what he comes up with off the top of his head!
http://wn.com/Lakers_Nation_Interviews_Dwight_Howard
www.LakersNation.com | http | facebook.com - Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters interviews Dwight Howard at introductory press conference. Howard compares twitter followers, talks about his defensive presence and new goals with the Lakers. Howard even gives us a preview to a Mike Brown impersonation. Watch to see what he comes up with off the top of his head!
- published: 12 Aug 2012
- views: 218431
- author: lakersnationdotcom
Dwight Howard Workout (9/26/12)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:03
- Updated: 06 Dec 2012
Dwight Howard went through treatment with head physical therapist Judy Seto before doing some work around the rim with assistant coaches Chuck Person and Darvin Ham.
http://wn.com/Dwight_Howard_Workout_9_26_12
Dwight Howard went through treatment with head physical therapist Judy Seto before doing some work around the rim with assistant coaches Chuck Person and Darvin Ham.
- published: 26 Sep 2012
- views: 221047
- author: LakersTwitter
Metta World Peace on Dwight Howard
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:56
- Updated: 17 Dec 2012
http://wn.com/Metta_World_Peace_on_Dwight_Howard
Lakers center Dwight Howard imitates Kobe Bryant's voice
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:52
- Updated: 19 Dec 2012
Lakers center Dwight Howard imitates Kobe Bryant's voice
http://wn.com/Lakers_center_Dwight_Howard_imitates_Kobe_Bryant's_voice
Lakers center Dwight Howard imitates Kobe Bryant's voice
- published: 11 Aug 2012
- views: 195754
- author: losangelestimes
Dwight Howard Top 10 Plays of the 2011-2012 Season
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:19
- Updated: 17 Dec 2012
As DH12 moves to Lakerland we take a look back at last year's best plays by one of the NBA's premier big men.
http://wn.com/Dwight_Howard_Top_10_Plays_of_the_2011-2012_Season
As DH12 moves to Lakerland we take a look back at last year's best plays by one of the NBA's premier big men.
- published: 17 Aug 2012
- views: 243146
- author: NBA
Dwight Howard - Welcome to LA
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:55
- Updated: 14 Dec 2012
Dwight Howard is a MONSTER. Diwght Howard mix Carmelo Anthony,Tracy Mcgrady,Shaq, LeBron, Dwight Howard All-Star Dance-Off,Slam Dunk Contest,Top 10,NBA Draft 2009,Dwight Howard Superman dunk,AND1,Hot sauce,Lebron james,la lakers,Boston celtics nba champions,La Clippers,Denver Nuggets,Allen Iverson,Dallas Mavericks,East West All star game,nba record,nba street vol 1,2,homecourt,I Challenge Baron Davis,greatest in nba history,shot,block,steal,Michael Jordan's Final Shot 98,Baron Davis, Dwyane Wade, Lebron James, Tracy McGrady, Stephon Marubury, Yao Ming, Gilbert Arenas, Kobe Bryant, Speedy Claxton, Paul Pierce, Nate Robinson, Allen Iverson, and Ben Gordan,Soulja Boy And Lebron James Interview ,Kobe Bryant Jumps Over Car(Aston Martin) Slow Motion,Kobe Bryant Car Jump Exposed,fl, ncaa, baseball, soccer, futbol, football, Nba, basketball, mlb, hockey, nhl, paris fifa, poker, golf, world cup,Guinness World Record,Spud Webb Dunk Contest,the best of derrick rose,Kobe Bryant Jumps Over Pool w/ Snakes (Black Mambas?,LeBron talks with Jay-Z during game nba 10 top plays 07 08 top dunks season finals mvp all star game lebron james vs kobe Bryant chris paul dwight howard sprite dunk contest hornets spurs cavs lebron james lawyer vitamin water commercial nike kobe jumps pool with snakes mamba lakers vs spurs game highlights playoffs game 3 4 5 6 7 kevin garnett paul pierce celtics vs pistons wizards gilbert arenas deshawn stevenson jay-z new york nets miami michael beasley derrick rose ...
http://wn.com/Dwight_Howard_Welcome_to_LA
Dwight Howard is a MONSTER. Diwght Howard mix Carmelo Anthony,Tracy Mcgrady,Shaq, LeBron, Dwight Howard All-Star Dance-Off,Slam Dunk Contest,Top 10,NBA Draft 2009,Dwight Howard Superman dunk,AND1,Hot sauce,Lebron james,la lakers,Boston celtics nba champions,La Clippers,Denver Nuggets,Allen Iverson,Dallas Mavericks,East West All star game,nba record,nba street vol 1,2,homecourt,I Challenge Baron Davis,greatest in nba history,shot,block,steal,Michael Jordan's Final Shot 98,Baron Davis, Dwyane Wade, Lebron James, Tracy McGrady, Stephon Marubury, Yao Ming, Gilbert Arenas, Kobe Bryant, Speedy Claxton, Paul Pierce, Nate Robinson, Allen Iverson, and Ben Gordan,Soulja Boy And Lebron James Interview ,Kobe Bryant Jumps Over Car(Aston Martin) Slow Motion,Kobe Bryant Car Jump Exposed,fl, ncaa, baseball, soccer, futbol, football, Nba, basketball, mlb, hockey, nhl, paris fifa, poker, golf, world cup,Guinness World Record,Spud Webb Dunk Contest,the best of derrick rose,Kobe Bryant Jumps Over Pool w/ Snakes (Black Mambas?,LeBron talks with Jay-Z during game nba 10 top plays 07 08 top dunks season finals mvp all star game lebron james vs kobe Bryant chris paul dwight howard sprite dunk contest hornets spurs cavs lebron james lawyer vitamin water commercial nike kobe jumps pool with snakes mamba lakers vs spurs game highlights playoffs game 3 4 5 6 7 kevin garnett paul pierce celtics vs pistons wizards gilbert arenas deshawn stevenson jay-z new york nets miami michael beasley derrick rose ...
- published: 29 Apr 2011
- views: 103233
- author: DRoseMVP1x
Lego Dwight Howard
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:04
- Updated: 18 Dec 2012
Ellen heard the new Laker had a thing for Lego, so she delivered a special gift he'll never forget!
http://wn.com/Lego_Dwight_Howard
Ellen heard the new Laker had a thing for Lego, so she delivered a special gift he'll never forget!
- published: 27 Sep 2012
- views: 306235
- author: TheEllenShow
photo: AP / Jason DeCrow
16 Dec 2012
NEWTOWN, Conn. — The gunman in the Connecticut shooting rampage committed suicide as first responders closed in, the governor said Sunday, raising the specter that Adam Lanza had planned an even more gruesome massacre and was stopped short. Lanza blasted his way into the building and used a high-power rifle to kill 20 children and six adults, including the principal who tried to stop him, authorities said ... Among the questions ... H ... The Rev....(size: 8.8Kb)
photo: AP / Charles Krupa
18 Dec 2012
Article by WN.com Correspondent Dallas Darling. "Most people reason dramatically, not quantitatively." -Oliver Wendell Holmes. On the same day that a 20-year-old, described as brilliant but remote, walked into an elementary school in Connecticut and massacred 26 children and adults, the school where I teach went on "lock-down." Four students with a handgun were arrested ... That morning before school, he had posted on Twitter and Facebook....(size: 14.0Kb)
photo: AP / Jason DeCrow
18 Dec 2012
An increasing number of US congressmen have called for a national dialogue about measures to curb gun violence following the shooting last week at a primary school in Connecticut that killed 26 people, including 20 children and six adults. White House officials have said that President Barack Obama would make preventing gun-related violence a priority in his second term in office and stricter laws would be part of the effort. ... ....(size: 19.2Kb)
photo: AP / Khalil Hamra
16 Dec 2012
Article by WN.com Correspondent Dallas Darling. "Fundamentalism is good for protest, good for revolution, and good for war, but not so good for development.". After a century of being persecuted and driven underground, mainly for their vibrant nationalism and their anti-imperialist and pro-Palestinian views, Egypt's Islamist Muslim Brotherhood has finally taken center-state ... Such actions will have to be avoided....(size: 6.9Kb)
photo: AP / Manu Brabo
18 Dec 2012
The UN's humanitarian chief has called on Syria to urgently allow fuel imports for aid deliveries and give access to 10 more aid agencies. Valerie Amos met government officials in the capital, Damascus, to discuss the growing humanitarian crisis. UN workers also needed to freely move into opposition-controlled areas to step up their aid efforts, she said ... 'Greater rebel contact' ... The claim could not be independently verified ... ....(size: 2.6Kb)
The Examiner
19 Dec 2012
Staples Center fell quiet midway through the third quarter, completely stunned as the Charlotte Bobcats led the Los Angeles Lakers by 18 points with six minutes remaining ... Gerald Henderson Rises Above Dwight for the Throwdown Gerald Henderson Rises Above Dwight for the Throwdown ... With five seconds remaining, Walker drove strong to the the basket but was rejected by Dwight Howard ... And the game ball belongs to. Kemba Walker ... Laker' Nation ... ....(size: 3.4Kb)
Business Insider
19 Dec 2012
The play of the game came in the fourth quarter, when Gerald Henderson got fouled by Dwight Howard on a violent dunk that even brought the Lakers' bench to its ... NBA, Charlotte Bobcats, Los Angeles Lakers, Dwight Howard ....(size: 1.3Kb)
The Los Angeles Times
19 Dec 2012
Lakers 101, Bobcats 100 (Final) ... Both teams had double-digit leads and managed to lose them ... Dwight Howard had a double-double, scoring 16 points and adding 18 rebounds ... Dazed and confused ... Dwight Howard’s line ... For the Lakers, Kobe Bryant had 15 points, and Dwight Howard already had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds ... Gasol quickly returned, giving Dwight Howard a break and seemed to find his legs and touch ... 3. ... ... ....(size: 40.9Kb)
PR Newswire
19 Dec 2012
Google. NEW YORK, Dec ... Other Corporate Candor trends include. Deductions for FOG (the absence of Candor) declined 16 percent in 2011 compared to 2010, an indicator of improving corporate candor and transparency. Church & Dwight and Home Depot ranked highest in Communication Efficiency in 2011, while DuPont and Honeywell took top honors in 2010 ... . Top-Ranked. Bottom-Ranked. Rank. Company. Rank ... 1. Church & Dwight. 91 ... 2....(size: 5.3Kb)
Houston Press
19 Dec 2012
Here in Houston, we shouldn't need an excuse to throw great parties, but I suppose the so-called Mayan Apocalypse is a pretty good reason to get shit-housed and listen to local bands ... I'm going to see Dwight Yoakam Friday at the Arena Theatre. It isn't really billed as a EOW show, though I wouldn't mind spending my last hours on Earth in front of Dwight ... I don't really know what you wear to an Apocalypse party ... but doors open at 8 p.m ... ....(size: 2.9Kb)
Denver Post
19 Dec 2012
Click photo to enlarge. North Carolina State's C.J. Leslie, rear, and Tyler Lewis, right, pressure Stanford's Dwight Powell during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012. «12345» ... It also allowed N.C ... Dwight Powell continued his recent strong play for the Cardinal (7-4), scoring 23 points for his fourth 20-point performance in five games ... N.C ... N.C ... 5. N.C ... State in control ... ....(size: 3.0Kb)
The News & Observer
19 Dec 2012
Email Print Order Reprint Share This. Text. tool name. tool goes here. By JOE GIGLIO - The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.). By JOE GIGLIO. RALEIGH, N.C. -- N.C ... No. 25 N.C ... 5 at Boston College ... With Stanford's Dwight Powell (23 points) controlling the inside, the Wolfpack needed to rely on its perimeter scorers ... Dwight Powell is developing into a reliable scorer for Stanford ... Dwight Powell is developing into a reliable scorer for Stanford ... ....(size: 12.5Kb)
The Charlotte Observer
19 Dec 2012
LOS ANGELES The Charlotte Bobcats missed four shots in the final seconds - two of them at the rim - to fall to the Los Angeles Lakers 101-100 and extend their losing streak to 12 games. Kemba Walker (28 points) drove for what would have been the winning basket, but his shot was blocked by Lakers center Dwight Howard ... Kobe Bryant led the Bobcats with 30 points ... And center Dwight Howard totaled 12 points and 10 rebounds at the half ... ....(size: 3.2Kb)
The Examiner
19 Dec 2012
Thanks to the additions of Steve Nash and Dwight Howard, the Los Angeles Lakers are now the top-rated team in NBA 2K13. With the game set to release on Oct ... LeBron James is the game's top rated current player with a 98 with Dwight Howard coming in second with a 95 ... Philadelphia 76ers (14th Overall) ... Dwight Howard - 95 Kobe Bryant - 93 Pau Gasol - 87 Steve Nash - 87 Antawn Jamison - 77 Metta World Peace (Ron Artest) - 71 ... ....(size: 5.6Kb)
Yahoo Daily News
19 Dec 2012
The Charlotte Observer
19 Dec 2012
Asbury Park Press
19 Dec 2012
Sacramento Bee
19 Dec 2012
Dwight may refer to:
- People
- Dwight (given name)
- New England Dwight family of American educators, military and political leaders, and authors
- Places
In Canada:
- Dwight, Ontario, village in the township of Lake of Bays, Ontario
In the United States:
- Dwight, Illinois, village in Livingston and Grundy counties
- Dwight Correctional Center, maximum security prison for adult females in Illinois
- Dwight, Kansas, city in Morris County
- Dwight, Nebraska, village in Butler County
- Dwight, North Dakota, city in Richland County
- Dwight Township, Livingston County, Illinois
- Dwight Township, Michigan
- Dwight School, New York City
 |
This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. |
http://wn.com/Dwight
Related pages:
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http://it.wn.com/Dwight (disambigua)
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This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwight
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
| Dwight Kurt Schrute III | |
|---|---|
| The Office character | |
| 250px Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute |
|
| First appearance | "Pilot" |
| Portrayed by | Rainn Wilson |
| Information | |
| Nickname(s) | "Dwight 'Danger' Schrute", "D", "D-Money", "Dragon", "Possum", "D-Unit", "Morpheus", "ReCyclops", "Dwight Fart Schrute, "Dwayne" " |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation |
|
| Family | Dweide Schrude (Great-grandfather) Dwight Schrute I (Grandfather) Dwight Schrute II (Father) Hette Schrute (née Manheim) (Mother) Manheim (Grandfather) Hank (Great-uncle) Helmuth (Great-uncle) Harvey Schrute (Uncle) Girt (Uncle) Gunther (Uncle) Eldred (Uncle) Mose (Cousin) Amel (Cousin) Herschel (Cousin) Johann (Cousin) Helga (Cousin) Heindl (Cousin) |
| Based on | Gareth Keenan |
Dwight Kurt Schrute III (born November 11, 1970) is a character on NBC's The Office, portrayed by Rainn Wilson and based on Gareth Keenan from the original UK version of The Office. Dwight is the top Salesman and former acting manager for the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, and has won numerous awards for his successes, despite lacking social skills and common sense.[1] Despite his personal dislike of Jim Halpert, the two are an effective sales team.[1] Dwight's ability as a salesman, though, has rarely commanded the respect of his peers or led to higher levels of professional success. Moreover, though at one time he was the Assistant to the Regional Manager, he was demoted to a debatable number three in the office after Jim came back from Stamford. Currently, Dwight has resumed his post as Assistant To The Regional Manager.
In an episode commentary on the season one DVD, Wilson refers to Dwight as a "fascist nerd" who is a predictable caricature of a character that demonstrates the futility of most TV.[2] In a featurette on the season three DVD, Wilson describes Dwight as "someone who does not hate the system, but has a deep and abiding love for it".[3]
Contents |
Casting[link]
Further information: Rainn Wilson
Dwight Schrute is portrayed by American actor Rainn Wilson. The character is based on Gareth Keenan of the original British version of the show, who was played by actor Mackenzie Crook.
All original series characters were adapted for the U.S. version. Unlike Steve Carell, Wilson watched every episode of the original British series, and was a fan before he auditioned for the U.S. version.[2] Wilson had originally auditioned for Michael Scott, a performance he described as a "terrible Gervais impersonation";[2] however, the casting directors liked his audition as Dwight much more, and hired him for the role. Wilson based Dwight's hairstyle on his own style he had when he was sixteen.[2] In an interview, he said that he went to a barber to get "the worst haircut possible."[4]
Character information[link]
When the series begins, Dwight Schrute is a competent salesman, despite lacking general knowledge, at the Scranton branch of the paper distribution company, Dunder Mifflin. Dwight formally held the title of "Assistant to the Regional Manager",[5] but constantly refers to himself as "Assistant Regional Manager", attempting to elevate himself to second-in-command to branch Manager, Michael Scott. Dwight craves authority over his co-workers, and relishes any minor task that Michael or anyone else will give him.[2] Although Dwight acts superior to many individuals and is often resourceful in crises, he is shown to actually be quite gullible, ignorant, and naïve.[2] For this reason, he is easily tricked and pranked by his desk-mate and fellow Salesman, Jim Halpert.[6]
Dwight often speaks in a halting, intense manner, even in casual conversations.[2] At the office, his most recurring formal wear is a mustard-colored, short-sleeved collar shirt, with a dark necktie and, usually, a brown suit jacket. He often uses one-upmanship to better himself over his peers, such as boasting about how he trains specific parts of his body. Although he has little, if any, sense of humor, Dwight will engage in jokes and games in attempts to appease Michael, but often fails to do so, because of Michael's perception of himself as the jokester of the workplace. After Dwight temporarily leaves Dunder Mifflin, it is shown that he watered the office plant and arranged the toys on Michael's desk in a manner that made Michael happy.
Dwight is a former volunteer sheriff deputy.[7] He resides on his family's beet farm, alongside his cousin, Mose (played by producer/writer Michael Schur). Dwight has affinities for paintball, Battlestar Galactica, ping pong, survivalism, Goju Ryu karate[8] and weapons. He also has a preference to ride in the back seat of cars behind the driver, because it is the safest location in a car.
In "Whistleblower", encouraged to invest in real estate by former CEO and owner of Dunder Mifflin, Jo Bennett, Dwight decides to purchase the industrial park building.[9] He has shown entrepreneurial traits, like converting the building lobby into a coffee shop,[10] converting an empty room in the office building into a state-of-the-art gym,[11] and organizing a barn maze before Halloween, where kids can pay admission to play.[12]
Family and childhood[link]
In "Lecture Circuit", Dwight claims to remember his own birth, including his Father delivering him from the womb, and his Mother biting off the umbilical cord.[13] In "Grief Counseling", Dwight states that he was a twin, but he "resorbed" his twin while still in his Mother's womb (this occurrence is called twin embolisation syndrome), causing him to believe that he now has "The strength of a grown man and a little baby".[14] He also claims to have been born weighing 13 lb 5 oz (6.0 kg), rendering his mother incapable of walking for three months and two days,[14] and in "Baby Shower", he claims to have performed his own circumcision. In "Viewing Party", he informs Jim and Pam Halpert that, in the Schrute family, the youngest child raises the other children, thus Dwight has been "Raising children since [he] was a baby".[15]
Little is known about Dwight's parents, except that his Father used to take him hunting, cheated in games, and that he battled obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. In the Season Two DVD bloopers, it is revealed that, when Dwight was a child, his father would take him and his brothers to a swimming hole on hot summer days until 10:00 AM, then they would work in the beet fields until well after midnight.[16] In "Costume Contest", when Dwight sees that Pam has dressed up as Olive Oyl for Halloween, he erroneously believes that she dressed up as his Mother, and tells Pam that she is "Only one third as beautiful and only half her height". In "Fun Run", Dwight offers to bury Angela Martin's deceased cat, Sprinkles, "At the east field, by Mother", implying that his Mother is, too, deceased. However, in "The Lover", after learning that Michael has been dating Pam's Mother, Helene, Dwight informs Michael that if he knew that he was "Into dating Mothers", he would have introduced Michael to his own. While this appears to be a continuity error, it is possible that the woman Dwight is referring to could be his stepmother. It is also plausible that the context of the offer was past tense, which means it may have not been an error.
Dwight's maternal Grandfather, whose surname is Manheim (according to Dwight's web log on NBC.com)[17] fought in the second World War. He had killed twenty men, before being imprisoned in an Allied prison camp,[8] implying that he was a soldier in the German army. In "Dunder Mifflin Infinity", Dwight tells the Documentary film crew that his Grandfather is (at the time of the episode) 103 years-old, and is still "puttering around Argentina somewhere", implying that his Grandfather was one of the members of the SS who fled into South America. Dwight attempted to visit him once, but his travel visa was protested by the Shoah Foundation.[18] In "Take Your Daughter to Work Day", Michael refers to Dwight's Grandmother as a "Nazi war criminal".[19] Dwight's Father and Grandfather are also named Dwight Schrute; however, his Amish great-grandfather was named Dweide Schrude. In "Casino Night", Dwight reveals that the tuxedo he is wearing is the one that his Grandfather was buried in. It is possible that this is the same Grandfather that was reburied in an "old oil drum" ("Grief Counseling"). In a deleted scene of "The Duel", Dwight reveals that his great-uncle Helmuth was locally renowned for building a makeshift flying machine in four years; but he was promptly killed when said machine landed on a small girl.[20] In a deleted scene from "The Surplus", Dwight tells Angela that his family came to the United States on a U-Boat, after she informs him that Andy's ancestors came to the U.S. on the Mayflower. It is revealed in "Money", that the Schrute family has a tradition, where when a male has intercourse with a woman, he is rewarded with a bag of wild oats that are left on his doorstep, by his parents.[21] It appears that, like his great-grandfather, other members of Dwight's family have been Amish, as well, as Mose dresses similarly to that of a practicing member. Dwight also speaks German, but his knowledge of it is "Pre-industrial and mostly religious", as might be expected if the language was learned exclusively in an Amish church or context.
Dwight was shunned by his family from the age of four until his sixth birthday, for forgetting to save the excess oil from a can of tuna.[22] He lost a Grade School spelling bee to Raj Patel by misspelling the word "Failure", in front of the entire school.[23] In seventh grade, Dwight played the invented role of "Mutey the Mailman" in a production of Oklahoma![24] He explains that there were not enough roles for all of the children, so they made up roles.[24]
Dwight lives in a nine-bedroom, one-bathroom (which is located under the porch, as revealed in "Office Olympics"), farmhouse on his family's 60-acre (240,000 m2) beet farm, alongside Mose, selling beets to local stores, restaurants and roadside beet stands.[25] It is also revealed that Dwight uses part of his farm to grow hemp; in "Launch Party", he claims that teenagers keep stealing it, although a pizza delivery boy, under the impression that it is marijuana, as opposed to hemp, claims that it is "crappy".[26] Dwight and Mose have also turned Schrute Farms into a ramshackle bed and breakfast, that was visited by Jim and Pam, during "Money".[27] The bed and breakfast had three theme rooms, "America, Irrigation, and Nighttime". Schrute Farms was also to be the site of Andy and Angela's wedding, before the two broke off their engagement after Andy discovered she was cheating on him, with Dwight. In "Garden Party", Andy throws a garden party at Schrute Farms, in order to impress new CEO Robert California, and, at the end of the episode, Robert also discusses the possibility of holding his birthday party at the farm.[28]
According to one of Dwight's web logs on NBC.com's "Schrute-Space", he had an Uncle, named Gunther, a goat farmer, who fled the Allied invasion of Germany and married a Finnish woman, with whom he had 17 children.[29] He also had an Uncle Girt, who revealed that the Schrute family has an ongoing hatred of Harry S. Truman, because they were staunch supporters of Thomas Dewey. In another blog, he mentions a cousin named Heindl, who received numerous injuries and infections from an attack by a small dog.[30]
Interests[link]
Dwight is trained in the art of surveillance, and is a former Lackawanna County volunteer sheriff's deputy.[7] He has a purple belt in Goju-Ryu karate, and is the senpai at his dojo.[8] Dwight is a pop culture and sci-fi enthusiast, who has expressed fanship of many sci-fi movies and popular television series. In the episode "The Fire", he mentioned the movie The Crow as being his favorite film. He hints at belief in fictional creatures such as androids, zombies and vampires (though curiously, despite having claimed in "Business School", to have shot a werewolf, he says in one of his blog entries that he does not believe in them; however, he may have simply been denying claims of werewolves at Schrute Farms in order to prevent potential visitors from being frightened away).[30] He enjoys, and is shown to be skilled at, playing table tennis, and states that many of his heroes are table tennis players.[31] His musical tastes vary, but heavy metal and classic rock seems to be a recurring theme.[1] His personal musical talents are not lacking, as he plays guitar and recorder, and sings, as well.[19] He has a fascination with cars; he usually checks a car's suspension, especially muscle cars. He drives a 1987 Pontiac Trans Am. His technological talents are limited, but he shows a passion for the online role playing game, Second Life, in which the only difference between himself and his avatar is that his avatar has the ability to fly.[26] He also shows an interest in trains, as he is restoring a life-size train in his slaughterhouse, during "The Meeting", which has him bonding with Toby Flenderson, as they share the same interest. In "Todd Packer", it is revealed that Dwight does not know who Justin Bieber is, asking Jim "Who is Justice Beaver?", leaving Jim to answer "A crime-fighting beaver."
File:Dwight weapons.ogg
Dwight expresses his interests in weaponry and surveillance.
Dwight owns an impressive array of weaponry. In addition to Laser Tag and paintball equipment, he has a crossbow range at his farm ("Office Olympics") and, when he was named official Security Supervisor of the Scranton branch,[7] hinted that he might bring a bo staff to work. He maintained a hidden arsenal of weapons around the office, including pepper spray, nunchucks, throwing stars, a stun gun, a boomerang, handcuffs, a nightstick, a pair of brass knuckles and a Chinese Sword, all of which were confiscated by Toby.[32] Dwight also claimed to have sat at his desk for an entire day with a Spud Gun, without any difficulty from Security.[7] Dwight also uses a real gun, a Colt Anaconda, fired within city limits, to start off the race in "Fun Run".[33] In "Branch Wars", he produces a disturbing number of Molotov cocktails for a panty raid on Utica. In "Survivor Man", it is revealed that Dwight still has numerous knives (and other weapons) hidden on himself (as in "Stress Relief", there is a knife strapped to his leg) or strategically positioned throughout the office (such as "Mr. A Knife" in a filing cabinet, twin sais behind a water cooler, a sword in a ceiling tile, a blow dart in a bathroom stall, and a compound bow under a couch), and that he owns a .22 rifle with scope. Also, in this episode, it is shown that Dwight has extensive knowledge of how to survive in the wilderness, being able to provide himself with food, and, by observing Michael, from a distance, through the scope of his center-fire rifle, he stops Michael from poisoning himself, although it is not clear whether the mushrooms Michael started to ingest were actually poisionous.[34]
Dwight is vocal about his views on justice, which is reflected in his television viewing habits, as he enjoys watching and has great admiration for Judge Judy, as well as Vic Mackey on The Shield. In "The Negotiation", Roy Anderson attacks Jim, because he kissed Roy's fiancee, Pam, but Dwight intercepts the attack with pepper spray.[32] Throughout the episode, Jim attempts to show his appreciation, but Dwight refuses to accept his gifts, simply stating "Citizens do not accept prizes for being citizens".[32] In "Drug Testing", Dwight finds half of a joint in the parking lot, which incites him to carry out a severe, and thorough, investigation.[7] When he discovers that Michael might have been exposed to illegal drugs at a concert, he substitutes his own urine during the mandatory drug test.[7] Dwight then resigns from his volunteer position at the Sheriff's Department, because he feels that he is no longer worthy of working there. In "Frame Toby", Dwight states that he is skilled at framing people, as well as animals, revealing that he once framed a raccoon for opening a Christmas gift, and a bear for eating out of the garbage, although, he had made it obvious to the police that he wanted Toby to be imprisoned.[7] In the episode "Women's Appreciation", he is quoted as saying "Better a thousand innocent men are locked up, than one guilty man roam free."
In "Conflict Resolution", Dwight states that he does not like to smile, as showing one's teeth is a submission signal in primates, and that whenever someone smiles at him, "All [he] sees is a chimpanzee, begging for its life".[35] In "Body Language", Dwights reveals that he and Mose are currently attempting to reanimate a deceased bull.[36] It has been implied that Dwight is against vegetarianism. In "Stress Relief", when asked which charity he dislikes, he states PETA. In "Happy Hour", he tells Isabel that he is pleased that she is not a vegetarian.[37] Dwight's dislike of cats, made evident in "Fun Run", also seems to support this theory, as he states that "cats do not provide milk, wool or meat". Dwight owns many exotic pets including piranhas, frogs, a wolf, a raccoon, and an opossum, although the wolf escaped and he flushed his piranhas down the toilet.
In "Booze Cruise", Dwight claims to have been the youngest pilot in Pan Am history, stating that, when he was four, he and his Father were invited into the cockpit of an airplane, and that he was allowed to co-pilot the aircraft. He also claims that he would have been capable of landing it, but his Father had wanted them to return to their seats.[38]
In "Costume Contest", Dwight claims to be able to sit on a fence, and that he is even able to sleep on one, stating that "The trick is to do it face down, with the post in your mouth".[39]
It also appears that Dwight is a fan of the band Mötley Crüe, as he is seen in "Performance Review" and "Traveling Salesmen", dancing to their music.[40][41]
Relationships[link]
In "Drug Testing", Dwight states that he likes his co-workers, "with four exceptions", leaving it up to the audience to make educated guesses about whom these four exceptions are. The four are most likely Jim Halpert, Ryan Howard, Meredith Palmer and Toby, due of Michael's hatred of him. However, it is also probable that Phyllis Lapin-Vance could be one of the exceptions, as, on many occasions, she and Dwight are shown to have a strained relationship. Kelly Kapoor is likewise a viable choice as her ditsy nature contrasts Dwight's overly seriousness character, as we see later in the same episode during Dwight's interrogation of Kelly. This theory is also reinforced by Angela's hatred of Kelly and the influence Angela may hold as Dwight's girlfriend at the time. Pam Halpert is also a possible exception as she is often an accomplice to Jim's pranks against Dwight.
Angela Martin[link]
Towards the middle of season 2, Dwight develops a secret relationship with Angela Martin. Pam begins to suspect a relationship between the two, in "E-mail Surveillance", by observing their interactions, suspicions which are strengthened in "The Injury" and "Conflict Resolution", and confirmed by "Traveling Salesmen", where Angela confides in Pam about her relationship, using code names.[1] Ryan discovers the relationship between the two when he overhears a coded conversation between them in the Kitchen, while Jim discovers the relationship while coming out of the office bathroom after quitting time, to find Dwight and Angela kissing,[32] although, on an earlier occasion, he unwittingly glimpsed Angela, dressed in lingerie, lying in Dwight's hotel room, but mistook her for a prostitute.
In the episode "Fun Run", Angela asks Dwight to care for her sick cat, Sprinkles.[33] Instead of caring for the feline, Dwight feels he should put Sprinkles out of its misery, and feeds it antihistamines until it falls asleep, to which he then subsequently places the sleeping, but not deceased, cat in Angela's freezer.[33] This backfires, and Angela terminates their relationship. Jim, on a visit to Dwight's beet farm, finds Dwight sitting alone at night, contemplating Angela's cherub figurine and moaning in anguish.[27]
In the fourth season finale "Goodbye, Toby", Dwight is obviously hurt when Angela's boyfriend, Andy, proposes to her.[42] However, in the final scene of the episode, Phyllis re-enters the office, following Toby's farewell party, and catches Dwight having sex with Angela, strongly indicating a reconciliation between the two is possible.[42]
In the fifth season Premiere, "Weight Loss", Dwight and Angela have resumed a covert relationship, using a storage room in the warehouse to have sex whenever Angela finds Andy too unbearable. In "Business Ethics", it is revealed that it takes Dwight nineteen minutes and forty-eight seconds to make love to Angela. In "Crime Aid", Dwight once again becomes depressed when Andy and Angela have set a date for their wedding. After some advice from Phyllis, Dwight gives Angela an ultimatum: call off the engagement, or he will no longer be with her. She ultimately chooses to marry Andy.
Phyllis eventually tells everyone, apart from Andy, about Angela's affair with Dwight; Michael steps in and tells Andy, when Angela fails to do so. A duel between Dwight and Andy takes place, but both realize that Angela has been lying to them, and neither one remains with her. For quite some time afterwards, Dwight and Angela avoid each other; however, later episodes have hinted at a possible future for the couple. In the season 6 episode "The Delivery", Dwight, witnessing Jim and Pam talk to customers about their unborn child, decides that he wants a child, and asks Angela to be the Mother. They sign an elaborate contract, including eating guidelines for Angela to follow when she is pregnant, and how the baby will be raised. While Angela seems excited by the reconciliation, Dwight doesn't appear to share her romantic feelings. When Dwight develops an interest in Pam's friend Isabel, he tells Angela to forget about the contract; this infuriates Angela and she sues him in small-claims court. When an arbitrator tells them that the contract is valid and would involve a $30,000 settlement (because it would be illegal to force Dwight and Angela to procreate), Dwight cuts a deal with Angela for five sessions of sex. He then proceeds to abuse his genitals in an effort to sterilize himself, and curtly fends off Angela's efforts to be romantic during Session 6 in "The Chump". In Season 7, the deal continues, but, a combination of both she and Dwight having mixed feelings about it, along with Angela's meeting of a handsome, though possibly closeted homosexual, State Senator, leads her to void the pact in WUPHF.com. Upon seeing the now-defunct document, Dwight looks visibly distraught.
In "Jury Duty", it is revealed that, a month before her wedding to the State Senator, Robert Lipton, Dwight and Angela had sex, as Robert was not fulfilling Angela's sexual needs. Thus, there is a high probability that Dwight is Angela's son's biological father.[43]
Michael Scott[link]
Dwight holds a high-level of respect for Michael, viewing him as a model for success, and often participating with Michael's ill-conceived schemes.[2] With the enormous exception of going over Michael's head to vie for the Manager's job in "The Coup", his loyalty to his boss rarely flags. Despite this, Michael frequently dismisses Dwight and often appears embarrassed by his antics; for much of the series, he also refuses to promote Dwight from "Assistant to the Regional Manager" to "Assistant Regional Manager". Several times throughout the series, however, it is revealed that Michael does care about Dwight's feelings, and the two sometimes share bonding moments. In "Training Day", Dwight is unhappy when the open branch Manager position goes to Deangelo Vickers, and when he learns that Michael did not recommend him for the job, as he led him to believe, he snubs Michael and goes to a meeting Vickers has called, leaving Michael standing outside, by himself.[44] In "Goodbye, Michael", Dwight is still frustrated with Michael, but his hostility turns into heartfelt appreciation as Michael hands him the recommendation letter. At first, the letter does not seem to impress him, but, as he reads through, he realizes that Michael really does truly care for him. They are later seen engaging in a friendly paintball fight, and Dwight's loyalty to Michael is once again restored.[45]
Jim Halpert[link]
Dwight is frequently the victim of practical jokes by co-workers Jim Halpert and Pam Halpert, although it appears that he remains oblivious to Pam's involvement; these pranks tend to exploit his stubborn and gullible nature. As a result of this, Dwight and Jim have an ongoing feud that reaches to a crisis point in "Conflict Resolution", when Dwight threatens to quit, unless Jim is transferred.[46] Professionally, Dwight wins the 2005 Salesman of the Year Award,[23] although, this is likely due to, at least in part, his theft of Jim's largest client.[23]
Somewhat surprisingly, Dwight was regretful during "Initiation", as he told Ryan that he and Jim never got along, and since, from that point onwards, and Jim's return from Stamford, they have generally gotten along better; their relationship could be best described as "frenemies." In "Traveling Salesmen", Jim is irritated when Andy replaces Dwight, in the brief time Dwight has quit. Jim even consoled Dwight during the painful aftermath of his breakup with Angela, although Dwight maintains a supercilious attitude towards him. In addition, as shown in "Traveling Salesmen", Jim and Dwight make an incredibly efficient sales team, functioning well as a duo and thinking similarly in their tactics. The two were paired together when they began as traveling Salesmen at the company. Dwight did plan to demote Jim from the Assistant Regional Manager spot, and make him miserable, during "The Job", but Jim mocked his plans, and they did not produce any severe impact on Jim.[47]
Dwight's relationship with Jim mellows somewhat in later seasons, and they, at times, cooperate effectively on sales calls or running the office in Michael's absence, sometimes even socializing together. Jim often supports Dwight when he is genuinely hurt or in danger (such as in Money and Last Day in Florida) and occasionally compliments his successes (such as in Dwight K. Schrute, (Acting) Manager). Dwight has even come to accept Jim's pranks as inevitable, in the eighth season episode Mrs. California, Jim notices Dwight hiding an aluminum pole under his pant leg so he can stand upright all day and, before tipping him over, says "you know I have to do this" to which Dwight resignedly replies "I know." However, when Jim is promoted to Co-Manager, Dwight's enmity returns to full force, and he conducts an ongoing campaign to depose Jim, who eventually resumes his old job as sales representative, pleasing Dwight who (wrongly) believes that his "diabolical plan" forced Jim to resign.[48]
Jim and Dwight team up in "Todd Packer", to attempt to remove Todd Packer, after he returns to the Dunder Mifflin offices and takes Dwight's desk. The two at first cannot agree on a plan, but eventually trick Packer into thinking he has got a job offer in Tallahassee. Michael tries to derail their scheme, but changes his mind after Packer insults Holly.[49]
Pam Halpert[link]
Although Pam is often involved in Jim's pranks on Dwight, Dwight has, at certain times, displayed a curious sense of protectiveness towards her. In "Back from Vacation" and "Diwali", he comforts a tearful Pam,[50][51] and in "China", he secretly allows Pam to save face when she feels vulnerable about her job abilities.[52] The two even become friends after he suffers a concussion in "The Injury".[53] In the season 6 episode "The Delivery", Dwight shows more signs of his begrudging friendship with Jim and Pam during Pam's pregnancy. In the episode, he is sent to the Halperts' house to retrieve Pam's iPod, while they are at the hospital. Instead of finding the iPod and bringing it back to her, Dwight decides to completely rebuild and repaint their kitchen, after discovering mold.[54] He also advises Pam on how to keep her daughter, Cece, from crying, during "Viewing Party", by relating his child rearing experiences. Dwight's odd friendship with Pam is explored again in "Doomsday". At this point, Pam seems to be the only one in the office who is able to understand Dwight's inner feelings, as she successfully convinces him to deactivate his doomsday machine. It is implied at the end of the episode that Dwight, despite his outward contempt for his coworkers, feels a sense of responsibility (and possibly even affection) towards them.[55]
In a talking-head interview, in the episode "Tallahassee", Dwight talks about how first impressions last forever. He recalls that, when he first met Pam, she said something to him that "Slightly rubbed [him] the wrong way", and while he has since loved working with her, even stating that she is wonderful, due to that first impression, he hates her.[56]
Andy Bernard[link]
As a result of the Scranton-Stamford merger, Dwight loses his number two position to Jim and engages in an ongoing battle with new Salesman Andy Bernard, to gain Michael's favor for "Third-in-command". The struggle comes to a climax in "Traveling Salesmen".[1] In Season 4, Andy and Dwight are shown to work well together as a Sales team, but Andy's successful pursuit of Angela, after she broke up with Dwight, was irritating to him. When Andy gets engaged to Angela, Dwight is greatly upset by this, and embarks on an affair with her. This affair culminates in a short-lived fight between Andy and Dwight, when they discover Angela has lied to both of them, about having sex with another. However, by the fifth season, Andy and Dwight become friends, and discover they both share a mutual interest in music and hunting.[57]
Ryan Howard[link]
In the beginning of the series, Dwight feels threatened by Ryan Howard, to whom Michael often assigns personal tasks. He continues to resent Ryan, throughout the second season, often addressing him as "Temp",[5] even after Ryan took over Jim's position.[18] In the beginning of season 2, Dwight's friendship with Michael was slightly torn during "Performance Review", in which Michael must evaluate Ryan.[58] In "Initiation", Dwight decides to assist Ryan, during his first sales call, although, the two get off to a rough start, when Dwight has him undergo a series of bizarre initiation rituals. But soon afterwards, Dwight takes Ryan on his first meeting, which ends in disaster, and the two later egg the potential customer's building out of spite.[59] During season 4, Dwight, along with Michael, comes to Ryan's rescue when they visit him in New York City, when he gets into a scuffle. The two later team up in season 6, when Dwight plans to sabotage Jim's occupation, as branch Co-Manager.[60]
Other office staff[link]
Dwight has an odd relationship with Phyllis, often treating her badly (such as abandoning her across town, so that she would lose weight by walking back), but also well (such as bidding to win a hug from her at the auction in "Crime Aid",[61] and massaging her back when she injured it from dancing).[62] He has a rare interaction with Creed, when he suspects Jim to be a vampire, and he questions Creed if he could make a wooden stake for him, in less than an hour. Dwight has low opinion of Meredith, and once caused her to get bitten by a bat, by pulling a garbage bag over her head, in order to catch the creature.[63] During "Todd Packer", he cheers up Kevin upon witnessing Todd insult Kevin for being overweight, by telling Kevin that he would be a prominent fighter in sumo wrestling. However, during "Dwight K. Schrute, (Acting) Manager", when Dwight takes over as acting Manager, he imposes a dictatorial Management style on the staff. When he accidentally fires off a gun in the workplace, causing Andy's ear drum to burst, as the shot was in close porximity to his head, the staff blackmails Dwight with multiple requests. Among them, Dwight has to give a back massage to Kevin, which disgusts him.[64]
Romantic relationships[link]
A subtle running joke throughout the series is Dwight's surprising success with attractive women, with Michael often failing to "hook up" at the same time. Despite Dwight's unusual appearance and mannerisms, he manages to attract women, who usually develop stronger feelings for him than vice versa. Michael has even pointed out how socially weird Dwight is acting, only for the woman to brush it off. In "Night Out", Dwight hooks up with a women's basketball player, while Michael fails in his attempts with other women. As Michael and Dwight leave the club, the woman calls out for Dwight to call her, which he says to Michael that he will not do. In "Niagara", Michael and Dwight compete for the attention of Pam's best friend, Isabel. When Dwight starts talking about his farm, Michael tries to explain that no one can connect with his experiences as farmer, only for Isabel to become interested in Dwight's horses. Dwight ultimately manages to have sex with her, and she begins to develop deeper feelings for him which he does not return, although it is finally hinted in "The Delivery" that Dwight might have more intimate feelings for her than he originally let on. They meet again at the bar in "Happy Hour", and bond further, kissing at the end of the episode. In a chat at OfficeTally.com, Mindy Kaling noted that Dwight is not a typical "nerd" character, that he is a "farmer and kind of strapping and tall", and it generally makes sense that he does well with the opposite sex.
Character reception[link]
The Dwight Schrute character has had a very positive reception, and is often cited as one of the most popular characters on the show. According to Entertainment Weekly he is one of the "greatest sidekicks."[65] In TV Guide's list of the top 100 characters in television history, Dwight was ranked 85th. In an ABC News interview with Rainn Wilson, the interviewer commented that "Words barely describe Dwight Schrute, the suck-up salesman and assistant to the regional manager of the Scranton branch for the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company..."[66] and "Dwight, as played by the 41-year-old Wilson, has become one of the breakout characters in television comedy. Dwight is a survivalist geek, a student of karate who likes to shoot a crossbow and watch "Battlestar Galactica" on television. And he takes himself very, very seriously..."[66] E! News commented that Rainn Wilson should be nominated for an Emmy Award for his performance of Dwight, commenting: "...Who's laughing now? Who's laughing now, Dwight Schrute? Oh, only the ten million-plus people who watched as you pepper sprayed the living daylights out of Roy for trying to pop Jim in the face last night. My God, have I missed you, man. Mr. Schrute, you are the reason I love my job, my friend. It is the selflessly heroic actions of a man such as you that make television a nice place to be on a Thursday night. You may just be an everyday citizen who does not accept prizes for being a citizen, but you'd best be accepting a supporting actor Emmy nod this year, because, hot damn if you don't deserve it."[67]
Another positive review of the character was given by PopMatters, an online entertainment news site. The review stated: "One of the show’s ironies is that Michael and Dwight, hapless though they might be within the office or in most social settings, are actually top salesmen...Undeterred, or unaware of any of this, Dwight carries on with his dreams of grandeur, even instituting a reward system called “Schrute Bucks” for employees who please him during a brief but tyrannical reign as branch manager...Dwight approaches sales with the same militaristic fervor as everything else in his life, and it pays off for him (maybe that’s one of the reasons why, when Jim gives Dwight one of Benito Mussolini’s speeches to deliver when he accepts a sales award in Season Two, Dwight delivers it so enthusiastically that he gets a standing ovation)..."[68] Metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada named a song "Assistant to the Regional Manager," alluding to Dwight's position. In addition, the band created a t-shirt design that indirectly associates itself with Dwight by strongly resembling him. It is named "Guy Wearing Tie."[69]
[edit] Outside of The Office
Bobblehead doll[link]
In the episode "Valentine's Day", Dwight is given a bobblehead doll as a Valentine's gift, from Angela. Following the episode, fans of the show petitioned NBC to make the bobblehead doll available for purchase on their online store.[70] NBC responded by creating an initial run of 4,000 bobblehead dolls, which sold out almost immediately.[70] The creator of the show, Greg Daniels, joked about the bobbleheads, saying "Yes, they are fun, but they also serve a business purpose. People who want to manage by consensus can buy six and keep them nodding all the time to whatever they say."[70] In 2010 Hallmark released a smaller talking version of the doll as part of their 2010 Christmas Keepsake Ornament selection.
Résumé[link]
In "Halloween", Jim and Pam uploaded Dwight's resume to "Monster.com, Craigslist, and Google."[71] A producer actually did create a Monster account for Dwight and uploaded his résumé a month before the episode aired. It can be found by employers with resume database access who search for salesmen in Scranton, Pennsylvania.[72] The résumé stated that he was willing to relocate to another state,[72] wanted a salary close to $30,000 (USD),[72] desired the job title of Regional Manager,[72] was currently "Assistant to the Regional Manager",[72] and had a Bachelor's Degree.[72] The posted résumé also stated: "My time spent at Dunder Mifflin was very enjoying. I had the opportunity to learn from an experienced and talented boss. My branch consistently was one of the top sellers of the company..."[72]
Schrute Farms[link]
In "Money", Pam refers to a TripAdvisor page for Dwight's Bed and Breakfast. This can be found by searching for Schrute Farms.[73] Jim and Pam discover that Dwight is running the Schrute Farm as an "agritourism" Bed and Breakfast. They spend the night there, taking part in table-making demonstrations, beet wine-making, and distributing manure. That night, however, Jim finds Dwight moaning in depression, over his break-up with Angela. The Trip Advisor page said:
"Schrute Farms is the number one beet-related agrotourism destination in Northeastern Pennsylvania. We offer the finest accommodations for the casual traveler and/or radish enthusiast. Come join us and experience majestic Schrute Farms.[73]"
Jim and Pam ("JandP2") also posted a review, which can be seen on the reviews page. It read: "The architecture reminds one of a quaint Tuscan beet farm, and the natural aroma of the beets drifts into the bedrooms and makes you dream of simpler times. You will never want to leave your room. The informative lecture will satisfy all your beet curiosity, and the dawn goose walk will tug at your heart strings. Table making never seemed so possible. Great story to tell your friends. Plenty of parking! The staff’s attention to detail and devotion to cleanliness was limitless. From their enthusiastic welcome to the last wave good-bye, Schrute Farms delivers."[73]
An angry Angela also put a review up, and mentioned the death of her cat as a main cause for the review. It said: "I have to warn people about the proprietor of Schrute Farms—he may portray himself as a gentleman farmer, but he is not what he seems! He killed my cat, Sprinkles! Who knows what he might do to you or your loved ones..."[73]
According to Dwight, during the Civil War, while the battle of Gettysburg was known for having the most deaths, the battle of Schrute Farms was known for having the highest DPA (deaths per acre). He also claimed it was the Northern-most battle during the Civil War. However, in reality, it was actually a safe-haven for men who wanted relief from the war to focus on artistic lifestyles. It is insinuated that this was a camp for homosexual soldiers. Melvin Fifer Garris is the only known soldier to write home from Schrute Farms during the Civil War.
Vice presidential bid joke[link]
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Rainn Wilson on The Tonight Show discussing the "nomination" |
On the May 7, 2008 episode of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, US Senator and Republican Party presidential nominee John McCain joked that Dwight Schrute would be his vice presidential candidate choice.[74][75] Rainn Wilson appeared on The Tonight Show on May 14, 2008, and read to Jay Leno a list of demands from Dwight in exchange for being vice president.[76] Included in this list was being able to pilot Air Force One at any time, and only to be addressed as "Iceman" while piloting.[76] He also demanded that Jack Bauer be immediately promoted to United States Secretary of Defense, his bunker to include a foosball table and be zombie proof, and that the Secret Service members be armed with nunchucks, throwing stars, and flamethrowers.[76] Finally, he demanded a flamethrower, an Iron Man suit, and that fellow character Michael Scott be an "ambassador to Hawaii."[76]
Dwight in academic research[link]
Researchers at Brigham Young University, Stanford and Northwestern University demonstrated that social outsiders, similar to Dwight's character, lead to better group decision making. Media accounts of their published study reported that having a Dwight Schrute around is good for business. Dwight was included in articles about the research by Time magazine,[77] Toronto Globe and Mail,[78] The Salt Lake Tribune[79] and Brigham Young University.[80]
[edit] Possible Spin-Off series and departure from The Office
On January 25, 2012, news broke that NBC is planning a spin-off series, starring Wilson as Dwight, that would be set at Schrute Farms, Dwight's bed-and-breakfast and beet farm.[81] The spin-off will be created by Wilson and executive producer Paul Lieberstein, but Office developer Greg Daniels will not be involved.[81] The series is in the works for a premiere in early 2013, which would cause Wilson to leave The Office if it is renewed for a ninth season.[81] The series will be introduced as a backdoor pilot in a later episode of the ninth season.[81] Despite the news report, Wilson tweeted "Don't believe everything you read in the press, OK?".[82]
References[link]
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- ^ "Back from Vacation"
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- ^ "China"
- ^ "The Injury"
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- ^ "Tallahassee"
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- ^ "Hire a Dwight Schrute for a better-performing team, says study co-authored by BYU biz prof". http://byunews.byu.edu/archive09-MAR-liljenquist.aspx.
- ^ a b c d HitFix Staff (January 25, 2012). "Dwight Schrute 'Office' spin-off starring Rainn Wilson in the works at NBC". HitFix. http://www.hitfix.com/articles/office-spin-off-starring-rainn-wilson-in-the-works-at-nbc. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
- ^ "Is NBC developing an 'Office' spinoff for Rainn Wilson?". CNN. http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/26/is-nbc-developing-an-office-spinoff-for-rainn-wilson/.
External links[link]
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This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
 Howard in 2011 |
|
| No. 12 – Orlando Magic | |
|---|---|
| Center | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1985-12-08) December 8, 1985 (age 26) Atlanta, Georgia |
| Nationality | American |
| High school | Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy |
| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Listed weight | 265 lb (120 kg) |
| Career information | |
| NBA Draft | 2004 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall |
| Selected by the Orlando Magic | |
| Pro career | 2004–present |
| Career history | |
| 2004–present | Orlando Magic |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
Dwight David Howard (born December 8, 1985)[1] is an American basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Howard, who usually plays center but can also play power forward, had an outstanding high school career at Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy. He chose to forgo college and entered the 2004 NBA Draft, and was selected first overall by the Magic. A six-time All-Star, six-time All-NBA team selection, five-time All-Defensive member, and three-time Defensive Player of the Year, Howard has been ranked consistently as one of the best in the league in rebounds, blocks, field goal percentage and free throw attempts, and has set numerous franchise and league records. He has led the Magic to three division titles and one conference title, and he was the winner of the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. In the 2008 Olympics, he was the starting center for Team USA, which went on to win the gold medal.
Before he was drafted in 2004, Howard said that he wanted to use his NBA career and Christian faith to "raise the name of God within the league and throughout the world". In November 2009, he was named one of the 10 finalists for the Jefferson Awards for Public Service, which awards athletes for their charitable work.
Contents |
Early life[link]
Howard was born in Atlanta, Georgia to Dwight Sr. and Sheryl Howard and into a family with strong athletic connections. His father is a Georgia State Trooper and serves as Athletic Director of Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, a private academy with one of the best high school basketball programs in the country, while his mother played on the inaugural women's basketball team at Morris Brown College.[1] A devout Christian since his youth, Howard became serious about basketball around the age of nine; when in the eighth grade, he resolved to be selected as the number one pick in the NBA Draft one day.[2][3] Despite his large frame, Howard was quick and versatile enough to play the guard position.[3] He elected to attend Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy for high school, and in his four years he played mostly as power forward, averaging 16.6 points per game (ppg), 13.4 rebounds per game (rpg) and 6.3 blocks per game in 129 appearances.[1][3] As a senior, Howard led his team to the 2004 state title.[3] He averaged 25 points, 18 rebounds, 8.1 blocks and 3.5 assists per game.[3] That same year, Howard was widely recognized as the best American high school basketball player, and he was awarded the Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award, the Morgan Wootten High School Player of the Year Award, Gatorade National Player of the Year and the McDonald's National High School Player of the Year honor.[4] He was also co-MVP (with J. R. Smith) of the McDonald's High School All-American Game that year.[4] On January 31, 2012, Howard was also honored as one of the 35 greatest McDonald's All-Americans.[5]
NBA career[link]
Early years (2004–2007)[link]
Following his high school successes, Howard chose to forego college and declared for the 2004 NBA Draft—a decision partly inspired by his idol Kevin Garnett who had done the same in 1995—where the Orlando Magic selected him first overall over UConn junior Emeka Okafor.[1][3] He took the number 12 for his jersey, in part because it was the reverse of Garnett's 21 when he played for Minnesota.[6] Howard joined a depleted Magic squad that had finished with only 21 victories the previous season; further, the club had just lost perennial NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady.[3] Howard, however, made an immediate impact. He finished his rookie season with an average of 12.0 ppg and 10.0 rpg,[7] setting several NBA records in the process. He became the youngest player in NBA history to average a double double in the regular season.[4] He also became the youngest player in NBA history to average at least 10 rebounds in a season and youngest NBA player ever to record at least 20 rebounds in a game.[4] Howard's importance to the Magic was highlighted when he became the first player in NBA history directly out of high school to start all 82 games during his rookie season.[4] For his efforts, he was selected to play in the 2005 NBA Rookie Challenge, and was unanimously selected to the All-Rookie Team.[4] He also finished third to fellow center Emeka Okafor of the Charlotte Bobcats and guard Ben Gordon of the Chicago Bulls for the Rookie of the Year award.[8]
Howard reported to camp for his second NBA campaign having added 20 pounds of muscle during the off-season.[3] Orlando coach Brian Hill—responsible for grooming former Magic superstar Shaquille O'Neal—decided that Howard should be converted into a full-fledged center.[3] Hill identified two areas where Howard needed to improve: his post-up game, and his defense. He exerted extra pressure on Howard, saying that the Magic would need him to emerge as a force in the middle before the team had a chance at the playoffs.[3] Even though the big man played tentatively at times, he was able to build on his strong rookie year with an impressive sophomore season. On November 15, 2005, in a home game against the Charlotte Bobcats, Howard scored 21 points and 20 rebounds, becoming the youngest player ever to score 20 or more points and gather 20 or more rebounds in the same game.[9] He was selected to play on the Sophomore Team in the 2006 Rookie Challenge during the All-Star break,[1] and on April 15, 2006, he recorded a career-high 26 rebounds against the Philadelphia 76ers; his 28 points in that game also brought him close to an NBA rarity, a 30–30 game.[3][7] Overall, he averaged 15.8 points and 12.5 rebounds[7] per game, ranking second in the NBA in rebounds per game, offensive rebounds, and double doubles; and sixth in field goal percentage.[1] Despite Howard's improvement, the Magic finished the season with a 36–46 win-loss record and failed to qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive season since Howard's arrival.[10]
Howard took another step forward as the franchise player for Orlando in the 2006–07 season, and for the third consecutive season he played in all 82 regular season games.[7] On February 1, 2007, he received his first NBA All-Star selection as a reserve on the Eastern Conference squad for the 2007 NBA All-Star Game.[1] Howard finished the game with 20 points and 12 rebounds.[11] Less than a week later, he recorded a career-high 32 points against the Toronto Raptors.[12] A highlight was his game-winning alley-oop off an inbound at the buzzer against the San Antonio Spurs at Amway Arena on February 9.[13] As the push for playoff spots intensified, Howard was instrumental, recording another career-high 35 points against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 14, 2007.[14] Under his leadership, the Magic qualified for the 2007 NBA Playoffs for the first time since 2003 as the number eight seed in the Eastern Conference.[15] However, the Magic were swept by the eventual Eastern Conference finalist Detroit Pistons in the first round.[16] Howard averaged 17.6 points and 12.3 rebounds per game, and finished first in the NBA in total rebounds, second in field goal percentage, and ninth in blocks. He was further recognized as one of the best players in the league when he was named to the All-NBA Third Team at the end of the 2006–07 campaign.[17]
Leader of consecutive division champions (2007–2010)[link]
Howard continued posting impressive numbers in the 2007–08 season; with free agent Rashard Lewis added to the ranks alongisde Hedo Türkoğlu to provide an extra offensive spark, this was the Magic's best season yet. Howard's strong and consistent play ensured that he was named as a starter for the Eastern Conference All-Star team, and by the time the mid-season break arrived, he was leading the league in double doubles (he concluded the season with a league-high 69) and had recorded 20 points and 20 rebounds in a game on five occasions (eight by the season's end).[18][19] On February 16, 2008, he won the 2008 NBA slam dunk contest by receiving 78% of the fan's votes via text messaging or online voting; in that contest, he performed a series of innovative dunks said to have rejuvenated the contest, including donning a Superman cape for one of the dunks.[20] Howard led the Magic to their first division title in 12 years and to the third seed for the 2008 NBA Playoffs,[19] and in the first-round match-up against the Toronto Raptors, Howard's dominance (three 20 point/20 rebound games) and point guard Jameer Nelson's strong play ensured that Orlando prevailed over five games.[21] Howard's series total of 91 rebounds was also greater than the total rebounds collected by the entire Toronto frontcourt.[22] In the next round against the Pistons, the Magic lost the first two road games before Howard's 20 point/12 rebound performance in Game 3 salvaged a home win.[23] In that same week, the center was named to the All-NBA First Team for the first time,[19] and subsequently, the NBA All-Defensive Second Team.[24] Detroit played without their star point guard Chauncey Billups for Games 4 and 5, but Orlando was unable to capitalize on that and lost the series 4–1 to the veteran playoffs team.[25]
The 2008–09 campaign began well for Howard. Ten games into the season, the center was leading the league in blocks per game (4.2) and even recorded his first triple-double: 30 points, 19 rebounds and 10 blocks.[26] At the halfway point of the season, Howard was leading the league in rebounds and blocks, and was among the league leaders in field goal percentage. He garnered a record 3.1 million votes to earn the starting berth on the Eastern Conference team for the 2009 NBA All-Star game.[27] On March 25, 2009, Howard led Orlando to its second straight Southeast Division title with 11 games of the regular season left to play,[28] and eventually the third seed for the 2009 NBA Playoffs with a 59–23 record.[29] On April 21, 2009, he became the youngest player ever to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, achieving a goal he had set for himself before the start of the season.[6] The Magic went into the playoffs without its injured starting point guard Jameer Nelson, and in the first round against the 76ers, Howard recorded 24 points and 24 rebounds in Game 5 to give Orlando a 3–2 lead, before the Magic closed out the series in six games. On May 6, 2009, the center was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team,[30] and a week later, to the All-NBA First Team.[31]
In the second round of the playoffs against the defending champions Boston, the Magic blew a lead in Game 5 and Howard publicly questioned coach Stan Van Gundy's tactics and said that he should be given the ball more; in Game 6, the center posted 23 points and 22 rebounds to force the series into seven games.[32] The Magic went on to defeat Boston, and then defeated Cleveland—which was led by league MVP LeBron James—4–2 in the Eastern Conference Finals. Howard had a playoffs career-high 40 points to go with his 14 rebounds in the deciding Game 6, leading Orlando to its first NBA Finals in 14 years.[33] The Los Angeles Lakers took the first two home games to establish a 2–0 lead in the Finals, before a home win by the Magic brought the score to 2–1. In Game 4, despite Howard putting up 21 rebounds and a Finals-record of 9 blocks in a game, the Magic lost in overtime.[34] The Lakers went on to win Game 5, and the NBA Finals.[35]
The Magic went into the 2009–10 season with one major roster change: Türkoğlu departed for the Toronto Raptors, while eight-time NBA All-Star Vince Carter arrived from the New Jersey Nets. As with the previous two seasons, the Magic got off to a strong start, winning 17 of their first 21 games, setting a franchise record in the process. He also picked up two Conference Player of the Week awards. On January 21, 2010, Howard was named as the starting center for the East in the 2010 NBA All-Star Game.[36] Not long after the Magic completed the regular season with 59 wins and their third consecutive division title, Howard won the Defensive Player of the Year Award for the second straight year.[37] He became the first player in NBA history to lead the league in blocks and rebounds in the same season twice—and for two years in a row.[37] During the playoffs, the Magic defeated both Charlotte and Atlanta 4 games to none, in the first and second rounds respectively. In reaching the Conference Finals again, the Magic faced Boston—who had upset Cleveland in the Semifinals—Orlando lost the first three games, took the next two, but finally succumbed in Game 6.
Frustration (2010–present)[link]
In the 2010–11 regular season, Howard posted career-highs in points and shooting percentages, but the Magic were unable to win their division for the fourth straight year. Although the Miami Heat won the division, the Magic won 52 games, and finished as the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. However, the Magic lost to the Atlanta Hawks in the first-round of the playoffs.[38] Howard led the NBA in technical fouls with 18 in the regular season, and received one-game suspensions after his 16th and 18th technicals.[39]
Due to a lockout, the 2011–12 regular season was shortened to 66 games. Not long after the lockout ended, Howard, who was eligible to become a free agent at the end of the season, demanded a trade to either the New Jersey Nets, Los Angeles Lakers or Dallas Mavericks.[40] Howard stated that although his preference was to remain in Orlando, he did not feel the Magic organization was doing enough to build a championship contender.[41] He would later meet with Magic officials and agree to back off his trade demands, but that he also felt the team needed to make changes to the roster if they wanted to contend for a championship.[42]
On January 12, 2012, Howard attempted an NBA record 39 free throws against the Golden State Warriors. Howard entered the game making 42 percent of his free throws for the season and just below 60 percent for his career. The Warriors hacked Howard intentionally throughout the game, and he broke Wilt Chamberlain's record of 34 set in 1962. Howard made 21 of the 39 attempts, and he finished with 45 points and 23 rebounds in the Magic's 117–109 victory.[43] On January 24, 2012, Howard became the Magic's all-time scoring leader, surpassing Nick Anderson's 10,650 points.[44]
On March 15, 2012, on the day of the trading deadline for the 2011–12 NBA season, Howard signed an amendment to his contract, waiving his right to opt out at the end of the season and committing to stay with the Magic through the 2012–13 season. He had previously asked to be traded to the New Jersey Nets, and the Magic were prepared to trade him had Howard not signed the amendment, to avoid losing him as a free agent.[45]
On April 19, 2012, Howard's agent said that Howard would undergo surgery to repair a hernitated disk in his back, and would miss the rest of the 2011–12 season, as well as the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.[46]
Honors, awards and achievements[link]
Main article: List of career achievements by Dwight Howard
Howard has amassed several NBA and franchise records and awards during his NBA career. He has led the league in rebounds per game three times, blocks per game twice, and double-doubles twice. He is also the youngest player in NBA history to reach one, two, three, four, five, six and seven thousand career rebounds, and the youngest player in NBA history to lead the league in rebounding and blocks. Following Howard's 2009–10 season, he became the first NBA player ever to lead the league in total rebounds for five consecutive seasons. He surpassed Wilt Chamberlain's record of four from 1959–60–1962–63, and again from 1965–66–1968–69. He became the first player to lead the league in rebounding and blocks in consecutive seasons, and was also the first player ever to lead the league in rebounding, blocks, and field goal percentage in the same season. On April 18, 2011, Howard won the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year Award, becoming the first player in league history to have won the award in three consecutive seasons.
Statistics[link]
Regular season[link]
| Led the league |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–05 | Orlando | 82 | 82 | 32.6 | .520 | .000 | .671 | 10.0 | .9 | .9 | 1.7 | 12.0 |
| 2005–06 | Orlando | 82 | 81 | 36.8 | .531 | .000 | .595 | 12.5 | 1.5 | .8 | 1.4 | 15.8 |
| 2006–07 | Orlando | 82 | 82 | 36.9 | .603 | .500 | .586 | 12.3 | 1.9 | .9 | 1.9 | 17.6 |
| 2007–08 | Orlando | 82 | 82 | 37.7 | .599 | .000 | .590 | 14.2[47] | 1.3 | .9 | 2.2 | 20.7 |
| 2008–09 | Orlando | 79 | 79 | 35.7 | .572 | .000 | .594 | 13.8[48] | 1.4 | 1.0 | 2.9[49] | 20.6 |
| 2009–10 | Orlando | 82 | 82 | 34.7 | .612[50] | .000 | .592 | 13.2 [51] | 1.8 | .9 | 2.8[52] | 18.3 |
| 2010–11 | Orlando | 78 | 78 | 37.5 | .593 | .000 | .596 | 14.1 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 22.9 |
| 2011–12 | Orlando | 54 | 54 | 38.3 | .577 | .000 | .491 | 14.5 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 20.6 |
| Career | 621 | 620 | 36.2 | .577 | .030 | .588 | 13.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 18.4 | |
| All-Star | 6 | 5 | 26.3 | .636 | .100 | .450 | 8.7 | 1.5 | .8 | 1.5 | 13.3 | |
Playoffs[link]
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Orlando | 4 | 4 | 41.8 | .548 | .000 | .455 | 14.8 | 1.8 | .5 | 1.0 | 15.3 |
| 2008 | Orlando | 10 | 10 | 42.1 | .581 | .000 | .542 | 15.8[53] | .9 | .8 | 3.4[53] | 18.9 |
| 2009 | Orlando | 23 | 23 | 39.3 | .601[54] | .000 | .636 | 15.3[54] | 1.9 | .9 | 2.6 | 20.3 |
| 2010 | Orlando | 14 | 14 | 35.5 | .614 | .000 | .519 | 11.1 | 1.4 | .8 | 3.5[55] | 18.1 |
| 2011 | Orlando | 6 | 6 | 42.8 | .630[56] | .000 | .682 | 15.5[56] | 0.5 | .7 | 1.8 | 27.0 |
| Career | 57 | 57 | 39.4 | .600 | .000 | .588 | 14.4 | 1.4 | .8 | 2.8 | 19.9 | |
United States national team[link]
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's basketball | ||
Competitor for the  United States |
||
| Olympic Games | ||
| Gold | 2008 Beijing | Team competition |
| FIBA World Championship | ||
| Bronze | 2006 Japan | Team competition |
| FIBA Americas Championship | ||
| Gold | 2007 Las Vegas | Team competition |
Howard was named on 5 March 2006 to the 2006–2008 USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team program.[1] As the team's regular starting center, he helped lead the team to a 5–0 record during its pre-World Championship tour, and subsequently helped the team win the bronze medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championship.[1] During the FIBA Americas Championship 2007, Howard was on the team which won its first nine games en route to qualifying for the finals and a spot for the 2008 Olympics.[57] He started in eight of those nine games, averaging 8.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg and led the team in shooting .778 from the field.[58] In the finals, he made all seven of his shots and scored 20 points as the USA defeated Argentina to win the gold medal.[59]
On June 23, 2008, Howard was named as one of the members of the 12-man squad representing the United States in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.[60] With Howard starting as center, Team USA won all of its games en route to the gold medal, breaking their drought of gold medals dating back to the 2000 Olympics.[61] Howard averaged 10.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in the tournament.[62]
Player profile[link]
Howard is considered the "franchise player" of the Magic.[63][64] He led the NBA in rebounding for three consecutive seasons from 2007 to 2010. Howard's rebounding is in part facilitated by his extraordinary athleticism; his running vertical leap was tested at 39.5 inches in 2011, rare for a player of his size (6'11").[65][66] He demonstrated this skill in the 2007 Slam Dunk Contest, where he completed an alley oop dunk from teammate Jameer Nelson while slapping a sticker onto the backboard at 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m) high.[67] The sticker showed an image of his own smiling face with a handwritten "All things through Christ Phil: 4:13," a paraphrase of Philippians 4:13.[68] Howard's leaping reach of 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m) is the highest documented in NBA history, 1 inch (2.5 cm) higher than Shaquille O'Neal's previous record of 12 ft 5 in (3.78 m).[65] As of April 2012, Howard's career average of 13.0 rebounds per game (in the regular season) ranked 12th in NBA history.[69] He has also remained largely injury-free in his NBA career, playing in 351 consecutive games before missing his first game.[70]
Howard's abilities and powerful physique have drawn attention from fellow NBA All-Stars. Tim Duncan once remarked in 2007: "[Howard] is so developed... He has so much promise and I am glad that I will be out of the league when he is peaking."[71] Kevin Garnett echoed those sentiments: "[Howard] is a freak of nature, man... I was nowhere near that physically talented. I wasn't that gifted, as far as body and physical presence."[71] Subsequent to a game in the 2009 NBA Playoffs, Philadelphia 76ers swingman Andre Iguodala said: "It's like he can guard two guys at once. He can guard his guy and the guy coming off the pick-and-roll, which is almost impossible to do... If he gets any more athletic or jumps any higher, they're going to have to change the rules."[6] As early as December 2007, ESPN writer David Thorpe declared Howard to be the most dominant center in the NBA.[72]
While many sports pundits have been rating Howard as one of the top young prospects in the NBA since 2006,[66][73][74] Howard has some weaknesses in his game. Offensively, his shooting range remains limited; he is also mistake-prone, having led the NBA in total number of turnovers in the 2006–07 season.[75] Like many centers, he has a low free throw conversion percentage.[7] As a result, he is often a target of the Hack-a-Shaq defense and is annually among the league leaders in free throw attempts. During the 2007–08 regular season, Howard led the NBA with 897 free throw attempts while shooting only 59% from the free throw line.[76] Also in that season, outside of layups and dunks, his shooting percentage was only 31.6%.[22] In the 2008–09 season, he led the NBA again with 849 free throw attempts and in 2009–10, he was second in the NBA with 816.
Off the court[link]
Before he was drafted in 2004, Howard said that he wanted to use his NBA career and Christian faith to "raise the name of God within the league and throughout the world".[77] He has stated he believes in reaching out to his community and fans and thus contributes substantially in the field of philanthropy.[2] An avid listener of Gospel music, he attends the Fellowship of Faith Church when he is back home in Atlanta and is involved and active with the youth programs at the church.[78] Together with his parents, Howard also established the Dwight D. Howard Foundation Inc. in 2004.[79] The Foundation provides scholarships for students who want to attend his alma mater, Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, and grants to Lovell Elementary School and Memorial Middle School in Orlando, Florida.[79] The Foundation also organizes summer basketball camps for boys and girls, and together with high school and college coaches and players, fellow NBA players are invited to be on hand at the camp.[80] For his contributions in the Central Florida community, Howard received in 2005 the Rich and Helen De Vos Community Enrichment Award.[78] Within the NBA itself, Howard has participated in several NBA "Read to Achieve" assemblies encouraging children to make reading a priority.[78] In November 2009, the center was named one of the 10 finalists for the Jefferson Awards for Public Service, which awards athletes for their charitable work.[81] In 2009, Howard, along with several other NBA players, joined the Hoops for St. Jude charity program benefitting the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.[82]
Elsewhere, Howard appeared as a special guest on an episode of the ABC series Extreme Makeover: Home Edition that aired April 2, 2006, in which Ty Pennington and his team built a new home and ministry offices for Sadie Holmes, who operates a social services ministry in the Orlando area.[83] He made another appearance on the show in the October 9, 2011 episode.
Along with Sam Worthington and Jonah Hill, Howard appeared in a commercial for the video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.[84]
On November 18, 2007, Howard's ex-girlfriend and former Magic dancer Royce Reed gave birth to their son, Braylon.[85] Howard won a defamation judgment against Reed in 2010, when a Florida judge ruled that she violated a court order prohibiting her from mentioning him in the media.[86] He had initially sought $550,500,000 in damages, claiming that she had disparaged him through Twitter and her appearances on the reality television show, Basketball Wives, as the couple's paternity agreement stipulated a $500 fine for each time she mentioned him in public.[87]
Howard guest starred on an episode of Pair of Kings on April 9, 2012.[88]
See also[link]
- List of career achievements by Dwight Howard
- List of National Basketball Association career blocks leaders
- List of National Basketball Association season rebounding leaders
- List of National Basketball Association season blocks leaders
- List of National Basketball Association players with most blocks in a game
Notes[link]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Dwight Howard, usabasketball.com, accessed February 24, 2008.
- ^ a b Smith, Aran, "adidas Superstar Camp Asia: Dwight Howard Interview", nbadraft.net, May 27, 2006, accessed July 11, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Dwight Howard Biography, jockbio.com, accessed August 2, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f Dwight Howard Info Page – Bio, nba.com, accessed July 11, 2007.
- ^ "Wilkins Honored as One of 35 Greatest McDonald's All Americans". NBA. 2012-01-31. http://www.nba.com/hawks/news/wilkins-honored-one-35-greatest-mcdonalds-all-americans. Retrieved 2012-02-09.
- ^ a b c Howard becomes youngest to win Defensive Player of the Year, nba.com, April 21, 2009, accessed April 22, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f Dwight Howard Info Page – Career Stats and Totals, nba.com, accessed December 5, 2007.
- ^ 2005 Award Winners, nba.com, accessed March 28, 2007.
- ^ Howard's 20/20, nba.com/magic, November 16, 2005, accessed March 28, 2007.
- ^ 2005–06 DIVISION STANDINGS, nba.com/standings, accessed March 28, 2007.
- ^ Box Score, nba.com, accessed March 28, 2007.
- ^ Raptors win sixth straight home game, tsn.ca, February 7, 2007, accessed March 28, 2007.
- ^ Greatest Moment in Amway Arena History, nba.com, accessed October 27, 2010.
- ^ Howard Carries Magic Past Sixers, nba.com, April 14, 2007, accessed April 19, 2007.
- ^ Long, Mark, Magic Top Heat, Draw Pistons in First Round, nba.com, April 19, 2007, accessed April 19, 2007.
- ^ At a Glance 2007, nba.com/playoffs2007, accessed May 1, 2007.
- ^ Phoenix Duo Highlights All-NBA First Team, nba.com, May 10, 2007, accessed May 12, 2007.
- ^ Medeiros, Andrew, "Around the Association presented by T-Mobile: February 13", nba.com, February 13, 2008, accessed February 15, 2008.
- ^ a b c MVP Kobe Bryant Highlights All-NBA First Team, nba.com, May 8, 2008, accessed May 9, 2008.
- ^ Schuhmann, John, "All-Star Saturday Dwight", nba.com, February 17, 2008, accessed February 17, 2008.
- ^ Magic Beat Raptors, Move to Second Round, nba.com, April 29, 2008, accessed May 1, 2008.
- ^ a b Feschuk, Dave, "Nelson dangerous, Howard kills", thestar.com, November 18, 2008, accessed November 19, 2008.
- ^ Magic Cool Down Pistons in Game 3 Win, nba.com, May 7, 2008, accessed May 9, 2008.
- ^ Kobe, Garnett Headline All-Defensive Team, nba.com, May 12, 2008, accessed May 13, 2008.
- ^ Schmitz, Brian, "Pistons end Magic's season in Game 5", orlandosentinel.com, May 13, 2008, accessed May 14, 2008.
- ^ Grange, Michael, "O'Neal prepares for tall challenge", Globe and Mail, November 17, 2008.
- ^ Howard tops balloting for 2009 NBA All-Star Game, nba.com, January 22, 2009, accessed January 23, 2009.
- ^ Gonzalez, Antonio, "Magic Switch: Orlando bounces Boston from 2nd", nba.com, March 25, 2009, accessed March 28, 2009.
- ^ 2008–09 NBA Season Summary, basketball-reference.com, accessed April 16, 2009.
- ^ Howard, Bryant headline 2008–09 NBA All-Defensive First Team, nba.com, May 6, 2009, accessed May 7, 2009.
- ^ James a unanimous pick for All-NBA First Team, nba.com, May 13, 2009, accessed May 14, 2009.
- ^ Howard's 20–20 night forces game 7 in Boston, sports.espn.go.com, May 14, 2009, accessed May 14, 2009.
- ^ Withers, Tom, "Howard scores 40 as Magic make finals", nba.com, May 30, 2009, accessed May 31, 2009.
- ^ Lakers and Magic tied at 87 at end of regulation in Game 4, nba.com, June 12, 2009, accessed June 12, 2009.
- ^ 2009 NBA Finals Composite Box Score, basketball-reference.com, accessed November 1, 2009.
- ^ All-Star starters announced Thursday, sports.espn.go.com, January 21, 2010, accessed January 22, 2010.
- ^ a b Howard wins Kia Defensive Player of Year honors again, nba.com, April 20, 2010, accessed April 21, 2010.
- ^ Joe Johnson scores 23 points as Hawks eliminate Magic, espn.go.com, accessed December 4, 2011.
- ^ Robbins, Josh, "Dwight Howard's technical foul in Game 1 of playoffs will stand as called", orlandosentinel.com, April 18, 2011, accessed March 12, 2012.
- ^ http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/7351542/sources-new-jersey-nets-serious-talks-get-orlando-magic-dwight-howard
- ^ Windhorst, Brian, "Dwight Howard explains trade demands", espn.go.com, December 12, 2011, accessed January 26, 2012.
- ^ Dunlap, Evan, "NBA Rumors: Dwight Howard "By Far" Wants to Stay with Orlando Magic; Shane Battier on Magic's Radar", orlandopinstripedpost.com, accessed March 12, 2012.
- ^ Dwight Howard breaks FT attempts mark as Magic top Warriors, scores.espn.go.com, January 12, 2012, accessed March 12, 2012.
- ^ Dwight Howard becomes Magic's all-time leading scorer in win sports.espn.go.com, accessed January 26, 2012.
- ^ Berger, Ken (March 16, 2012). NBA Insider (CBS Sports). http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/ken-berger/17814675/magic-await-key-meeting-to-decide-howards-future.
- ^ Bucher (April 20, 2012). "Dwight Howard out for season". ESPN.com.
- ^ NBA Player Rebounds Statistics – 2007–08, espn.go.com/nba, accessed June 16, 2011.
- ^ NBA Player Rebounds Statistics – 2008–09, espn.go.com/nba, accessed June 16, 2011.
- ^ NBA Player Blocks Statistics – 2008–09, espn.go.com/nba, accessed June 16, 2011.
- ^ NBA Player Field Goals Statistics – 2009–10, espn.go.com/nba, accessed June 16, 2011.
- ^ NBA Player Rebounds Statistics – 2009–10, espn.go.com/nba, accessed June 16, 2011.
- ^ NBA Player Blocks Statistics – 2009–10, espn.go.com/nba, accessed June 16, 2011.
- ^ a b NBA Statistics – 2008, espn.go.com/nba, accessed June 16, 2011.
- ^ a b NBA Statistics – 2009, espn.go.com/nba, accessed June 16, 2011.
- ^ NBA Statistics – 2010, espn.go.com/nba, accessed June 16, 2011.
- ^ a b NBA Statistics – 2011, espn.go.com/nba, accessed June 16, 2011.
- ^ USA Routs Puerto Rico, Advances to FIBA Finals, nba.com/usabasketball, accessed September 4, 2007.
- ^ Season Box Score, usabasketball.com, accessed September 4, 2007.
- ^ James Leads U.S. Squad Past Argentina to Claim Gold, nba.com, September 2, 2007, accessed September 4, 2007.
- ^ USA Basketball Announces 12-Member 2008 Men’s Senior National Team, nba.com, June 23, 2008, accessed July 4, 2008.
- ^ US hoops back on top, beats Spain for gold medal, sports.yahoo.com, August 24, 2008, accessed August 25, 2008.
- ^ USA, usabasketball.com, accessed 25 August 2008.
- ^ Wurst, Matt, "New Arrivals To The Playoff Party", nba.com, April 18, 2007, accessed April 21, 2007.
- ^ Reed, Travis, "Pistons keep hope for Billups, but ready to go with Stuckey", nba.com, May 9, 2008, accessed May 10, 2008.
- ^ a b ESPN Sport Science: Superman, espn.go.com, November 3, 2011, accessed November 4, 2011.
- ^ a b Bucher, Rich, "The man who just can't wait to be king", sports.espn.go.com, December 10, 2006, accessed March 28, 2007.
- ^ Just a 42 for 12'6" sticker slap? Bigs get no respect, espn.go.com, accessed March 7, 2009.
- ^ Abbot, Henry, "Howard's sticker slam wins buzz but not contest", sports.espn.go.com, February 17, 2007, accessed March 28, 2007.
- ^ All Time Leaders: Rebounds Per Game, nba.com, accessed April 15, 2011.
- ^ Without Howard, Magic beat Jazz in Utah, nba.com, December 13, 2008, accessed December 15, 2008.
- ^ a b Chat Transcript: Dwight Howard, nba.com/magic, accessed 28 March 2007.
- ^ Thorpe, David, "Scouting Report: What makes Dwight Howard so dominant?", ESPN Insider, December 11, 2007.
- ^ Anthony, Greg, "Biggest man, biggest honors", sports.espn.go.com, December 15, 2006, accessed March 28, 2007.
- ^ Neel, Eric, "No ceiling in sight", ESPN Insider, 19 December 2006
- ^ 2006–07 TURNOVERS LEADERS: Turnovers Per Game, nba.com, accessed May 9, 2008.
- ^ NBA Free-Throw Shooting: Total Free Throws Att., sports.espn.go.com, accessed April 21, 2008.
- ^ Rovell, Darren, On a mission from God, sports.espn.go.com, May 25, 2004, accessed January 5, 2010.
- ^ a b c UP CLOSE & PERSONAL, dwight-howard.com, accessed March 28, 2007.
- ^ a b Dwight D. Howard Foundation Inc. WHAT WE DO, dwight-howard.com, accessed March 28, 2007.
- ^ 2006 Howard & Howard Basketball Camps, dwight-howard.com, accessed 28 March 2007.
- ^ Santich, Kate, Accolades pile up for Dwight Howard’s good deeds, orlandosentinel.com, November 25, 2009, accessed January 5, 2010.
- ^ Berger, Ken (March 4 2010). "St. Jude utilizes power of Love, NBA in fight against cancer". CBSsports.com. http://www.cbssports.com/nba/story/13009170/st-jude-utilizes-power-of-love-nba-in-fight-against-cancer. Retrieved 2012-03-20.
- ^ Extreme Makeover: Magic Style, nba.com/nbabuzz, accessed March 28, 2007.
- ^ Modern Warfare 3 Advert with Sam Worthington, Jonah Hill and Dwight Howard
- ^ Povtak, Tim (March 29, 2008). "Howard faces paternity suit". Orlando Sentinel. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2008-03-29/sports/mnotes29_1_orlando-magic-van-gundy-paternity-suit.
- ^ Saad, Nardine (April 25 2011). "Dwight Howard goes after Royce Reed in California court to collect on Florida defamation judgment". Ministry of Gossip (LATimes.com). http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/gossip/2011/04/dwight-howard-royce-reed-lawsuit.html.
- ^ McCann, Zach (September 17, 2010). "More information from Dwight Howard's lawsuit against Royce Reed". Orlando Sentinel. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010-09-17/sports/os-orlando-magic-dwight-howard-lawsuit-extra_1_royce-reed-dwight-howard-confidentiality-agreement.
- ^ http://kids.aol.com/2012/04/06/dwight-howard-on-pair-of-kings/
External links[link]
- Dwight Howard Official Site
- Career statistics and player information from NBA.com, or Basketball-Reference.com
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| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| Name | Howard, Dwight David |
| Alternative names | |
| Short description | American basketball player |
| Date of birth | 1985-12-08 |
| Place of birth | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Date of death | |
| Place of death | |
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This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwight_Howard
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This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
 Bryant greeting some fans in February 2007 |
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| No. 24 – Los Angeles Lakers | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Shooting guard | |||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1978-08-23) August 23, 1978 (age 33) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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| Nationality | American | ||||||||||||||||||
| High school | Lower Merion HS, Ardmore, Pennsylvania | ||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 205 lb (93 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 1996 / Round: 1 / Pick: 13th overall | ||||||||||||||||||
| Selected by the Charlotte Hornets | |||||||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 1996–present | ||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1996–present | Los Angeles Lakers | ||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Stats at NBA.com | |||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Kobe Bean Bryant (born August 23, 1978) is an American professional basketball player who plays shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School, where he was recognized as the top high school basketball player in the country. He decided to declare his eligibility for the NBA Draft upon graduation, and was selected with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets, then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. As a rookie, Bryant earned himself a reputation as a high-flyer and a fan favorite by winning the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest.
Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal led the Lakers to three consecutive NBA championships from 2000 to 2002. A heated feud between the duo and a loss in the 2004 NBA Finals was followed by O'Neal's trade from the Lakers after the 2003–04 season. Following O'Neal's departure Bryant became the cornerstone of the Los Angeles Lakers franchise. He led the NBA in scoring during the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons, setting numerous scoring records in the process. In 2006, Bryant scored a career-high 81 points against the Toronto Raptors, the second most points scored in a single game in NBA history, second only to Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game in 1962. He was awarded the regular season's Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) in 2008. After losing in the 2008 NBA Finals, Bryant led the Lakers to two consecutive championships in 2009 and 2010, earning the NBA Finals MVP Award on both occasions.
As of February 2012[update], Bryant ranks third and fifth on the league's all-time post-season scoring and all-time regular season scoring lists, respectively. He is also the all-time leading scorer in Lakers franchise history. Since his second year in the league, Bryant has started in every NBA All-Star Game that has been held with fourteen All-Star appearances, winning the All-Star MVP Award four times (2002, 2007, 2009, and 2011). Bryant is tied for the most All Star MVP Awards in NBA history. He is a 14-time member of the All-NBA team and an 12-time member of the All-Defensive team; he is also the youngest player ever to receive defensive honors. At the 2008 Olympics, he won a gold medal as a member of the USA national team. In 2009, Sporting News and TNT named Bryant the top NBA player of the 2000s decade.
In 2003, Bryant was accused of sexual assault after having sex with a hotel employee in Colorado. In September 2004, prosecutors dropped the case after his accuser refused to testify. A civil suit was later filed and settled out of court.
Contents |
Early years[link]
Childhood and youth[link]
Kobe Bryant was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as the youngest of three children and the only son of former Philadelphia 76ers player and former Los Angeles Sparks head coach Joe "Jellybean" Bryant and Pamela Cox Bryant.[1] He is also the maternal nephew of John "Chubby" Cox. His parents named him after the famous beef of Kobe, Japan, which they saw on a restaurant menu.[1] Bryant was raised Roman Catholic.[2] When Bryant was six, his father left the NBA and moved his family to Italy to continue playing professional basketball.[3] Bryant became accustomed to his new lifestyle and learned to speak Italian and Spanish.[3][4] During summers, he would come back to the United States to play in a basketball summer league.[5]
Bryant started playing basketball when he was 3 years old,[6] and his favorite team growing up was the Lakers.[7] Bryant's grandfather would mail him videos of NBA games, which Bryant would study.[7] At an early age he also learned to play soccer; his favorite team is AC Milan.[8] He has said that if he had stayed in Italy, he would have tried to become a professional soccer player;[8] Bryant is a big fan of former FC Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard and their former player Ronaldinho.[9] Upon Joe Bryant's retirement from playing basketball in 1991, the Bryant family moved back to the United States.
High school[link]
Bryant earned national recognition during a spectacular high school career at Lower Merion High School located in the Philadelphia suburb of Lower Merion. As a freshman, he played for the varsity basketball team.[10] His father coached him his second year of high school. Although during his first year the team was mediocre, the following three years the Aces compiled a 77–13 record, with Bryant playing all five positions.[10] During his junior year, he averaged 31.1 points, 10.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists and was named Pennsylvania Player of the Year.[11] College recruiters from across the country were lined up to recruit him after his breakout year.[11] Duke, North Carolina, Villanova and Michigan were at the top of his list; however, when Kevin Garnett went in the first round of the 1995 NBA Draft, he began considering going directly to the pros.[11]
At Adidas ABCD camp, Bryant earned the 1995 senior MVP award,[12] while playing alongside future NBA teammate Lamar Odom.[13] While in high school, then 76ers coach John Lucas invited Bryant to work out and scrimmage with the team, where he played one-on-one with Jerry Stackhouse.[14] In his senior year of high school, Bryant led the Aces to their first state championship in 53 years. During the run, he averaged 30.8 points, 12 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 4.0 steals, and 3.8 blocked shots in leading the Aces to a 31–3 record.[15] Bryant ended his high school career as Southeastern Pennsylvania's all-time leading scorer at 2,883 points, surpassing both Wilt Chamberlain and Lionel Simmons.[16]
Bryant received several awards for his performance his senior year including being named Naismith High School Player of the Year, Gatorade Men's National Basketball Player of the Year, a McDonald's All-American, and a USA Today All-USA First Team player.[17] Bryant's varsity coach, Greg Downer, commented that Bryant was "a complete player who dominates".[15] In 1996, Bryant took R&B singer Brandy Norwood to his senior prom,[18] though the two were, and remain, just friends. Ultimately, however, the 17-year-old Bryant made the decision to go directly into the NBA, only the sixth player in NBA history to do so.[10] Bryant's news was met with a lot of publicity at a time when prep-to-pro NBA players were not very common (Garnett being the only exception in 20 years).[10] His SAT score of 1080[19] would have ensured his basketball scholarship to various top-tier colleges and Bryant has stated that had he decided to go to college after high school, he would have attended Duke University.[20] In 2012, Bryant was honored as one of the 35 Greatest McDonald's All-Americans.[21]
NBA career[link]
1996 NBA Draft[link]
The first guard to ever be taken out of high school, Bryant was chosen as the 13th overall draft pick by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996.[22] According to Arn Tellem, Bryant's agent at the time, Bryant playing for the Charlotte Hornets was "an impossibility".[23] However, Bill Branch, the Hornets' head scout at the time, said that the Hornets agreed to trade their draft selection to the Lakers before picking Bryant. The teams agreed to the trade the day before the draft and the Lakers did not tell the Hornets who to select until five minutes before the pick was made.[24] Branch said that prior to the trade agreement, the Hornets never even considered drafting Bryant. Prior to the draft, Bryant had worked out in Los Angeles, in which he scrimmaged against former Lakers players Larry Drew and Michael Cooper, and according to then-Laker manager Jerry West "marched over these people".[25] On July 1, 1996, West traded his starting center, Vlade Divac, to the Hornets in exchange for Bryant's draft rights.[26] Since he was still 17 at the time of the draft, his parents had to cosign his contract with the Lakers until he was able to sign his own when he turned 18 before the season began.[27]
First three seasons (1996–99)[link]
During his rookie season, Bryant mostly came off the bench behind guards Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel.[28] At the time he became the youngest player ever to play in an NBA game (a record since broken by Jermaine O'Neal and Andrew Bynum), and also became the youngest NBA starter ever.[29] Initially, Bryant played limited minutes, but as the season continued, he began to see some more playing time. By the end of the season, he averaged 15.5 minutes a game. During the All-Star weekend, Bryant was the winner of the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest, becoming the youngest player to be named the slam dunk champion at the age of 18.[30] Bryant's performance throughout the year earned him a spot on the NBA All Rookie second team with fellow bench teammate Travis Knight.[31] His final minutes of the season ended in disaster when he shot 4 air balls at crucial times in the game.[15] He first missed a jumper to win the game in the 4th quarter and 3 three-pointers in overtime (2 of which would have tied the game in the final minute). With that the Utah Jazz ended the playoffs for the Lakers in the second round. Shaquille O'Neal commented years later that "[Bryant] was the only guy who had the guts at the time to take shots like that."[32][33]
In Bryant's second season, he received more playing time and began to show more of his abilities as a talented young guard. As a result Bryant's point averages more than doubled from 7.6 to 15.4 points per game.[34] Bryant would see an increase in minutes when the Lakers "played small", which would feature Bryant playing small forward along side the guards he'd usually back up.[35] Bryant was the runner-up for the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year Award,[36] and through fan voting, he also became the youngest NBA All-Star starter in NBA history.[37] He was joined by teammates Shaquille O'Neal, Nick Van Exel, and Eddie Jones, making it the first time since 1983 that four players on the same team were selected to play in the same All-Star Game. Bryant's 15.4 points per game was the highest of any non-starter in the season.[38]
The 1998–99 season marked Bryant's emergence as a premiere guard in the league. With starting guards Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones traded, Bryant started every game for the lockout-shortened 50 game season. During the season, Bryant signed a 6-year contract extension worth $70 million.[38] This kept him with the Lakers until the end of the 2003–04 season. Even at an early stage of his career sportswriters were comparing his skills to that of Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson.[27][39][40] The playoff results, however, were no better, as the Lakers were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Semifinals.[41]
Three-peat (1999–2002)[link]
Bryant's fortunes would soon change when Phil Jackson became coach for the Los Angeles Lakers in 1999.[42] After years of steady improvement, Bryant became one of the premier shooting guards in the league, earning appearances in the league's All-NBA,[43] All-Star, and All-Defensive teams.[44] The Los Angeles Lakers became true championship contenders under Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, who formed a legendary center-guard combination. Jackson utilized the triangle offense he used to win six championships with the Chicago Bulls, which would help both Bryant and O'Neal rise to the elite class of the NBA. The three resulting championships won consecutively in 2000, 2001, and 2002 further proved such a fact.[45]
Bryant started the 1999–2000 season sidelined for six weeks due to an injury to his hand in a preseason game against the Washington Wizards.[46] With Bryant back and playing over 38 minutes a game, he saw an increase in all statistical categories in the 1999–2000 season. This included leading the team in assists per game and steals per game. The duo of O'Neal and Bryant backed with a strong bench led to the Lakers winning 67 games, tied for fifth-most in NBA history. This followed with O'Neal winning the MVP and Bryant being named to the All-NBA Team Second Team and All-NBA Defensive Team for the first time in his career (the youngest player ever to receive defensive honors).[47] While playing second fiddle to O'Neal in the playoffs, Bryant had some clutch performances including a 25 point, 11 rebound, 7 assist, 4 block game in game 7 of the Western Conference finals against the Portland Trail Blazers.[48] He also threw an alley-oop pass to O'Neal to clinch the game and the series. In the 2000 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers, Bryant injured his ankle in the second quarter of Game 2 and did not return to the game. He also missed Game 3 due to the injury. In Game 4, Bryant scored 22 points in the second half, and led the team to an OT victory as O'Neal fouled out of the game. Bryant scored the winning shot to put the Lakers ahead 120–118.[49] With a 116–111 Game 6 victory, the Lakers won their first championship since 1988.[50]
Statistically, the 2000–01 season saw Bryant perform similarly to the previous year, except Bryant averaged 6 more points a game (28.5). It was also the year when disagreements between Bryant and O'Neal began to surface.[51] Once again he led the team in assists with 5 per game. The Lakers however, only won 56 games, an 11-game drop off from last year. The Lakers would respond by going 15–1 in the playoffs. They easily swept the Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, and San Antonio Spurs, before losing their first game against the Philadelphia 76ers in OT. They would go on to win the next 4 games and bring their second championship to Los Angeles in as many seasons. During the playoffs, Bryant played heavy minutes which brought his stats up to 29.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game. In the playoffs, teammate O'Neal declared Bryant the best player in the league.[15][52] Bryant ended up making the All NBA Second team and All NBA Defensive Team for the second year in a row. In addition, he was also voted to start in the NBA All-Star Game for the 3rd year in a row (no game in 1999).
In the 2001–02 season, Bryant played 80 games for the first time in his career. He continued his all-round play by averaging 25.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. He also had a career high 46.9% shooting and once again led his team in assists. While making the All-Star team and All-NBA Defensive team again, he was also promoted to the All-NBA First Team for the first time in his career. The Lakers won 58 games that year and finished second place in the Pacific Division behind in-state rival Sacramento Kings. Bryant was suspended one game after he punched Reggie Miller of the Indiana Pacers after the Lakers' March 1, 2002 victory over the Pacers.[53][54]
The road to the Finals would prove a lot tougher than the record run the Lakers had the previous year. While the Lakers swept the Blazers and defeated the Spurs 4–1, the Lakers did not have home court advantage against the Sacramento Kings. The series would stretch to 7 games, the first time this happened to the Lakers since the 2000 Western Conference Finals. However, the Lakers were able to beat their division rivals and make their third consecutive NBA Finals appearance. In the 2002 Finals, Bryant averaged 26.8 points, 51.4% shooting, 5.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists per game, which included scoring a quarter of the teams points.[55] At age 23, Bryant became the youngest player to win three championships.[55] Bryant's play was notable and praised for his performance in the 4th quarter of games, specifically the last 2 rounds of the playoffs.[55][56] This cemented Bryant's reputation as a clutch player.
Coming up short (2002–04)[link]
In the 2002–03 season, Bryant averaged 30 points per game and embarked on a historic run, posting 40 or more points in nine consecutive games while averaging 40.6 in the entire month of February. In addition, he averaged 6.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 2.2 steals per game, all career highs up to that point. Bryant was once again voted on to both the All-NBA and All-Defensive 1st teams,[1] and came in third place in voting for the MVP award. After finishing 50–32 in the regular season, the Lakers foundered in the playoffs and lost in the Western Conference semi-finals to the eventual NBA champions San Antonio Spurs in six games.[57]
In the following 2003–04 season, the Lakers were able to acquire NBA All-Stars Karl Malone, and Gary Payton to make another push at the NBA Championship.[58] Before the season began, Bryant was arrested for sexual assault.[59] This caused Bryant to miss some games due to court appearances or attend court earlier in the day and travel to play games later in same day.[60] In the final game of the regular season the Lakers played the Portland Trail Blazers. Bryant made two buzzer beaters to win the game and the Pacific Division title. At the end of the fourth quarter, Bryant made a 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds left to tie the game at 87 and send it into OT.[61] The game eventually went to a second overtime, in which Bryant made another 3-pointer as time expired to lift the Lakers past the Blazers 105–104.[61]
With a starting lineup of four future Hall of Famers, O'Neal, Malone, Payton, and Bryant, the Lakers were able to reach the NBA Finals.[62] In the Finals, they were defeated in five games by the Detroit Pistons, who won their first championship since 1990.[63] In that series, Bryant averaged 22.6 points per game and 4.4 assists. He shot a mere 35.1% from the field.[64] Phil Jackson's contract as coach was not renewed, and Rudy Tomjanovich took over.[65] Shaquille O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, and Brian Grant.[66] The following day, Bryant declined an offer to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers and re-signed with the Lakers on a seven-year contract.[67]
Setting records and playoffs disappointments (2004–07)[link]
Bryant was closely scrutinized and criticized during the 2004–05 season with his reputation badly damaged from all that had happened over the previous year. A particularly damaging salvo came when Phil Jackson wrote The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul. The book detailed the events of the Lakers' tumultuous 2003–04 season and has a number of criticisms of Bryant. In the book Jackson called Bryant "uncoachable".[68] Midway through the season, Rudy Tomjanovich suddenly resigned as Lakers coach, citing the recurrence of health problems and exhaustion.[69] Without Tomjanovich, stewardship of the remainder of the Lakers' season fell to career assistant coach Frank Hamblen.[70] Despite the fact that Bryant was the league's second leading scorer at 27.6 points per game, the Lakers floundered and missed the playoffs for the first time in over a decade. The year signified a drop in Bryant's overall status in the NBA, as he did not make the NBA All-Defensive Team and was also demoted to the All-NBA Third Team.[71] During the season, Bryant also engaged in public feuds with Ray Allen and Karl Malone.[72][73]
The 2005–06 NBA season would mark a crossroads in Bryant's basketball career. Despite past differences with Bryant, Phil Jackson returned to coach the Lakers.[74] Bryant endorsed the move, and by all appearances, the two men worked together well the second time around, leading the Lakers back into the playoffs. Bryant's individual scoring accomplishments posted resulted in the finest statistical season of his career. On December 20, 2005, Bryant scored 62 points in three quarters against the Dallas Mavericks. Entering the fourth quarter, Bryant outscored the entire Mavericks team 62–61, the only time a player has done this through three quarters since the introduction of the shot clock.[75] When the Lakers faced the Miami Heat on January 16, 2006, Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal made headlines by engaging in handshakes and hugs before the game, signifying a change in the feud that had festered between them.[76] A month later, at the 2006 NBA All-Star Game, the two were seen laughing together.[77]
On January 22, 2006, Bryant scored a career-high 81 points in a victory against the Toronto Raptors.[78][79] In addition to breaking the previous franchise record of 71 set by Elgin Baylor, Bryant's 81-point game was the second highest point total in NBA history, surpassed only by Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game in 1962.[80] In that same month, Bryant also became the first player since 1964 to score 45 points or more in four consecutive games, joining Chamberlain and Baylor as the only players ever to do so.[81] For the month of January, Bryant averaged 43.4 points per game,[82] the eighth highest single month scoring average in NBA history and highest for any player other than Chamberlain.[83] By the end of the 2005–06 season, Bryant set Lakers single-season franchise records for most 40-point games (27) and most points scored (2,832).[84] He won the league's scoring title for the first time by averaging 35.4 points per game. Bryant finished in fourth place in the voting for the 2006 NBA Most Valuable Player Award, but received 22 first place votes—second only to winner Steve Nash.[85] The Los Angeles Lakers posted a 45–37 record, an eleven-game improvement over the previous season, and the entire squad seemed to be clicking.[86]
Later in the season, it was reported that Bryant would change his jersey number from 8 to 24 at the start of the 2006–07 NBA season. Bryant's first high school number was 24 before he switched to 33.[87] After the Lakers' season ended, Bryant said on TNT that he wanted 24 as a rookie, but it was unavailable, as was 33, retired with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Bryant wore 143 at the Adidas ABCD camp, and chose 8 by adding those numbers.[87] In the first round of the playoffs, the Lakers played well enough to reach a 3–1 series lead over the Phoenix Suns, culminating with Bryant's OT-forcing and game-winning shots in Game 4. They came within six seconds of eliminating the second-seeded Suns in Game 6, however, they lost that game 126–118 in overtime.[88] Despite Bryant's 27.9 points per game in the series, the Lakers broke down, and ultimately fell to the Suns in seven games.[88] Bryant received criticism for only taking three shots in the second half of the 121–90 Game 7 loss to Phoenix.[89] In the 2006 off-season, Bryant had knee surgery, preventing him from participating in the 2006 FIBA World Championship tournament.[90]
During the 2006–07 season, Bryant was selected to his 9th All-Star Game appearance, and on February 18, he logged 31 points, 6 assists, and 6 steals, earning his second career All-Star Game MVP trophy.[91] Over the course of the season, Bryant became involved in a number of on court incidents. On January 28 while attempting to draw contact on a potential game winning jumpshot, he flailed his arm, striking San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginóbili in the face with his elbow.[92] Following a league review, Bryant was suspended for the subsequent game at Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks. The basis given for the suspension was that Bryant had performed an "unnatural motion" in swinging his arm backwards.[93] Later, on March 6, he seemed to repeat the motion, this time striking Minnesota Timberwolves guard Marko Jarić.[92] On March 7, the NBA handed Bryant his second one-game suspension.[94] In his first game back on March 9, he elbowed Kyle Korver in the face which was retroactively re-classified as a Type 1 flagrant foul.[92]
On March 16, Bryant scored a season-high 65 points in a home game against the Portland Trail Blazers, which helped end the Lakers 7-game losing streak. This was the second best scoring performance of his 11-year career.[95] The following game, Bryant recorded 50 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves,[96] after which he scored 60 points in a road win against the Memphis Grizzlies—becoming the second Laker to score three straight 50-plus point games, a feat not seen since Michael Jordan last did it in 1987.[97] The only other Laker to do so was Elgin Baylor, who also scored 50+ in three consecutive contests in December 1962.[97] In the following day, in a game against the New Orleans Hornets, Bryant scored 50 points, making him the second player in NBA history to have 4 straight 50 point games behind Wilt Chamberlain, who is the all-time leader with seven consecutive 50 point games twice.[98] Bryant finished the year with a total of ten 50-plus point games,[99] becoming the only player beside Wilt Chamberlain in 1961–62 and 1962–63 to do so in one season. He also won his second straight scoring title that season.[100] Throughout the 2006–07 season, Bryant's jersey became the top selling NBA jersey in the United States and China.[101] A number of journalists have attributed the improved sales to Bryant's new number, as well as his continuing All-Star performance on the court.[102][103] In the 2007 NBA Playoffs, the Lakers were once again eliminated in the first round by the Phoenix Suns, 4–1.[104]
MVP year and trip to the finals (2007–08)[link]
On May 27, 2007, ESPN reported that Bryant stated that he wanted to be traded if Jerry West did not return to the team with full authority.[105] Bryant later confirmed his desire for West's return to the franchise, but denied stating that he would want to be traded if that does not occur.[106] However, three days later, on Stephen A. Smith's radio program, Bryant expressed anger over a Lakers "insider" who claimed that Bryant was responsible for Shaquille O'Neal's departure from the team, and publicly stated, "I want to be traded."[107] Three hours after making that statement, Bryant stated in another interview that after having a conversation with head coach Phil Jackson, he has reconsidered his decision and backed off his trade request.[108] Bryant would later be shown on an infamous amateur video saying that center Andrew Bynum should have been traded for All-Star Jason Kidd.[109][110]
On December 23, 2007, Bryant became the youngest player (29 years, 122 days) to reach 20,000 points, in a game against the New York Knicks, in Madison Square Garden.[111] Despite an injury to his shooting hand's small finger, described as "a complete tear of the radial collateral ligament, an avulsion fracture, and a volar plate injury at the MCP joint" that occurred in a game on February 5, 2008, Bryant played all 82 games of the regular season instead of opting for surgery. Regarding his injury, he stated, "I would prefer to delay any surgical procedure until after our Lakers season, and this summer's Olympic Games. But, this is an injury that myself [sic] and the Lakers' medical staff will just have to continue to monitor on a day-to-day basis."[112] In early September 2008, Bryant decided not to have surgery to repair the injury.[113]
Leading his team to a West best 57–25 record, they swept the Nuggets in the first round and on May 6, 2008, Bryant was officially announced as the NBA Most Valuable Player award, his first for his career.[114] He said, "It's been a long ride. I'm very proud to represent this organization, to represent this city."[115] Jerry West, who was responsible for bringing Bryant to the Lakers, was on hand at the press conference to observe Bryant receive his MVP trophy from NBA commissioner David Stern. He stated, "Kobe deserved it. He's had just another great season. Doesn't surprise me one bit."[116] In addition to winning his MVP award, Bryant was the only unanimous selection to the All-NBA team on May 8, 2008 for the third straight season and sixth time in his career.[117] He would then headline the NBA All-Defensive First Team with Kevin Garnett, receiving 52 points overall including 24 first-place nods, earning his eighth selection.[118]
The Lakers concluded the 2007–08 regular season with a 57–25 record, finishing first in the Western Conference and setting up themselves for a first-round contest against the Nuggets. In Game 1, Bryant, who said he made himself a decoy through most of the game, scored 18 of his 32 points in the final 8 minutes to keep Los Angeles safely ahead.[119] That made Denver the first 50-win team to be swept out of the first round of the playoffs since the Memphis Grizzlies fell in four to the San Antonio Spurs in 2004.[120] In the first game of the next round against the Jazz, Bryant scored 38 points as the Lakers beat the Jazz in Game 1.[121] The Lakers won the next game as well, but dropped Games 3 and 4, even with Bryant putting up 33.5 points per game.[122] The Lakers then won the next two games to win the semifinals in 6.[122] This set up a Western Conference Finals berth against the San Antonio Spurs. The Lakers defeated the Spurs in 5 games, sending themselves to the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. This marked the fifth time in Bryant's career and the first time without Shaquille O'Neal to go to the NBA Finals.[123] The Lakers then lost to the Boston Celtics in 6 games.[124]
Back on top (2008–10)[link]
In the 2008–09 season, the Lakers opened the campaign by winning their first seven games.[125] Bryant led the team to tie the franchise record for most wins to start the season going 17–2,[126] and by the middle of December they compiled a 21–3 record. He was selected to his eleventh consecutive All-Star Game as a starter,[127] and was named the Western Conference Player of the Month for December and January in addition to being named Western Conference Player of the week three times.[128] In a game against the Knicks on February 2, 2009, Bryant scored 61 points, setting a record for the most points scored at Madison Square Garden.[129] During the 2009 NBA All-Star Game, Bryant who tallied 27 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals was awarded All-Star Game co-MVP with former teammate Shaquille O'Neal.[130] The Lakers finished the regular season with the best record in the west with a 65–17 record. Bryant was runner-up in the MVP voting behind LeBron James,[131] and was selected to the All-NBA First Team and All-Defensive First Team for the seventh time in his career.
In the playoffs, the Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz in five games and the Houston Rockets in seven games in the opening two rounds. After finishing off the Denver Nuggets in the Conference Finals in six games, the Lakers earned their second straight trip to the NBA Finals where they defeated the Orlando Magic in five games. Bryant was awarded his first NBA Finals MVP trophy upon winning his fourth championship,[132] achieving series averages: 32.4 points, 7.4 assists, 5.6 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks.[133] He became the first player since Jerry West in the 1969 NBA Finals to average at least 32.4 points and 7.4 assists for a finals series[134] and the first since Michael Jordan to average 30 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists for a title-winning team in the finals.[135]
During the 2009–10 season, Bryant made six game-winning shots including a buzzer-beating, one-legged 3-pointer against the Miami Heat on December 4, 2009.[136] Bryant considered the shot one of the luckiest he has made.[136] A week later, Bryant suffered an avulsion fracture in his right index finger in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.[137] Despite the injury, Bryant elected to continue playing with it, rather than take any time off to rest the injury.[137] Five days after his finger injury, he made another game winning shot, after missing on an opportunity in regulation, this time against the Milwaukee Bucks in an overtime game.[138] Bryant also became the youngest player (31 years, 151 days) to reach 25,000 points during the season, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain.[139] He continued his dominant clutch plays making yet another game-winning three-pointer against the Sacramento Kings,[140] and what would be the game-winning field goal against the Boston Celtics.[141] The following day, he surpassed Jerry West to become the all-time leading scorer in Lakers franchise history.[142] After being sidelined for five games from an ankle injury, Bryant made his return and made another clutch three-pointer to give the Lakers a one point lead with four seconds remaining against the Memphis Grizzlies.[143] Two weeks later, he made his sixth game-winning shot of the season against the Toronto Raptors.[144]
On April 2, 2010, Bryant signed a three-year contract extension worth $87 million.[145] Bryant finished the regular season missing four of the final five games, due to injuries to his knee and finger. Bryant suffered multiple injuries throughout the season and as a result, missed nine games. The Lakers began the playoffs as the number one seed in the Western Conference against the Oklahoma City Thunder,[146] eventually defeating them in six games.[147] The Lakers swept the Utah Jazz in the second round[148] and advanced to the Western Conference Finals, where they faced Phoenix Suns. In Game 2, Bryant finished the game with 13 assists, setting a new playoff career high; it was the most assists by a Laker in the playoffs since Magic Johnson had 13 in 1996.[149] The Lakers went on to win the series in six games capturing the Western Conference Championship and advancing to the NBA Finals for a third straight season.[150] In a rematch against the 2008 Champion Boston Celtics, Bryant, despite shooting 6 for 24 from the field, led the Lakers back from a thirteen-point third quarter deficit in Game 7 to win the championship; he scored 10 of his game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter, and finished the game with 15 rebounds. Bryant won his fifth championship and earned his second consecutive NBA Finals MVP award.[151] This marked the first time the Lakers won a Game 7 against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.[152] Bryant said that this was the most satisfying of all of his five championships.[153]
Chasing the sixth championship (2010–present)[link]
The Lakers started the 2010–11 season by winning their first eight games.[154] In his ninth game of the season, playing against the Denver Nuggets, Bryant became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 26,000 career points.[155] Bryant also recorded his first triple double since January 21, 2009.[156] On January 30 against the Celtics, he become the youngest player to score 27,000 points.[157] On February 1, 2011, Bryant became one of seven players with at least 25,000 points, 5,000 rebounds and 5,000 assists.[158] In Boston on February 10, Bryant scored 20 of his 23 points in the second half as the Lakers rallied from an early 15-point deficit for a 92–86 win over the Celtics.[159] It was the Lakers' first victory of the season against one of the league's top four teams, as they entered the game 0–5 in previous matchups and had been outscored by an average of 11 points.[160] Bryant, selected to his 13th straight All-Star game after becoming the leading vote-getter, had 37 points, 14 rebounds, and three steals in the 2011 All-Star Game and won his fourth All-Star MVP, tying Hall of Famer Bob Pettit for the most All-Star MVP awards.[161][162] During the season, Bryant moved from 12th to 6th place on the NBA all-time career scoring list, passing John Havlicek, Dominique Wilkins, Oscar Robertson, Hakeem Olajuwon, Elvin Hayes, and Moses Malone.[163] Bryant finished the season averaging less than 20 shots a game, his fewest since the 2003–04 season.[164]
On April 13, 2011, the NBA fined Bryant $100,000 for directing a gay slur at referee Bennie Adams in frustration in the previous day's game.[165][166][167] The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation praised the NBA's decision to fine Bryant, and the Human Rights Campaign said that Bryant's language was a "disgrace" and "distasteful". Bryant stated that he was open to discussing the matter with gay rights groups and wanted to appeal his fine.[168][169][170] He later apologized for the use of the word.[171][172] Bryant and other Lakers appeared in a Lakers public service announcement denouncing his behavior.[173] The team's quest for another three-peat was ended when they were swept by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the playoffs. The Mavericks would go on to win the 2011 NBA Finals.
Bryant received experimental platelet-rich plasma therapy on his left knee and ankle,[174] and Mike Brown replaced the retired Phil Jackson as coach of the Lakers in the offseason. Bryant began the season playing with an injured wrist.[175] On January 10, 2012, Bryant scored 48 points against the Suns, the most ever by a player in his 16th season. "Not bad for the seventh-best player in the league," said Bryant, referring to a preseason ESPN ranking of the NBA's top players.[176] He went on to score 40, 42, and 42 in his next three games.[177] It was the sixth time in his career he scored 40 or more points in four straight games, a feat exceeded only by Wilt Chamberlain (19 times).[178] At the 2012 NBA All-Star Game, Bryant scored 27 points to pass Michael Jordan as the career scoring leader in the All-Star Game.[179] He also suffered a broken nose and a concussion in the third quarter of the All-Star Game after a hard foul from Dwyane Wade.[180] In April, Bryant missed seven games with a bruised left shin.[181] He returned three games before the end of the regular season. In the last game of the regular season, against Sacramento, he chose not to go for a possible third NBA scoring title, having needed 38 points to surpass Kevin Durant. [182]
International career[link]
Kobe Bryant declined to play in the 2000 Olympics due to getting married in the off-season.[183] He also decided not to play in the 2002 FIBA World Championship.[184] Bryant was originally selected for the FIBA Americas Championship 2003 but withdrew due to surgeries and was replaced by Vince Carter.[185] In the following summer, he had to withdraw from the Olympic team because of his legal case.[186] Along with LeBron James, he was one of the first two players to publicly named to the 2006–2008 U.S. preliminary roster in 2006 by Jerry Colangelo.[187] However, he was once again sidelined after knee surgery and didn't participate in the 2006 FIBA World Championship.[188]
Bryant's senior international career with the United States national team finally began in 2007. He was a member of the 2007 USA Men's Senior National Team and USA FIBA Americas Championship Team that finished 10–0, won gold and qualified the United States men for the 2008 Olympics. He started in all 10 of the USA's FIBA Americas Championship games. He finished third on the team for made and attempted free throws, ranked fourth for made field goals, made 3-pointers. Among all FIBA Americas Championship competitors, Bryant is ranked 15th in scoring, 14th in assists, and eighth in steals. Bryant scored double-digits in eight of the 10 games played. Bryant also made the game winning 14 feet (4.3 m) jumper above the foul line with seconds left in the game. He currently averages a .530 shooting percentage, with 16.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists.[189]
As a part of his international expansion, he is also featured in a Chinese reality TV show, called the Kobe Mentu show, which documents Chinese basketball players on different teams going through drills, preparing to play each other while Bryant gives advice and words of encouragement to the players while they practice.[190]
On June 23, 2008, he was named to the USA Men's Senior National Team for the 2008 Summer Olympics.[191] This was his first time going to the Olympics. Bryant scored 20 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, along with six assists, as Team USA defeated Spain 118–107 in the gold medal game of the 2008 Summer Olympics on August 24, 2008, for its first gold medal in a worldwide international competition since the 2000 Olympics.[192] He averaged 15.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting .462 from the field in eight Olympic contests.
Bryant has committed to playing for the national team at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[193]
Player profile[link]
Bryant is a shooting guard who is capable of playing the small forward position. He is considered one of the most complete players in the NBA,[194][195] has been selected to every All-NBA Team since 1999, and has been featured in the last fourteen NBA All-Star games.[1] Sportswriters and sportscasters frequently compare Bryant to Michael Jordan, a comparison Bryant dislikes.[196] In 2007, an ESPN poll of sportswriters voted him as the second best shooting guard in NBA history behind Jordan.[195]
He is a prolific scorer, averaging 25.4 points per game for his career, along with 5.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.5 steals (as of the end of the 2011–2012 regular season).[197] He is known for his ability to create shots for himself and is a competent three-point shooter at 33.7%. Bryant shares the single-game NBA record for three pointers made with 12.[198] Bryant is often cited as one of the most prolific scorers in the NBA,[199] and utilizes his wide array of moves and shots to elude defenders and score from virtually anywhere on the floor. Some of Bryant's best moves are his turnaround jump shot, and his ability to post up his defenders and score with a fadeaway jumpshot. Chris Ballard, a Sports Illustrated NBA writer, describes a "jab step-and-pause" as a move Bryant uses where he jabs his non-pivot foot forward to let the defender relax and instead of bringing the jab foot back, he pushes off it and drive around his opponent to get to the basket.[200]
Aside from his scoring ability, he has established himself as a standout defender, having made the All-Defensive first or second team twelve of the last thirteen seasons.[1] Bryant has also been noted being one of the premier clutch performers in the NBA.[201] In an annual survey of NBA general managers, Bryant was selected in 2012 for the 10th consecutive season as the player they most wanted taking the shot with the game on the line.[202][203][neutrality is disputed] Both Sporting News and TNT named Bryant the NBA player of the 2000s decade.[204][205]
NBA career statistics[link]
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| † | Denotes seasons in which the Lakers won an NBA Championship |
| Led the league |
Regular season[link]
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | L.A. Lakers | 71 | 6 | 15.5 | .417 | .375 | .819 | 1.9 | 1.3 | .7 | .3 | 7.6 |
| 1997–98 | L.A. Lakers | 79 | 1 | 26.0 | .428 | .341 | .794 | 3.1 | 2.5 | .9 | .5 | 15.4 |
| 1998–99 | L.A. Lakers | 50 | 50 | 37.9 | .465 | .267 | .839 | 5.3 | 3.8 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 19.9 |
| 1999–00† | L.A. Lakers | 66 | 62 | 38.2 | .468 | .319 | .821 | 6.3 | 4.9 | 1.6 | .9 | 22.5 |
| 2000–01† | L.A. Lakers | 68 | 68 | 40.9 | .464 | .305 | .853 | 5.9 | 5.0 | 1.7 | .6 | 28.5 |
| 2001–02† | L.A. Lakers | 80 | 80 | 38.3 | .469 | .250 | .829 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 1.5 | .4 | 25.2 |
| 2002–03 | L.A. Lakers | 82 | 82 | 41.5 | .451 | .383 | .843 | 6.9 | 5.9 | 2.2 | .8 | 30.0 |
| 2003–04 | L.A. Lakers | 65 | 64 | 37.6 | .438 | .327 | .852 | 5.5 | 5.1 | 1.7 | .4 | 24.0 |
| 2004–05 | L.A. Lakers | 66 | 66 | 40.7 | .433 | .339 | .816 | 5.9 | 6.0 | 1.3 | .8 | 27.6 |
| 2005–06 | L.A. Lakers | 80 | 80 | 41.0 | .450 | .347 | .850 | 5.3 | 4.5 | 1.8 | .4 | 35.4[206] |
| 2006–07 | L.A. Lakers | 77 | 77 | 40.8 | .463 | .344 | .868 | 5.7 | 5.4 | 1.4 | .5 | 31.6[207] |
| 2007–08 | L.A. Lakers | 82 | 82 | 38.9 | .459 | .361 | .840 | 6.3 | 5.4 | 1.8 | .5 | 28.3 |
| 2008–09† | L.A. Lakers | 82 | 82 | 36.1 | .467 | .351 | .856 | 5.2 | 4.9 | 1.5 | .4 | 26.8 |
| 2009–10† | L.A. Lakers | 73 | 73 | 38.8 | .456 | .329 | .811 | 5.4 | 5.0 | 1.6 | .3 | 27.0 |
| 2010–11 | L.A. Lakers | 82 | 82 | 33.9 | .451 | .323 | .828 | 5.1 | 4.7 | 1.2 | .1 | 25.3 |
| 2011–12 | L.A. Lakers | 58 | 58 | 38.5 | .430 | .303 | .845 | 5.4 | 4.6 | 1.2 | .3 | 27.9 |
| Career | 1161 | 1013 | 36.5 | .453 | .337 | .838 | 5.3 | 4.7 | 1.5 | .5 | 25.4 | |
| All-Star | 13 | 13 | 25.5 | .509 | .350 | .824 | 5.0 | 4.2 | 2.7 | .3 | 20.8 |
Playoffs[link]
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | L.A. Lakers | 9 | 0 | 14.8 | .382 | .261 | .867 | 1.2 | 1.2 | .3 | .2 | 8.2 |
| 1998 | L.A. Lakers | 11 | 0 | 20.0 | .408 | .214 | .689 | 1.9 | 1.5 | .3 | .7 | 8.7 |
| 1999 | L.A. Lakers | 8 | 8 | 39.4 | .430 | .348 | .800 | 6.9 | 4.6 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 19.8 |
| 2000† | L.A. Lakers | 22 | 22 | 39.0 | .442 | .344 | .754 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 21.1 |
| 2001† | L.A. Lakers | 16 | 16 | 43.4 | .469 | .324 | .821 | 7.3 | 6.1 | 1.6 | .8 | 29.4 |
| 2002† | L.A. Lakers | 19 | 19 | 43.8 | .434 | .379 | .759 | 5.8 | 4.6 | 1.4 | .9 | 26.6 |
| 2003 | L.A. Lakers | 12 | 12 | 44.3 | .432 | .403 | .827 | 5.1 | 5.2 | 1.2 | .1 | 32.1[208] |
| 2004 | L.A. Lakers | 22 | 22 | 44.2 | .413 | .247 | .813 | 4.7 | 5.5 | 1.9 | .3 | 24.5 |
| 2006 | L.A. Lakers | 7 | 7 | 44.9 | .497 | .400 | .771 | 6.3 | 5.1 | 1.1 | .4 | 27.9 |
| 2007 | L.A. Lakers | 5 | 5 | 43.0 | .462 | .357 | .919 | 5.2 | 4.4 | 1.0 | .4 | 32.8[209] |
| 2008 | L.A. Lakers | 21 | 21 | 41.1 | .479 | .302 | .809 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 1.7 | .4 | 30.1[210] |
| 2009† | L.A. Lakers | 23 | 23 | 40.8 | .457 | .349 | .883 | 5.3 | 5.5 | 1.7 | .9 | 30.2 |
| 2010† | L.A. Lakers | 23 | 23 | 40.1 | .458 | .374 | .842 | 6.0 | 5.5 | 1.4 | .7 | 29.2 |
| 2011 | L.A. Lakers | 10 | 10 | 35.4 | .446 | .293 | .820 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 1.6 | .3 | 22.8 |
| 2012 | L.A. Lakers | 12 | 12 | 39.7 | .439 | .283 | .832 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 1.3 | .2 | 30.0 |
| Career | 220 | 200 | 39.3 | .448 | .331 | .816 | 5.1 | 4.7 | 1.4 | .6 | 25.6 |
Accomplishments and records[link]
Main article: List of career achievements by Kobe Bryant
Bryant led the NBA in scoring during the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons.[1] In 2006, Bryant scored a career-high 81 points against the Toronto Raptors, the second-highest number of points scored in a game in NBA history,[78][211] behind only Wilt Chamberlain's 100 point performance. Bryant was awarded the regular season's Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) in the 2007–08 season and led his team to the 2008 NBA Finals as the first seed in the Western Conference.[212] In the 2008 Summer Olympics, he won a gold medal as a member of the U.S. men's basketball team, occasionally referred to as "The Redeem Team".[213] He led the Lakers to two more championships in 2009 and 2010, winning the Finals MVP award on both occasions.
Bryant has been selected to 14 All-NBA Teams (10 times to the All-NBA First Team) and 12 All-Defensive Teams (nine times to the All-Defensive First Team). He was selected to play in the NBA All-Star Game on 14 occasions, winning All-Star MVP Awards in 2002, 2007, 2009 and 2011 (he shared the 2009 award with Shaquille O'Neal). He also won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 1997.[214] As of May 2011, he has had 5 sixty-point games, 24 fifty-point games, and 107 forty-point games.
Off the court[link]
Personal life[link]
In November 1999, 21-year-old Bryant met 17-year-old Vanessa Laine while she was working as a background dancer on the Tha Eastsidaz music video "G'd Up".[215] Bryant was in the building working on his debut musical album, which was never released. The two began dating and became engaged just six months later in May 2000,[215] while Laine was still a senior at Marina High School in Huntington Beach, California. To avoid media scrutiny, she finished high school through independent study.[215] According to Vanessa's cousin Laila Laine, there was no prenuptial agreement. Vanessa said Bryant "loved her too much for one".[216]
They married on April 18, 2001, at St. Edward Roman Catholic Church in Dana Point, California.[217] Neither Bryant's parents, his two sisters, longtime advisor and agent Arn Tellem, nor Bryant's Laker teammates attended. Bryant's parents were opposed to the marriage for a number of reasons. Reportedly Bryant's parents had problems with him marrying so young, especially to a woman who was not African-American.[215] This disagreement resulted in an estrangement period of over two years, which ended when Bryant had his first daughter.
In January 2002, Bryant bought a Mediterranean-style house for $4 million, located in a cul-de-sac in Newport Coast, Newport Beach.[218] The Bryants' first child, a daughter named Natalia Diamante Bryant, was born on January 19, 2003. The birth of Natalia influenced Bryant to reconcile his differences with his parents. Vanessa Bryant suffered a miscarriage due to an ectopic pregnancy in the spring of 2005. Their second daughter, Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant, was born on May 1, 2006. Gianna was born six minutes ahead of former teammate Shaquille O'Neal's daughter Me'arah Sanaa, who was born in Florida.[219] On December 16, 2011, Vanessa Bryant filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences. Both parties resolved all the issues related to their divorce prior to the filing.[220] Both Kobe and Vanessa requested joint custody of their daughters, Natalia and Gianna.[221]
In an early 2007 interview, it was revealed that Bryant still speaks Italian fluently.[3] Bryant assigned himself the nickname of "Black Mamba", citing a desire for his basketball skills to mimic the snake of that name's ability to "strike with 99% accuracy at maximum speed, in rapid succession."[222]
Sexual assault allegation[link]
Main article: Kobe Bryant sexual assault case
In the summer of 2003, the sheriff's office of Eagle, Colorado, arrested Bryant in connection with an investigation of a sexual assault complaint filed by 19-year old hotel employee Katelyn Faber. Bryant had checked into The Lodge and Spa at Cordillera in Eagle County in advance of undergoing knee surgery nearby. Faber accused Bryant of raping her in his hotel room the night before Bryant was to have the procedure. Bryant admitted an adulterous sexual encounter with his accuser, but denied her sexual assault allegation.[223][224]
The accusation tarnished Bryant's reputation, as the public's perception of Bryant plummeted, and his endorsement contracts with McDonald's and Nutella were terminated. Sales for Bryant's replica jersey fell significantly from their previous highs.[225] However, in September 2004, the assault case was dropped by prosecutors after Faber refused to testify in the trial. Afterward, Bryant agreed to apologize to Faber for the incident, including his public mea culpa: "Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did. After months of reviewing discovery, listening to her attorney, and even her testimony in person, I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter."[226][227] Faber filed a separate civil lawsuit against Bryant, which the two sides ultimately settled with the specific terms of the settlement being undisclosed to the public.
Endorsements[link]
Before starting the 1996–97 NBA season, Bryant signed a 6-year contract with Adidas worth approximately $48 million.[228][229] His first signature shoe was the Equipment KB 8.[230] Bryant's other earlier endorsements included deals with The Coca-Cola Company to endorse their Sprite soft drink, appearing in advertisements for McDonald's, promoting Spalding's new NBA Infusion Ball, Upper Deck, Italian chocolate company Ferrero SpA's brand Nutella, Russell Corporation,[231] and appearing on his own series of video games by Nintendo. Many companies like McDonald's and Ferrero SpA terminated his contracts when rape allegations against him became public.[232] A notable exception was Nike, Inc., who had signed him to a 5-year, $40–45 million contract just before the incident.[233][234] However, they refused to use his image or market a new shoe of his for the year, but eventually did start promoting Bryant once his image recovered 2 years later.[234] He has since resumed endorsement deals with The Coca-Cola Company, through their subsidiary Energy Brands to promote their Vitamin Water brand of drinks.[235] Bryant was also the cover athlete for NBA '07: Featuring the Life Vol. 2 and appeared in commercials for the video games Guitar Hero World Tour (with Tony Hawk, Michael Phelps, and Alex Rodriguez) in 2008 and Call of Duty: Black Ops (alongside Jimmy Kimmel) in 2010.[236]
In a 2008 video promoting Nike's Hyperdunk shoes, Bryant appears to jump over a speeding Aston Martin. The stunt was considered to be fake, and the Los Angeles Times said a real stunt would probably be a violation of Bryant's Lakers contract.[237] After promoting Nike's Hyperdunk shoes, Bryant came out with the fourth edition of his signature line by Nike, the Zoom Kobe IV. In 2010 Nike launched another shoe, Nike Zoom Kobe V.[238] In 2009, Bryant signed a deal with Nubeo to market the "Black Mamba collection", a line of sports/luxury watches that range from $25,000 to $285,000.[239] On February 9, 2009, Bryant was featured on the cover of ESPN The Magazine. However, it was not for anything basketball related, rather it was about Bryant being a big fan of FC Barcelona.[240] CNN estimated Bryant's endorsement deals in 2007 to be worth $16 million a year.[241] In 2010, Bryant was ranked third behind Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan in Forbes' list of the world's highest-paid athletes with $48 million.[242]
On December 13, 2010, Bryant signed a two-year endorsement deal with Turkey's national airline, Turkish Airlines. The deal involved Bryant being in a promotional film to be aired in over 80 countries in addition to him being used in digital, print and billboard advertising.[243][244][245]
Bryant has appeared as the cover athlete for the following video games:
- Kobe Bryant in NBA Courtside[246]
- NBA Courtside 2: Featuring Kobe Bryant[247]
- NBA Courtside 2002[248]
- NBA 3 On 3 Featuring Kobe Bryant[249]
- NBA '07: Featuring the Life Vol. 2[250]
- NBA '09: The Inside[251]
- NBA 2K10
Music[link]
In 2011, Bryant was featured in Taiwanese singer Jay Chou's single, "The Heaven and Earth Challenge" (天地一鬥, pronounced "Tian Di Yi Dou").[252] The proceeds for downloads of both the single and ringtones were donated to impoverished schools for basketball facilities and equipment.[253] The music video of the single also features Bryant.[254] The song was also used by Sprite in its 2011 marketing campaign in China.[255]
Philanthropy[link]
Bryant is the official ambassador for After-School All-Stars (ASAS), an American non-profit organization that provides comprehensive after-school programs to children in 13 US cities.[256] Bryant also started the Kobe Bryant China Fund which partnered with the Soong Ching Ling Foundation, a charity backed by the Chinese government.[257] The Kobe Bryant China Fund raises money within China earmarked for education and health programs.[257] On November 4, 2010, Bryant appeared alongside Zach Braff at the Call of Duty: Black Ops launch event at the Santa Monica Airport, where they presented a $1 million check to the Call of Duty Endowment, an Activision-founded nonprofit organization that helps veterans transition to civilian careers after their military service has ended.[236]
See also[link]
- Kobe Bryant (song) at Lil Wayne
- Shaq–Kobe feud
- Kobe Doin' Work
- List of 40-plus point games by Kobe Bryant
- List of National Basketball Association players with 1000 games played
- List of National Basketball Association career scoring leaders
- List of National Basketball Association career assists leaders
- List of National Basketball Association career steals leaders
- List of National Basketball Association career turnovers leaders
- List of National Basketball Association career 3-point scoring leaders
- List of National Basketball Association career free throw scoring leaders
- List of National Basketball Association career playoff scoring leaders
- List of National Basketball Association career playoff assists leaders
- List of National Basketball Association career playoff steals leaders
- List of National Basketball Association career playoff turnovers leaders
- List of National Basketball Association career playoff 3-point scoring leaders
- List of National Basketball Association career playoff free throw scoring leaders
- List of National Basketball Association players with 50 or more points in a playoff game
- List of National Basketball Association players with most points in a game
- List of National Basketball Association season scoring leaders
- List of National Basketball Association franchise career scoring leaders
- List of National Basketball Association top individual scoring season averages
- List of NBA players with most championships
- List of NBA players who have spent their entire career with one franchise
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- ^ a b Paul, Alan (July 16, 2009). "Kobe Bryant Conquers China". The Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204556804574258222289862830.html. Retrieved October 21, 2009.
External links[link]
| Find more about Kobe Bryant on Wikipedia's sister projects: | |
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- Official website
- Career statistics and player information from NBA.com, or Basketball-Reference.com, or ESPN.com
- Kobe Bryant at the Internet Movie Database
- NBA.com – The Ultimate Kobe Page
- Kobe Bryant Video on FoxSports Video Archive
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| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| Name | Bryant, Kobe Bean |
| Alternative names | |
| Short description | Professional basketball player |
| Date of birth | August 23, 1978 |
| Place of birth | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Date of death | |
| Place of death | |
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For other people named Stephen Nash, see Stephen Nash (disambiguation).
 Nash with the Suns |
|
| No. 13 – Phoenix Suns | |
|---|---|
| Point guard | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1974-02-07) 7 February 1974 (age 38) Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Nationality | Canadian, British[1] |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 178 lb (81 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Santa Clara |
| NBA Draft | 1996 / Round: 1 / Pick: 15th overall |
| Selected by the Phoenix Suns | |
| Pro career | 1996–present |
| Career history | |
| 1996–1998 | Phoenix Suns |
| 1998–2004 | Dallas Mavericks |
| 2004–present | Phoenix Suns |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
Stephen John "Steve" Nash, OC, OBC (born 7 February 1974) is a South African-born Canadian professional basketball player who plays point guard for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nash enjoyed a successful high-school basketball career, and he was eventually given a scholarship by Santa Clara University. In his four seasons with the Broncos, the team made three NCAA Tournament appearances, and Nash was twice named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year.
After graduating from Santa Clara as the team's all-time leader in assists, Nash entered the 1996 NBA Draft and was selected as the 15th pick by the Phoenix Suns. He made a minimal impact, and was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 1998. By his third season with the Mavericks, he was voted into his first NBA All-Star Game and had earned his first All-NBA selection. Together with Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley, Nash led the Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals the following season. However, he became a free agent after the 2003–04 season and returned to the Phoenix Suns.
In the 2004–05 season, Nash led the Suns to the Western Conference Finals, and was named the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP). He was named MVP again in the 2005–06 season, and missed out on a third consecutive MVP title to Nowitzki the next season. Named by ESPN in 2006 as the ninth greatest point guard of all time, Nash has led the league in assists and free-throw percentage at various points in his career. He is also ranked as one of the top players in NBA league history for three-point shooting, free-throw shooting, total assists and assists per game.
Nash has been honoured for his contributions to various philanthropic causes. In 2006, he was named by Time as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. He also received the Order of Canada in 2007, and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of Victoria in 2008.
Contents |
Early life[link]
My heroes were Isiah Thomas, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson. I think they were just so competitive and creative. Especially Isiah, he was somebody that wasn't very tall. He had played the game mostly on the floor and it made me feel that I could find a way to do the same.
Steve Nash[2]
Nash was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, to a Welsh mother and an English father on 7 February 1974.[3][4][5] His family moved to Regina, Saskatchewan, when he was 18 months old, then to Vancouver, before finally settling in Victoria, British Columbia.[6] Although Nash played soccer and ice hockey, often with his younger brother, Martin, he did not start playing basketball until he was 12 or 13.[2] In eighth grade, however, he told his mother that one day he would play in the NBA and would become a star.[6]
High school[link]
Nash originally attended Mount Douglas Secondary School, but after his grades began to drop, his parents decided to enroll him at St. Michaels University School, a private boarding school.[7] At St. Michaels, he starred in basketball, soccer, and rugby union. While playing basketball during his senior season, Nash averaged 21.3 points, 11.2 assists, and 9.1 rebounds per game.[8] In the 1991–92 season, he led his team in his final year to the British Columbia AAA provincial championship title, and was named the province's Player of the Year.[9]
College career[link]
Although Nash's high school coach, Ian Hyde-Lay, sent letters of inquiry and highlight reels on Nash's behalf to over 30 American universities, Nash was not recruited by any university,[6] until Santa Clara coach Dick Davey requested video footage of the young guard. After watching Nash in person, Davey said he "was nervous as hell just hoping that no one else would see him. It didn't take a Nobel Prize winner to figure out this guy's pretty good. It was just a case of hoping that none of the big names came around."[7] However, Davey also told Nash that he was "the worst defensive player" he had ever seen.[7]
Nash was awarded a scholarship by Santa Clara for the 1992–93 season. At that time, it had been five years since the Broncos appeared in the NCAA tournament. That changed when Nash led the Broncos to a West Coast Conference (WCC) Tournament title and an upset win over the No. 2 seeded Arizona in the first round of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.[6] In that game, Nash scored six straight free throws in the last 30 seconds of the contest.[7] Although Santa Clara was defeated by Temple in the next round, the 1992–93 campaign was considered a successful one. However, the Broncos failed to sustain the momentum the following season, and only managed a 5–7 record in the conference.[6] The team rebounded in the 1994–95 season, with Nash being named Conference Player of the Year and the Broncos topping the WCC.[6] Featuring the league leader for scoring and assists in Nash, the Broncos returned to the NCAA tournament, but they were defeated by Mississippi State.[6] After the season, Nash contemplated turning professional, and decided against it when he learned that he would probably not be considered as a first-round pick in the 1995 NBA Draft.[6]
In the 1995–96 season, Nash began attracting the attention of the national media and professional scouts. He had spent the summer before that honing his skills, playing with the Canadian national team and working out with the likes of established NBA players Jason Kidd and Gary Payton.[6] Santa Clara again captured the WCC title, and for the second consecutive year, Nash was named Conference Player of the Year, the first Bronco to do so since Kurt Rambis.[8] He scored 28 points in leading the #10 seed Broncos to a first round upset win over #7 seed Maryland, but then the Broncos were eliminated by Kansas. Nash's performances ensured that he was named Honorable Mention All-America as a senior by The Associated Press and the USBWA. He also finished his career as Santa Clara's all-time leader in career assists (510), free-throw percentage (.862), and made and attempted three-pointers (263–656).[8] He remains third on the school's all-time scoring list (1,689), and holds Santa Clara's single-season free-throw percentage record (.894).[8] In September 2006, Nash had his jersey (#11) retired, becoming the first Santa Clara student-athlete to receive that honour.[10]
NCAA career statistics[link]
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992–93 | Santa Clara | 31 | ... | 24.0 | .424 | .408 | .825 | 2.5 | 2.2 | .8 | .1 | 8.1 |
| 1993–94 | Santa Clara | 26 | ... | 29.9 | .414 | .399 | .831 | 2.5 | 3.7 | 1.3 | .0 | 14.6 |
| 1994–95 | Santa Clara | 27 | ... | 33.4 | .444 | .454 | .879 | 3.8 | 6.4 | 1.8 | .1 | 20.9 |
| 1995–96 | Santa Clara | 29 | ... | 33.8 | .430 | .344 | .894 | 3.6 | 6.0 | 1.3 | .0 | 17.0 |
| Career[11] | 113 | ... | 30.1 | .430 | .401 | .867 | 3.1 | 4.5 | 1.3 | .1 | 14.9 |
NBA career[link]
Phoenix Suns (1996–98)[link]
After graduating with a degree in sociology,[7] Nash was selected 15th overall by the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 1996 NBA Draft. Upon hearing the draft announcement, Suns fans booed in disapproval of the relatively unknown player.[7] This was because despite his impressive college accomplishments, Nash had not played in one of the major college conferences. During his first two seasons in the NBA, Nash played a supporting role behind NBA star point guards Kevin Johnson, Sam Cassell, and later, Jason Kidd.[6] Both Johnson and Cassell had NBA Finals experience, while Kidd was the second overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft and already an All-Star when he arrived at Phoenix.
In his rookie season, Nash only managed 10.5 minutes a game,[12] but in his second season, his playing time increased significantly and he was even ranked 13th in the league for three-point field-goal percentage.[6] Nevertheless, the Canadian's tenure with the Suns did not last. While at Santa Clara, Nash had met and befriended Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Donnie Nelson, who worked for the Golden State Warriors at that time. After moving to Dallas, Nelson was able to convince his father, Don Nelson—then the Mavericks coach and general manager—to acquire the under-utilised Nash.[6] Following the 1998 NBA Draft, Nash was traded from the Suns to the Mavericks in exchange for Martin Müürsepp, Bubba Wells, the draft rights to Pat Garrity and a first-round draft pick (who later turned out to be future Phoenix team-mate Shawn Marion).[6]
Dallas Mavericks (1998–2004)[link]
It was in Dallas that Nash established himself as a formidable point guard, beginning a decade as one of the game's top players. During his first year as a Maverick (the lockout-shortened 1998–99 season) he started in all 40 games he played in, and averaged 7.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game.[12] The 19–31 Mavericks failed to make the playoffs but in the 1999–2000 season, the team's prospects improved considerably. Nash missed 25 mid-season games due to an ankle injury, but came back to record six double-doubles in the last month of play.[8] He finished the season with averages of 8.6 points and 4.9 assists per game.[12] More importantly for the team, second-year teammate and friend Dirk Nowitzki was blossoming quickly into a top player, veteran Michael Finley was having an All-Star-calibre year, and the team's new owner, billionaire Mark Cuban, was bringing new energy and excitement to the franchise. Nash now had a supportive environment in which he could thrive.
In the 2000–01 season, Nash averaged 15.6 points and 7.3 assists per game in a breakout season.[12] With Nash directing the team's offense, Nowitzki and Finley playing at their best, and the acquisition of All-Star Juwan Howard complementing the high-scoring trio, the Mavericks earned a playoff berth for the first time in more than a decade. Dallas lost in the Western Conference Semifinals four games to one to the San Antonio Spurs, but it marked the beginning of a memorable run for Nash and the Mavericks.[13] In the 2001–02 season, Nash posted career-highs of 17.9 points and 7.7 assists per game[12] and earned a spot in the NBA All-Star Game and on the All-NBA Third Team.[14][15] He was now an All-Star, increasingly appearing in television commercials and, with Finley and Nowitzki, a part of the Dallas Mavericks "Big Three."[16] Dallas earned another trip to the playoffs but lost again in the Semifinals to the Sacramento Kings four games to one.[17]
Nash closely replicated his previous season's performance in the 2002–03 season, averaging 17.7 points and 7.3 assists per game,[12] again earning All-Star and All-NBA Third Team honours.[14][18] Nowitzki and Nash led the Mavericks from a 14-game winning streak to open the season all the way to the Western Conference Finals, where they lost to the eventual NBA champions, the San Antonio Spurs four games to two.[19] It was only the second Conference Finals appearance in the franchise's history. The 2003–04 season saw an offensively boosted Mavericks roster (with the acquisitions of Antoine Walker and Antawn Jamison) but a dip in Nash's scoring contributions. As a result he was not selected for the All-Star and All-NBA team rosters even though he achieved new career highs in assists per game (8.8) and free-throw accuracy (91.6%).[12] In the playoffs, the fifth-seeded Dallas failed to make progress yet again as the Sacramento Kings saw them off four games to one.[20]
After the 2003–04 season, Nash became a free agent. He attempted to negotiate a long-term contract with Cuban, who was paying Walker, Finley, Nowitzki and Jamison nearly $50 million in combined salaries that season. Cuban wanted to build his franchise around the younger Nowitzki and did not want to risk signing the 30-year-old Nash to a long-term deal, and offered Nash a four-year deal worth about $9 million annually, with a fifth year partially guaranteed. The Phoenix Suns on the other hand offered the point guard a six-year, $63 million contract. Nash was reluctant to leave Dallas and returned to Cuban to see if he would match the deal; Cuban did not, and Nash signed for the Suns for the 2004–05 season. The Canadian would go on to win two League MVP awards with Phoenix, and on a 14 June 2006 appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman, Cuban wondered out loud, "... you know Steve's a great guy and I love him to death, but why couldn't he play like an MVP for us?"[21]
Return to Phoenix Suns (2004–present)[link]
Nash joined a Suns team which had emerging young players in Shawn Marion, Joe Johnson and Amar'e Stoudemire. In the season before Nash arrived, the Suns had recorded a 29–53 win–loss record,[6] and they were projected to have another poor season. Head coach Mike D'Antoni favoured an up-tempo style of basketball; this required smaller and more athletic players with the capability to outrun and outshoot their opponents. Nash's familiarity with this style combined with the athleticism of his teammates produced an NBA-best 62–20 record and a points-per-game average of 110.4, the highest in a decade.[22] The catalyst of this turnaround, Nash averaged 11.5 assists per game while making 50.2% of his field goals and 43.1% of his three-pointers in the regular season.[12][23] He edged Shaquille O'Neal to win the 2004–05 NBA MVP award,[24] becoming the first Canadian to earn the honour, as well as the third point guard ever to be named MVP, along with Magic Johnson and Bob Cousy.[8] In the playoffs, Phoenix swept the Memphis Grizzlies in four games before meeting the Dallas Mavericks in the second round.[25] Nash led the Suns to a 4–2 series win,[25] and the Suns reached the Western Conference finals for the first time since 1993, but lost to the eventual NBA Champions and arch-rival, the San Antonio Spurs, in five games.[25]
The next season, Stoudemire suffered a serious knee injury, and Johnson and Quentin Richardson were traded away.[26] The Suns were not expected to repeat their successful 2005 season, but with Nash directing the same high-tempo offence, the team compiled a respectable 54–28 record and won the division title.[23][26] The Suns were again the highest-scoring team in the league with seven players averaging double figures in points per game,[26] and Nash was voted for the first time to start for the 2006 Western All-Star team.[27] Having recorded career highs in points (18.8), rebounds (4.2), field goal percentage (.512) and free-throw percentage (a league-leading .921), and leading the league with 10.5 assists per game,[8] Nash was named the league MVP for the second year in a row.[28] In the first round of the playoffs, Phoenix overcame a 3–1 deficit against the Los Angeles Lakers and won the series 4–3.[26] The Los Angeles Clippers were their Conference Semifinals opponents, and the Suns again needed seven games to clinch the series.[26] For the second year in a row however, the Suns bowed out in the Conference Finals, this time to Nash's former team, Dallas.[26]
In the 2006–07 season, Nash had another stellar campaign, averaging 18.6 points and a career-high 11.6 assists per game while becoming the first person since Magic Johnson in 1990–91 to average 18 points and 11 assists per game during the regular season.[29] Nash received the most votes for first-team All-NBA and was joined by teammate Stoudemire; the two were the first teammates to make the first team since Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal in 2003–04.[29] Nash received 129 first-place votes and 645 total points from the panel of 129 media members.[29] He narrowly missed being MVP a third consecutive time, coming in second with 44 first place votes to 83 for Dirk Nowitzki.[30] In the playoffs, the Suns eliminated the Lakers in five games, but were unable to overcome the Spurs in the Conference Semifinals, losing the series 4–2.[31]
Nash played in 81 regular-season games during the 2007–08 season; in this campaign, the Western Conference was especially competitive and he led the Suns to 55 wins and the sixth seed for the 2008 NBA Playoffs. Although there was a dip in his regular-season output, Nash's shooting remained sharp; the accuracy of his shooting was on par with his 2005–06 MVP campaign (shooting at least 50% from the field, 40% from the three-point arc, and 90% from the free throw line).[12] On 31 January 2008, he collected his All-Star stripes for the sixth time in his career.[32] However, Nash continued to experience agony in the playoffs. Despite a mid-season trade that sent Shawn Marion to the Miami Heat and brought four-time NBA champion Shaquille O'Neal to the team, the Suns were defeated in the first round of the playoffs by the San Antonio Spurs for the third time in four years.[33] In the deciding Game 5, Nash was perceived to have suffered from "elimination-game jitters", and turned over the ball twice in the final two minutes of what was a tight contest.[33] Nevertheless, Nash was later named to the All-NBA Second Team for the 2007–08 season.[34]
Before the 2008–09 season began, coach D'Antoni was replaced by Terry Porter, who preferred a more defensive-oriented style of basketball. The Suns had difficulties adapting to this new system, and even a December trade involving sending stalwarts Raja Bell and Boris Diaw to the Charlotte Bobcats for athletic swingman Jason Richardson[35] saw the team continue to struggle. Porter was then replaced by Alvin Gentry in February after a 28–23 record, but the Suns were unable to secure the final seed for the playoffs,[36] resulting in Nash missing the playoffs for the first time since he returned to Phoenix for his second stint.
Nash and the Suns opened the 2009–10 season with a series of strong performances, going 8–1 in their first nine games (a franchise-best since 1980–81), with Nash producing two 20-assists games.[37] On 21 January 2010, Nash was named as the starting point guard for the West for the 2010 NBA All-Star Game.[38] With him operating at the point, the Suns were the highest-scoring team in the league for the fifth season in a row, and were seeded third in the conference for the playoffs with 54 wins. Behind solid performances by Richardson and veteran Grant Hill, the Suns defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 4–2 in the first round of the playoffs, and swept the Spurs 4–0 in the second round. The Suns met the defending champions, Los Angeles Lakers, in the Conference Finals. After losing the first two games, Phoenix won the next two to tie the series. A Ron Artest buzzer-beater in Game 5 pushed the Lakers one game closer to the Finals, and Kobe Bryant's 37 points in Game 6 completed the defeat of the Suns.
The Suns underwent two major roster changes in the 2010–11 season. During the pre-season, Stoudemire left for New York, while longtime teammate Leandro Barbosa was traded for Hedo Türkoğlu. Josh Childress and Hakim Warrick were also recruited to join the Suns. Not long after the season began, Türkoğlu, Richardson, and Earl Clark were traded to Orlando for Vince Carter, Marcin Gortat, and Mickaël Piétrus, while rising star Goran Dragic was traded to the Houston Rockets for Aaron Brooks.[39] The Suns had difficulty being even a .500 team, and for the second time since Nash returned to Phoenix, the Suns failed to make the playoffs.
In February 2012, Nash was named to his eighth All-Star Game. At the time, he was leading the NBA in assists per game.[40]
On April 21, 2012, Nash passed Oscar Robertson for career assists versus the Denver Nuggets.
International career[link]
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men’s Basketball | ||
Competitor for  Canada |
||
| FIBA Americas Championship | ||
| Bronze | 2001 Neuquén | National team |
In 1993, while in college, Nash played for the national team and competed in the Canada Games and World University Games. He won a bronze medal at the Canada Games and won a silver medal at the World University Games, losing to Team USA, which included players such as Michael Finley and Damon Stoudamire.[6]
Nash captained Canada at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.[41] He led Canada to win their round robin group with a victory over Spain and a stunning 83–75 win over favoured Yugoslavia when he scored 26 points with eight rebounds and eight assists. Canada was eliminated in the quarterfinals with a loss to France and Nash left the court in tears. Nash expressed disappointment with the result, saying "It hurts a lot. I feel like I let everybody down. We could have been in the championship game. We were good enough."[42] Nevertheless, he did see a possible silver lining, saying "Hopefully kids [in Canada] will be inspired to play—that's what I really hope."[42] A victory in its final game of the tournament, a placement game against Russia, enabled Canada to salvage 7th place. Nash's Olympic performance propelled him to stardom in Canada and he finished fifth in voting for the 2000 Lionel Conacher Award, which is handed out to the Canadian male athlete of the year.[43]
Nash again led Team Canada during qualifying for the 2004 Summer Olympics at the Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was named tournament MVP,[44] but Canada finished fourth, missing out on the three Olympic spots available. That was the last time Nash played for Canada. In December 2007, he said, "In my mind right now, I'm not going to play for Canada any more."[45]
Player profile[link]
Nash is most noted for his playmaking, ball-handling skills and shooting. He led the league in assists for five years, averaging 11.5 assists per game in 2004–05, 10.5 in 2005–06, 11.6 in 2006–07, 11.0 in 2009–10 and 11.4 in 2010–11[12] and won the 2005 and 2010 NBA All-Star Skills Contests.[8] As of the end of 2011–12 season, he had a 90.4% career free-throw shooting average (second best in NBA history)[46] and a 42.9% career three-point shooting average (eight-best in league history),[47] and ranked as one of the top 10 players in league history in total assists, assists per game, and three-point field goals made.[48][49][50] In addition, he is ranked third (starting from 1986–87) in regular season point-assist double doubles.[51] In the 2005–06 season, Nash became the fourth player in NBA history to shoot 50% or better from the field, 40% from three-point range (43.9), and 90% from the line, joining Larry Bird, Reggie Miller and Mark Price in the 50-40-90 Club.[26][52] This was a feat he would repeat in the 2006-07, 2007–08, 2008–09 and 2009–10 campaigns.[12] Only 11 times has a player shot 50-40-90 in an NBA season while also achieving the NBA league minimum number of makes. Nash (five times) and Larry Bird (three times) are the only players to have accomplished this feat more than once.[53] A two-time NBA MVP, Nash is only the second point guard (along with Magic Johnson) to win the MVP award multiple times and the third guard in NBA history to earn back-to-back MVPs (joining Johnson and Michael Jordan).[8] Only nine other NBA players have won back-to-back MVP awards: Johnson, Jordan, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Tim Duncan, and LeBron James.[8] On 11 May 2006, ESPN.com rated Nash as the 9th-best point guard of all time,[54] and in a survey by nba.com in 2007, Nash received 85% of the votes by the league's general managers as best point guard in the league.[55] In a similar survey in 2009, Nash was rated as the best passer of the ball and the player possessing the best basketball IQ.[56] Commenting on Nash losing out to former teammate Dirk Nowitzki for the 2007 NBA MVP, Boston Celtics centre and Hall of Famer Russell stated: "I think, on the world stage, he's one of our great athletes in all sports... I'm a big fan. The two MVPs he got, he deserved. Part of the reason that he's so good and so effective is that the guys like playing with him. He creates an atmosphere where they win games."[57]
In terms of specific skills, Nash is particularly effective playing the pick and roll, notably with Nowitzki when he was at Dallas and later with the Suns' Amar'e Stoudemire and Shawn Marion.[58] When Nash returned to Phoenix in 2004, he helped the Suns improve from a 29–53 record in 2003–04 to 62–20 in 2004–05, reaching the Conference Finals for the first time in 11 years, earning him his first MVP award. The next season, he led the Suns into the Conference Finals, despite the injuries of all three big men (Stoudemire, Kurt Thomas and Brian Grant); further, Nash was responsible for seven of his teammates attaining career-highs in season scoring.[26] With Nash operating at the point, between the 2005–06 and 2009–10 seasons, the Suns led the league in field goal percentage.
NBA career statistics[link]
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| Led the league |
Regular season[link]
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | Phoenix | 65 | 2 | 10.5 | .423 | .418 | .824 | 1.0 | 2.1 | .3 | .0 | 3.3 |
| 1997–98 | Phoenix | 76 | 9 | 21.9 | .459 | .415 | .860 | 2.1 | 3.4 | .8 | .1 | 9.1 |
| 1998–99 | Dallas | 40 | 40 | 31.7 | .363 | .374 | .826 | 2.9 | 5.5 | .9 | .1 | 7.9 |
| 1999–00 | Dallas | 56 | 27 | 27.4 | .477 | .403 | .882 | 2.2 | 4.9 | .7 | .1 | 8.6 |
| 2000–01 | Dallas | 70 | 70 | 34.1 | .487 | .406 | .895 | 3.2 | 7.3 | 1.0 | .1 | 15.6 |
| 2001–02 | Dallas | 82 | 82 | 34.6 | .483 | .455 | .887 | 3.1 | 7.7 | .6 | .1 | 17.9 |
| 2002–03 | Dallas | 82 | 82 | 33.1 | .465 | .413 | .909 | 2.9 | 7.3 | 1.0 | .1 | 17.7 |
| 2003–04 | Dallas | 78 | 78 | 33.5 | .470 | .405 | .916 | 3.0 | 8.8 | .9 | .1 | 14.5 |
| 2004–05 | Phoenix | 75 | 75 | 34.3 | .502 | .431 | .887 | 3.3 | 11.5 | 1.0 | .1 | 15.5 |
| 2005–06 | Phoenix | 79 | 79 | 35.4 | .512 | .439 | .921 | 4.2 | 10.5 | .8 | .2 | 18.8 |
| 2006–07 | Phoenix | 76 | 76 | 35.3 | .532 | .455 | .899 | 3.5 | 11.6 | .8 | .1 | 18.6 |
| 2007–08 | Phoenix | 81 | 81 | 34.3 | .504 | .470 | .906 | 3.5 | 11.1 | .6 | .1 | 16.9 |
| 2008–09 | Phoenix | 74 | 74 | 33.6 | .503 | .439 | .933 | 3.0 | 9.7 | .7 | .1 | 15.7 |
| 2009–10 | Phoenix | 81 | 81 | 32.8 | .507 | .426 | .938 | 3.3 | 11.0 | .5 | .2 | 16.5 |
| 2010–11 | Phoenix | 75 | 75 | 33.3 | .492 | .395 | .912 | 3.5 | 11.4 | .6 | .0 | 14.7 |
| 2011–12 | Phoenix | 62 | 62 | 31.6 | .532 | .390 | .894 | 3.0 | 10.7 | .6 | .1 | 12.5 |
| Career | 1152 | 993 | 31.4 | .491 | .428 | .904 | 3.0 | 8.6 | .8 | .1 | 14.5 | |
| All-Star | 7 | 2 | 15.9 | .429 | .250 | .000 | 2.0 | 6.7 | .4 | .1 | 3.7 |
Playoffs[link]
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | Phoenix | 4 | 0 | 3.8 | .222 | .250 | .000 | .3 | .3 | .2 | .2 | 1.3 |
| 1997–98 | Phoenix | 4 | 1 | 12.8 | .444 | .200 | .625 | 2.5 | 1.8 | .5 | .0 | 5.5 |
| 2000–01 | Dallas | 10 | 10 | 37.0 | .417 | .410 | .882 | 3.2 | 6.4 | .6 | .1 | 13.6 |
| 2001–02 | Dallas | 8 | 8 | 40.4 | .432 | .444 | .971 | 4.0 | 8.8 | .5 | .0 | 19.5 |
| 2002–03 | Dallas | 20 | 20 | 36.5 | .447 | .487 | .873 | 3.5 | 7.3 | .9 | .1 | 16.1 |
| 2003–04 | Dallas | 5 | 5 | 39.4 | .386 | .375 | .889 | 5.2 | 9.0 | .8 | .0 | 13.6 |
| 2004–05 | Phoenix | 15 | 15 | 40.7 | .520 | .389 | .919 | 4.8 | 11.3 | .9 | .2 | 23.9 |
| 2005–06 | Phoenix | 20 | 20 | 39.9 | .502 | .368 | .912 | 3.7 | 10.2 | .4 | .2 | 20.4 |
| 2006–07 | Phoenix | 11 | 11 | 37.5 | .463 | .487 | .891 | 3.2 | 13.3 | .4 | .1 | 18.9 |
| 2007–08 | Phoenix | 5 | 5 | 36.6 | .457 | .300 | .917 | 2.8 | 7.8 | .4 | .2 | 16.2 |
| 2009–10 | Phoenix | 16 | 16 | 33.7 | .518 | .380 | .893 | 3.3 | 10.1 | .2 | .1 | 17.8 |
| Career | 118 | 111 | 35.8 | .473 | .409 | .899 | 3.5 | 8.9 | .6 | .1 | 17.3 |
NBA career highlights[link]
- 2× NBA Most Valuable Player: 2005, 2006
- 8× NBA All-Star: 2002–03, 2005–08, 2010, 2012
- 7× All-NBA selection:
- First team: 2005–07
- Second team: 2008, 2010
- Third team: 2002, 2003
- 2× NBA All-Star Weekend Skills Challenge winner: 2005, 2010
- 5× NBA regular season leader for assists per game: 2005 (11.5), 2006 (10.5), 2007 (11.6), 2010 (11.0), 2011 (11.4)[8]
- 5× NBA regular season leader for total assists: 2005 (861), 2006 (826), 2007 (884), 2010 (892), 2011 (855)[8]
- 2× NBA regular season leader for free-throw percentage: 2006 (.921), 2010 (.938)[8]
- 7× NBA regular season leader for assists per 48 minutes: 2004 (12.6),[59] 2005 (16.1),[60] 2006 (14.2),[61] 2007 (15.8),[62] 2008 (15.5),[63] 2010 (16.1), 2011 (16.4)
- 4× member of 50-40-90 Club: (2006, 2008–10)
- Has more 50-40-90 seasons than any other player in NBA history
- One of only five players to have ever shot 50-40-90
- One of only two players to have shot 50-40-90 more than once
- Lou Marsh Trophy (Canadian athlete of the year): 2005[64]
- 3× Lionel Conacher Award (Canadian male athlete of the year): 2002, 2005, 2006
- J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (NBA award for outstanding citizenship and community service): 2007
Off the court[link]
Personal life[link]
In 2001, Nash met Alejandra Amarilla in Manhattan. They married in June 2005 and have twin daughters, Lola and Bella, born on October 14, 2004,[8] and a son, Matteo Joel, born November 12, 2010.[65] On the day of his son's birth, Nash made a statement to Life & Style in which he announced the birth but called it a "bittersweet moment", revealing that he and his wife had "lived separately for the past several months" and are "in the process of dissolving" their marriage.[66][67]
Nash's younger brother, Martin Nash, played soccer for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC and made 30 appearances for the Canadian national soccer team.[5] Their younger sister, Joann, was the captain of the University of Victoria Vikes women's soccer team for three years and was named a Canada West Universities Athletic Association All-Star.[7][68] She is married to Manny Malhotra of the NHL Vancouver Canucks.
Nash has a medical condition called spondylolisthesis, which causes muscle tightness and back pain. Due to the condition, when he is not in the game he lies on his back rather than sitting on the bench to keep his muscles from stiffening.[69]
Charity[link]
In 2001, Nash formed the Steve Nash Foundation. Through grants to public service and nonprofit entities, the foundation aims to foster health in kids by funding projects that provide services to children affected by poverty, illness, abuse, or neglect, and create opportunity for education, play, and empowerment. It focuses its resources on communities in Phoenix, Arizona, and British Columbia, Canada. It was given charitable status in 2004.[5] This foundation was awarded the Steve Patterson Award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy in 2008.[70] Nash also founded the Jim Jennings Memorial Endowment Fund, established in honour of a volunteer staff member at Santa Clara University who served the basketball team for more than 20 years.[10]
Elsewhere, Nash is the sponsor of the Steve Nash Youth Basketball League in British Columbia that has grown over 10,000 participants.[8] He has also become involved with GuluWalk, a Canadian-operated charitable organization that raises awareness and funds for the war-affected children of northern Uganda. In September 2007, Nash and Yao Ming headlined a group of NBA players who travelled to China and played an exhibition game with the Chinese national basketball team. The charity event reportedly raised 2.5 million dollars, earmarked for Chinese children in need.[71]
In May 2006, Nash was named by Time as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. In the accompanying write-up by Charles Barkley, Nash was lauded for his unselfishness on the basketball court, and being "just a nice guy" who had paid for a new pediatric cardiology ward in a Paraguayan hospital.[72] On 28 December 2007, it was announced that Nash would receive Canada's highest civilian honour, the Order of Canada,[73] and on 3 June 2008, it was announced that Nash would receive a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.[74] On 18 September 2009, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the University of Victoria, in recognition of his athletic achievements and his philanthropic work on behalf of young people through the Steve Nash Foundation.[75]
Endorsements[link]
Nash is known to be selective about endorsing products, preferring to work with companies he deems socially responsible. After winning his first MVP award, he was approached to be the spokesperson for numerous products, including MDG Computers, Raymond Weil watches, Vitamin Water, and Clearly Canadian bottled water.[76] He also has a longstanding relationship with Nike.[77] Like fellow NBA stars Yao Ming, Carmelo Anthony, and Greg Oden, Nash is represented by agent Bill Duffy.[78]
Soccer[link]
Nash grew up playing soccer—he stated in a 2005 interview that he could have played professionally if he had focused on it[79]—and continues to hold an interest in the sport. When Dirk Nowitzki arrived in the NBA from Germany, he and Nash became close friends, in part because they enjoyed watching soccer together. Nash is friends with several professional soccer players, including Alessandro Del Piero, Thierry Henry, Owen Hargreaves, Massimo Ambrosini and Steve McManaman.[80] During his off-season, when he lives in New York City, he has trained with the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer,[81] and once tried to arrange a pick-up game in the city's Central Park with the Red Bulls and one of his local teams.[82]
Nash—whose father was born in the Tottenham district of London—is a lifelong Tottenham Hotspur supporter, and has expressed interest in owning a minority stake in the club. "I'd like to be an owner. It's something I could do for the rest of my life after my little window of popularity dies," he said in an interview with The New York Times.[83] Nash added, "I've been a passionate supporter all my life. My parents are from north London and so it's not like I'm some Yank who wants to make a profit out of football. I don't care about making money. I just want to see Spurs succeed and, if I can help, that's great." However, he said any participation in Spurs would come after his basketball career is over, and he has had only "casual contact" with chairman Daniel Levy and former director of football Damien Comolli.[84] Nash is also a fan of Brazilian team Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, which his former Suns teammate Leandro Barbosa supports. When Barbosa visited Corinthians in 2007, the club gave him a shirt with Nash's name and jersey number.[85]
Nash had also previously made statements about his intention to bring Major League Soccer to Vancouver as early as 2011, which he has succeeded in doing.[86] He joined the USL-1 Vancouver Whitecaps FC team's ownership group in July 2008 and in March 2009, Vancouver was officially named as a future MLS expansion city, set to join the league in 2011.[87][88]
Nash, along with former Yahoo! president and fellow Victoria-native Jeff Mallett, are investors in Women's Professional Soccer, a soccer league that was launched in March 2009. Nash cited his twin daughters and wanting to have role models for them to look up to as a reason for supporting the league.[89] Nash also co-hosted Showdown in Chinatown in 2008, an 8-on-8 charity soccer game held at Sara D. Roosevelt Park. He scored two goals in his team's 8–5 victory. Participants included Thierry Henry, Jason Kidd, Baron Davis, and Suns teammates Raja Bell and Leandro Barbosa.[90]
Other interests[link]
Nash and a Montreal-based partner, Leonard Schlemm, opened the first Steve Nash Sports Club in the spring of 2007 in downtown Vancouver, a high-end, $5-million, 38,500-square-foot (3,580 m2) facility that will mirror Nash's own fitness philosophy.[91]
In 2007, Nash wrote and produced an 81-second commercial for Nike titled "Training Day", directed by Julian Schnabel's daughter Lola, which gained popularity as a viral video on YouTube.[92] Nash also started a film production company together with his cousin, filmmaker Ezra Holland, and intends to produce independent films.[92] The first creative effort to come from Meathawk was a 91-second commercial, titled "The Sixty Million Dollar Man", for Nike's eco-friendly Trash Talk shoe, the first high-performance shoe to be made—at the behest of the environmentally conscious Nash—from recycled materials. Nash has worn the shoe since February 2008 but Nike produced only 5,000 pairs for sale. The ad which broke virally on Earth Day 2008, was written by Nash and the directors of the spot, Danny Vaia and Ezra Holland. It is a spoof remake of the title sequence of the American television series The Six Million Dollar Man and plays on Nash’s numerous on-court collisions. Amar'e Stoudemire and Raja Bell have cameo appearances.[93][94][95] Nash and Holland also co-directed the documentary Into the Wind, about iconic Canadian athlete and activist Terry Fox, as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series.
For the 2010 Winter Olympics held in Vancouver, Nash became the first NBA player in Olympic history to carry the torch and light the Olympic cauldron.[96]
See also[link]
- List of Canadians in the National Basketball Association
- List of foreign NBA players
- List of National Basketball Association players with 1000 games played
- List of National Basketball Association career assists leaders
- List of National Basketball Association career turnovers leaders
- List of National Basketball Association career 3-point scoring leaders
- List of National Basketball Association career playoff assists leaders
- List of National Basketball Association career playoff turnovers leaders
- List of National Basketball Association career playoff 3-point scoring leaders
- List of National Basketball Association players with most assists in a game
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Further reading[link]
- Jeff Rud, (1996), Long Shot: Steve Nash's Journey to the NBA, Polestar Books ISBN 1-896095-16-X
- Jeff Rud. (2007), Steve Nash: The Making of an MVP, Puffin ISBN 0-14-241014-4
- Jeff Savage (6 November 2006). Steve Nash. Lerner Publications. ISBN 978-0-8225-5956-6. http://books.google.com/books?id=Oc7urw7rQj4C&pg=PP1.
- Paul Arseneault; Peter Assaff (14 November 2006). Steve Nash. Heritage House Publishing Co. ISBN 978-1-894974-25-7. http://books.google.com/books?id=scoByYq6QGAC&pg=PP1.
- Ryan Basen, (2007) Steve Nash: Leader on and Off the Court, Enslow Publishers ISBN 0-7660-2868-2
- Dan Osier (15 January 2011). Steve Nash. The Rosen Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1-4488-2525-7. http://books.google.com/books?id=RhxZNg6WyqcC&pg=PP1.
- Jay Triano; Steve Nash. 2009 Basketball Basics: How to Play Like the Pros. Greystone Books. ISBN 978-1-55365-451-3. http://books.google.com/books?id=fmhveLFMHn8C&pg=PP1date=October 2009.
External links[link]
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Steve Nash |
- NBA.com profile
- Basketball-Reference.com: Steve Nash
- Canada Basketball profile
- Steve Nash at the Internet Movie Database
- Steve Nash on Twitter
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Adam van Koeverden |
Lou Marsh Trophy Winner 2005 |
Succeeded by Cindy Klassen |
| Olympic Games | ||
| Preceded by Stefania Belmondo |
Final Winter Olympic Torchbearer with Catriona LeMay Doan, Nancy Greene, and Wayne Gretzky Vancouver 2010 |
Succeeded by TBA 2014 |
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||||||||
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| Name | Nash, Steve |
| Alternative names | |
| Short description | Canadian professional basketball player |
| Date of birth | 7 February 1974 |
| Place of birth | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Date of death | |
| Place of death | |
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This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
