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BASKETBALL

BASKETBALL

Edited by The Editors of Salem Press

Special Consultant Rafer Johnson

Salem Press Pasadena, Hackensack, Editor in Chief: Dawn P. Dawson Editorial Director: Christina J. Moose Photo Editor: Cynthia Breslin Beres Managing Editor: R. Kent Rasmussen Acquisitions Editor: Mark Rehn Manuscript Editor: Christopher Rager Page Design and Layout: James Hutson Research Supervisor: Jeffry Jensen Additional Layout: Frank Montaño and Mary Overell Production Editor: Andrea Miller Editorial Assistant: Brett Weisberg

Cover photo: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters/Landov

Copyright © 1992, 1994, 2002, 2010, by Salem Press All rights in this book are reserved. No part of this work may be used or reproduced in any manner what- soever or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, record- ing, or any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the copyright owner except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews or in the copying of images deemed to be freely licensed or in the public domain. For information, address the publisher, Salem Press, P.O. Box 50062, Pasadena, California 91115. ∞ The paper used in these volumes conforms to the American National Standard for Permanence of Pa- per for Printed Library Materials, Z39.48-1992 (R1997).

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Great / edited by The Editors of Salem Press ; special consultant Rafer Johnson. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-58765-473-2 (set : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-1-58765-488-6 (basketball : alk. paper) 1. Athletes—Biography—Dictionaries. I. Johnson, Rafer, 1935- II. Salem Press. GV697.A1G68 2009 796.0922—dc22 [B] 2009021905

First Printing

printed in the of america Contents

Publisher’s Note ...... vii ...... 118 Introduction ...... xi ...... 121 Contributors ...... xvii ...... 124 ...... 127 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar...... 1 Manu Ginóbili ...... 130 ...... 5 ...... 133 ...... 8 ...... 135 ...... 11 ...... 138 ...... 14 ...... 141 ...... 17 ...... 144 ...... 20 ...... 147 ...... 23 ...... 150 ...... 26 ...... 153 ...... 28 ...... 156 ...... 31 ...... 159 ...... 34 ...... 161 ...... 37 ...... 164 ...... 39 ...... 167 ...... 42 ...... 170 ...... 45 ...... 173 ...... 49 ...... 175 ...... 52 ...... 178 ...... 54 ...... 181 ...... 57 LeBron James ...... 184 Cynthia Cooper ...... 60 ...... 187 ...... 63 Larry Johnson ...... 190 Krešimir ^osi6 ...... 66 ...... 193 ...... 68 K. C. Jones ...... 197 ...... 71 Sam Jones ...... 200 ...... 74 ...... 203 Dramen Dalipagi6 ...... 77 ...... 207 ...... 79 Toni Kukoc ...... 210 ...... 82 ...... 213 Dave DeBusschere...... 84 ...... 215 ...... 87 ...... 218 ...... 90 ...... 220 ...... 93 ...... 222 ...... 96 -Cline ...... 226 ...... 98 ...... 229 ...... 101 ...... 232 ...... 104 ...... 234 ...... 107 ...... 237 ...... 110 Bob McAdoo ...... 240 ...... 113 Tracy McGrady ...... 243 Nick Galis...... 116 Kevin McHale ...... 246

v Great Athletes: Basketball

Karl Malone ...... 249 ...... 387 ...... 252 ...... 390 ...... 255 ...... 393 Hortåncia Marcari ...... 258 ...... 396 ...... 261 ...... 400 ...... 264 Spud Webb ...... 403 ...... 267 ...... 406 ...... 270 ...... 409 ...... 273 ...... 412 ...... 276 ...... 414 ...... 279 ...... 418 ...... 282 ...... 421 ...... 285 ...... 424 ...... 288 ...... 427 ...... 291 ...... 431 ...... 293 ...... 434 ...... 296 Shaquille O’Neal...... 300 Bibliography ...... 439 ...... 304 Basketball Resources on the ...... 307 World Wide Web ...... 441 ...... 310 Glossary ...... 444 ...... 312 Basketball Players ...... 448 ...... 315 Fifty Greatest NBA Players...... 455 Dramen Petrovi6 ...... 318 WNBA All-Decade Team...... 456 ...... 321 Naismith Memorial Basketball ...... 324 Hall of Fame ...... 457 ...... 327 John R. Wooden Award ...... 461 Frank Ramsey ...... 330 USA Basketball of the Year ...... 332 Awards ...... 462 ...... 335 NBA Top Picks...... 465 ...... 338 NBA Rookies of the Year ...... 467 ...... 342 NBA Most Valuable Players ...... 468 ...... 345 NBA Defensive Players of the Year ...... 469 ...... 348 NBA Award...... 470 ...... 350 NBA Scoring Champions ...... 471 ...... 353 WNBA Top Draft Picks ...... 475 ...... 355 WNBA Rookies of the Year ...... 476 ...... 358 WNBA Most Valuable Players ...... 477 ...... 361 WNBA Defensive Player and Amare Stoudemire...... 365 Sixth Woman Awards ...... 478 ...... 368 WNBA Scoring Leaders ...... 479 ...... 371 ...... 373 Name Index ...... 483 ...... 375 Country Index ...... 485 ...... 377 Position Index ...... 487 ...... 381 Team Index ...... 489 Jack Twyman ...... 384

vi Publisher’s Note

Great Athletes: Basketball is part of Salem Press’s Schmidt. Consideration was next given to players greatly expanded and redesigned Great Athletes se- who during the early twenty-first century appeared ries, which also includes self-contained volumes on destined for great future achievements, such as , and soccer, football, and ten- Carmelo Anthony, Candace Parker, and Yao Ming. nis, Olympic sports, and racing and individual sports. The full 13-volume series presents articles Organization on the lives, sports careers, and unique achieve- Each article covers the life and career of a single ments of 1,470 outstanding competitors and cham- basketball player, and all names are arranged in pions in the world of sports. These athletes—many one alphabetical stream. Every article is accompa- of whom have achieved world renown—represent nied by at least one boxed table, summarizing the more than 75 different nations and territories and career statistics, honors and awards, records, and more than 80 different sports. Their stories are other milestones that set apart each great player. told in succinct, 1,000-word-long profiles accessi- Most articles are also accompanied by photographs ble in tone and style to readers in grades 7 and up. of their subjects. Every article also lists up-to-date The 13 Great Athletes volumes, which include a bibliographical notes under the heading “Addi- cumulative index volume, are built on the work of tional Sources.” These sections list from three to three earlier Salem Press publications designed five readily available books and articles containing for middle and high school readers—the 20 slen- information pertinent to the athlete and sport cov- der volumes of The Twentieth Century: Great Athletes ered in the article. Appendixes at the end of the (1992), their 3-volume supplement (1994), and the volume contain additional sources in published 8 stouter volumes of Great Athletes, Revised (2002). books and Web sites. This new 13-volume edition retains articles on every Averaging three pages in length, each article is athlete covered in those earlier editions and adds written in clear language and presented in a uni- more than 415 entirely new articles—a 40 percent form, easily readable format. All articles are di- increase—to bring the overall total to 1,470 articles. vided into four subheaded sections that cover the This basketball volume adds 41 new articles to athlete’s life and achievements chronologically. the 108 in the previous edition to cover a total of 149 basketball players. The content of other arti- • Early Life presents such basic biographical in- cles has been reviewed and updated as necessary, formation as vital dates, parentage, siblings, with many articles substantially revised, expanded, and early education. It also sketches the social or replaced, and the bibliographical citations for milieu in which the basketball player grew up virtually all articles have been updated. Informa- and discusses other formative experiences. tion in every article is current through the late part of the 2008-2009 basketball . • The Road to Excellence picks up where the player’s earliest serious involvement in sports Criteria for Inclusion began. This section describes experiences and Within these pages, readers will find articles on influences that shaped the subject’s athletic virtually all the legends of basketball—from Ka- prowess and propelled the player toward bas- reem Abdul-Jabbar and Nate Archibald to John ketball greatness. These sections also often Wooden and James Worthy. In selecting new names discuss obstacles—such as poverty, discrimi- to add to Great Athletes: Basketball, first consider- nation, and physical disabilities—that many ation was given to undeniable players whose ex- great athletes have had to overcome. traordinary achievements have made their names household words, such as Michael Cooper, Lisa • The Emerging Champion traces the player’s ad- Leslie, Steve Nash, and Brazil’s legendary Oscar vance from the threshold of basketball star-

vii Great Athletes: Basketball

dom to higher levels of achievement. This • Women’s National Basketball Association has 5 section explains the characteristics and cir- appendixes listing the league’s top draft picks cumstances that combined to make the player and annual award winners. among the best in the world in basketball. The Cumulative Indexes volume, which accompa- • Continuing the Story tracks the player’s subse- nies the full Great Athletes series, includes every ap- quent career, examining how the player may pendix found in this and other volumes on specific have set new goals and had achievements that sports, plus additional appendixes containing in- inspired others. This section also offers in- formation that pertains to all sports. These appen- sights into the player’s life away from sports. dixes include a general bibliography, a compre- Readers will also learn about the innovations hensive Web site list, a Time Line integrating the and contributions that these basketball play- names of all 1,470 athletes in Great Athletes, 2 lists of ers have made to their sports and, in many the greatest athletes of the twentieth century, 3 cases, to society at large. multisport halls of fame, and 10 different athlete- of-the-year awards. • Summary recapitulates the player’s story, pay- ing special attention to honors that the sub- Indexes ject has won and to the human qualities that Following the Appendixes in Great Athletes: Bas- have made the player special in the world of ketball, readers will find four indexes listing athletes sports. by their names, countries, positions played, and college and pro teams. The latter two indexes are Appendixes completely new to this edition of Great Athletes. Be- At the back of this volume, readers will find 20 cause some athletes have competed in more than appendixes, most of which are entirely new to this one sport, readers may wish also to consult the Cu- edition. The appendixes are arranged under these mulative Indexes volume. Its sport, country, and five headings: name indexes list all the athletes covered in the full Great Athletes series. • Resources contains a bibliography of recently published books on basketball and a detailed, Acknowledgments categorized listing of sites on the World Wide Once again, Salem Press takes great pleasure in Web that provide basketball information. This thanking the 383 scholars and experts who wrote section is followed by a Glossary defining and updated the articles making Great Athletes pos- most of the specialized terms used in essays sible. Their names can be found at the ends of the and a Time Line that lists names of all the articles they have written and in the list of contribu- players covered in essays in order of their tors that follows the “Introduction.” We also take birth dates. immense pleasure in again thanking our special consultant, Rafer Johnson, for bringing his unique • All-Time Great Players contains lists of the fifty insights to this project. As an Olympic champion greatest NBA players up to 1996, the WNBA’s and world record-holder in track and field’s de- first all-decade team, and all members of the manding decathlon, he has experienced an ex- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. traordinarily broad range of physical and mental challenges at the highest levels of competition. • Annual Awards and Honors includes lists of Moreover, he has a lifetime of experience working John R. Wooden Award winners and USA Bas- with, and closely observing, athletes at every level— ketball Athletes of the Year. from five-year-old soccer players to Olympic and professional champions. He truly understands what • National Basketball Association has 6 appen- constitutes athletic greatness and what is required dixes listing the league’s top draft picks and to achieve it. For this reason, readers will not want annual award winners. to overlook his “Introduction.”

viii Publisher’s Note

Acronyms Used in Articles ABC American Broadcasting Corporation Salem’s general practice is to use acronyms only CBS Columbia Broadcasting System after they have been explained within each essay. ESPN Entertainment and Sports Programming Because of the frequency with which many terms Network appear in Great Athletes: Basketball, that practice is NBA National Basketball Association partly suspended for the acronyms listed here: NBC National Broadcasting Corporation NCAA National Collegiate Athletic Association WNBA Women’s National Basketball Association

ix

Introduction

Five decades after reaching my own pinnacle of ous events in track and field. Men and women— success in sports, I still get a thrill watching other such as Usain Bolt and Florence Griffith-Joyner— athletes perform. I have competed with and against who capture its world records are considered the some of the greatest athletes in the world, watched fastest humans on earth. In a race that lasts only a others up close and from a distance, and read few seconds, speed is everything, and there is no about still others. I admire the accomplishments of room for mistakes. all of them, for I know something of what it takes to Appropriately, speed is the first of the three stan- achieve greatness in sports, and I especially admire dards of athletic excellence expressed in the Olym- those who inspire others. pic motto, Citius, altius, fortius (faster, higher, stron- This revised edition of Great Athletes provides a ger). Its importance in racing sports such as cycling, wonderful opportunity for young readers to learn , running, speed skating, , and about the finest athletes of the modern era of the triathlon is obvious: Athletes who reach the fin- sports. Reading the stories of the men and women ish line soonest win; those who arrive later lose. in these pages carries me back to my own youth, Speed is also important in every sport that requires when I first began playing games and became inter- moving around a lot, such as baseball, basketball, ested in sports heroes. Almost all sports interested boxing, football, , soccer, , volley- me, but I gravitated to baseball, basketball, foot- ball, water , and virtually all the events of track ball, and track and field. Eventually, I dedicated and field. The best athletes in these sports are usu- most of my young adult years to track and field’s de- ally fast. cathlon, which I loved because its ten events al- Athletes who lack speed generally make up for it lowed me to use many different skills. in other kinds of quickness. For example, while Throughout those years, one thing remained running speed has helped make some football constant: I wanted to win. To do that meant being quarterbacks—such as —great, some the best that I could be. I wondered what I could quarterbacks who are slow afoot have achieved learn from the lives of great athletes. From an early greatness with other forms of quickness. Joe Na- age I enjoyed reading about sports champions math is an example. Although he was embarrass- and wondered how they did as well as they did. ingly slow on his feet, he read opposing teams’ de- What traits and talents did the greatest of them fenses so fast that he could make lightning-quick have? I gradually came to understand that the decisions and release his passes faster than almost essence of greatness in sports lies in competition. any other quarterback who played the game. In fact, the very word athlete itself goes back to a As important as speed is, there are a few sports in Greek word for “competitor.” Being competitive is which it means little. Billiards, bowling, and golf, the single most important attribute any athlete can for example, all permit competitors to take consid- have, but other traits are important, too. Readers erable time responding to opponents’ moves. Even may gain insights into the athletes covered in these so, speed can be important where one may least ex- volumes by considering the ten events of the de- pect it. For example, major chess competitions are cathlon as symbols of ten traits that contribute to clocked, and making moves too slowly can cost athletic greatness. All champions have at least a players games. few of these traits; truly great champions have most of them. Courage The decathlon’s second event, the long jump, Speed and Quickness represents one of the purest contests in sports: Decathlon events are spread over two days, with Competitors simply run up to a mark and jump as five events staged on each day. The first event is al- far as they can. Each jumper gets several tries, and ways the 100-meter dash—one of the most glamor- only the best marks matter. While it sounds simple,

xi Great Athletes: Basketball it involves critical little things that can go wrong first African American player in the modern major and ruin one’s chance of winning. When the great leagues, Jackie faced criticism, verbal harassment, jumped in the 1936 Olympics in Ber- and even physical abuse almost everywhere he lin, for example, he missed his takeoff mark so played. He not only persevered but also had a ca- many times that he risked disqualification. What reer that would have been regarded as exceptional saved him was the encouragement of a rival Ger- even if his color had never been an issue. man jumper, who advised him to start his jump from well behind the regular takeoff mark. It takes Strength courage to overcome the fear of making mistakes put, the decathlon’s third event, re- and concentrate on jumping. It also takes courage quires many special traits, but the most obvious is to overcome the fear of injury. strength. The metal ball male shot putters heave A great athlete may have abundant courage but weighs 16 pounds—more than an average bowling rarely need to call upon it. However, most truly ball. Agility, balance, and speed are all important to great athletes eventually face moments when they the event, but together they can accomplish noth- would fail if their courage abandoned them. In ing without great strength. Strength is also the fact, courage is often what separates being good third standard expressed in the Olympic motto, from being great. True courage should not be con- Citius, altius, fortius. fused with the absence of fear, for it is the ability to Strength is especially valuable in sports that put overcome fear, including the very natural fears of competitors in direct physical contact with each injury and pain. A wonderful example is gymnast other—sports such as basketball, boxing, football, Kerri Strug’s amazing spirit in the 1996 Olympics. and . Whenever athletes push and pull Ignoring the pain of torn ligaments and a serious against each other, the stronger generally prevail. ankle sprain, she helped the U.S. women win a Strength is also crucial in sports requiring lifting, team gold medal by performing her final vault at pulling, pushing, paddling, or propelling objects, great personal risk. or controlling vehicles or animals. Such sports in- Some sports challenge athletes with real and clude auto racing, baseball and , bodybuild- persistent threats of serious injuries and even death. ing and weightlifting, and kayaking, golf, Among the most dangerous are alpine skiing, auto , rowing, and all track and field throw- racing, boxing, football, horse racing, mountaineer- ing events. ing, and rodeo—all of which have killed and dis- One sport in which the role of strength has abled many fine athletes. No one can achieve great- never been underestimated is wrestling. One of the ness in such sports without exceptional courage. most impressive demonstrations of strength in the Consider also the courage required to step up to sport occurred at the 2000 at Syd- bat against a baseball pitcher who throws hardballs ney when , in a performance of a mere inches away from your head at speeds of lifetime, defeated former Olympic champion Alek- more than ninety miles an hour. Or, imagine pre- sandr Karelin in the super-heavyweight class of paring to dive from atop a 10-meter platform, rest- Greco-Roman wrestling. ing only on your toes, with your heels projecting over the edge, knowing that your head will pass Visualization within inches of the rock-hard edge of the plat- Visualization is the ability to see what one needs form. Greg Louganis once cut his head open on to do before actually doing it. Perhaps no sport such a dive. After he had his scalp stitched up, he better exemplifies its importance than the high returned to continue diving into a pool of water jump—the decathlon’s fourth event. In contrast to colored pink by his own blood. He won the compe- the long jump and throwing events—in which com- tition. petitors strive to maximize distance in every effort, Another kind of courage is needed to perform the high jump (like the pole vault) sets a bar at a in the face of adversity that may have nothing to do fixed height that competitors must clear. Before with sport itself. The best known example of that jumping, they take time to study the bar and visual- kind of courage is the immortal , ize what they must do to clear it. If the bar is set at 7 who broke the color line in baseball in 1947. As the feet, a jump of 6 feet 113⁄4 inches fails; a jump of 8

xii Introduction feet succeeds, but counts only for 7 feet. To con- all in advance and called every move—something serve strength for later jumps, jumpers must care- he became famous for later, when he taunted op- fully calculate how much effort to exert at each ponents by predicting the rounds in which he height, and to do this, they must be able to visu- would knock them out. alize. Great baseball and softball batters also visualize Determination and Resilience well. Before pitches even reach the plate, batters The final event of the first day of decathlon com- see the balls coming and visualize their bats hitting petition is the 400-meter run. Almost exactly a them. Likewise, great golfers see their balls landing quarter mile, this race stands at the that di- on the greens before they even swing. Soccer play- vides sprints from middle-distances. Should run- ers, such as Ronaldo, see the balls going into the ners go all out, as in a sprint, or pace themselves, as goal before they even kick them. Billiard players, middle-distance runners do? Coming as it does, as such as Jeanette Lee, see all the balls moving on the the last event of the exhausting first day of decath- table before they even touch the cue balls. Bowlers, lon competition, the 400-meter race tests the met- like Lisa Wagner, see the pins tumbling down be- tle of decathletes by extracting one last great effort fore they release their balls. from them before they can rest up for the next Visualization is especially important to shooters, day’s grueling events. How they choose to run the such as Lones Wigger, and archers, such as Denise race has to do with how determined they are to win Parker and Jay Barrs, who know exactly what their the entire decathlon. targets look like, as well as the spots from where Every great athlete who wants to be a champion they will fire, before they even take aim. In contrast must have the determination to do whatever it to most other sports, they can practice in condi- takes to achieve that goal. Even so, determination tions almost identical to those in which they com- alone is not enough. This was proven dramatically pete. However, the athletes against whom they when basketball’s Michael Jordan—whom journal- compete have the same advantage, so the edge usu- ists later voted the greatest athlete of the twentieth ally goes to those who visualize better. century—quit basketball in 1994 to fulfill his life- Players in games such as basketball, hockey, soc- long dream to play professional baseball. Despite cer, and water polo fire upon fixed targets from working hard, he spent a frustrating season and a constantly changing positions—often in the face of half in the minor leagues and merely proved two opponents doing everything they can to make them things: that determination alone cannot guarantee miss. Nevertheless, visualization is important to success, and that baseball is a more difficult sport them as well. In basketball, players are said to be in than many people had realized. a “groove,” or a “zone,” when they visualize shots so Resilience, an extension of determination, is well they seem unable to miss. Kobe Bryant and the ability to overcome adversity, or apparently Lisa Leslie are among the greatest visualizers in hopeless situations, and to bounce back from out- their sport, just as , Hank Aaron, and Al- right defeat. Some might argue that no one can be bert Pujols have been great at visualizing home greater than an athlete who never loses; however, runs in baseball. In tennis, I always admired Arthur athletes who continually win are never required to Ashe’s knack for planning matches in his mind, change what they do or do any soul searching. By then systematically dismantling his opponents. contrast, athletes who lose must examine them- At another level, boxer Muhammad Ali was great selves closely and consider making changes. I have at visualizing his entire future. Big, strong, and always felt that true greatness in sports is exempli- quick and able to move with the best of them, he fied by the ability to come back from defeat, as had it all. I had the great pleasure of touring col- heavyweight boxer Floyd Patterson did after losing lege campuses with him after we both won gold his world title to Ingemar Johansson in a humiliat- medals at the Olympics in 1960. Muhammad ing 3-round knockout in 1959. Only those athletes (then known as Cassius Clay) had visualized his who face adversity and defeat can prove they have Olympic victory before it happened, and when I resilience. first knew him he was already reciting poetry and Among athletes who have impressed me the predicting what the future held for him. He saw it most with their determination and resilience is

xiii Great Athletes: Basketball speed skater Eric Heiden, who was not only the first pened to decathlete Dan O’Brien in the 1992 U.S. American to win world speed-skating champion- Olympic Trials. Although Dan was the world’s top ships, but the first speed skater ever to win all five decathlete at that time, his failure to clear a height events in the Winter Olympics. Another amazingly in the pole vault kept him off the Olympic team. determined athlete is Jim Abbott, who refused to (To his credit, he came back to win a gold medal in allow the fact that he was born with only one hand 1996.) stop him from becoming a Figure skating and are other sports pitcher—one who even pitched a no-hit game. that measure execution with a microscope. In gym- Who could not admire Bo Jackson? An all-star in nastics, the standard of perfection is a score of both professional football and Major League Base- ten—which was first achieved in the Olympics by ball, he suffered what appeared to be a career- Nadia Comaneci in 1976. However, scores in those ending football injury. After undergoing hip-joint sports are not based on objective measures but on replacement surgery, he defied all logic by return- the evaluations of judges, whose own standards can ing to play several more seasons of baseball. Cyclist and do change. By contrast, archery, shooting, and also falls into this category. He bowling are unusual in being sports that offer ob- won multiple Tour de championships after jective standards of perfection. In bowling, that recovering from cancer. standard is the 300 points awarded to players who bowl all strikes. Execution Among all athletes noted for their execution, Day two of the decathlon opens with the techni- one in particular stands out in my estimation: golf’s cally challenging 110-meter high hurdles. A bru- . After Tiger had played professionally tally demanding event, it requires speed, leaping for only a few years, he established himself as one of ability, and perfect timing. In short, it is an event the greatest golfers ever. He has beaten the best that requires careful execution—the ability to per- that golf has had to offer by record margins in ma- form precisely when it matters. Sports differ greatly jor competitions, and wherever he plays, he is the in the precision of execution they demand. Getting favorite to win. Most impressive is his seeming abil- off great throws in the discus, shot put, and javelin, ity to do whatever he needs to win, regardless of the for example, requires superb execution, but the di- situation. Few athletes in any sport, or in any era, rection in which the objects go is not critical. By have come close to matching Tiger’s versatile and contrast, archers, shooters, and golfers must hit consistent execution. precise targets. Some sports not only demand that execution be precise but also that it be repeated. A Focus baseball pitcher who throws two perfect strikes fails After the high hurdles, the decathlon’s discus if the opposing batter hits the third pitch over the event is a comparative relief. Nevertheless, it pre- fence. Likewise, a quarterback who leads his team sents its own special demands, one of which is down the field with five consecutive perfect passes focus—the ability to maintain uninterrupted con- fails if his next pass is intercepted. centration. Like shot putters, discus throwers work Consider the differences between the kind of within a tiny circle, within which they must concen- execution demanded by diving and pole vaulting. trate all their attention and all their energy into Divers lose points if their toes are not straight the throwing the heavy disk as far as they can. moment they enter the water. By contrast, pole Not surprisingly, one of the greatest discus throw- vaulters can land any way they want, so long as they ers in history, Al Oerter, was also one of the greatest clear the bar. Moreover, a diver gets only one chance examples of focus in sports. His four gold medals on each dive, while pole vaulters get three chances between 1956 and 1968 made him the first track at each height they attempt—and they can even and field athlete in Olympic history to win any skip certain heights to save energy for later jumps event four times in a row. In addition to beating out at greater heights. On the other hand, a diver who the best discus throwers in the world four consecu- executes a dive badly will merely get a poor score, tive times, he improved his own performance at while a pole vaulter who misses too many jumps each Olympiad and even won with a serious rib in- will get no score at all—which is exactly what hap- jury in 1964. Eight years after retiring from compe-

xiv Introduction tition, he returned at age forty to throw the discus his offensive game together, he was also one of the farther than ever and earn a spot as an alternate on greatest defensive players in the game. Moreover, the 1980 U.S. Olympic team. his mere presence brought balance to his entire Important in all sports, focus is especially impor- team. tant in those in which a single lapse in concentra- tion may result in instant defeat. In boxing, a Preparation knockout can suddenly end a bout. Focus may be The ninth event of the decathlon is the javelin— even more crucial in wrestling. Wrestlers grapple a throwing event that goes back to ancient times. A each other continuously, probing for openings that more difficult event than it may appear to be, it re- will allow them to pin their opponents. Few sports quires more than its share of special preparation. match wrestling in nonstop intensity; a single split- This may be why we rarely see athletes who com- second lapse on the part of a wrestler can spell di- pete in both the javelin and other events, though saster. Great wrestlers, such as Cael Sanderson and the versatile Babe Didrikson Zaharias was an excep- Aleksandr Karelin, must therefore rank among the tion. most focused athletes in history. Along with determination—to which it is closely allied—preparation is a vital trait of great athletes, Balance and Coordination especially in modern competition. It is no longer Of all the decathlon events, the most difficult to possible for even the greatest natural athletes to perform is the pole vault. Think of what it entails: win against top competition without extensive prep- Holding long skinny poles, vaulters run at full aration, which means practice, training for strength speed down a narrow path toward a pit; then, with- and stamina, proper diet and rest, and studying op- out breaking stride, push the tips of their poles into ponents diligently. Football players, especially quar- a tiny slot, propel their bodies upward, and use the terbacks and defensive backs, spend hours before poles to flip themselves over bars more than two or every game studying films of opponents. three times their height above the ground, finally I was fortunate to grow up with an athlete who to drop down on the opposite side. Success in the exemplifies preparation: my younger brother, pole vault demands many traits, but the most im- Jimmy Johnson, who would become defensive back portant are balance and coordination. Vaulters use for the 49ers for seventeen years and their hands, feet, and bodies, all at the same time, later be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. and do everything at breakneck speed, with almost Every week, Jimmy had to face a completely differ- no margin for error. There are no uncoordinated ent set of pass receivers, but he was always ready be- champion pole vaulters. cause he studied their moves and trained himself Despite its difficulty, pole vaulting is an event in to run backward fast enough to keep offenses in which some decathletes have performed especially front of him so he could see every move they made. well—perhaps because they, as a group, have versa- Coach Tom Landry of the once tile skills. I have long taken pride in the fact that my told me that he always had the Cowboys attack on close friend, college teammate, and Olympic rival, the side opposite from Jimmy. C. K. Yang, once set a world record in the pole vault Another exceptionally well prepared athlete was during a decathlon. C. K.’s record was all the more Magic Johnson, the great Lakers basketball guard, impressive because he achieved it midway through who played every position on the floor in more the second day of an intense competition. Imagine than one game. During his rookie season he had what balance and coordination he must have had one of the greatest performances in playoff history to propel his body over the record-breaking height during the NBA Finals. When a health problem after having subjected it to the wear and tear of prevented the Lakers’ great , Kareem Abdul- seven other events. Jabbar, from playing in the sixth game against Phil- I cannot think of any athlete, in any sport, who adelphia, Magic stunned everyone by filling in for demonstrated more versatility in coordination and him at center and scoring 44 points. He went on to balance than Michael Jordan, who could seemingly become one of the great point guards in basketball score from any spot on the floor, at any time, and history because he always knew where every player under any conditions. Not only did he always have on the court should be at every moment.

xv Great Athletes: Basketball

Stamina allows few substitutions. Basketball players run If there is one event that most decathletes dread, nearly as much as soccer players, but their games it is the grueling 1,500-meter race that concludes are shorter and allow more substitutions and rest the two-day competition. While C. K. Yang once set periods. However, the sport can be even more tir- a world-record in the pole vault during a decath- ing than soccer because its teams play more fre- lon, no decathlete has ever come close to anything quently and play more games overall. Baseball play- even resembling a world-class mark in the 1,500 ers provide yet another contrast. They spend a meters. On the other hand, it is probable that no great deal of time during their games sitting on the world-class middle-distance runner has ever run a bench, and when they are on the field, players 1,500-meter race immediately after competing in other than the pitcher and catcher rarely need to nine other events. To win a decathlon, the trick is exert themselves more than a few seconds at a time. not to come in first in this final race, but simply to However, their season has the most games of all, survive it. For decathletes, it is not so much a race as and their constant travel is draining. All these a test of stamina. sports and others demand great stamina from their When I competed in the decathlon in the Rome players, and their greatest players are usually those Olympics of 1960, I had to go head-to-head against who hold up the best. my friend C. K. Yang through nine events, all the To most people, chess seems like a physically un- while knowing that the gold medal would be de- demanding game. However, its greatest players cided in the last event—the 1,500 meters. C. K. was must be in top physical condition to withstand the one of the toughest and most durable athletes I unrelenting mental pressure of tournament and have ever known, and I realized I could not beat match competitions, which can last for weeks. him in that race. However, after the javelin, I led by Bobby Fisher, one of the game’s greatest—and most enough points so that all I had to do was stay close eccentric—champions, exercised heavily when he to him. I managed to do it and win the gold medal, competed in order to stay in shape. Even sprinters but running that race was not an experience I who spend only 10 or 11 seconds on the track in would care to repeat. each race, need stamina. In order to reach the fi- Stamina is not really a skill, but a measure of the nals of major competitions, they must endure the strength to withstand or overcome exhaustion. Rare physical and mental strains of several days of pre- is the sport that does not demand some stamina. liminary heats. Stamina can be measured in a single performance— In reducing what makes athletes great to just ten such as a long-distance race—in a tournament, or traits, I realize that I have oversimplified things, but in the course of a long season. that matters little, as my purpose here is merely to in- The classic models of stamina are marathon troduce readers to what makes the athletes in these runners, whose 26-plus-mile race keeps them mov- volumes great. Within these pages you will find sto- ing continuously for more than two hours. Soccer ries exemplifying many other traits, and that is is one of the most demanding of stamina among good, as among the things that make athletes end- team sports. Its players move almost constantly and lessly fascinating are their diversity and complexity. may run as far as 5 miles in a 90- game that Rafer Johnson

xvi Contributors

Randy L. Abbott Philip Bader Stephen T. Bell University of Evansville Pasadena, California Independent Scholar

Tony Abbott Sylvia P. Baeza Alvin K. Benson Trumbull, Connecticut Applied Ballet Theater Utah Valley University

Michael Adams Amanda J. Bahr-Evola Chuck Berg City College of Southern University, Graduate Center Edwardsville S. Carol Berg Patrick Adcock Alan Bairner College of St. Benedict Henderson State University Loughborough University Milton Berman Amy Adelstein JoAnn Balingit University of Rochester Toluca Lake, California University of Delaware Terry D. Bilhartz Richard Adler Susan J. Bandy Sam State University , Dearborn United States International University Cynthia A. Bily Paul C. Alexander II Jessie F. Banks Adrian College Southern Illinois University University of Southern Colorado Nicholas Birns Elizabeth Jeanne Alford Linda Bannister New School University Southern Illinois University, Loyola Marymount University Carbondale Joe Blankenbaker C. Robert Barnett Georgia Southern University Eleanor B. Amico Whitewater, Wisconsin Carol Blassingame David Barratt A&M University Ronald L. Ammons Montreat College University of Findlay Elaine M. Blinde Maryanne Barsotti Southern Illinois University, Earl Andresen Warren, Michigan Carbondale University of Texas, Arlington Bijan Bayne Harold R. Blythe, Jr. David L. Andrews Association for Professional Basketball Eastern Kentucky University University of Illinois, Urbana- Research Champaign Jo-Ellen Lipman Boon Barbara C. Beattie Independent Scholar Frank Ardolino Sarasota, Florida University of Hawaii Trevor D. Bopp Suzanne M. Beaudet Texas A&M University Vikki M. Armstrong University of Maine, Presque Isle Fayetteville State University Stephen Borelli Joseph Beerman USA Today Bryan Aubrey Borough of Community Maharishi International University College, CUNY John Boyd Appalachian State University Patti Auer Keith J. Bell United States Gymnastics Federation Western Carolina University

xvii Great Athletes: Basketball

Marlene Bradford Peter Carino Michael Coulter Texas A&M University State University Grove City College

Michael R. Bradley Lewis H. Carlson David A. Crain Motlow College Western Michigan University South Dakota State University

Carmi Brandis Russell N. Carney Louise Crain Fort Collins, Colorado Missouri State University South Dakota State University

Kevin L. Brennan Bob Carroll Scott A. G. M. Crawford Ouachita Baptist University Professional Football Researchers Eastern Illinois University Association Matt Brillinger Lee B. Croft Carleton University Culley C. Carson University of North Carolina John A. Britton Ronald L. Crosbie Francis Marion University Craig Causer Marshall University Pompton Lakes, New Jersey Norbert Brockman Thomas S. Cross St. Mary’s University of San Antonio David Chapman Texas A&M University North American Society of Howard Bromberg Sports Historians Brian Culp University of Michigan Law School Indiana University Paul J. Chara, Jr. Valerie Brooke Northwestern College Michael D. Cummings, Jr. Riverside Community College Madonna University Frederick B. Chary Dana D. Brooks Indiana University Northwest Joanna Davenport West University Jerry E. Clark Alan Brown Creighton University Kathy Davis Livingston University North Carolina State University Rhonda L. Clements Valerie Brown Hofstra University Mary Virginia Davis Northwest Kansas Educational California State University, Sacramento Service Center Douglas Clouatre MidPlains Community College Buck Dawson Thomas W. Buchanan International Swimming Hall of Fame Ancilla Domini College Kathryn A. Cochran University of Kansas Dawn P. Dawson Fred Buchstein Pasadena, California John Carroll University Susan Coleman West Texas A&M University Margaret Debicki David Buehrer , California Valdosta State University Caroline Collins Quincy University Bill Delaney Cathy M. Buell , California San Jose State University Brett Conway Namseoul University Paul Dellinger Michael H. Burchett Wytheville, Virginia Limestone College Carol Cooper University of Northern Iowa Andy DeRoche Edmund J. Campion Front Range Community College University of Tennessee, Knoxville Richard Hauer Costa Texas A&M University James I. Deutsch Smithsonian Institution

xviii Contributors

Joseph Dewey Don Emmons Thomas R. Garrett University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown Glendale News-Press Society for American Baseball Research

M. Casey Diana Robert T. Epling Jan Giel Arizona State University North American Society of Drexel University Sports Historians Randy J. Dietz Daniel R. Gilbert South Carolina State University Thomas L. Erskine Moravian College Salisbury University Jonathan E. Dinneen Duane A. Gill VeriSign, Inc. Steven G. Estes Mississippi State University California State University, Fullerton Marcia B. Dinneen Vincent F. A. Golphin Bridgewater State College Don Evans The Writing Company The College of New Jersey Dennis M. Docheff Bruce Gordon Whitworth College Jack Ewing Auburn University, Montgomery Boise, Idaho Cecilia Donohue Margaret Bozenna Goscilo Madonna University Kevin Eyster University of Pittsburgh Madonna University Pamela D. Doughty John Gould Texas A&M University Norman B. Ferris Independent Scholar Middle Tennessee State University Thomas Drucker Karen Gould University of Wisconsin, Whitewater John W. Fiero Austin, Texas University of Southwestern Louisiana Jill Dupont Lewis L. Gould University of Paul Finkelman University of Texas, Austin Law School William G. Durick Larry Gragg Blue Valley School District Paul Finnicum , Rolla Arkansas State University W. P. Edelstein Lloyd J. Graybar Los Angeles, California Jane Brodsky Fitzpatrick Eastern Kentucky University Graduate Center, City University Bruce L. Edwards of New York Wanda Green Bowling Green State University University of Northern Iowa Michael J. Fratzke William U. Eiland Indiana Wesleyan University William C. Griffin University of Georgia Appalachian State University Tom Frazier Henry A. Eisenhart Cumberland College Irwin Halfond University of Oklahoma McKendree College A. Bruce Frederick Kenneth Ellingwood International Gymnastics Hall of Fame Jan Hall Los Angeles, California and Museum Columbus,

Julie Elliott Daniel J. Fuller Roger D. Hardaway Indiana University South Bend Kent State University Northwestern Oklahoma State University Mark R. Ellis Jean C. Fulton University of Nebraska, Kearney Maharishi International University William Harper Robert P. Ellis Carter Gaddis Northboro, Massachusetts Tampa Tribune

xix Great Athletes: Basketball

Robert Harrison Mary Hurd Tom Kinder University of Arkansas Community East Tennessee State University Bridgewater College College Raymond Pierre Hylton Joe King P. Graham Hatcher Virginia Union University Alameda Journal Shelton State Community College Shirley Ito Jane Kirkpatrick Karen Hayslett-McCall Amateur Athletic Foundation of Auburn University, Montgomery University of Texas, Dallas Los Angeles Paul M. Klenowski Leslie Heaphy Frederick Ivor-Campbell Thiel College Kent State University, Stark North American Society of Sports Historians Darlene A. Kluka Bernadette Zbicki Heiney University of , Birmingham Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania Shakuntala Jayaswal University of New Haven Lynne Klyse Timothy C. Hemmis California State University, Sacramento Edinboro University of Pennsylvania Doresa A. Jennings Shorter College Bill Knight Steve Hewitt Western Illinois University University of Birmingham Albert C. Jensen Central Florida Community College Francis M. Kozub Carol L. Higy College at Brockport, State University of Methodist College Jeffry Jensen New York Altadena, California Randall W. Hines Lynn C. Kronzek Susquehanna University Bruce E. Johansen University of Judaism University of Nebraska, Omaha Joseph W. Hinton Shawn Ladda Portland, Oregon Lloyd Johnson Manhattan College Campbell University Arthur D. Hlavaty P. Huston Ladner Yonkers, New York Mary Johnson University of Mississippi University of South Florida Carl W. Hoagstrom Philip E. Lampe Ohio Northern University Alexander Jordan University of the Incarnate Word University William H. Hoffman Tom Lansford Fort Meyers, Florida David Kasserman University of Southern Mississippi Rowan University Kimberley M. Holloway Eugene Larson King College Robert B. Kebric Los Angeles Pierce College University of Louisville John R. Holmes Rustin Larson Franciscan University of Steubenville Rodney D. Keller Maharishi International University Ricks College Joseph Horrigan Kevin R. Lasley Pro Football Hall of Fame Barbara J. Kelly Eastern Illinois University University of Delaware William L. Howard Mary Lou LeCompte Chicago State University Kimberley H. Kidd University of Texas, Austin East Tennessee State University Shane L. Hudson King College Denyse Lemaire Texas A&M University Rowan University Leigh Husband Kimmel , Indiana

xx Contributors

Victor Lindsey H. R. Mahood Michael V. Namorato East Central University Memphis State University University of Mississippi

Alar Lipping Barry Mann Jerome L. Neapolitan Northern Kentucky University , Georgia Tennessee Technological University

Janet Long Nancy Farm Mannikko Alicia Neumann Pasadena, California Centers for Disease Control & San Francisco, California Prevention M. Philip Lucas Caryn E. Neumann Cornell College Robert R. Mathisen Miami University of Ohio, Middletown Western Baptist College Leonard K. Lucenko Mark A. Newman Montclair State College Russell Medbery Colby-Sawyer College R. C. Lutz Betsy L. Nichols Madison Advisors Joella H. Mehrhof Reynoldsburg, Ohio Emporia State University Robert McClenaghan James W. Oberly Pasadena, California Julia M. Meyers University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire Arthur F. McClure George O’Brien Central Missouri State University Ken Millen-Penn Georgetown University Fairmont State College Roxanne McDonald Wendy Cobb Orrison New , New Hampshire Glenn A. Miller Washington and Lee University Texas A&M University Alan McDougall Sheril A. Palermo University of Guelph Lauren Mitchell Cupertino, California St. Louis, Missouri Mary McElroy R. K. L. Panjabi Kansas State University Christian H. Moe Memorial University of Newfoundland Southern Illinois University, Thomas D. McGrath Carbondale Robert J. Paradowski Rochester Institute of Technology Mario Morelli Marcia J. Mackey Western Illinois University Thomas R. Park Central Michigan University Caitlin Moriarity Michelle C. K. McKowen Brisbane, California Robert Passaro New York, New York Tucson, Arizona Elizabeth C. E. Morrish John McNamara State University of New York, Oneonta Cheryl Pawlowski Beltsville, University of Northern Colorado Todd Moye Joe McPherson Atlanta, Georgia Leslie A. Pearl East Tennessee State University San Diego, California Tinker D. Murray Paul Madden Southwest Texas State University Judy C. Peel Hardin Simmons University University of North Carolina, Alex Mwakikoti Wilmington Mark J. Madigan University of Texas, Arlington University of Vermont Martha E. Pemberton Alice Myers Galesville, Wisconsin Philip Magnier Bard College at Simon’s Rock Maharishi International University

xxi Great Athletes: Basketball

William E. Pemberton Abe C. Ravitz A. K. Ruffin University of Wisconsin, La Crosse California State University, George Washington University Dominguez Hills Lori A. Petersen Todd Runestad Minot, North Dakota Nancy Raymond American Ski Association International Gymnast Magazine Nis Petersen J. Edmund Rush Jersey City State College Shirley H. M. Reekie Boise, Idaho San Jose State University Douglas A. Phillips Michael Salmon Sierra Vista, Arizona Christel Reges Amateur Athletic Foundation of Grand Valley State University Los Angeles Debra L. Picker Long Beach, California Victoria Reynolds Rebecca J. Sankner Mandeville High School Southern Illinois University, Betty L. Plummer Carbondale Dillard University Betty Richardson Southern Illinois University, Timothy M. Sawicki Bill Plummer III Edwardsville Amateur Softball Association of America Alice C. Richer Ronald C. Sawyer Spaulding Rehabilitation Center State University of New York, Michael Polley Binghamton Columbia College David R. Rider Bloomsburg University Ann M. Scanlon Francis Poole State University of New York, College at University of Delaware Robert B. Ridinger Cortland Northern Illinois University Jon R. Poole Daniel C. Scavone Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Edward A. Riedinger University of Southern Indiana University Libraries Elizabeth D. Schafer David L. Porter Edward J. Rielly Loachapoka, Alabama William Penn University Saint Joseph’s College of Maine Lamia Nuseibeh Scherzinger John G. Powell Jan Rintala Indiana University Greenville, South Carolina Northern Illinois University Walter R. Schneider Victoria Price Thurman W. Robins Central Michigan University Lamar University Texas Southern University J. Christopher Schnell Maureen J. Puffer-Rothenberg Vicki K. Robinson Southeast Missouri State University Valdosta State University State University of New York, Farmingdale Kathleen Schongar Christopher Rager The May School San Dimas, California Mark Rogers University of Chicago Stephen Schwartz Steven J. Ramold Buffalo State College Eastern Michigan University Wynn Rogers San Dimas, California Deborah Service C. Mervyn Rasmussen Los Angeles, California Renton, Washington Carl F. Rothfuss Central Michigan University Chrissa Shamberger John David Rausch, Jr. Ohio State University West Texas A&M University William B. Roy United States Air Force Academy

xxii Contributors

Tom Shieber Deborah Stroman Hal J. Walker Mt. Wilson, California University of North Carolina University of Connecticut

Theodore Shields James Sullivan Spencer Weber Waller Surfside Beach, South Carolina California State University, Los Angeles Loyola University Chicago

Peter W. Shoun Cynthia J. W. Svoboda Annita Marie Ward East Tennessee State University Bridgewater State College Salem-Teikyo University

R. Baird Shuman William R. Swanson Shawncey Webb University of Illinois, Urbana- South Carolina State College Taylor University Champaign J. K. Sweeney Chuck Weis Thomas J. Sienkewicz South Dakota State University American Canoe Association Monmouth College Charles A. Sweet, Jr. Michael J. Welch Richard Slapsys Eastern Kentucky University Guilford College University of Massachusetts, Lowell Glenn L. Swygart Paula D. Welch Elizabeth Ferry Slocum Tennessee Temple University Pasadena, California James Tackach Allen Wells John Slocum Roger Williams University Bowdoin College Pasadena, California Felicia Friendly Thomas Winifred Whelan Gary Scott Smith California State Polytechnic University, St. Bonaventure University Grove City College Pomona Nan White Harold L. Smith Jennifer L. Titanski Maharishi International University , Victoria Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania Nicholas White Ira Smolensky Evelyn Toft Maharishi International University Monmouth College Fort Hays State University Rita S. Wiggs A. J. Sobczak Alecia C. Townsend Beckie Methodist College Santa Barbara, California New York, New York Ryan K. Williams Ray Sobczak Anh Tran University of Illinois, Springfield Salem, Wisconsin Wichita State University Brook Wilson Mark Stanbrough Marcella Bush Trevino Independent Scholar Emporia State University Texas A&M University, Kingsville John Wilson Alison Stankrauff Kathleen Tritschler Wheaton, Illinois Indiana University South Bend Guilford College Rusty Wilson Michael Stellefson Brad Tufts Ohio State University Texas A&M University Bucknell University Wayne Wilson Glenn Ellen Starr Stilling Karen M. Turner Amateur Athletic Foundation of Appalachian State University Temple University Los Angeles

Gerald H. Strauss Sara Vidar John D. Windhausen Bloomsburg University Los Angeles, California St. Anselm College

xxiii Great Athletes: Basketball

Michael Witkoski Sheri Woodburn Lisa A. Wroble University of South Carolina Cupertino, California Redford Township District Library

Philip Wong Jerry Jaye Wright Frank Wu Pasadena, California Pennsylvania State University, Altoona University of Wisconsin, Madison

Greg Woo Scott Wright Brooke K. Zibel Independent Scholar University of St. Thomas University of North Texas

xxiv BASKETBALL

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Born: April 16, 1947 Lew inherited his height from his 6-foot 8-inch New York, New York grandfather, who had come to the United States Also known as: Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, Jr. from Nigeria, Africa, via Trinidad, in the West In- (birth name); Lew Alcindor dies. Lew’s father worked as a bill collector, then as a New York subway policeman, because careers in Early Life serious music were virtually closed to African Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, Jr., was born in Harlem, Americans. Lew learned to love jazz from hearing it New York, on April 16, 1947. Harlem was a tradi- played at the Elks Club by his father and other mu- tionally lower-income community. However, Lew’s sicians. family was not poor. His father was a graduate of At St. Jude’s, the Inwood neighborhood ele- the famed Juilliard School of Music in virtuoso mentary school, Lew was one of only two black stu- trombone. His family was Roman Catholic and dents. His height, 6 feet 5 inches in seventh grade, lived in northern Manhattan’s Inwood district, an drew the attention of Farrell Hopkins, his first integrated neighborhood. coach. Hopkins urged Lew to lift weights, skip rope, and spend time alone on the court to perfect his basketball shots.

The Road to Excellence At Memorial High School, Lew came under the protective care of coach Jack Donohue. He took charge of Lew’s life even in summer vacation, which Lew spent, lonesome and unhappy, at Donohue’s Friendship Farm basketball camp. Lew led Power to seventy-one consecutive victories and an overall 79-2 record. He was a prep all-American for three years. However, Lew finally came to resent the coach, who tried to take advantage of Lew’s skills for his own benefit. Later, Lew decided not to attend Holy Cross College, where Donohue took a coaching position. During his time at Power Memorial High School, Lew was growing increasingly resentful of white prejudice. One summer, while working for a Har- lem newspaper, he learned from his journalism instructor, Al Calloway, about the great historical African kingdoms and about the courageous suf- fering of black people during the slavery period. He became proud of his black heritage. However, Lew “vowed to rise above hating whites” because his mother was light-skinned, with white blood.

Los Angeles Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar dem- The Emerging Champion onstrating his famous sky hook during a 1970’s game More than two hundred colleges made offers to against the Washington Bullets. (Focus on Sport/Getty Lew, one of the most publicized high school stars of Images) all time. He chose the University of California at

1 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Great Athletes

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1969-70 82 938 .518 485 .653 1,190 337 2,361 28.8 1970-71 82 1,063 .577 470 .690 1,311 272 2,596 31.7 1971-72 81 1,159 .574 504 .689 1,346 370 2,822 34.8 1972-73 76 982 .554 328 .713 1,224 379 2,292 30.2 1973-74 81 948 .539 295 .702 1,178 386 2,191 27.0 1974-75 65 812 .513 325 .763 912 264 1,949 30.0 1975-76 82 914 .529 447 .703 1,383 413 2,275 27.7 1976-77 82 888 .579 376 .701 1,090 319 2,152 26.2 1977-78 62 663 .550 274 .783 801 269 1,600 25.8 1978-79 80 777 .577 349 .736 1,025 431 1,903 23.8 1979-80 82 835 .604 364 .765 886 371 2,034 24.8 1980-81 80 836 .574 423 .766 821 272 2,095 26.2 1981-82 76 753 .579 312 .706 659 225 1,818 23.9 1982-83 79 722 .588 278 .749 592 200 1,722 21.8 1983-84 80 716 .578 285 .723 587 211 1,717 21.5 1984-85 79 723 .599 289 .732 622 249 1,735 22.0 1985-86 79 755 .564 336 .765 478 280 1,846 23.4 1986-87 78 560 .564 245 .714 523 203 1,366 17.5 1987-88 80 480 .532 205 .762 478 135 1,165 14.6 1988-89 74 313 .475 122 .739 334 74 748 10.1 Totals 1,560 15,837 .559 6,712 .721 17,440 5,660 38,387 24.6 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG =

Los Angeles (UCLA). Coach John Wooden had led feated in thirty games and again won the NCAA UCLA to a National Collegiate Athletic Association Championship. Lew was United Press International (NCAA) title in 1964-1965. The school had built and player of the year and a unani- a new facility, Pauley Pavilion. In the first game mous all-American. His ability to score baskets from ever played in the new arena, the UCLA fresh- above the rim resulted in the “Alcindor Rule,” man team—which was differentiated from the var- which outlawed the slam-dunk shot in 1967; the sity squad under the NCAA rules of the time— NCAA rescinded the rule in 1977. Unable to dunk defeated the NCAA-champion varsity team 75-60. the basketball, Lew perfected a swooping hook Lew, at 7 feet 2 inches, scored 31 points and had 15 shot that allowed him to elevate the ball above the rebounds. The freshman team was 21-0 in 1965- rim from several feet away, utilizing his height yet 1966. abiding by the new rule. Because he delivered the The next year, in his first varsity game, Lew shot so high in the air, Lew’s patented maneuver scored 56 points. UCLA’s varsity team was unde- became known as the “skyhook.” In 1967-1968, UCLA’s unbeaten streak had NBA Records reached forty-seven games before the Univer- sity of Houston defeated the Bruins 71-69. Most points, career, 38,387 Houston star Elvin Hayes boasted of his team’s Most playoff points, career, 5,762 victory and belittled Lew’s ability. However, Most All-Star Game appearances, 18 Most most valuable player awards, 6 Lew had played with a scratched eyeball that Most seasons, and most consecutive seasons, 1,000 or more points, 19 had kept him out of two games. When the teams Most seasons leading league in blocked shots, 4 met later in the NCAA tournament, Lew’s 19 Single-game record for most defensive rebounds, 29 points and 18 rebounds led UCLA to a thor- Most playoff games played, 237 Single season record for most defensive rebounds, 1,111 ough 101-69 victory and another NCAA title. Most field goals made, 15,837 Hayes had 10 points. In 1968-1969, Wooden Most minutes played, 57,446 won a fourth- and Lew a third-consecutive NCAA Championship. In all three seasons,

2 Basketball Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Lew was selected the most outstanding player of the name Habiba. In 1974, he grew a beard and the NCAA Basketball Tournament. In Lew’s three Afro hairstyle to emphasize his pride in his African seasons at UCLA, the Bruins’ record was 88-2. heritage. Also in 1974, Kareem began wearing pro- During his college years, Lew, a history major tective goggles, which became an identifying trade- with a 131 IQ and always troubled by the plight of mark. Just as in his days at UCLA, Kareem suffered black Americans, read The Autobiography of Malcolm a scratched eyeball during a preseason contest, and X (1965), about the American Black Muslim he missed the first sixteen games of the season. leader. He was attracted to Malcolm’s teachings of When he returned, Kareem used a set of goggles to universal brotherhood rather than his declaration protect his eyes, and he wore it for the rest of his ca- of black supremacy and hatred of whites. Lew be- reer. came a Muslim in 1968. In an autobiographical, three-part series in in 1970, he an- Continuing the Story nounced his conversion. When his five-year contract with the Bucks expired In 1969, Lew accepted the $1.4 million offer of in 1975, Kareem asked to be traded. He had led the last-place of the NBA over Milwaukee to the playoffs four times, but he had that of the New York Nets of the American Basket- problems with Costello’s coaching philosophy. In ball Association, although he had long dreamed of 1975, he joined the , a medio- playing in New York. He also turned down an offer cre team at the time. In his second season, the to play with the , a famous Lakers had the best record in basketball but lost in all-black touring team. However, Lew did not consider their enter- Honors and Awards taining and clownish form of bas- ketball to be a serious sport. He was 1967-69 Helms Division I Player of the Year graceful and quick, but professional College Player of the Year basketball was a rougher game than Citizens Savings Player of the Year he had known in college. He often NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player had to control his temper against NCAA All-Tournament Team veterans, especially Willis Reed of Consensus All-American the , who were try- ing to test him. Not surprisingly, Lew 1967, 1969 Rupp Trophy was rookie of the year and second in United Press International Division I Player of the Year scoring in 1969-1970. United States Basketball Writers Association Division I The following year, Milwaukee Player of the Year coach acquired Oscar 1969 Robertson and , Lew’s Overall first choice in the NBA draft former UCLA teammate. Robert- 1970 NBA Rookie of the Year son, a ten-year veteran, was regarded 1970-74, 1976-81, 1983-86 All-NBA Team as the best playmaker in the league. 1970-71, 1974-81, 1984 NBA All-Defensive Team The combination of Lew and Rob- 1971-72, 1974, 1976-77, 1980 NBA most valuable player ertson produced a 66-16 record and 1971, 1985 NBA Championship Finals, most valuable player a championship season. Lew won his 1989 Uniform 33 retired by Los Angeles Lakers first scoring title with 31.7 points per game and received the NBA’s most 1995 Inducted in Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame valuable player award. 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team After the season, Lew officially 1999 Uniform number 33 retired by Milwaukee Bucks began using his new Muslim name, 2002 Inducted into Pacific Ten Conference Hall of Fame Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, which means 2006 Named to NCAA’s One Hundred Most Influential “Noble and Generous Servant of the Student-Athletes All-Powerful Allah.” In May, 1971, 2007 Inducted into National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame he married Janice Brown, who took

3 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Great Athletes

the playoff semifinals. The addition of Earvin Kareem authored several books, including Brothers “Magic” Johnson in 1979 created a powerhouse In Arms: The Epic Story of the 761st Tank Battalion, team that won five NBA Championships over a WWII’s Forgotten Heroes (2004), a history of an all- nine-year span. The Lakers teams of the 1980’s black armored unit in World War II. played a type of basketball known as “,” a fast-paced and high-scoring offense with Kareem Summary and Johnson as the main assets. When he retired in In 1972, the former superstar Bill 1989, after twenty seasons in the NBA, Kareem had Russell was asked whether he or Wilt Chamberlain scored 38,387 points—more than anyone in NBA was the better player. He responded, “Kareem history—and been named most valuable player an Abdul-Jabbar is the greatest player to play this unprecedented six times. game.” At each increasing level of play—high During the 1990’s, Kareem worked in the enter- school, college, and professional—Kareem suc- tainment business, appearing in many television ceeded in making his team the best. After retire- shows. His greatest claim to fame was as ment, he devoted himself to a career in movie pro- a copilot in the film Airplane (1980). Afterward, he duction, acting, and coaching. As an indication of made minor appearances in a number of television his impact on American sport, he has appeared on shows. In 1995, Kareem was honored for his accom- the cover of Sports Illustrated twenty-nine times. plishments in basketball when he was inducted Daniel C. Scavone, updated by Steven J. Ramold into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. During the 1996-1997 season, he was named Additional Sources one of the fifty greatest NBA players of all time. In Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem. A Champion Strategy. New 1999, he was named one of the twenty best NBA York: William Morrow, 2000. players of all time. Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem, and Raymond Obstfeld. On After retiring, Kareem served as a self-appointed the Shoulders of Giants: My Journey Through the Har- “basketball ambassador,” trying to promote the val- lem Renaissance. New York: Simon & Schuster, ues of the game wherever he went. In 1998, he 2007. signed a contract to coach the boys’ basketball Borrello, Helen A. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Basketball team at Arizona’s Alchesay High School on the Legends. Broomall, Pa.: Chelsea House, 1995. Fort Apache Indian reservation. His goals were to Howard-Cooper, Scott, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. teach the young men how to play basketball and The Bruin One Hundred: The Greatest Games in the help develop a better relationship between Native History of UCLA Basketball. Lenexa, Kans.: Ad- Americans and African Americans. He has also dax, 1999. worked with or coached for the Los Angeles Clip- Knieb, Martha. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. New York: pers, Seattle SuperSonics, New York Knicks, and, Rosen, 2002. beginning in 2005, the Lakers. Furthermore, in Shouler, Kenneth A. The Experts Pick Basketball’s Best 2002, he coached the Oklahoma Storm of the Fifty Players in the Last Fifty Years. Lenexa, Kans.: United States Basketball League for one year. Addax, 1998.

4 Ray Allen

Born: July 20, 1975 the University of California at Los Angeles, the Merced, California eventual national champion. Then, Ray was se- Also known as: Walter Ray Allen (full name) lected to play for the U.S. team at the World Uni- versity Games in Japan, where the Americans fin- Early Life ished undefeated and won the gold medal. Ray was Walter Ray Allen was born on July 20, 1975. His par- named USA Basketball’s male . ents are Walter Allen, who worked as a welder in the U.S. Air Force, and Flora Allen. He has two The Emerging Champion older and two younger siblings. Because Ray’s fa- Ray had an even better year the following season. ther was in the military, the family moved fre- He led Connecticut to a 30-2 record, a top seed in quently and lived overseas occasionally, including in the United Kingdom and Ger- many. Ray played baseball, football, and soccer at an early age. He immediately demon- strated superior athletic skills. At the age of eight, he was the only child in the local baseball Little League who could hit the ball far enough to reach the home-run line. In later years, Ray first played orga- nized basketball when his father was sta- tioned at Edwards Air Force Base in Cali- fornia. His mother told him basketball was his best sport.

The Road to Excellence After the family moved to Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina, Ray made the var- sity basketball team as a freshman at Hill- crest High School. He eventually led Hill- crest to a state championship. His success at the high school level led several top col- lege basketball programs to recruit him, and he decided to attend the University of Connecticut. During his freshman year, he did not start but was productive as a reserve. He be- came a starter his sophomore season. In 1994-1995, Connecticut was ranked num- ber one for most of the season. The team won its second consecutive Big East Con- ference regular-season championship. In the National Collegiate Athletic Associa- tion (NCAA) Basketball Tournament, Con- Ray Allen taking the ball to the hoop in a 2008 game against the necticut lost in the West Regional Finals to . (NBAE/Getty Images)

5 Ray Allen Great Athletes

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1996-97 82 390 .430 205 .823 326 210 1,102 13.4 1997-98 82 563 .428 343 .875 405 356 1,602 19.5 1998-99 50 303 .450 176 .903 212 178 856 17.1 1999-00 82 642 .455 353 .887 259 308 1,809 22.1 2000-01 82 628 .480 348 .888 428 374 1,806 22.0 2001-02 69 530 .462 214 .873 312 271 1,503 21.8 2002-03 76 598 .439 316 .900 381 334 1,713 22.5 2003-04 56 447 .440 245 .904 286 268 1,287 23.0 2004-05 78 640 .428 378 .883 347 289 1,867 23.9 2005-06 78 681 .454 324 .903 332 286 1,955 25.1 2006-07 55 505 .438 279 .903 247 228 1,454 26.4 2007-08 73 439 .445 215 .907 268 225 1,273 17.4 Totals 863 6,366 .446 3,395 .889 3,903 3,327 18,227 21.1 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = ; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game the NCAA Basketball Tournament, and a Big East the draft. However, he was immediately traded to Conference tournament championship. Perhaps the Milwaukee Bucks for and a his best individual moment in college was making future first-round pick. the game-winning shot in the conference-title Ray had an instant impact on the team. He game, providing Connecticut with a 75-74 win over started all but one game his rookie season for the Georgetown. He was named as a first-team all- Bucks and finished third on the team in scoring, American. with 13.4 points per game. As his career contin- After his junior season, Ray decided to move to ued, he was consistently one of the best players the professional level, declaring himself eligible on his team. His strengths were three-point shoot- for the NBA draft in 1996. He was selected by the ing and free throws. His performance helped the as the fifth-overall pick in Bucks make the playoffs in three consecutive sea- sons, from 1999 to 2001. In the 1999-2000 season, Milwaukee Bucks Records he led the Bucks in scoring with 22.1 points per game, which was fourth best in the NBA. After the Most consecutive games played, 400 season, he played for the U.S. Olympic team, which Most three-pointers in career, 1,051 Most three-pointers attempted, 2,587 won the gold medal. He served a role for the United States, averaging more than 10 points per NBA Records game. Most regular-season three-pointers, 269 (2005-06) Most three-pointers attempted in one season, 653 (2006) Continuing the Story Second most three-pointers made in career, 2,100 The Bucks’ best season during Ray’s tenure was Most seasons as league leader in three-pointers, 3 (2001-02, 2002-03, 2005-06) 2000-2001. The team advanced to the Eastern Con- Most three-pointers in one half, 8 (record shared) ference Finals before losing to the 76ers in the seven-game series. Ray’s individual Honors and Awards performance contributed to the Bucks’ success 1997 NBA all-rookie second team that year. He had career-best statistics in field-goal 2000 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball percentage, rebounds, assists, and steals. He also 2000-02, 2004-08 NBA All-Star showed outstanding longevity, starting in 366 con- 2001 All-NBA Third Team NBA three-point shootout champion secutive games and playing in 378 straight games, 2003 NBA sportsmanship award retroactive to his rookie year. 2005 All-NBA Second Team Though the Bucks’ performance declined sig- nificantly following the 2000-2001 season, Ray’s

6 Basketball Ray Allen level did not. In the next year, he was named to his Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund. In 2000 and third-consecutive all-star team. He scored a career- 2001, he was named The Sporting News “good guy.” high 47 points in a single game. He ranked among NBA leaders in scoring, three-point percentage, Summary three-point field goals made, and free-throw per- Ray Allen has established himself as one of the best centage. He extended his streaks of consecutive shooting guards in professional basketball. He has games played to 400 and consecutive games started consistently ranked high in the categories of scor- to 388, until tendinitis in his left knee briefly pre- ing, free-throw percentage, and three-point per- vented him from playing. centage. Furthermore, his endurance is notewor- Halfway through the 2002-2003 season, Ray was thy; he has put together remarkable streaks in traded to the Seattle SuperSonics. In almost five games played and games started. These achieve- seasons with the Sonics, he increased his points- ments helped make him an all-star eight times. per-game average. Prior to the 2007-2008 season, Kevin L. Brennan he was traded to the Boston Celtics. Along with Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, Ray helped lead the Additional Sources team to an NBA-best 66-16 regular-season record Finkel, Jon, and Tomás Montalvo-Lagos. Greatest and an NBA Championship, the franchise’s first in Stars of the NBA: Guards Edition. Los Angeles: twenty-two years. Tokyopop, 2007. Ray also had a major impact off the court. He Smallwood, John. National Basketball Association Su- served as a member of the all-star advisory coun- perstars 2005. New York: Scholastic, 2005. cil for the Junior NBA youth basketball program. Spears, Marc J. “Allen Takes a Strange Route to His He has also been the NBA spokesperson for the Roots.” , October 10, 2007.

7 Carmelo Anthony

Born: May 29, 1984 Brooklyn. Carmelo’s father was of Puerto Rican de- Brooklyn, New York scent, and his mother was of African American de- Also known as: Carmelo Kiyan Anthony (full scent. Carmelo’s father, after whom Carmelo was name); Melo named, died of cancer when Carmelo was two years old. Carmelo’s family lived briefly in Friona, Texas, Early Life before moving to the Druid Hill section of Balti- Carmelo Kiyan Anthony was born in Brooklyn, more, Maryland, when Carmelo was eight years New York, on May 29, 1984. When Carmelo was old. The housing projects near Carmelo’s home young, his family lived in the Red Hook Projects in were rife with drug dealing and violence. Carmelo and his friends used sports, most of- ten basketball, as a diversion from such activities. As a teenager, Carmelo com- muted to Towson Catholic High School for three years. During the summer after his sophomore year, he grew five inches, sprouting to 6 foot 5 inches. The following sea- son, he was the Catholic League’s player of the year as well as the Baltimore Sun’s metro player of the year. In order to gain more national exposure, Carmelo trans- ferred to the famed Oak Hill Acad- emy in Virginia. As a senior, he was a first-team all-American and a Mc- Donald’s All-American.

The Road to Excellence While many of Carmelo’s contem- poraries were heading straight to professional basketball after high school, his mother pressed him to go to college. Carmelo accepted a basketball scholarship from Syra- cuse University and moved to the upstate New York campus in 2002. He had a short but historical stay at Syracuse. During the 2002-2003 season, Carmelo led the team in most offensive categories, includ- ing scoring and rebounding. More significantly, he guided Syracuse to Carmelo Anthony of the Nuggets dunking the ball against the To- a 30-5 record and the school’s first ronto Raptors. (Gary C. Caskey/UPI/Landov) National Collegiate Athletic Associ-

8 Basketball Carmelo Anthony

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 2003-04 82 624 .426 408 .777 498 227 1,725 21.0 2004-05 75 530 .431 456 .796 426 194 1,558 20.8 2005-06 80 756 .481 573 .808 394 216 2,122 26.5 2006-07 65 691 .476 459 .808 391 249 1,881 28.9 2007-08 77 728 .492 464 786 571 259 1,978 25.7 Totals 379 3,329 .462 2,360 .796 2,280 1,145 9,264 24.4 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game ation (NCAA) Basketball Tournament Champion- per game. As of 2008, his career per-game averages ship. He was named the most outstanding player of were 24.4 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, and 36.5 the Final Four, the NCAA freshman of the year, and minutes. Though the Nuggets could not advance the Big East Conference freshman of the year and past the first round of the playoffs, Carmelo led the was an all-Big East first-team selection. Nuggets to the postseason in each of his first five Soon after Carmelo helped Syracuse to the years in the league. Early in his career, he had some championship, he declared himself eligible for the behavioral problems: He was suspended from the NBA draft. On June 26, 2003, he was drafted by the league for fifteen games for his involvement in a with the third overall pick. In July, 2006 on-court brawl in in 2003, Carmelo signed a four-year contract with the a game against the Knicks. However, as he ma- Nuggets that paid him more than $15 million, or tured, he left behind those problems. $3.75 million per year. In a stellar rookie season, Carmelo averaged 21 Continuing the Story points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.18 steals per Carmelo defined himself as one of the league’s game, while playing in all eighty-two games. He was most consistent scorers. In 2006, the Nuggets ac- the driving force in a tremendous turnaround for quired Allen Iverson to help Carmelo lead the the Denver Nuggets. He led the team to a 43-39 team deeper into the playoffs. In addition to his record and a berth in the NBA playoffs. Before NBA experience, Carmelo played on several U.S. Carmelo’s arrival, the Nuggets were consistently one of the worst teams in the NBA. In fact, the year Honors and Awards before Carmelo arrived in Denver, the Nuggets record was a horrible 17-65, which earned the team 2002 McDonald’s all-American a share of the worst record in the league. Interest- Parade first-team all-American ingly, the tie was with the , who USA Today first-team all-American drafted LeBron James with the first pick in the 2003 2003 Big East Conference freshman of the year NBA draft. Starting on draft day and continuing National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball throughout their careers, James and Carmelo were tournament most outstanding player linked in superstardom. In addition to his regular The Sporting News first-team all-American season statistics, Carmelo became the first rookie 2004 NBA all-rookie team in fourteen years to lead a team in playoff scoring Bronze medal, Olympic Basketball average. Though the Nuggets lost to the Minnesota 2006 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Timberwolves, simply appearing in the playoffs was Championship all-tournament team a testament to Carmelo’s impact. USA Basketball men’s athlete of the year The Emerging Champion 2006, 2007 All-NBA Third Team During the early part of his NBA career, Carmelo 2007, 2008 NBA All-Star compiled impressive statistics, In the 2006-2007 2008 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball season, he had a career-high average of 28.9 points

9 Carmelo Anthony Great Athletes national teams and was named USA Basketball LeBron James, a face of the next generation of bas- male athlete of the year in 2006. He was a member ketball superstars. of the U.S. team that won a gold medal at the 2008 Theodore Shields Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Also, he was an NBA all-star in 2007 and 2008. Additional Sources Anthony, Carmelo, and Greg Brown. Carmelo An- Summary thony: It’s Just the Beginning. Kirkland, Wash.: Pos- Carmelo Anthony rose from the Red Hook Proj- itively For Kids, 2004. ects in Brooklyn, New York, to lead the Syracuse Chappell, Kevin. “The Future of the NBA: Carmelo University Orangemen to the 2003 NCAA national Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James are championship. In his first NBA season with the Positioned as the Sturdy Foundation of the Ex- Denver Nuggets he helped his team reach the play- panding League.” Ebony, May 1, 2007. offs for the first time in nine seasons. He became Porterfield, Jason. Basketball in the Big East Confer- one of the best scorers in the NBA and, along with ence. New York: Rosen Central, 2008.

10 Nate Archibald

Born: September 2, 1948 named to the all-star game and became a regular New York, New York fixture there for several years. Also known as: Nathaniel Archibald (full name); Nate was the focal point of the team, but this Tiny brought both fame and problems. He was a star, but the other Kings players were no more than role Early Life players. This meant Nate was given the ball at Born in , Nathaniel Archibald was nearly every opportunity, which made him seem the oldest child in a family of seven children. He like a show-off. The Kings never rose above medi- spent his youth in the Patterson projects in New ocrity, and Nate’s career seemed to stall despite his York’s South Bronx district. During the 1960’s, individual success. these projects were among the most notorious slum areas of New York City. His father abandoned The Emerging Champion the family when Nate was fourteen. Nate attended In 1976, Nate was traded to the New York Nets, a DeWitt Clinton High School, where he made the former American Basketball Association (ABA) all-city team in basketball. At 6 feet l inch in height, he was usually one of the smaller play- ers on the and was called “Tiny.” After playing one year at a community college in Arizona, he played college basket- ball at the University of Texas-El Paso, coached by the legendary , who had led an all-African American team to a national cham- pionship in the college finals when the school was known as Texas Western.

The Road to Excellence In 1970, Nate joined the NBA after the Royals drafted him in the second round. The Royals’ general manager, Bob Cousy, who had been a great , had confidence that Nate could handle the respon- sibilities of the point-guard position. At first, Nate was inconsistent and passed the ball too much. However, Cousy traded veteran Norm Van Uer and entrusted Nate with floor leader- ship. Because of this, Nate’s talent and zest for the game became evident. In 1973, the Royals moved to Kansas City— also playing some games in Omaha, Ne- braska—where the franchise changed its name to the Kings because the city’s baseball team was already called the Royals. In Kansas City, Nate began playing spectacularly. In 1972- 1973, he became the first man ever to lead the Nate Archibald playing for the New York Nets in early 1976. league in both scoring and assists. He was (Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

11 Nate Archibald Great Athletes

NBA Statistics Season GP FGA FGM FG% FTA FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1970-71 82 1,095 486 .444 444 336 .757 242 450 1,308 16.0 1971-72 76 1,511 734 .486 824 677 .822 222 701 2,145 28.2 1972-73 80 2,108 1,028 .488 783 663 .847 223 910 2,719 34.0 1973-74 35 492 222 .451 211 173 .820 85 266 617 17.6 1974-75 82 1,664 759 .456 748 652 .872 222 557 2,170 26.5 1975-76 78 1,583 717 .453 625 501 .802 213 615 1,935 24.8 1976-77 34 560 250 .446 251 197 .785 80 254 697 20.5 1978-79 69 573 259 .452 307 242 .788 103 324 760 11.0 1979-80 80 794 383 .482 435 361 .830 197 671 1,131 14.1 1980-81 80 766 382 .499 419 342 .816 176 618 1,106 13.8 1981-82 68 652 308 .472 316 236 .747 116 541 858 12.6 1982-83 66 553 235 .425 296 220 .743 91 409 695 10.5 1983-84 46 279 136 .487 101 64 .634 76 160 340 7.4 Totals 876 12,628 5,899 .467 576 4,664 .810 2,046 6,476 16,481 18.8 Notes: GP = games played; FGA = field goals attempted; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTA = free throws attempted; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game franchise that was in its first year in the NBA. The , who had been with the team for many Nets had been forced to trade Julius Erving, the years and did not want to give up their scoring op- team’s star, in order to pay league admissions costs portunities. Nate played inconsistently as the and badly needed Nate’s scoring abilities. A serious Celtics suffered through an unsuccessful season. foot injury, though, limited Nate’s season to thirty- The next year, White left, and a new era dawned four games. in Boston with the arrival of Larry Bird. With Bird, Nate’s career entered a troubled phase. In 1977- the Celtics became a team in which the front court 1978, he was theoretically the property of the Buf- led the offense. The team’s new coach, , falo Braves. However, the foot injury kept him out encouraged Nate to specialize in playmaking and for the entire season, and he never played a game to get the ball to forwards such as Bird and Cedric for the Braves. He was then traded to the Boston “Cornbread” Maxwell. Nate meshed with the new Celtics in a multiplayer deal. Neither the Celtics offense, and Boston was the surprise team of the nor Nate was happy with his first year with the team. 1979-1980 season. Nate’s career, which had seemed Nate considered himself a star player, and the to be virtually over, had suddenly changed course. Celtics had many players, such as Dave Cowens and With the arrival in the following season of cen- ter Robert Parish, the Celtics became Honors, Awards, and Milestones a complete team. Nate’s role as floor leader was crucial as the Celtics pow- 1970 Honorable Mention All-America ered to a league championship, re- WAC most valuable player deeming the fortunes of a once-proud WAC 20-year All-Star Team member franchise that had fallen on hard 1972, 1981 All-NBA Second Team times. Nate became a rare phenome- non in basketball—the star who will- 1973 First player to lead NBA in both scoring average (34.0) and average assists (11.4) ingly accepts a reduced role in order 1973, 1975-76 All-NBA First Team to help his team win a championship. 1973, 1975-76, 1980-82 NBA All-Star Team The Celtics had at least three players who received more scoring chances 1981 NBA All-Star Game most valuable player than Nate. Nate concentrated on his 1991 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame role as a playmaker and distributor of 1996 NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team (1996) the basketball. He became as famous 1997 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team as a passer as he earlier had been as a scorer. Playing an average thirty-five

12 Basketball Nate Archibald out of a possible forty-eight minutes a game, Nate trate on passing so he could help the Celtics win a was a key contributor to the Celtics’ success. championship. His playmaking abilities were ex- traordinary. He distributed the ball in a spectacu- Continuing the Story lar and exciting manner. The fact that he was the In the early 1980’s, Nate was in his mid-thirties, and only player ever to lead the league in both scoring the Celtics began to rely on other players as point and assists during the same season testifies to his guards. In 1983, after his skills begun to diminish, versatility. He withstood potentially devastating in- Nate left the Celtics. After playing one more year juries and gave new life to his career. Not surpris- with the Milwaukee Bucks, he retired. He went ingly, when the NBA named its fifty greatest players back to his hometown, where he sponsored basket- ever in 1997, his name was on the list. ball clinics and was in charge of sports activities at a Nicholas Birns homeless shelter in Harlem. Nate was commended for his work with children by New York mayor Da- Additional Sources vid Dinkins. In 1991, Nate was inducted into the Denlinger, Ken.“‘Tiny’ Came up Big in ’81.” The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Washington Post, February 4, 2001, p. D8. Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling Summary Kindersley, 2003. Nate Archibald overcame adversity to reach the Shaughnessy, Dan. Ever Green: The Boston Celtics, a pinnacle of NBA stardom. He also epitomized un- History in the Words of Their Players, Coaches, Fans, selfishness on the basketball court. Long after he and Foes, from 1946 to the Present. New York: St. had achieved fame as one of the league’s foremost Martin’s Press, 1991. players, he agreed to take fewer shots and concen-

13 Paul Arizin

Born: April 9, 1928 a railroad mechanic, sent him to Villanova Univer- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania sity. During his first year, he continued his play with Died: December 12, 2006 the recreational leagues, and he so perfected his Springfield, Pennsylvania one-handed that he was averaging 30 Also known as: Paul Joseph Arizin (full name); points per game. Al Severance, coach of the univer- Pitchin’ Paul sity varsity team, heard about Paul’s exploits and asked Paul to try out for the university team the Early Life next year. By then, Paul had grown to his mature Paul Joseph Arizin was born to Roger and Ana height of 6 feet 4 inches and had overcome his ear- Arizin in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 9, lier ballhandling troubles. 1928. Paul was the classic example of a “late bloomer.” He was not an outstanding athlete as a The Road to Excellence boy, and when he attended LaSalle High School in When Paul made Villanova’s varsity squad in his Philadelphia, he failed to make the school basket- sophomore year, it was his first scholastic basketball ball team. Despite his awkwardness, he enjoyed experience under the direction of a paid coach. playing the sport and joined several teams in the The first year was typical of his late start. Although civic recreational leagues. After Paul graduated he failed to get into the first seven games and went from high school at the age of eighteen, his father, scoreless in the eighth game, Paul scored 10 points in the next contest, against Manhattan College, and managed to lead his team in scoring by the end of the year. As a college junior, his second full season of var- sity play, Paul Arizin set a single-game college scor- ing record—since broken—with 85 points. That year, he led his Villanova Wildcats to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tourna- ment, losing to eventual national champion Ken- tucky. In his last season at Villanova, Arizin became the nation’s most exciting offensive star. His 735 points and 25.3 average were tops in the NCAA. The Helms Athletic Foundation Division I player of the year and consensus all-American for 1949- 1950, Paul was given even greater recognition when he was the first player chosen in the NBA draft in 1950. In three years of collegiate competi- tion, Paul averaged 20 points per game for eighty contests. Furthermore, he graduated from Villa- nova as an honors student and was an active mem- ber of the university mathematics and accounting societies.

The Emerging Champion Paul Arizin of the Philadelphia Warriors cutting through , owner of the NBA’s Philadelphia three defenders in a 1951 game against the Baltimore Warriors, chose Paul in the 1950 draft. In his first Bullets. (AP/Wide World Photos) year of professional play, Paul gained many new

14 Basketball Paul Arizin

Professional Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1950-51 65 352 .407 417 .793 640 138 1,121 17.2 1951-52 66 548 .448 578 .818 745 170 1,674 25.4 1954-55 72 529 .399 454 .776 675 210 1,512 21.0 1955-56 72 617 .448 507 .810 539 189 1,741 24.2 1956-57 71 613 .422 591 .829 561 150 1,817 25.6 1957-58 68 483 .393 440 .809 503 135 1,406 20.7 1958-59 70 632 .431 587 .813 637 119 1,851 26.4 1959-60 72 593 .423 420 .798 621 165 1,606 22.3 1960-61 79 650 .425 532 .832 681 188 1,832 23.2 1961-62 78 611 .410 484 .805 527 201 1,706 21.9 NBA Totals 713 5,628 .421 5,010 .810 6,129 1,665 16,266 22.8 1962-63 28 264 — 196 .787 203 42 724 27.4 1963-64 27 261 — 174 .798 226 52 696 25.8 1964-65 28 229 — 196 .803 164 50 657 23.5 EBL Totals 83 754 — 566 .796 593 144 2,077 25.0 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game; EBL = Eastern Basketball League (1962-65) fans by making line-drive jump shots after seeming Continuing the Story to be suspended in mid-air. His 17.2-points-per- Reports began circulating that Paul suffered from game average and his lead in team rebounding a chronic asthmatic condition that threatened to helped to transform Philadelphia from a last-place shorten his career. Paul claimed that it was only a si- team to a league champion with a 40-26 record. In nus problem and soon demonstrated that he was his second season, “Pitchin’ Paul” won the NBA still on equal footing with the league leaders. In scoring title, outdueling the famous center from 1956-1957, Paul won the league scoring title for the the Lakers, George Mikan. Paul’s second time with 1,817 points and a 25.6-points- 25.4-points-per-game average, 1,674 points, and 45 per-game average. Although he slipped to fifth percent field goal accuracy enabled him to deprive Mikan of the scoring championship for the first Honors and Awards time in the center’s illustrious career. Paul was also selected for the all-NBA first team in 1951-1952. 1950 Helms Division I Player of the Year That year he also set a record by playing sixty-three Sporting News College Player of the Year minutes of a three-overtime game against Minne- Citizens Savings College Basketball apolis on December 21, 1951. Player of the Year From 1952 to 1954, Paul left the NBA for active Consensus All-American service with the United States Marine Corps and Overall first choice in the NBA draft played basketball with the star-studded squad from 1951-52, 1955-62 NBA All-Star Team the Quantico Marines. On October 18, 1952, he married Maureen McAdams, with whom he had 1952 NBA All-Star Game most valuable player five children: Michael, Alicia, Timothy, Dennis, 1952, 1956-57, 1959 All-NBA Team and Chris. When he returned to the NBA, Paul was 1963 EBL most valuable player somewhat upstaged by a new Philadelphia star, cen- 1963-65 EBL All-Star Team ter . Paul finished the 1954-1955 sea- 1968 Inducted into Pennsylvania Sports Hall of son second in the league in scoring behind team- Fame mate Johnston. In 1956, he finished second in 1970 NBA 25th Anniversary All-Time Team scoring again, behind St. Louis’s Bob Pettit, and his 1977 Inducted into Naismith Memorial team won the NBA title with a record of 45-27 in the Basketball Hall of Fame regular season and 7-3 in the playoffs.

15 Paul Arizin Great Athletes place in 1957-1958, he rebounded to third place Summary in 1958-1959, finishing behind Pettit and Jack Twy- Paul Arizin’s story is an inspiration to those who do man with 1,851 points and a 26.4-points-per-game not show exceptional abilities in their early years. average. His success as a scoring superstar was eclipsed by In 1959-1960, Wilt Chamberlain joined the NBA the high-scoring athletes of subsequent genera- as Paul’s teammate. Despite yielding the team scor- tions, but he should be remembered as a player ing leadership, Paul maintained his 20-plus-points- who reached 10,000 points faster than anyone be- per-game average through 1962, when he retired fore his time. Legendary coach Joe Lapchick once from the NBA. He might have continued playing described Paul’s jump shot as perfection, like a were it not for the fact that Philadelphia’s Warriors painting by Rembrandt or Renoir. His scoring tal- moved to San Francisco the next year. On March 2, ents do not tell the whole story; his rebounding 1962, Chamberlain scored his record 100th point and leadership also contributed to his teams’ suc- in a single game on a off a pass from Paul. cesses. When his ten-year NBA career came to an end, John D. Windhausen Paul had become the league’s third-leading all- time scorer with 16,266 points and an average of Additional Sources 22.8 points per game. He appeared in nine NBA D’Alessandro, Dave. “Players for All Seasons.” The all-star games, three times as a starter. He was the Sporting News 214, no. 14 (April 6, 1992): 20-23. most valuable player in the 1952 all-star game. Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling After leaving the NBA, Paul played from 1962 Kindersley, 2003. through 1965 in the Eastern Basketball League Kalb, Elliott. Who’s Better, Who’s Best in Basketball? (EBL), where he was the most valuable player. He Mr. Stats Sets the Record Straight on the Top Fifty remained active in promoting organizations such as NBA Players of All Time. Chicago: Contemporary the Catholic Youth Organization and the parents so- Books, 2004. ciety of the College of William and Mary, and was Pinckney, Ed, and Robert Gordon. ’s cochair of the Multiple Sclerosis Liberty Bell Classic Tales from the Villanova Hardwood: The Story of the in 1973. He and his family moved to Wilmington, 1985 NCAA Champs. Champaign, Ill.: Sports, Delaware, where he worked for the IBM Corpora- 2004. tion. In 1971, the NBA voted Paul to its Silver Anni- Porter, David L., ed. Biographical Dictionary of Ameri- versary Team, and in 1978, he was inducted into can Sports: Basketball and Other Indoor Sports. West- the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. port, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1989.

16 Charles Barkley

Born: February 20, 1963 ball ability was unhindered by his size. He was an as- Leeds, Alabama tonishingly quick and agile man and had excep- Also known as: Charles Wade Barkley (full tional jumping ability. These attributes combined name); the Chuckster; Round Mound of with raw strength made Charles an unusually versa- ; Sir Charles tile player. He was strong enough to battle big men under the basket, and he was also fast and smooth Early Life enough to run the court with smaller players. At Born on February 20, 1963, in Leeds, Alabama, the end of his junior season, he was named player Charles Wade Barkley was a small, anemic infant of the year in the . who required a complete blood transfusion at only After three stellar seasons at Auburn, Charles six weeks old. His young parents, Frank and Char- was invited to try out for the 1984 U.S. Olympic bas- cey Glenn, married and divorced while Charles was ketball team. Even among players like Michael Jor- still a baby. Charles was reared by his mother, who worked long hours as a domestic; his ma- ternal grandmother, Johnnie Mae Mickins; and his stepfather, who was later killed in a car accident when Charles was in grade school. Charles had to help care for his two younger brothers, Darryl and John. Charles found release from his hard child- hood in sports, practicing until curfew and hopping back and forth over a backyard fence in fifteen-minute intervals to develop his leap- ing ability. Although he was not tall for his age, his all-around athletic skills earned him a spot on his high school basketball team as a re- serve. He failed to make the varsity team in his junior year. In his senior year, he grew to 6 feet 4 inches and 250 pounds and earned a starting position on the varsity team. His new size and strength helped him develop confidence and skill, and he led his team to the state semifi- nals. He was noticed and recruited by Coach to play at Auburn University.

The Road to Excellence In his freshman year, Charles experienced challenges that made him want to quit. How- ever, he eventually proved he could excel at the college level, and he overcame his initial obstacles with the encouragement of his mother. He had grown to nearly 6 feet 5 inches and weighed nearly 270 pounds. Because of forward Charles Barkley taking a shot over Port- his weight, Charles faced ridicule from the land Trail Blazers forward in the 1995 playoffs. press and opposing fans. However, his basket- (AP/Wide World Photos)

17 Charles Barkley Great Athletes

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1984-85 82 427 .545 293 .733 703 155 1,148 14.0 1985-86 80 595 .572 396 .685 1,026 312 1,603 20.0 1986-87 68 557 .594 429 .761 994 331 1,564 23.0 1987-88 80 753 .587 714 .751 951 254 2,264 28.3 1988-89 79 700 .579 602 .753 986 325 2,037 25.8 1989-90 79 706 .600 557 .749 909 307 1,989 25.2 1990-91 67 665 .570 475 .722 680 284 1,849 27.6 1991-92 75 622 .552 454 .695 830 308 1,730 23.1 1992-93 76 716 .520 445 .765 928 385 1,944 25.6 1993-94 65 518 .495 318 .704 727 296 1,402 21.6 1994-95 68 554 .486 379 .748 756 276 1,561 23.0 1995-96 71 580 .500 440 .777 821 262 1,649 23.2 1996-97 53 335 .484 288 .694 716 248 1,016 19.2 1997-98 68 361 .485 296 .746 794 217 1,036 15.2 1998-99 42 240 .478 192 .719 516 192 676 16.1 1999-00 20 106 .477 71 .645 209 63 289 14.5 Totals 1,073 8,435 .541 6,349 .735 12,546 4,215 23,757 22.1 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

dan and Patrick Ewing, Charles was the sensation companies and other manufacturers, and he soon of the camp, but he quarreled with the team’s head became a familiar face on television commercials. coach and was cut from the squad. He also became notorious for often outrageous be- Though Charles did not make the 1984 Olympic havior. Several scandalous incidents marred his ca- team, his play at the Olympic trials made him one reer. He once spat at a heckler who had been taunt- of the hottest professional prospects in basketball. ing him and yelling racial epithets during a game. He decided to forgo his senior year in college and However, he missed and the saliva landed on a girl make himself eligible for the 1984 NBA draft. The who was sitting near. He apologized for the inci- chose him in the first round, dent and eventually developed a friendship with with the fifth pick, and signed him to a four-year $2- the girl. He also got into fights and created contro- million contract. versy by proclaiming in a Nike commercial that ath- letes should not be role models. Charles was often The Emerging Champion perceived as arrogant and hostile, although his de- Charles joined a 76ers team built around aging su- fenders insisted that he was merely too honest to perstars Julius Erving and Moses Malone. That hide his feelings in public. Charles represented the franchise’s future soon became clear. He played the power-forward posi- Continuing the Story tion with the added skills of a point guard, and he Charles was Philadelphia’s best player, but his bit- quickly proved that he could score, rebound, run ter relationship with management never im- the court, and battle under the basket with the proved, and he grew increasingly frustrated with NBA’s best. He was named to the league’s all- the team’s failure to approach his own perceived rookie team in 1985, and in 1986 and 1987, he was level of excellence. His standout status as a fran- chosen for the all-NBA second team. In 1987, he chise player earned him his first appearance on the played in his first all-star game. In 1988, he was cover of Sports Illustrated. After the 1991-1992 sea- named to the all-NBA first team for the first of son, Charles demanded a trade. He was elated many times. when the 76ers traded him to the Phoenix Suns, an By then, Charles was more than a star: He had already talented team that many experts predicted become one of the game’s best-known personali- would become one of the league’s elite franchises ties as well as one of its dominant players. He with the addition of Charles. Although the Suns earned lucrative endorsement contracts from shoe lost a closely contested six-game playoff series in

18 Basketball Charles Barkley

1993, the team’s excellent season erased Honors and Awards doubts about Charles’s leadership abili- ties. At the end of the season his contribu- 1984 Selected SEC player of the year tions were recognized with the NBA’s most 1985 NBA All-Rookie Team valuable player award. 1986-87, 1992, 1994-95 All-NBA Second Team Although the Suns reached the confer- 1986-88 Schick Award ence semifinals in 1994 and 1995, the 1987-94 NBA All-Star Team team lost to the both 1988-91, 1993 All-NBA First Team years. In 1996, Charles was traded to the 1990 Selected SEC player of the decade Rockets. In the 1997 playoffs, he aver- 1991 NBA All-Star Game most valuable player aged 17.9 points and 12.0 rebounds per 1992, 1996 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball game; the latter mark was third all-time for the postseason. Named one of the fifty 1993 NBA most valuable player greatest NBA players of all time, Charles 1996 All-NBA Third Team was a media favorite: He was selected for NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team the NBA all-interview team for each of his 1997-98 NBA All-Interview First Team last thirteen seasons. 2001 Uniform number 34 retired by the University of Auburn In the 1999-2000 season, Charles’s ca- and the Philadelphia 76ers reer came to a disappointing end when 2004 Inducted into Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor he was sidelined with an injury for most of Uniform number 34 retired by Phoenix Suns the season and forced to retire without 2006 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of achieving his ultimate goal of winning an Fame NBA Championship. Even so, he became the fourth player in NBA history to reach 23,000 points, 12,000 rebounds, and 4,000 career when he served time for one of two drunk-driving assists, and was inducted to the Naismith Memorial arrests in Arizona. In his spare time, he has partici- Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006. pated in the Celebrity Golf Association Tour and unselfishly supported programs that benefited Summary children. Charles Barkley overcame doubts about his charac- Robert McClenaghan, updated by Vikki M. Armstrong ter and physical skills to become one of the best players in basketball history. His colorful personal- Additional Sources ity and outspoken nature made him one of the Barkley, Charles, and Roy S. Johnson. Outrageous! most recognizable athletes of his time. He com- The Fine Life and Flagrant Good Times of Basketball’s peted as a member of the U.S. Dream Team and Irresistible Force. New York: , 1994. win two gold medals in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Barkley, Charles, and . I May Be Games. Wrong but I Doubt It. New York: Random House, In his post-basketball career, Charles coau- 2002. thored his autobiography, Outrageous! (1994) and ______. Who’s Afraid of a Large Black Man? New wrote several books, including I May Be Wrong, But I York: Penguin, 2005. Doubt It (2002) and Who’s Afraid of a Large Black Dolan, Sean. Charles Barkley. Broomall, Pa.: Chelsea Man? (2005). As a studio analyst and commentator House, 1995. for Turner Network Television (TNT), Charles Macnow, Glen. Charles Barkley. Berkeley Heights, won an Emmy Award for his work on Inside the NBA. N.J.: Enslow, 1998. Furthermore, Charles expressed interest in run- Tulumello, Mike. Breaking the Rules: A Season with ning for governor of Alabama in 2014. However, Sports’s Most Colorful Team—Charles Barkley’s Phoe- that hope may have been damaged in early 2009, nix Suns. Atlanta, Ga.: Longstreet Press, 1997.

19 Rick Barry

Born: March 28, 1944 coach, he performed so brilliantly that he was cho- Elizabeth, New Jersey sen all-state in basketball during each of his last two Also known as: Richard Francis Dennis Barry III years. (full name) The Road to Excellence Early Life Because tall scorers were rarely overlooked by re- Born on March 28, 1944, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, cruiters, the 6-foot 4-inch athlete, who later grew Richard Francis Barry III was the second son of an additional 3 inches, was sought by many univer- Richard Francis Barry II and Alpha Monica Barry. sities. Rick chose the University of Miami, Florida The elder Barry, who had played semiprofessional because he was impressed with Coach , basketball, encouraged the sporting talents of sons whom, he said, “made me a pro in college.” Rick and Dennis. Rick became the leading scorer Rick’s freshman team went undefeated as he av- on the basketball team at Roselle High School. De- eraged 28 points per game. During the next three spite some personality conflicts with his basketball years, the Miami Hurricanes became national con- tenders, with Rick as team leader. In his first varsity season, he averaged 19 points and 14 rebounds per game; the next year his statistics increased to 32 points and 16 rebounds, and in his senior year he aver- aged 37.4 points and 18 rebounds. He set fifteen Miami scoring records. In 1965, Rick was the nation’s top college scorer and a unanimous all-American selection. After graduating in June, 1965, with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, Rick was drafted by the San Francisco War- riors in the first round of the NBA draft. Rick was hoping to play for the New York Knicks, but of San Fran- cisco had been impressed by Rick while scouting him at the college all-star game in Kentucky and at an exhibition game with a strong team from the . Rick signed a three-year contract with the Warriors for an estimated $18,000 a year, but bonuses brought the figure closer to $30,000. That summer he married Pamela Hale, daughter of his college coach.

The Emerging Champion In his remarkable first season with the War- riors, Rick was the fourth-highest scorer in the NBA, averaging 25.7 points per Rick Barry of the going to the hoop against game. His 2,059 total points set a new the . (NBAE/Getty Images) rookie record for forwards. He also pulled

20 Basketball Rick Barry

Professional Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. PPG 1965-66 80 745 .439 569 .862 850 25.7 1966-67 78 1,011 .451 753 .884 714 35.6 1972-73 82 737 .452 358 .902 728 22.3 1973-74 80 796 .456 417 .899 540 25.1 1974-75 80 1,028 .464 394 .904 456 30.6 1975-76 81 707 .435 287 .923 496 21.0 1976-77 79 682 .440 359 .916 422 21.8 1977-78 82 760 .451 378 .924 449 23.1 1978-79 80 461 .461 160 .947 277 13.5 1979-80 72 325 .422 143 .935 236 12.0 NBA Totals 794 7,252 .449 3,818 .900 5,168 23.2 1968-69 35 392 .511 403 .888 329 34.0 1969-70 52 517 .546 400 .864 363 27.7 1970-71 59 632 .469 451 .890 401 29.4 1971-72 80 902 .458 641 .878 602 31.5 ABA Totals 226 2,443 .476 1,895 .880 1,695 30.5 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game down an average of 10 rebounds per game. Not sur- one year left on his San Francisco contract, Rick prisingly, he was selected NBA rookie of the year. signed a five-year contract with the Oakland Oaks Some supporters were concerned that Rick’s lack of the newly formed American Basketball Associa- of muscular strength placed him at a disadvantage tion (ABA). Oakland boosted his salary to $75,000 when competing with strong forwards such as Dave and gave him 15 percent ownership of the team DeBusschere of . In his first meeting with and 5 percent of all gate receipts more than DeBusschere, Rick scored only 8 points, but he $600,000. Easing Barry’s move to the Oaks was the scored 23 the next time they met. By year’s end, fact that his father-in-law and former coach Hale New York’s referred to Barry as the was the team’s general manager. However, the War- game’s next superstar. Nicknamed the “Big Cat,” Rick was tall but NBA Records had the agility of a small guard. He could score from inside or outside the circle. First player to lead the NCAA, ABA, and NBA in scoring Celtics coach once called Rick Highest career free throw percentage, .900 Highest scoring average in NBA finals, 40.8 (1967) one of the few pure shooters in the game. In his second season, 1966-1967, Rick won the Honors and Awards NBA’s scoring title while leading San Fran- 1965 Consensus All-American cisco to the NBA Finals. He scored 38 points 1966 NBA Rookie of the Year to win the all-star game’s most valuable player NBA All-Rookie Team award. Rick’s stellar play resulted in a hefty Citizens Savings Northern California Athlete of the Year pay raise to $43,000 for 1966-1967, and he 1966-67, 1973-76 All-NBA Team again rewarded his owners by winning the 1966-67, 1973-78 NBA All-Star Team NBA scoring title to end a string of seven 1967 NBA All-Star Game most valuable player straight scoring titles by Philadelphia’s Wilt 1969-72 ABA All-Star Team 1975 NBA finals most valuable player Chamberlain. On April 18, 1967, he scored 1980 Writers’ Team of the Decade 55 points against Philadelphia. Rick scored 1987 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 50 or more points in a game fourteen times 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team in his NBA career. 1999 Named one of the twenty best NBA players of all time Troubles arose between Rick and new Uniform number 24 retired by Golden State Warriors Warrior coach Bill Sharman. In 1967, with

21 Rick Barry Great Athletes

riors won a court judgment that caused Rick to sit nental Basketball Association (CBA) and also out the Oaks’ 1967-1968 season. When he returned coached in the Global Basketball Association. He to action the next year, he resumed his shooting was selected as the first coach in the history of the touch. His league-leading scoring helped the Oaks New Jersey ShoreCats of the United States Basket- to the ABA playoffs. ball League. He worked as a broadcaster and cohosted a radio talk show in San Francisco. Four Continuing the Story of Rick’s sons—“Scooter,” Jon, Brent, and Drew— Rick soon had new legal problems. When new played professional basketball. In 2005, when owner moved the Oaks to Washing- Brent won an NBA Championship with the San ton, D.C., and renamed the team the Capitals, Rick Antonio Spurs, he and Rick became the second re-signed with the NBA Warriors for five years. father-and-son combination to win NBA titles. When a court decision forced him to live up to his In 1996, Rick was named one of the NBA’s fifty ABA contract, he played for the Capitals in 1969- greatest players of all time. Three years later, he was 1970, averaging 27.7 points, including a league- named one of the twenty best NBA players of all leading .864 free-throw percentage. In the playoffs time. He was the only player to be the leading he averaged 40.1 points in seven games. scorer for at least one season in the National Colle- In 1970, when the Capitals moved south to be- giate Athletic Association (NCAA), the ABA, and come the , Rick demanded a trade. the NBA. Foreman sent him to the New York Nets for $200,000 and a future first-round draft pick. He Summary played in New York for two seasons and, although Rick Barry’s scoring statistics may overshadow his bothered by knee problems, continued his high other contributions. An excellent passer and re- scoring and led the league in free-throw percent- bounder, he was also emotional and intense. His age both years. Rick made the ABA all-star team combative, aggressive style may have resulted from each of the four years he was in the league. early criticism that he was too timid for the rugged In 1972, another legal decision sent Rick back to professional game. Rick’s scoring was multidimen- the NBA, to his old team, by then known as the sional and included mastery of the three-point Golden State Warriors. He was elected team cap- shot. His free-throw success was accomplished by tain and made the NBA all-star team from 1973 to the use of the old-fashioned underhand style of 1976. In 1975, he led the league in steals. He led shooting. His all-around play once caused Coach the league in free-throw percentage in 1973, 1975, Sharman to compare him favorably to hall-of-fame 1976, and 1978. In 1975, the Warriors won the NBA forward Elgin Baylor. Championship, and, after averaging a remarkable John D. Windhausen 30.6 points, Rick was named the most valuable player in the playoffs. Additional Sources Two years later, knee problems again slowed Barry, Rick. Rick Barry’s Pro Basketball Bible: 1996-97. Rick, and he was released to sign with the Houston New York: Basketball Books, 1996. Rockets for $500,000 per year. Rick’s scoring aver- ______. Rick Barry’s Super Sports Trivia Game. Gar- age dropped dramatically to 13.5 in 1978-1979, and den City Park, N.Y.: Square One, 2005. to 12.0 in 1979-1980, but he strengthened his ca- Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- reer by specializing in the new three-point field ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters Press, 2000. goal; he shot 33 percent from outside the three- Geline, Robert, and Priscilla Turner. Forward: Rick point line during the 1979-1980 season. Barry. Milwaukee, Wis.: Raintree, 1976. Rick was elected to the Naismith Memorial Bas- Wilner, Barry, and Ken Rappoport. Miracles, Shock- ketball Hall of Fame in 1987. Even after retiring, ers, and Long Shots: The Greatest Sports Upsets of All Rick remained passionate about basketball. He Time. Lanham, Md.: Taylor Trade, 2006. briefly coached the Fort Wayne Fury of the Conti-

22 Elgin Baylor

Born: September 16, 1934 The Emerging Champion Washington, D.C. Elgin was the answer to Seattle’s basketball needs. Also known as: Elgin Gay Baylor (full name) After finishing third in the national scoring race and first in rebounds, with 508, he was selected to Early Life the all-West Coast all-stars and as a second-team all- The third son of John and Uzzel Baylor, Elgin Gay American. Most important, his Seattle squad won Baylor was born on September 16, 1934, in Wash- twenty-two of twenty-five contests. Coach John ington, D.C. When Elgin was a child, public play- Castellani capitalized on Elgin’s quick hands and grounds were not open to black children, so he did punishing, powerful style of play to direct Seattle to not play basketball until he was fourteen years old. national attention. Elgin’s 23.5-rebound-per-game He attended one year at the Phelps Vocational High average was a National Collegiate Athletic Associa- School, where he was given his initial instruction in tion (NCAA) record. the game. He made such rapid progress that he was In his last season at Seattle, Elgin was the second selected to the all-city team when only a freshman. leading scorer in the nation, averaging 31.5 points He was unhappy in school, however, and left after per game and securing 590 rebounds. He again one year to work in a furniture store. His mother made the all-West Coast all-star team and was a first- persuaded him to return to school, this time at Springarn High School.

The Road to Excellence After joining the high school basketball team at Springarn, Elgin soon estab- lished a District of Columbia scoring record, compiling 68 points in a single game. He became the first black player selected to the metropolitan area all- star team. In his senior year, 1953-1954, Elgin was named a high school all-Amer- ican. He graduated later that spring. After leaving Springarn, Elgin aimed for a college basketball career but was not recruited by major universities. His poor academic record in high school was an obstacle to big-time success, but Elgin did secure an athletic scholarship to the College of Idaho to play both bas- ketball and football. Though Elgin had an outstanding year, Idaho’s sports pro- gram was de-emphasized, and Elgin was persuaded by Seattle car dealer Ralph Malone to transfer to Seattle University. Malone’s dealership sponsored an ama- teur team for which Elgin played while waiting one year to reestablish his ath- letic eligibility. Los Angeles Laker Elgin Baylor in 1965. (NBAE/Getty Images)

23 Elgin Baylor Great Athletes

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1958-59 70 605 .408 532 .777 1,050 287 1,742 24.9 1959-60 70 755 .424 564 .732 1,150 243 2,074 29.6 1960-61 73 931 .430 676 .783 1,447 371 2,538 34.8 1961-62 48 680 .428 476 .754 892 222 1,836 38.3 1962-63 80 1,029 .453 661 .837 1,146 386 2,719 34.0 1963-64 78 756 .425 471 .804 936 347 1,983 25.4 1964-65 74 763 .401 483 .792 950 280 2,009 27.1 1965-66 65 415 .401 249 .739 621 224 1,079 16.6 1966-67 70 711 .429 440 .813 898 215 1,862 26.6 1967-68 77 757 .443 488 .786 941 355 2,002 26.0 1968-69 76 730 .447 421 .743 805 408 1,881 24.8 1969-70 54 511 .486 276 .773 559 292 1,298 24.0 1970-71 2 8 .421 4 .667 11 2 20 10.0 1971-72 9 42 .433 22 .815 57 18 106 11.8 Totals 846 8,693 .431 5,763 .780 11,463 3,650 23,149 27.4 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

team all-American. Elgin was the star of the team Continuing the Story that defeated the University of Wyoming, the Uni- In 1960, the Lakers moved to Los Angeles, and the versity of San Francisco, and the University of Cali- team acquired another star, Jerry West. Together, fornia in the preliminary rounds of the NCAA play- Elgin and West made the Lakers’ franchise one of offs. In the semifinal game at Louisville, Kentucky, the most powerful in the NBA for many years. On Seattle surprised everyone by defeating the tourna- November 16, 1960, Elgin scored a record 71 ment favorite Kansas State University, 73-51. points in a single game. During the Crisis of However, in the championship contest against 1961, he was recalled to military service and missed ’s team, Elgin thirty-two games in the regular season. During that was outplayed by rival John Crigler, who drew three spring, 1962, Elgin set two more scoring records: fouls from Elgin in the first ten minutes. Thereaf- He scored 30 or more points in eleven consecutive ter, Elgin was severely hampered on defense, and games, and he scored 284 points in the playoffs Kentucky took the national title, 84-42. Nonethe- against Boston, the most ever in a seven-game se- less, Elgin, who scored 25 points and grabbed 19 re- ries. In 1962-1963, he was second in the league in bounds in a losing game, was selected the tourna- scoring with 2,719 points. ment’s most outstanding player and named to the In 1963-1964, Elgin’s effectiveness was severely Final Four all-tournament team. reduced by calcium deposits, but Elgin was back to Elgin had one more year of collegiate eligibility peak form in the following year. In the playoff but chose to enter the NBA draft. He was signed games in 1964, however, Elgin tore part of his knee- to a contract with the Minneapolis Lakers and ful- cap, and some feared he would never play again. filled owner Bob Short’s expectations. In his rookie An operation was successful, and after a lengthy season, 1958-1959, he averaged 24.9 points per rehabilitation, he returned to nearly top form by game, was selected to the all-NBA team, and was February, 1965. Despite the series of misfortunes, easily the NBA rookie of the year. The 6-foot 5-inch Elgin managed to win election to the first-team forward excited the spectators with his apparent NBA all-star squad ten times in his thirteen-year ca- ability to suspend himself in air. Elgin’s graceful, reer: from 1958-1959 to 1964-1965 and from 1966- fluid movements were like those of a small guard, 1967 to 1968-1969. yet his unusual rebounding talents enabled him to Elgin coached the Jazz from 1976- score on a second or third attempt. Further high- 1977 to 1978-1979. His coaching record was an undis- lighting his impressive debut season, he was named tinguished 86-134. In 1977, Elgin was inducted into the all-star game most valuable player in 1959. the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

24 Basketball Elgin Baylor

Beginning in 1986, he became the Honors, Awards, and Records vice president of basketball opera- tions and the general manager of the 1957-58 Consensus All-American . Elgin’s initial 1958 Helms Division I Player of the Year achievements as an administrator Citizens Savings College Basketball Player of the Year bore little resemblance to his accom- NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player plishments as a player. Because of Record for the most rebounds in an NCAA Tournament (97) some unwise player trades and the NCAA All-Tournament Team poor performance of the Clippers, 1959 NBA Rookie of the Year Elgin was named the worst general NBA All-Star Game co-most valuable player manager in the NBA in the 1995-1996 1959-65, 1967-69 All-NBA Team edition of Athlon Sports Pro Basketball. 1959-65, 1967-70 NBA All-Star Team By the 2000-2001 season, however, his 1962 NBA record for the most free throws made in an All-Star Game (12) draft picks and trades were helping to turn the team around. At the start of 1975 Inducted into Black Athletes Hall of Fame the 2001-2001 season, Elgin’s reputa- 1977 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame tion as a manager was rising. After the 1980 NBA 35th Anniversary All-Time Team team made the playoffs in the 2005- 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team 2006 season, the league voted him ex- 1999 Named one of the twenty best NBA players of all time ecutive of the year. Uniform number 22 retired by Los Angeles Lakers Meanwhile, in 1996, Elgin was se- 2006 NBA executive of the year lected one of the NBA’s fifty greatest 2007 Inducted into California Sports Hall of Fame players of all time. In 1999, he was named one of the twenty best NBA players of all time. Because of his dominant play as a Additional Sources superstar in the NBA, Elgin is credited by many bas- Batchelor, Bob. Basketball in America: From the Play- ketball experts as a key figure in the redefinition of grounds to Jordan’s Game and Beyond. New York: the NBA’s image. Haworth Press, 2005. Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- Summary ketball. Chicago: Masters Press, 1998. In 1971, when Elgin Baylor was selected to the NBA Grabowski, John F. The Los Angeles Lakers. San silver anniversary team, he was widely considered Diego, Calif.: Lucent Books, 2002. the greatest forward in basketball history. He Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling played his entire thirteen years as a Laker. He re- Kindersley, 2003. tired early in the 1971-1972 season, and his team Mallozzi, Vincent M. Basketball: The Legends and the won the NBA title, a goal that eluded him. Game. Willowdale, Ont.: Firefly Books, 1998. Elgin’s accomplishments as a player included Shouler, Kenneth A. The Experts Pick Basketball’s Best 27.4 points per game, which is second highest in Fifty Players in the Last Fifty Years. Lenexa, Kans.: history. Furthermore, he ranked third in playoff re- Addax, 1998. bounds and scored 23,149 regular-season points. Thomas, Ron. They Cleared the Lane: The NBA’s Black As a collegian, he scored 2,500 points for a 31.3- Pioneers. 2d ed. Lincoln: University of Nebraska point average in three years of competition. Press, 2004. John D. Windhausen

25 Sergei Belov

Born: January 23, 1944 won a bronze medal in the Russian League Champi- Nashchyokovo, Soviet Union (now in onships. In 1968, the Russian national team won ) the bronze medal at the Summer Olympics in Mex- Also known as: Sergei Alexandrovich Belov (full ico City. That same year, Sergei was named as an name); Jerry West of Russia Honored Master of Sports of the Soviet Union, his country’s highest athletic award, in recognition of Early Life his caliber of play and his contributions to interna- Sergei Alexandrovich Belov was born during tional sports. Because of Sergei’s pinpoint passing World War II in a backwater village in harsh, unfor- and sharp shooting, CSKA won six consec- giving Western Siberia. He attended factory and utive championships in the Russian League, from vocational schools. Like most Soviet children at 1969 to 1974. Meanwhile, in 1969 and 1971, under that time and place, he joined a Voluntary Sports Sergei’s leadership, the Russian national team cap- Society (VSS) as soon as he was able. Part of trade- tured its second and third consecutive European union-organized physical-education collectives, Championships and was poised to perform well at for more than forty sports, the VSS helped develop the 1972 Olympics in , West Germany (now athletic skills by providing facilities and training. in Germany). The VSS produced dozens of world-class athletes, including such Olympic gold medalists as Svetlana The Emerging Champion Boginskaya (artistic gymnastic, 1988 and 1992), Though marked by tragedy—terrorists murdered Oleg Grigoryev (boxing, 1960), and Ivan Kle- eleven Israeli athletes during the Games—the 1972 mentievs (canoeing, 1988). Olympics were a triumph for Sergei and the Rus- As a teenager, Sergei trained at the Trud (labor) sian national basketball team. In the finals, Russia VSS of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Re- faced a powerful U.S. team that was a prohibitive public and began to excel in his favorite sport, bas- favorite to repeat as gold medalists. The United ketball. He participated in Spartakiad—Olympic- States had compiled more than sixty consecutive type competitions held every two years on local, Olympic basketball victories since 1932, when the regional, and national levels that attracted mil- game was officially added as an Olympic sport, en lions of competitors, from amateurs to top-tier Soviet athletes. Honors and Awards

The Road to Excellence 1967, 1969, 1971, 1979 Gold medal, European Championships In 1964, the 6-foot 3-inch Sergei joined the 1967, 1974 Gold medal, World Championships Uralmash Sverdlovsk Army in Yeka- 1968 Soviet Honored Master of Sports terinberg, east of the Urals. Noticed for his 1968, 1976, 1980 Bronze medal, Olympic Basketball ballhandling abilities, superior court aware- 1972 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball ness, and keen shooting eye, he became part 1973 Bronze medal, European Championships of the Russian national team in 1967. Sergei helped lead the national team to the European 1975, 1977 Silver medal, European Championships Championship in Finland and the FIBA World 1978 Silver medal, World Championships Championship in Uruguay that year. 1991 Designated FIBA best European player ever In 1968, Sergei moved to Moscow to join the 1992 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Central Sports Club of the Army (CSKA) and of Fame continued his winning ways while playing for 2007 Inducted into FIBA Hall of Fame both CSKA Moscow and the Russian national 2008 Fifty Greatest Contributors team. In Sergei’s first year with CSKA, the team

26 Basketball Sergei Belov route to winning seven consecutive gold medals. in 1974 and finished second in 1978 and third in Before the final game on September 10, 1972, 1980. At the Olympics, Sergei’s team added bronze U.S. team looked to be the inevita- medals at in 1976 and Moscow in 1980. In ble champions. The Americans, in winning seven Spartakiada, Sergei guided his teams to gold med- consecutive preliminary games, had hardly been als in 1971, 1975, and 1979. challenged. Only Brazil, which lost 61 to 54, had After retiring following the 1980 season, Sergei come close to an upset, as the Americans averaged became a trainer and coach in his native country a margin of victory exceeding 32 points per game and demonstrated skills in the new profession over teams from such countries as Japan, Egypt, equal to his playing ability. In 1995, he was awarded and . The Russians, meanwhile, had also the title of honored trainer of Russia. He served as dominated, crushing lesser opponents from Sene- president of the Russian Basketball Federation gal, the Philippines, and Poland. from 1993 to 1998. Sergei received other honors as During the gold-medal game, because of Ser- well. In 1991, FIBA, the governing body for inter- gei’s heady court play and a canny slowdown strat- national basketball, named Sergei as one of the egy planned by Soviet coach Vladimir Kondrashin, fifty greatest players. In 1992, he attained his sport’s Russia led throughout and by as many as 10 points. highest honor and became the first European to be However, with just seconds remaining, the United inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball States went ahead by a single point. The ending of Hall of Fame. In 2007, he was enshrined in the the game remained controversial long after the FIBA Hall of Fame. event. After two seemingly unsuccessful attempts to inbound the ball, the Russians were awarded a Summary third try on a technicality and made a layup for a Considered one of the best basketball players not 51-50 victory. The American team, angered by the from the United States, Sergei Belov continually outcome, which it deemed unfair, and by a subse- demonstrated his playing abilities on a global scale. quent failed appeal, refused to accept silver medals Winner of numerous medals within Russia, in Eu- for second place. The medals were unclaimed ropean Championships, in World Championships, more than thirty-five years later. and at four Olympics, he helped make basketball an international sport. Continuing the Story Jack Ewing Though the 1972 victory over the U.S. team was undoubtedly the highlight of Sergei’s career, he Additional Sources continued to play basketball for many years after- Gifford, Clive. Summer Olympics: The Definitive Guide ward. Between 1969 and 1980, he inspired his to the World’s Greatest Sports Celebration. Boston: CSKA Moscow team to eleven Russian League Cham- Kingfisher, 2004. pionships in twelve years. During his tenure, the Hofstetter, Adam B. Olympic Basketball. New York: Russian national team also collected a fourth Euro- Rosen, 2007. pean Championship in 1979, as well as a bronze Smith, Ron, Ira Winderman, and Mary Schmitt medal in 1973 and silver medals in 1975 and 1977. Boyer. The Complete Encyclopedia of Basketball. The team won another FIBA World Championship London: Carlton, 2002.

27 Mike Bibby

Born: May 13, 1978 izona, Mike started all sixty-nine games the Wild- Cherry Hill, New Jersey cats played during his tenure. Additionally, he fin- Also known as: Michael Bibby (full name); Bib ished third in the Wooden Award voting in 1998 and became the third Arizona Wildcats basketball Early Life player to have his jersey retired. Michael Bibby was born in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, in May of 1978, to Hank and Virginia Bibby. He has The Emerging Champion four siblings: Dane, Hank, Charlsie, and Roslyn. Mike was selected second overall in the 1998 NBA Sports, especially basketball, were a focus in the draft, the highest an Arizona player had ever been Bibby household. Mike’s father Hank was a nine- selected. In his rookie year with the Vancouver year veteran of the NBA, playing in New York, New Grizzlies, Mike led his team and all NBA rookies in Orleans, Philadelphia, and San Diego. At an early assists, ranked third in rookie scoring, and was se- age, Mike moved with his family to Arizona. At Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix, Mike made a name for himself. He was a three- time Arizona high school player of the year, an unprecedented accomplishment. Also, Mike was selected to the 1996 McDonald’s All-Amer- ican Team. Because he lived in Arizona, Mike choose to attend the University of Arizona and further his playing career under Coach Lute Olsen.

The Road to Excellence Mike’s career at Arizona was short but not be- cause of injuries or academic failures. He left college early because of talent. As a freshman at Arizona, he was named to the Pac-10 Confer- ence all-freshman team and received the Pac- 10 Conference freshman of the year award. Furthermore, Mike led the Wildcats to the 1996 National Collegiate Athletic Association Basketball Tournament Championship. He av- eraged more than thirteen points and five as- sists a game during the regular season for the Wildcats, but his tournament averages of eigh- teen points and nearly 50 percent shooting from three-point range propelled the Wildcats to the championship with wins over basketball powerhouses the University of North Carolina and the University of Kentucky. As a sopho- more, Mike was named first-team all-American and Pac-10 Conference player of the year. Therefore, he opted out of his final two years Mike Bibby the ball up the court while playing for the of collegiate eligibility for the NBA draft. At Ar- . (Ken James/UPI/Landov)

28 Basketball Mike Bibby

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1998-99 50 260 .430 127 .751 136 325 662 13.2 1999-00 82 459 .445 195 .780 306 665 1,190 14.5 2000-01 82 525 .454 143 .761 304 685 1,301 15.9 2001-02 80 446 .453 155 .803 222 403 1,098 13.7 2002-03 55 329 .470 131 .861 147 285 875 15.9 2003-04 82 527 .450 304 .815 277 444 1,506 18.4 2004-05 80 560 .443 320 .775 332 541 1,571 19.6 2005-06 82 597 .432 342 .849 240 444 1,728 21.1 2006-07 82 471 .404 288 .830 263 388 1,403 17.1 2007-08 48 248 .411 78 .780 160 290 667 13.9 Totals 723 4,422 .439 2,133 .806 2,387 4,470 12,001 16.6 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game lected to the 1998-1999 all-rookie first team. Mike’s tended the series to seven games. Mike’s perfor- success continued throughout the 1999-2000 sea- mance added to his reputation as a big-game player, son: He averaged about 15 points, 8 assists, and 3 team leader, and explosive point guard. rebounds a game. However, in 2000-2001, the Griz- zlies relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, and Mike Continuing the Story was traded to the Sacramento Kings for Jason Wil- Although Mike did not win a championship in his liams and Nick Anderson. first decade in the NBA, his statistics highlight a The trade was productive for Mike. He helped successful career. In 2003, a foot injury forced him lead the Kings to the 2001-2002 Western Confer- to miss twenty-seven games. However, other than ence Finals and was awarded with the most lucra- those games, Mike missed fewer than 10 of the 666 tive contract of his career after the season. The games preceding and following the injury. He be- Kings signed him to a seven-year, $11.5-million came the Grizzlies’ all-time leader in assists and contract for his performance. The following year, started in all 675 regular-season and 58 playoff Mike was slowed by a nagging foot injury but games, as of 2008. Mike averaged more than seven- helped lead the Kings to another Western Confer- teen points a game in the playoffs and ranked fifth ence playoff appearance. Additionally in 2003, all-time in assists for the Kings. Mike is the father of Mike became a member of the U.S. basketball team. He was influential in the U.S. gold-medal vic- Honors and Awards tory at the FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament held in Puerto Rico. He was the team 1994-96 Arizona High School Player of the Year leader in minutes played, three-point percentage, 1997 NCAA Basketball Tournament champion (with and steals. University of Arizona) In 2004, 2005, and 2006, Mike helped lead the Pacific Ten Conference Freshman of the Year Kings to the playoffs. However, the team missed the Basketball Weekly national Freshman of the Year NBA Finals all three years. Following the rocky All-Final Four team 2006-2007 campaign in which the Kings missed the 1998 First-team all-American playoffs for the first time in eight seasons, the team Pacific Ten Conference Player of the Year needed a change. After a dismal start for the Kings All-Pacific Ten Conference in 2007, Mike was traded to the Eastern Confer- ence , a team competing for a playoff 1999 NBA All-Rookie First Team spot. Mike averaged more than ten points a game 2000 NBA rookie all-star for the Hawks and helped lead the team against the 2004 Uniform number 10 retired by University of Arizona Boston Celtics. Boston, the eventual champions, 2006 Averaged a career-high 21.1 points per game defeated Atlanta, but Bibby and the Hawks ex-

29 Mike Bibby Great Athletes

three children and has used his fame to help un- NBA. He continued to the NBA, most notably derprivileged youth in his hometown. Most nota- through the NBA/WNBA advisory council, aimed bly, Mike ran successful basketball camps in both at renewing sportsmanship in the game. His ap- Sacramento and Phoenix. He was a leader in the proachable personality and overall demeanor al- NBA’s attempts to aid the victims of Hurricane lowed Mike to become a prominent role model. He Katrina and took part in several relief efforts. became recognized as a team player and one of the Through golf tournaments, hospital visits, the best assists men and guards in the game. Make-A-Wish Foundation, and basketball camps, Keith J. Bell Mike became an outstanding role model. An exam- ple of his status is illustrated by his promotion of Additional Sources Nike shoes: Only six other NBA players have been Ballard, Chris. “Sacramento Kings.” Sports Illus- featured in advertisements for the company. trated 99, no. 16 (October 27, 2003): 96. Layden, Joseph. NBA Up and Coming Stars of the New Summary Millennium. New York: Scholastic, 2000. Mike Bibby’s personality and play on and off the McCallum, Jack. “Pair of Kings.” Sports Illustrated court made him a good representative for the 98, no. 19 (May 12, 2003): 50-56.

30 Dave Bing

Born: November 24, 1943 By the time Dave finished at Syracuse, he was Washington, D.C. considered one of the top college players in the Also known as: David Bing (full name) country. He became the second pick in the 1966 draft by the of the NBA. Dave was Early Life known as an outstanding all-around player, but his David Bing was born November 24, 1943, in Wash- particular skill was driving to the basket for either ington, D.C. Money was scarce for the Bing family two points or a quick pass to a teammate when de- when Dave was growing up. Dave’s father was a fenses converged on him. bricklayer and his mother was a part- time domestic. Dave realized early that there was more to life than what the streets of Washington offered him, so he set about trying to earn a scholar- ship to college. Still, the lure of the fast life on the street had its appeal. Many of Dave’s friends cared only about get- ting some nice clothes, some spending money, or a car.

The Road to Excellence Dave became a standout basketball player at Spingarn High, leading his team to the city title game in his senior year. He was selected to play on a na- tional all-star team and was voted the most valuable player of the tournament. Suddenly, colleges were clamoring for him to visit. Dave weighed his options and finally picked from among the many schools that recruited him. Al- though he spurned scholarship offers from big-name schools where he would have more exposure, such as the Univer- sity of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and University of Michigan, Dave quickly became a college standout. Syr- acuse was not a top name in college bas- ketball in the 1960’s. Dave’s play helped focus attention on the school. Dave av- eraged close to 25 points per game. In his senior year, he helped his team reach the National Collegiate Athletic Associ- ation (NCAA) Tournament and was also Dave Bing taking a shot while with the Washington Bullets. (Courtesy named all-American. of Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles)

31 Dave Bing Great Athletes

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1966-67 80 664 .436 273 .738 359 330 1,601 20.6 1967-68 79 835 .441 472 .707 373 509 2,142 27.1 1968-69 77 678 .425 444 .713 382 546 1,800 23.4 1969-70 70 575 .444 454 .783 299 418 1,604 22.9 1970-71 82 799 .467 615 .797 364 408 2,213 27.0 1971-72 45 369 .414 278 .785 186 317 1,016 22.6 1972-73 82 692 .448 456 .814 298 637 1,840 22.4 1973-74 81 582 .436 356 .813 281 555 1,520 18.0 1974-75 79 578 .434 343 .809 286 610 1,499 19.0 1975-76 82 497 .447 332 .787 237 492 1,326 16.2 1976-77 64 271 .454 136 .773 143 275 678 10.6 1977-78 80 422 .449 244 .824 212 300 1,088 13.6 Totals 901 6,962 .441 4,403 .775 3,420 5,397 18,327 20.3

Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

The Emerging Champion Washington, D.C., after the 1974-1975 season and Despite Dave’s great success in college ball, life in helped the Bullets to reach the playoffs in each of the NBA was difficult at the start. The Detroit team the next two seasons. He finished his professional was not very good, and the fans there would have career as a member of the Boston Celtics in 1977- preferred that the Pistons take , a lo- 1978. cal star at Michigan; however, Russell was chosen first in the draft. Soon, Dave learned his way Continuing the Story around the league and became accustomed to the Dave’s success did not end when his playing career bigger, faster players. He was voted the league’s top did. Throughout his life, he showed a good instinct rookie at the end of that season after averaging for business. When trying to secure a loan from a more than 20 points per game. The next year, he bank to buy a house in Detroit early in his basket- was even better. In a league dominated by 7-foot ball career, Dave so impressed officials at the bank centers and high-scoring forwards, Dave won the that they gave him a job. scoring title, averaging more than 27 points per Even after his playing days were over, Dave con- game. He became the first guard to lead the league in scoring in twenty years. Honors and Awards Dave’s scoring and selfless play earned him seven trips to the NBA all- 1965 Sporting News All-American star game, and he was voted the most 1966 Consensus All-American valuable player of the 1976 game. He 1967 NBA Rookie of the Year NBA All-Rookie Team was not a particularly flashy player, but 1968-69, 1971, 1973-76 NBA All-Star Team he was certainly a sound one. Other 1968, 1971, 1974 All-NBA Team guards of that time—Jerry West, Walt 1976 NBA All-Star Game most valuable player Frazier, and Oscar Robertson—gained 1977 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award 1984 National Small Business Person of the Year more fame, but Dave simply scored and 1990 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame passed as well as he could, trying to Schick Award make his team a winner. 1991 NCAA Silver Anniversary Award Dave was never able to turn the Pis- 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team Uniform number 21 retired by Detroit Pistons tons into a contender, but it was not for 2003 Ford Diversity Development award for community service lack of trying. He played eight years in Rainbow/PUSH’s entrepreneur of the year award Detroit and never averaged fewer than 2006 Honorary Doctorate, Syracuse University 18 points per game. He returned to

32 Basketball Dave Bing tributed to the city of Detroit. During the late as the vice president of the NBA’s retired players as- 1970’s and early 1980’s, when tough economic sociation, Dave worked with superstars to help times hit and many companies closed down or them plan ahead by making wise investments and moved away, Dave remained in Detroit, creating preparing for the transition from basketball. He jobs and bringing prosperity to the area. He owned also spent time sharing with young athletes the les- and ran his own company, providing steel and sons that he learned in life. other metals to the auto industry. He was almost as successful in the boardroom as he was on the court. Summary In 1984, Dave was named the national small busi- Dave Bing realized early that hustling on the street ness person of the year and the national minority was not for him. This motivated him to earn a col- supplier of the year. lege scholarship. After becoming a college star, he In time, his company grew to become one of the worked hard to become a good professional player largest African American-owned companies in the as well. Similarly, he knew that he had to find a way country. By 1990, Bing Steel had grown into a $61- to prosper once he was through with basketball, million-a-year company. At the 1990 NBA all-star and he did. He continually looked ahead and game, Dave received the Schick Achievement planned how to be successful at the next level. Award for his business accomplishments after his John McNamara successful basketball career. In the early 1990’s, Dave acquired Superb Manufacturing, a metal- Additional Sources stamping company, as well as a small construction Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- firm. The Bing Group, composed of ten compa- ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters Press, 2000. nies, was eventually worth more than $500 million. Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling Dave’s companies help the community by building Kindersley, 2003. homes and providing jobs for people in the Detroit Mallozzi, Vincent M. Basketball: The Legends and the area. Game. Willowdale, Ont.: Firefly Books, 1998. Dave’s many years of contributions on the bas- Shouler, Kenneth A. The Experts Pick Basketball’s Best ketball court were not forgotten, and in 1990, he Fifty Players in the Last Fifty Years. Lenexa, Kans.: was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Addax, 1998. Hall of Fame, the highest honor any basketball Telander, R. “Life Lessons from a Man of Steel.” player can achieve. By 1996, Dave was named one Sports Illustrated 75, no. 8 (August 19, 1991): of the fifty greatest NBA players of all time. Serving 48-51.

33 Larry Bird

Born: December 7, 1956 to the championship game of the NCAA Basketball West Baden Springs, Indiana Tournament, where it lost to Magic Johnson and Also known as: Larry Joe Bird (full name); Hick his Michigan State University team. The meeting from French Lick between the two players was a harbinger of the next decade in the NBA. Larry’s next stop was the Bos- Early Life ton Celtics, which chose Larry in the first round of Larry Joe Bird was born in West Baden Springs, In- the 1978 NBA draft. diana, on December 7, 1956. His father, Joe Bird, was a working man who had many jobs over the The Emerging Champion years. The family and the community at large were Larry knew little of the Celtics’ tradition, but he poor. caught on quickly. In a few short years, he became Larry’s family had sports as a common interest an important part of that legacy. Before Larry’s ar- and goal. All five boys played every sport available rival, the Celtics had fallen on hard times. In this to them, and Larry competed fiercely with his two first season, 1979-1980, Larry led the Celtics to an older brothers. Baseball was Larry’s first love, but excellent record. The team won thirty-two more when he saw his brother become a hero in a high games than in the previous year, the largest one- school basketball game, he became interested in year improvement in NBA history at the time, and the sport. He was a natural, but he refined his game Larry was chosen the NBA’s rookie of the year. Bos- with day-and-night practice.

The Road to Excellence Larry played on the B team as a high school fresh- man. However, as he began to grow, he became the best player on his team and in Southern Indiana. After a successful senior year, he received a scholar- ship to Indiana University. The school of 33,000 was like a big city to him, however, and the estab- lished players and Coach Bobby Knight ignored him. Larry left Indiana University after a few months. This disappointed his family and friends, who thought he would never amount to anything. A year later, he found a place at Indiana State Uni- versity in Terre Haute. His first year at the new school was difficult. His father committed suicide, and as a transfer student, Larry had to sit out of competition. Larry’s first success was at Indiana State. His game matured, and his shooting improved remark- ably. In his first two seasons at Indiana State he aver- aged 30 points a game and was named first-team all- American. In his junior year, he turned a mediocre team into a contender for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship. Sud- denly, everyone became interested in this superb Larry Bird taking a free throw. (Jim Cummins/NBAE/ player. In his senior year, 1979, Larry took the team Getty Images)

34 Basketball Larry Bird

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1979-80 82 693 .474 301 .836 852 370 1,745 21.3 1980-81 82 719 .478 283 .863 895 451 1,741 21.2 1981-82 77 711 .503 328 .863 837 447 1,761 22.9 1982-83 79 747 .504 351 .840 870 458 1,867 23.6 1983-84 79 758 .492 374 .888 796 520 1,908 24.2 1984-85 80 918 .522 403 .882 842 531 2,295 28.7 1985-86 82 796 .496 441 .896 805 557 2,115 25.8 1986-87 74 786 .525 414 .910 682 566 2,076 28.1 1987-88 76 881 .527 415 .916 703 467 2,275 29.9 1988-89 6 49 .471 18 .947 37 29 116 19.3 1989-90 75 718 .473 319 .930 712 562 1,820 24.3 1990-91 60 462 .454 163 .891 509 431 1,164 19.4 1991-92 45 353 .466 150 .926 434 306 908 20.2 Totals 897 8,591 .496 3,960 .886 8,974 5,695 21,791 24.3 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game ton was eliminated in the Eastern Conference play- Continuing the Story offs by a powerful Philadelphia 76ers team, During the 1984-1985 season, the Celtics lost a re- though; Larry needed more help to make the turn match in the NBA Finals to the Lakers, and Celtics champions. In 1980, the Celtics acquired Larry’s old rival Johnson, the Lakers’ brilliant Kevin McHale and Robert Parish to team with leader, emerged to challenge Larry for recognition Larry on one of the best front lines in NBA history, as the game’s best player. In that series, Larry was and the team cruised to an NBA Championship, guarded closely by the Lakers’ defensive wizard Mi- defeating the Houston Rockets in the finals. The chael Cooper, and Magic played superbly as the Celtics were champions, but Larry’s best years were Lakers won in six games. Larry won the regular- still to come, as he developed his already remark- season MVP award again, however. In 1985-1986, able skills even further. Larry had one of his best seasons; he seemed to do Larry had splendid 1981-1982 and 1982-1983 everything for his team. Boston won the title again, seasons. The Celtics lost to Philadelphia and Mil- and Larry was named MVP one more time. waukee in the playoffs, however, and did not repeat In 1986-1987, Larry had another fine year. He as champions. In the first game of the Milwaukee brought the Celtics back from certain defeat by series, Larry suffered an injury when he bent his stealing the ball with only seconds left in the sixth finger. He was to have continual problems with mi- game of the Eastern Conference Championship nor injuries to his back, feet, and hands, but he against the Detroit Pistons, and the Celtics re- continued to play and to contribute to the Celtics’ turned to the finals. The Celtics lost to the Lakers success. In 1983, the Celtics acquired Dennis John- again in the championship series, though, and son, an all-star point guard who worked beautifully Magic was named the league’s MVP for the first with Larry. Johnson was the missing piece to the time. In 1987-1988, Larry had a number of inju- Celtics’ puzzle, and during the 1983-1984 season, ries, although he was able to score more points the team won the NBA title again, defeating the than in any other year of his career. His injuries Los Angeles Lakers in an exciting seven-game final. caught up with him in the playoffs, and, this time, That year, Larry was named NBA most valuable the Celtics lost to the Pistons in the Eastern Confer- player (MVP) for the first time. His play had ence Finals. In 1988-1989, Larry managed to play reached such a level of excellence that some in only six games. His foot injuries proved too sportswriters began calling him the greatest player great for him to come back and rescue his aging of all time. He prepared himself more fully over the team. off-season and came into the year with new range Many people thought that Larry was finished as and power. a great player, but he returned to action during the

35 Larry Bird Great Athletes

1989-1990 season and showed some flashes Honors and Awards of his former greatness. The Celtics, how- ever, were too thin, and the stellar front 1978-79 Consensus All-American 1979 Rupp Trophy line of Larry, McHale, and Parish looked United Press International Division I Player of the Year old at times. Boston lost in the first round U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division I Player of the Year of the playoffs. Johnson won the MVP Eastman Award Naismith Award award again, and Larry’s dominance Wooden Award seemed over. Sporting News College Player of the Year At this time, Larry met and married Citizens Savings College Basketball Player of the Year Lapchick Award Dinah Mattingly. They adopted two chil- NCAA All-Tournament Team dren, a boy and a girl. Larry already had 1980 NBA Rookie of the Year one daughter from a previous and brief NBA All-Rookie Team 1980-90 All-NBA Team marriage in 1975. 1980-91 NBA All-Star Team After having a disk removed from his 1982 NBA All-Star Game most valuable player back at the end of the 1990-1991 season, 1982-84 NBA All-Defensive Team 1983-84, 1986 Seagram’s Seven Crowns of Sports Award Larry missed thirty-seven games during 1984-86 NBA most valuable player the 1991-1992 season because of continu- 1984, 1986 NBA Finals most valuable player ing back problems. The end of his illustri- 1986 Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year ous career seemed imminent, but he had Sporting News Man of the Year 1992 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball one more major achievement. Larry won 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team a gold medal as a member of the 1992 U.S. 1998 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Olympic Dream Team. As the 1992-1993 1998-99 NBA Coach of the Year 1999 Named one of the twenty best NBA players of all time NBA season approached, Larry decided Uniform number 33 retired by Boston Celtics that his body could no longer stand up to 2000 Library of Congress Living Legend Award the physical rigors of NBA play, and he re- tired. After retiring as a player on August 18, 1992, with Larry as the coach. As of 2008, the Pacers had Larry served as a special assistant in the Boston not returned to the Eastern Conference Finals. Celtics’ front office until 1997. During that time, he was actively involved in team personnel deci- Summary sions and in scouting college players. Also, Larry Larry Bird will be remembered as the ultimate appeared in three movies, including team player. He subordinated his scoring skills to (1994) and (1996) with Michael Jordan. such team elements as assists, steals, and rebound- In 1993, Larry also appeared in a McDonald’s ad ing. He was the epitome of an all-around basketball alongside Jordan. Meanwhile, in 1996, Larry was player. Critics said he could not jump, that he was named one of the fifty greatest NBA players of all too slow, and that he could not play defense, but he time. In 1999, he was named as one of the twenty usually got the job done and led his team to victory. best NBA players of all time. Larry also proved to be an effective NBA coach On May 8, 1997, Larry accepted the job as head and, as president of basketball operations, tried coach of the . He possessed the hard to make the Pacers competitive. knowledge, skills, enthusiasm, experience, and James Sullivan, updated by Shane L. Hudson ability to be an excellent coach. After only one year with the Pacers, Larry was named the NBA coach of Additional Sources the year. Declaring the 1999-2000 campaign to be Bird, Larry, and Jackie MacMullan. Bird Watching: his last, Larry coached the Pacers into the NBA Fi- On Playing and Coaching the Game I Love. New nals, where the team lost to the Lakers. York: Warner Books, 1999. After coaching, in 2003, Larry returned to the Lazenby, Roland. Bird: Portrait of a Competitor.Le- Pacers organization as president of basketball op- nexa, Kans.: Addax, 1998. erations. However, the Pacers did not have as much Shaw, Mark. Larry Legend. Chicago: Masters Press, success with Larry in the front office as the team did 1999.

36 Carol Blazejowski

Born: September 29, 1956 each year. She was an all-American three times, Elizabeth, New Jersey from 1976 to 1978. As captain of the Squaws, Carol Also known as: Carol Ann Blazejowski (full had an 87.3 free-throw average, led the team in name); Blaze steals and rebounds, and averaged 31.7 points per game. She was the first athlete from Montclair to Early Life have her jersey retired, and in 2008, she remained Carol Ann Blazejowski, daughter of Leon and the team’s all-time leading scorer. Grace Blazejowski, was born in Elizabeth, New Jer- In 1977, Carol was the women’s player sey, and grew up in a blue-collar family in Cranford, of the year, and played in the World University New Jersey, with one older sister. A self-described Games, in , , winning a silver medal “tomboy,” she played softball for the Linden Arians on the American team. She led all scorers with 164 in the Western Major Women’s Softball League be- total points for 20.5 points per game. On March 6, ginning at the age of fourteen. As shortstop, she 1977, playing against College at Madison was rookie of the year and an all-star. Carol played Square Garden, “Blaze” scored 52 points, despite baseball, football, and basketball with the neigh- having scored only 14 points in the first half and borhood boys. With short hair, she dressed as and playing with four fouls. She set a collegiate record was often mistaken for a boy. She spent all day on for both male and female basketball players, not the playground and practiced shooting on week- beaten until 1983. Honoring this record, her name ends. was placed on the Madison Square Garden Walk of The tallest in her class, Carol played basketball Fame on September 8, 2003. Her 3,199 career for the Catholic Youth Organization. Not until points were more than any other college player, 1974, as a senior at Cranford High School, did male or female, at the time. She was fourth in the Carol play on an organized team. She threatened Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women to play on the boys’ team, leading to the formation (AIAW) with more than 2,000 points and 1,000 re- of the first girls’ team in Cranford. As captain, she bounds. The AIAW was the organization for wom- led the team to 19 straight wins, which earned the en’s basketball playoffs until the NCAA took over squad a playoff spot. in the 1981-1982 season. Carol graduated from Montclair State with honors, with a 3.6 grade point The Road to Excellence average. Despite excellent shooting, including an accurate 15-foot jumper, Carol did not re- Basketball Records ceive an athletic scholarship, few of which were offered to women at the time. Having Most career points, Women’s Division I (3,199) scored perfectly on her Scholastic Aptitude Highest career point-per-game average, Women’s Division I (31.7) (1974-78) Most points in a single season, Women’s Division I (1,235) (1978) Test (SAT), she attended Montclair State Most points scored by college player at Madison Square Garden, New York (52) College (now University) in New Jersey from 1975 to 1978. There, she played bas- Honors and Awards ketball for the Squaws (now Red Hawks). 1977 Converse women’s player of the year The 5-foot 10-inch forward averaged 19.9 1978 points per game in her freshman year and All-American made 43 percent of her shots. As a sopho- 1979 Silver medal, Pan-American Games 1980 United States Basketball female athlete of the year more, Carol averaged 28.5 points per game, 1994 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame improving to a nation-leading 33.5 points Inducted into National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame per game as a junior and 38.8 as a senior, 1999 Inducted into Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame with a 55 or better shooting percentage

37 Carol Blazejowski Great Athletes

The Emerging Champion ball programs from 1995 to 1996. She became di- In 1978, Blaze was awarded the first annual Wade rector of basketball development when the Wom- Trophy for excellence in playing and leadership, en’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) was achieving her goal of becoming the best player in formed in 1996; then she was named vice president the United States. She did not make the final cut and general manager of the on for the 1976 Olympic team because Coach Billie January 7, 1997. At a media event in 1999, Carol Moore thought Carol was not a good defensive came out as a lesbian without fanfare, simply listing player. In 1979, in City, Carol was on the her partner’s name, along with those of their two first U.S. team to win a gold medal in the World children, in a biographical note. She became one University Games, leading all scorers with 129 of the first, and few, sports executives to openly points total, for an 18.4 points-per-game average. state their sexual orientation. In 2000, she was In 1979, she played on the Pan-American Games promoted to senior vice president and became the silver-medal-winning team. Liberty’s president in 2008, while continuing as After graduating, Carol still dreamed of playing general manager. In 2005, Carol, was inducted into on an Olympic team. She refused to become pro- the Nutley, New Jersey, Hall of Fame, for “outstand- fessional, despite having been drafted by the New ing accomplishments beyond the boundaries of Jersey Gems of the Women’s Basketball League Nutley.” (WBL). She continued to train while enrolled in the graduate physical-education program at Mont- Summary clair State. She worked as a graduate assistant, and Carol Blazejowski’s scoring records in women’s played basketball for the Amateur Athletic Union basketball have stood for more than thirty years. (AAU) Crestettes of Allentown, Pennsylvania. Her total career points would be the second high- Carol sacrificed a lot of potential money in en- est ever in NCAA statistics, despite playing before dorsements and salary for her goal of playing in the the era of the three-point shot. One of the first Olympics. women inducted into the Naismith Memorial Bas- Selected for the 1980 Olympic team, Carol ketball Hall of Fame, Carol was also in the inaugu- never played because the United States boycotted ral group inducted into the Women’s Basketball the Games that year. Blaze then signed a three-year Hall of Fame in 1999. She excelled in basketball be- contract for $150,000 with the Gems, becoming fore women’s professional athletics became main- the highest-paid woman player. She was the Gems’ stream, and she remained involved in the sport as a most valuable player and leading scorer, with 1,067 leader and executive. points, and made the all-star team before the WBL Jane Brodsky Fitzpatrick went bankrupt in 1981. In 1980, she was the first woman to earn the U.S. Basketball female athlete Additional Sources of the year award and was part of the team’s all-star Edelson, Paula. A to Z of American Women in Sports. roster. New York: Facts On File, 2002. Gutman, Bill. More Modern Women Superstars. New Continuing the Story York: Dodd, 1979. From 1980 to 1990, Carol worked for Adidas to de- McGovern, Mike. The Encyclopedia of Twentieth- velop marketing for women’s sports. In 1994, she Century Athletes. New York: Facts On File, 2001. was inducted into the National Polish Hall of Porter, Karra. Mad Seasons: The Story of the First Wom- Fame. She was director of licensing for the NBA en’s Professional Basketball League, 1978-1981. Lin- from 1990 to 1995 and director of women’s basket- coln: University of Nebraska Press, 2006.

38 Bill Bradley

Born: July 28, 1943 The Road to Excellence Crystal City, Missouri At the age of fourteen, Bill, already standing 6 feet Also known as: William Warren Bradley (full 3 inches, was spending four hours a day in the gym, name) sharpening skills he had learned at basketball camps and polishing his natural shooting touch. Early Life To overcome one of his liabilities—poor jumping William Warren Bradley was born July 28, 1943, to ability—he fastened weights to his shoes. Bill was so Warren Bradley and Susie Crowe Bradley, in Crys- dedicated to becoming a better basketball player tal City, Missouri, south of St. Louis. His father was a that he had little time for activities that occupy banker. Although Crystal City was the prosperous most teenagers. He once told an admiring girl that family’s permanent home, the Bradleys usually he was already dating someone: a basketball. spent the winters in Florida. In addition to playing high school ball in the Reared to become a well-rounded gentleman, winter, Bill drove fifty miles a day in the summer to Bill took lessons in everything from boxing to the play in St. Louis. On those playgrounds he faced a French horn. As he got older, he discovered his own level of competition he seldom encountered in source of motivation and amusement: basketball. Crystal City. By his senior year, Bill, 6 feet 5 inches tall, was regarded as Missouri’s top basketball prospect. Many college coaches visited the Bradley home to recruit him for their schools. Bill, an honor student, decided to attend because of its academic quality. At that time, 1961, freshmen were not al- lowed to play varsity basketball. Instead, they played a shorter schedule on teams com- posed entirely of freshmen. Bill still made a strong impression, hitting 57 consecutive free throws. Had he been on the varsity team, he would have set a national record.

The Emerging Champion Bill was not the only new member of Prince- ton’s team in the 1962-1963 season. Under new coach , the Ti- gers won the Ivy League Championship, with Bill averaging 27.2 points per game. In a first-round victory in the National Colle- giate Athletic Association (NCAA) Basket- ball Tournament, Bill scored 40 points. Bill’s junior season was a successful one for both him and Princeton. The Tigers won another Ivy League title and advanced New York Knick Bill Bradley dribbling against the defense of the to the second round of the NCAA tourna- Milwaukee Bucks in 1970. (NBAE/Getty Images) ment. Bill established himself as one of col-

39 Bill Bradley Great Athletes

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1967-68 45 142 .416 76 0.731 113 137 360 8.0 1968-69 82 407 .429 206 .814 350 302 1,020 12.4 1969-70 67 413 .460 145 .824 239 268 971 14.5 1970-71 78 413 .453 144 .823 260 280 970 12.4 1971-72 78 504 .465 169 .849 250 315 1,177 15.1 1972-73 82 575 .459 169 .871 301 367 1,319 16.1 1973-74 82 502 .451 146 .874 253 242 1,150 14.0 1974-75 79 452 .436 144 .873 251 247 1,048 13.3 1975-76 82 392 .433 130 .878 234 247 914 11.1 1976-77 67 127 .464 34 .810 103 128 288 4.3 Totals 742 3,927 .448 1,363 .840 2,354 2,363 9,217 12.4 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game lege basketball’s true stars by averaging 32.2 points Square Garden. Like Princeton, Michigan had a su- per game, an mark that was especially impressive perstar, Cazzie Russell, who later was Bill’s team- since it was established in the days before the shot mate in the NBA. In 36 minutes, Bill put on a clock and the three-point shot increased scoring in brilliant display of defense and rebounding while college games. scoring 41 points. Then, with about 4 minutes The following summer, Bill was chosen for the remaining and the Tigers leading by 13 points, Bill U.S. team in the 1964 Summer Olympic Games in fouled out. Recognizing his outstanding per- Tokyo, Japan. He was the team’s youngest member. formance, the twenty thousand fans gave Bill a 2- The U.S. team overwhelmed every opponent, de- minute standing ovation. Without Bill’s leadership, feating the Soviet Union, 73-59, for the gold medal. Princeton lost, 80-75. Nevertheless, Bill’s perfor- Bill played so well that Olympic teammate Walt mance was not forgotten. Said Joe Lapchick, coach Hazzard called him “the white O,” comparing him at St. John’s University, “I have never seen one to the legendary Oscar Robertson, high praise for player so humiliate a whole team, and a top-ranked any basketball player. team at that.” After his Olympic success, Bill put together one Princeton went on to win yet another Ivy League of the finest seasons ever witnessed in college bas- Championship. This time, the team advanced to ketball. Early in the 1964-1965 season, Princeton the Final Four in the NCAA Basketball Tourna- faced one of the country’s best teams, the Univer- ment and again faced Michigan. The rematch was sity of Michigan, in New York City’s Madison no contest; despite Bill’s 29 points, Michigan won, 93-76. Honors and Awards In the consolation game, with his coach’s encouragement, Bill abandoned his usual team 1964 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball concept and scored 58 points, breaking Oscar Inducted into U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Robertson’s single-game tournament record. 1964-65 Consensus All-American 1965 Rupp Trophy Bill’s 177 points in the five-game tournament United Press International Division I Player of the Year was also a record. U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division I Player of the Year Following graduation in 1965, Bill was se- Helms Division I Player of the Year Citizens Savings College Basketball Co-Player of the Year lected by the New York Knicks in the NBA NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player draft. Although the dream of any basketball NCAA All-Tournament Team player is to play in the NBA, Bill had another James E. Sullivan Award Rhodes Scholar opportunity. He had been awarded a presti- 1982 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame gious Rhodes Scholarship and chose to study 1984 Uniform number 24 retired by New York Knicks at Oxford University in England for the next two years.

40 Basketball Bill Bradley

Continuing the Story day life. In 2000, Bill sought the Democratic nomi- After completing his studies, Bill joined the Knicks. nation for president of the United States but lost to Many fans and sportswriters thought he would vice president Al Gore. During his campaign for score as much as he had in college and become an president, he was supported by several prominent instant NBA star, but Bill, a forward in college, had individuals, including Daniel Patrick Moynihan, difficulty adjusting to the guard position, where he Bob Kerrey, Mario Cuomo, Robert Reich, Ed Koch, had to face smaller, quicker players. Cornel West, , Betty Friedan, Michael Jor- Realizing that he needed to improve his game, dan, and . Bill and Jackson had been Bill worked hard after his rookie season, as he had teammates on the Knicks. in high school. Following a summer spent playing After his unsuccessful run for the Democratic in tough playground leagues in New York and Phil- nomination in 2000, Bill worked as an investment adelphia, he was prepared for his second NBA banker and a corporate consultant. He remained season. primarily out of the public eye. In 2003, Oxford When Cazzie Russell was injured, Bill was able to University gave him an honorary Doctor of Civil make his move. At his natural forward position, Law degree. Bill served on the board of directors of Bill, an all-around player, complemented his several companies, including Meetup and Super- Knicks teammates. In 1970, Bill was a vital member protonic. He and his wife of thirty-three years sepa- of the first Knicks team to win an NBA Champion- rated in 2007. ship. The team won the championship again in 1973, sparked by Bill’s outstanding play through- Summary out the playoffs. Bill Bradley embodied the value of college athlet- After retiring from basketball in 1977, Bill was ics. He was an Ivy League great, an all-American elected to the U.S Senate in 1978, representing basketball player, a Rhodes Scholar, an NBA all- New Jersey. He was inducted into the Naismith Me- star, a senator, and an all-around champion. He morial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982, and the helped the New York Knicks to two NBA Champion- Knicks retired his jersey in 1984. After his reelec- ships in the early 1970’s. tion to the Senate in 1984, Bill focused on tax re- Stephen T. Bell, updated by Jeffry Jensen form. One of his proposals passed as part of the Tax Reform Act of 1986. In 1990, he was elected to his Additional Sources third term. Andryszewski, Tricia. Bill Bradley: Scholar, Athlete, Choosing not to run for a fourth term in 1996, Statesman. Brookfield, Conn.: Millbrook Press, Bill concentrated on other endeavors. He served as 2000. the chair of the National Civic League and spent Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- some time teaching at the University of Maryland, ketball. Chicago: Masters Press, 1998. , and . Bradley, Bill. The Journey from Here. New York: Work- Between 1976 and 2007, Bill authored several man, 2000. books, including Life on the Run (1976), Values of the ______. The New American Story. New York: Ran- Game (1998), The Journey from Here (2000), and The dom House, 2007. New American Story (2007). Many of his writings fo- ______. Time Present, Time Past: A Memoir. New cus on U.S. ideals and the challenges that United York: A. A. Knopf, 1996. States faces in the future, particularly healing racial ______. Values of the Game. New York: Dell, 2000. wounds, eliminating child poverty, and providing Buckley, James. Bill Bradley. New York: Rosen, 2002. basic health care for every citizen. His writings also McPhee, Phil. A Sense of Where You Are: A Profile of Bill apply the basic principles of hard work and dedica- Bradley at Princeton. 2d ed. New York: Noonday tion that he learned in the NBA to success in every- Press, 1995.

41 Elton Brand

Born: March 11, 1979 ested. His mother instilled religion in Elton, who Peekskill, New York regularly attended church. He began playing bas- Also known as: Elton Tyrone Brand (full name) ketball when he was ten and went out for the Peekskill High School basketball team when he was Early Life thirteen. He impressed his coach, Lou Panzanaro, Elton Brand was raised in the Dunbar Heights winning the tip-off, scoring 30 points, and re- housing complex in Peekskill, New York, by his bounding each of his shots in the scrimmage. Al- mother, Daisy Brand. Although there were drugs in though Elton also liked football, a sport in which the neighborhood, Elton was not approached by he lettered one year, his mother believed that his the dealers because they knew he was not inter- future was in basketball. He led his high school team to two state championships and aver- aged more than 26 points per game over his four years. As a senior, he was named to the McDonald’s high school all-American bas- ketball team. An excellent student who took honors and Advanced Placement classes, he graduated sixteenth in a class of 160 stu- dents.

The Road to Excellence More than 250 colleges and universities con- tacted Elton, but he finally chose Duke Uni- versity, primarily because of its high gradua- tion rate for basketball players. Coach gave him no assurances about playing time, and Panzanaro told Elton not to expect to play a great deal. However, he started for the Blue Devils, and, despite miss- ing fifteen games because of a broken left foot, averaged more than 13 points and 7 re- bounds per game, earning him Associated Press All-American honorable-mention sta- tus. In his sophomore year, he led Duke to the NCAA finals, averaging more than 17 points and 8 blocked shots per game. De- spite playing for Duke for just two years, as of 2008, he remained fifth in blocked shots at Duke and the all-time leader in field-goal percentage. He was a unanimous first team all-American and the Atlantic Coast Confer- ence, USA Basketball, and The Sporting News player of the year. The only other college Elton Brand, playing for the Los Angeles Clippers, slams the ball sophomores to receive the latter award were in a 2007 game against the Milwaukee Bucks. (Noah Graham/ Michael Jordan and Bill Walton. In addition NBAE/Getty Images) to his play at Duke, in 1998, he was a member

42 Basketball Elton Brand

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1999-00 81 630 .482 367 .685 810 155 1,627 20.1 2000-01 74 578 .476 334 .708 746 240 1,490 20.1 2001-02 80 532 .527 389 .742 925 191 1,453 18.2 2002-03 62 451 .502 244 .685 703 157 1,146 18.5 2003-04 69 484 .493 411 .773 714 227 1,379 20.0 2004-05 81 629 .503 364 .752 770 208 1,622 20.0 2005-06 79 756 .527 440 .775 790 208 1,942 24.7 2006-07 80 645 .533 351 .761 744 235 1,642 20.5 2007-08 8 52 .456 37 .787 64 16 141 17.6 Totals 614 4,757 .505 2,937 .738 6,266 1,637 12,453 20.3 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game of the U.S. basketball team at the Goodwill Games, his two years with the Bulls he averaged more than where he averaged 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocked shots per blocked shot per game. The following year he was game. one of three collegians chosen for the American team in the Olympic qualifying tournament. Continuing the Story In 2001, he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers The Emerging Champion for Brian Skinner and the draft rights to Tyrone In 1999, because of his ability and maturity, Elton Chandler. He was largely responsible for turning was ready to leave Duke for the NBA. He was the the long-dormant Clippers into a playoff team. In first Duke player to leave the school for the NBA his initial year with the Clippers he appeared in his before graduation and was selected first overall, first NBA all-star game; he also made the all-star joining the Chicago Bulls. He had been an under- game in 2006, in which he had 12 points, 1 , sized center in college, where his long arms, quick and 7 rebounds. During his NBA career, he has av- feet, and wide body enabled him to battle taller op- eraged more than 20 points per game and has been ponents. However, in the NBA, he was moved to in the top ten in blocked shots and offensive re- power forward, where he had to develop an effec- bounds per game. His career field-goal percentage tive jump shot. Despite his youth, he became a is more than 50 and his free-throw average almost leader on the team and was co-rookie of the year 75 percent. He has also been among the leaders in with of the Houston Rockets. During minutes played per game, a testimony to his stam- ina and determination. Honors and Awards Although Elton has had his share of injuries, he has been incredibly dura- 1999 Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Year ble; the only serious injury he suffered Adolph Rupp Trophy John R. Wooden Award as a professional was a ruptured Achilles Naismith College Player of the Year tendon, which occurred during a daily workout on August 3, 2007. The injury 2000 NBA Rookie of the Year (cowinner with Steve Francis) 2002 Magic Johnson Award was a major blow to the Clippers 2002, 2006 NBA All-Star Team chances during the 2007-2008 season. 2004 Pacific Division Sportsmanship Award He was one of the twenty-five players on NBA All-Interview First Team Western Conference Player of the Week (January 4) the roster for the 2008 Olympic basket- 2005 Western Conference Player of the Week (November 12, December 12) ball team but had to withdraw because NBA Player of the Month (November) of injuries. In 2008, he bought an Amer- 2006 All-NBA Second Team NBA Sportsmanship Award ican Basketball League team franchise Western Conference Player of the Week (January 30) for his mother and named his half brother Artie McGriff general manager.

43 Elton Brand Great Athletes

In July, 2008, he opted out of his contract with the tablished a foundation to help others and partici- Clippers and, after entertaining an offer from the pated in Clippers community children projects. Golden State Warriors, signed with the Philadel- Thomas L. Erskine phia 76ers. In addition to his basketball career, he was the producer of the film Rescue Dawn (2007). Additional Sources Beck, Howard. “A Genuine Nice Guy Finally Has a Summary Chance to Finish First.” , April After playing on winning teams in high school and 26, 2006, p. 7. at Duke, Elton Brand has had the misfortune of Boeck, Greg. “A Very Special Brand.” USA Today, playing on mediocre NBA teams. However, he January 18, 2007, p. C7. helped the Clippers establish a level of respectabil- Brand, Elton. “One on One with Elton Brand.” The ity. He has shown himself to be a hardworking and Sporting News, October 29, 2001, p. 43. highly motivated player competing against the Deveney, Sean. “Everybody Loves Elton.” The world’s best basketball players. He said that Kevin Sporting News, March 10, 2006, pp. 12-14. Garnett and Chris Webber were his biggest chal- Jacobs, Dan, and Brian Spurlock. “Brand Recogni- lengers at power forward, but he is in elite company. tion.” Sport 90, no. 1 (January, 1999): 84. In addition to his fierceness and high level of skills, Michaels, Vicky. “Clippers Have Classy Brand.” USA he was one of the best-liked Clipper players. He es- Today, May 3, 2006, p. C13.

44 Kobe Bryant

Born: August 23, 1978 ticed with him individually. Kobe realized early that Philadelphia, Pennsylvania he wanted to be a professional basketball player Also known as: Kobe Bean Bryant (full name); and worked toward this goal. Black Mamba; KB24; KB81; Kobe The Road to Excellence Early Life Although high school freshman rarely play on a On August 23, 1978, Kobe Bryant was born to varsity team, Kobe’s talent was recognized, and Pamela and Joe “Jelly Bean” Bryant, who played for he immediately became a valuable player for his the NBA Philadelphia 76ers. Between the ages of varsity basketball team when he entered Lower three and eleven, Kobe lived in , where his fa- Merion High School in Philadelphia. He was dedi- ther played professional basketball in the Italian cated to improving his skills and often went to league. Because of soccer’s great popularity in Eu- school more than an hour before his first class to rope, Kobe developed a love for that sport as well as work out in the gym. According to his high school for his father’s specialty. However, he was inspired athletic director, Tom McGovern, Kobe had a “tre- by his father, who had averaged 8.7 points per mendous work ethic” and frequently played by game in 606 career NBA games before moving to It- himself, practicing dribbling, shooting, and other aly. Both of Kobe’s sisters, Sharia and Shaya, were components of the game. excellent athletes who used to practice with Kobe. After his junior year, Kobe started to attract the At the age of eleven, Kobe experienced a growth interest of the national media. In the summer, he spurt. He returned to the United States with his played well at the Adidas ABCD camp and was se- family, and his skills in basketball helped him to lected by USA Today and Parade magazine as the na- make new friends. His talent continued to develop tional high school player of the year. He was al- under the tutelage of his father, who often prac- lowed to work out with the Philadelphia 76ers, and he shared the court with NBA players for the first time. Kobe’s senior year at Lower Merion was a triumphant pre- lude to his impending interna- tional fame. His team, which had low rankings before he joined, won the state championship. Be- fore leaving high school, he broke the first of many records when he exceeded Wilt Cham- berlain’s forty-year-old southeast- ern Pennsylvania high school scoring record of 2,359 points with his own 2,883. This total also made him the all-time lead- ing point scorer in Pennsylvania history. It became obvious that Kobe could fulfill his dream of playing in the NBA, but there was a ques- Kobe Bryant going above the rim to score. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters/Landov) tion of whether or not he should

45 Kobe Bryant Great Athletes attend college first; he was academically, as well as and ranking second on the team in scoring and athletically, talented. At that time, only six Ameri- free-throw percentage, Kobe was named to the can players in the previous three decades had 1998-1999 all-NBA third team. joined the NBA without first playing college basket- During the 1999-2000 season, Kobe was able to ball. In May, however, Kobe announced his inten- utilize his strengths in precise coordination with tions to enter the NBA draft. He was drafted in the teammate O’Neal, resulting in a highly success- first round by the , then traded ful period for the Lakers under Coach Phil Jack- to the Los Angeles Lakers. son. Individually, Kobe improved as well, scoring a career-high 40 points in a game with the Sacra- The Emerging Champion mento Kings on March 12, 2000. On November 3, 1996, at the age of eighteen, Kobe The season culminated in a bitterly contested played against the Minnesota Timberwolves, be- but ultimately victorious struggle with the Indiana coming the youngest player at the time ever to play Pacers for the NBA title. Kobe sprained his left an- in an NBA game. He made his first career start play- kle in game two and missed game three, which the ing against the on January 28, Pacers won. Many doubted that Kobe could re- 1997, and was named to the 1996-1997 NBA all- cover in time to appear in the remainder of the se- rookie second team, averaging 7.6 points per game ries. With an intense therapy program, Kobe was and 15.5 minutes per game in seventy-one games. able to return in game four, in which he scored 28 Kobe’s second professional season was also suc- points, including 2 points during overtime after cessful; he scored a career high of 33 points in a O’Neal had fouled out. After losing game five, the game against the Chicago Bulls on December 17, Lakers won the decisive but close game six, with 1997, and won the slam-dunk contest during the Kobe clinching the game with four free throws in 1997 NBA all-star weekend in Cleveland, Ohio. In the final 13 seconds. In all, Kobe scored 26 points his third season, he broke yet another record, in the final game, securing the first NBA title won when he became the youngest all-star in NBA his- by the Lakers since 1988. tory. At the 1998 NBA all-star game in New York, he With his first championship ring in hand, Kobe posted team highs of 18 points and 6 rebounds. worked hard during the off-season and returned stronger than ever at the start of the 2000-2001 sea- Continuing the Story son. Though returning league most valuable As Kobe continued to develop, he began to play a player (MVP) O’Neal began the season slowly, strong but mainly supportive role with the Lakers, a Kobe became one of the dominant players in the team that also relied heavily on the skills of center league. For several weeks, However, all was not well Shaquille O’Neal. After leading the Lakers in steals in Lakerdom. The team was not close to the previ-

NBA Statistics Season GP FGA FGM FG% FTA FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1996-97 71 422 176 .417 166 136 .819 132 91 539 7.6 1997-98 79 913 391 .428 457 363 .794 242 199 1,220 15.4 1998-99 50 779 362 .465 292 245 .839 264 190 996 19.9 1999-00 66 1,183 554 .468 403 331 .821 416 323 1,485 22.5 2000-01 68 1,510 701 .464 557 475 .853 359 338 1,938 28.5 2001-02 80 1,597 749 .469 589 488 0.829 441 438 2,019 25.2 2002-03 82 1,924 868 .451 713 601 0.843 564 481 2,461 30.0 2003-04 65 1,178 516 .438 533 454 0.852 359 33 1,557 24.0 2004-05 66 1,324 573 .433 664 542 0.816 392 398 1,819 27.6 2005-06 20 2,173 978 .450 819 696 0.850 425 360 2,832 35.4 2006-07 77 1,757 813 .463 768 667 0.868 439 413 2,430 31.6 2007-08 82 1,690 775 .459 742 623 .840 517 441 2,323 28.3 Totals 868 16,450 7,456 .454 6,703 5,621 .839 4,590 4,002 21,619 25.0 Notes: GP = games played; FGA = field goals attempted; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTA = free throws attempted; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

46 Basketball Kobe Bryant

Milestones The assault case was dropped by prosecutors, and a separate civil lawsuit was settled. Kobe’s endorse- 1996 Became youngest player ever to appear in an ment deals with companies such as Coca-Cola, NBA game , Nike, and Adidas eventually resumed. 1998 Became youngest All-Star in NBA history Jackson returned to coach the Lakers for the 2006 Scored 81 points in one game, second most in NBA history (Jan. 22) 2005-2006 season. The conflict between Kobe and O’Neal had also ended by early 2006. They were Honors and Awards publicly amicable at the game between the Lakers 1995-96 USA Today, Parade magazine National High and in January, 2006, and at the 2006 School Player of the Year NBA all-star game. 1996 Naismith Prep Player of the Year In the seasons from 2000 to 2008, Kobe was 1996-97 NBA All-Rookie Second Team named to the NBA’s all-defensive team eight times. 1997 NBA champion From March 16 to March 23, 2007, he had four con- 1998-99 All-NBA Third Team secutive games with at least 50 points, the most since Chamberlain. With his 39 points in a game in 1998, 2000-2009 NBA All-Star Team December, 2007, Kobe became the youngest player 1999-2008 All-NBA ever to score 20,000 career points. He was the NBA 2000-2008 NBA All-Defense Team all-star game MVP in 2002 and 2007, the NBA MVP 2002, 2007 NBA All-Star Game most valuable player in 2007-2008, and NBA scoring champion in 2005- 2006, 2007 NBA scoring champion 2006 and 2006-2007. In January, 2006, Kobe scored 2008 NBA most valuable player 81 points in a game, the second-highest total in Gold medal, Olympic Basketball NBA history behind Chamberlain’s 100. 2009 NBA Finals most valuable player Summary Kobe Bryant has become one of the world’s highest ous season’s win-loss pace, and Kobe was increas- paid athletes. He signed a three-year, $3.5-million ingly criticized for selfish play. Rumors arose that contract when he joined the Lakers in 1996, fol- he and O’Neal could not get along and that one of lowed by a six-year, $71-million contract in 1999. In them would have to go. July, 2004, Kobe signed a seven-year, $136.4-million Late in the season, however, the team experi- contract, with the ability to opt out of the contract enced a miraculous turnaround, with Kobe and after the fifth year. O’Neal playing together almost perfectly. The The timing of Kobe’s opt-out clause was remark- Lakers finished the regular season with a winning able, as it went into effect immediately after Kobe streak that lifted them to a tie for the division cham- led the Lakers to the 2009 NBA Championship pionship, and then the team went on a roll in the with one of the most dominating performances in playoffs: The Lakers won a league-record fifteen of NBA Finals history. Averaging 32.4 points, 7.4 as- sixteen playoff games and had a second consecu- sists, and 5.6 rebounds a game, he was the runaway tive championship. Equally important, Kobe rees- winner of his first most valuable player award. tablished himself as a consummate team player, As a highly paid star, Kobe devoted some of his and the rest of the league trembled at the thought resources to philanthropic activities. He was in- of how much better he might get in the future. volved with the Pediatric AIDS Foundation, St. The Lakers won a third title in 2002, sweeping Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Make-a-Wish Founda- the New Jersey Nets in four games. In 2003-2004 tion, and other community programs. In 2006, he Coach Jackson, O’Neal, and Kobe spent their last established the charitable VIVO Foundation to season together. In 2003, Kobe was charged with provide educational and cultural opportunities for the sexual assault of a Colorado hotel employee, young people, especially African American and and the court proceedings and publicity were dis- Hispanic students. tracting for the team. Many of Kobe’s endorsement Kobe, the youngest person ever to be chosen as deals were also terminated. After the season, an NBA all-star, was a consummate athlete and role O’Neal was traded to Miami, and Jackson resigned. model for young athletes worldwide. At the 2008

47 Kobe Bryant Great Athletes

Beijing Olympics, he became an Olympic cham- Coffey, Wayne. The Kobe Bryant Story. New York: pion, taking over the latter stages of the champion- Scholastic, 1999. ship game against Spain. This led to a 118-107 Finkel, Jon. Kobe Bryant. Los Angeles: Tokyopop, victory for the Redeem Team (Team USA) and a 2007. gold medal for the United States. Earlier in the Kaye, Elizabeth. Ain’t No Tomorrow: Kobe, Shaq, and summer he had guided the Lakers to the NBA Fi- the Making of a Lakers Dynasty. Chicago: Contem- nals, his fifth appearance in the championship se- porary Books, 2002. ries. Layden, Joseph. Kobe: The Story of the NBA’s Rising Alice Myers Young Star. New York: Harper, 1998. Lazenby, Roland. Mad Game: The NBA Education of Additional Sources Kobe Bryant. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2001. Ballard, Chris. “Kobe’s Killer Instinct.” Sports Illus- Macnow, Glen. Sports Great Kobe Bryant. Berkeley trated 108, no. 22 (June 2, 2008): 38. Heights, N.J.: Enslow, 2000.

48 Vince Carter

Born: January 26, 1977 jerseys of notable players , James Worthy, Daytona Beach, Florida and Michael Jordan. Also known as: Vincent Lamar Carter (full name); Air The Emerging Champion After college, Vince was drafted by the Toronto Early Life Raptors, a perpetually underperforming team. On Vince Carter was born on January 26, 1977, in February 5, 1999, in his NBA debut, he scored 16 Daytona Beach, Florida. Like many exceptional points and had 3 rebounds in a 103-92 victory over athletes, he began his athletic career with great the Boston Celtics. He was the first player in Rap- doubts. At the age of thirteen and less than 5 feet 5 tors’ franchise history to be named NBA player of inches tall, he was bowlegged and did not make the the week. By March, 1999, he was averaging 20 basketball team because the coach thought he was points, 7 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game. One too slow and too small despite his excellent shooting touch. As a high school freshman, Vince was an average, 5-foot 7-inch player who dreamed of NBA stardom. However, during his sophomore year, Vince grew more than 6 inches and improved his jumping ability. By his senior year of high school, he was embraced as the best high school basketball player in the state of Flor- ida. He played for Daytona Beach Mainland High School, near his hometown. He soon matured into a 6-foot 6-inch, 210-pound guard/forward.

The Road to Excellence After completing a career as an outstanding high school basketball player, which included selection to the McDonald’s All-American Team, Vince entered the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As a college basket- ball player, Vince was named to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Bas- ketball Tournament all-East Regional team in both 1997 and 1998. He was also named an Associated Press second-team all-Ameri- can and first team all-Atlantic Coast Confer- ence after his junior season. During his college career, Vince gained fame for his slam dunks and explosive ath- letic moves. His exploits in college were so impressive that on December 8, 2000, his jer- sey was hung in the rafters of Vince Carter illustrating his dunking ability in the 2000 all-star Athletic Center in Chapel Hill, joining the game. (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

49 Vince Carter Great Athletes

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGA FGM FG% FTA FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1998-99 50 766 345 .450 268 204 .761 283 149 913 18.3 1999-00 82 1,696 788 .465 551 436 .791 476 322 2,107 25.7 2000-01 75 1,656 762 .460 502 384 .765 416 291 2,070 27.6 2001-02 60 1,307 559 .428 307 245 .798 313 239 1,484 24.7 2002-03 43 760 355 .467 160 129 .806 188 143 884 20.6 2003-04 73 1,457 608 .417 417 336 .806 349 348 1,645 22.5 2004-05 77 1,541 696 .452 460 367 .800 401 327 1,886 24.5 2005-06 79 1,518 653 .430 601 480 .799 462 338 1,911 24.2 2006-07 82 1,598 726 .454 576 462 .802 492 393 2,070 25.2 2007-08 76 1,287 587 .456 429 350 .816 453 389 1,622 21.3 Totals 714 13,586 6,221 .448 4,271 3,474 .794 3,906 3,020 16,988 23.8 Notes: GP = games played; FGA = field goals attempted; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTA = free throws attempted; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game week later against the Houston Rockets, he scored round, as Vince and Iverson scored at will in what a game high of 32 points with 6 assists. became one of the marquee matches of the play- The “invincible” Vince pushed the Raptors into offs. After the Raptors stole a first-game victory on the playoffs. In his rookie year, he led the team in Philadelphia’s home court, the 76ers stormed back scoring, at 18.3 points per game; blocked shots, at in game two, led by Iverson’s 54-points. In game 1.54 per game; and field-goal percentage, at .450. three, Vince countered by scoring 50 points and That year, he led all NBA rookies in scoring and tied an NBA record with nine 3-point baskets to blocked shots; was third in assists and “double- lead the Raptors to a surprising 24-point victory. doubles,” double figures in two major statistical cat- Two more 76er victories put the Raptors within one egories; fourth in rebounds; and fifth in steals. He loss of elimination, but Vince scored 39 points in was selected as Schick rookie of the year and was a the sixth game to tie the series. The final game, unanimous selection to the 1998-1999 Schick all- however, was a heartbreaking loss for the Raptors. rookie first team. After trailing throughout the game, Toronto ral- In 2000, he won the NBA slam-dunk competi- lied under Vince’s leadership, only to lose by a sin- tion handily. During the same weekend, he also gle point as the team’s final shot missed as time ran scored 12 points as a starter in the 2000 NBA all-star out. Vince finished the series with an average of game. In his second season, he scored more than 30.4 points per game—one of the top perfor- 50 points in five games and compiled multiple mances of the playoffs. triple-doubles, double figures in three major statis- tical categories. His first triple-double occurred on Continuing the Story April 10, 2000, when he totaled 31 points, 11 re- On the eve of his last playoff game of the 2000-2001 bounds, and 10 assists against the Cleveland Cava- season, Vince captured national headlines for liers. Furthermore, in 2000, he was a member of chartering a jet to attend his graduation at the Uni- the gold-medal-winning U.S. Olympic team, which versity of North Carolina. When he left college to swept the competition in Sydney, Australia. enter the NBA three years earlier, he had promised Vince’s third season in the NBA was a turning his mother he would complete his degree; he ful- point for both Vince and the Raptors. While raising filled that promise. Some observers criticized him his scoring average to 27.6 points per game, he led for mixing up his priorities, suggesting that he the Raptors back to the playoffs, where the team needed to stay focused on basketball. Others shocked the New York Knicks in the first round. In feared that an unexpected mishap—such as bad the second round, Toronto faced the top-seeded weather—might cause him to be late for the deci- Philadelphia 76ers, led by league most valuable sive game with the 76ers. However, calmer observ- player Allen Iverson. ers countered that Vince did have his priorities Vince’s detractors were silenced in the second right, and that his actions were a demonstration of

50 Basketball Vince Carter

Honors and Awards New Jersey into the playoffs. Vince played excep- tionally well all three playoffs, averaging 25.9 1995 McDonald’s High School All-American points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in twenty- 1997-98 NCAA Basketball Tournament All-East Regional Team seven games. 1998-99 Associated Press All-American Second Team The 2007-2008 season was disastrous for New All-Atlantic Coast Conference First Team Jersey. Vince suffered an early-season injury, and 1999 Schick NBA Rookie of the Year the Nets traded Jason Kidd to the Dallas Maver- Schick NBA All-Rookie First Team icks. The Nets finished with a 34-48 record. De- spite playing most of the season with an ankle in- 2000 Uniform number 15 retired by University of North Carolina jury, Vince had another fine year, averaging 21.3 All-NBA Third Team points, 6.0 rebounds, and 5.1 assists. After the sea- NBA Slam Dunk champion son, Vince had surgery on his ankle. Vince’s num- Gold medal, Olympic basketball bers went down slightly during the 2008-2009 sea- 2000-07 NBA All-Star Team son, but he played in eighty games, and the Nets 2001 All-NBA Second Team again finished 34-48. 2007 Statue unveiled at Mainland High School Summary Vince Carter became one of the best and most the importance of education. In the end, Vince at- spectacular players in the NBA during his era. He tended his graduation and returned to Philadel- was not only a great athlete but also a caring citizen. phia five and one-half hours before the playoff In 1998, Vince founded the Embassy of Hope game began. Foundation to assist needy children and also do- In 2001-2002 and 2002-2003, Vince suffered nated substantial time and money to his former through injuries. In 2002, Toronto earned the last school, Mainland High School. On February 3, playoff spot but, without Vince, fell to the Detroit 2007, a statue of Vince was unveiled at Mainland. Pistons in the first round. In 2002-2003, the Rap- Culley C. Carson, updated by Jerome L. Neapolitan tors won only twenty-four games. That season, Vince was voted to his fourth consecutive all-star Additional Sources game, but he gave up his starting spot to allow Mi- Carter, Vince. Vince Carter: Slam Dunk Artist. Berke- chael Jordan to make his final start as an all-star. ley Heights, N.J.: Enslow, 2004. Vince was at his best early in the 2003-2004 cam- Harris, Bill. Vince Carter: The Air Apparent. Toronto: paign, particularly in his ability to control close Key Porter Books, 2000. games in the fourth quarter. He received more all- Stewart, Mark. Vince Carter: The Fire Burns Bright. star votes than anyone else in the league for the Brookfield, Conn.: Millbrook Press, 2001. fourth time in his career. After Vince suffered an Taylor, Phil, and David Sabino. “Fresh Vince.” ankle injury in February, the Raptors played miser- Sports Illustrated 92 (February 28, 2000): 36-43. ably and failed to make the playoffs. In the off- Winderman, Ira. “The Six Habits of the Highly Ef- season, Vince was traded to the New Jersey Nets. fective Vince Carter.” The Sporting News 224 (Jan- The next three seasons, Vince and Jason Kidd led uary 24, 2000): 10-16.

51 Sam Cassell

Born: November 18, 1969 team. Teamed with future Hall of Fame players Ha- Baltimore, Maryland keem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, Sam brought Also known as: Samuel James Cassell (full name); instant offense off the bench, along with fresh en- Sudden Sam; Sam I Am ergy. He became nicknamed Sudden Sam for his ability to score points quickly. Early Life Sam also brought a nonstop commentary to the Samuel James Cassell was born and raised in Balti- floor and became known as one of the great outgo- more, Maryland, where he was graduated from ing personalities in the game. During games, he Dunbar High School and became a legend—in his spoke to everyone within earshot: his teammates, own words—in playground basketball. He began opposing players, referees, even himself. His con- his college education at San Jacinto College in stant chatter helped motivate both him and his Texas, but after two years there, he transferred to teammates and got under the skin of opposing Florida State University in Tallahassee. At Florida players and coaches. During his time under Coach State, he played point guard and averaged more at Houston, he played an im- than 18 points, almost 5 assists, and more than 4 re- portant role in the Rockets’ back-to-back NBA bounds per game. Championships during the 1993-1994 and 1994- 1995 seasons. The Road to Excellence In 1996, Sam’s run with the Rockets ended. His In the 1993 NBA draft, the Houston Rockets made fourth season found him bouncing from the Rock- Sam the twenty-fourth overall pick in the first ets to the Phoenix Suns in a trade that brought round. Professional success came quickly to Sam. Charles Barkley to Houston. Then, after playing Thanks to his uncanny ability to hit a high percent- fewer than twenty-five games for the Suns, Sam was age of midrange jump shots, he became Houston’s traded again, this time to the Dallas Mavericks. His valuable sixth man during his first season on the stay with that team was also short-lived; he played

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1993-94 66 162 .418 90 .841 134 192 440 6.7 1994-95 82 253 .427 214 .843 211 405 783 9.5 1995-96 61 289 .439 235 .825 188 278 886 14.5 1996-97 61 337 .430 212 .844 182 305 967 15.9 1997-98 75 510 .441 436 .860 228 603 1,471 19.6 1998-99 8 39 .419 47 .940 15 36 127 15.9 1999-00 81 545 .466 390 .876 301 729 1,506 18.6 2000-01 76 537 .474 277 .858 290 580 1,381 18.2 2001-02 74 554 .463 282 .860 312 493 1,461 19.7 2002-03 78 546 .470 385 .861 342 450 1,536 19.7 2003-04 81 620 .488 289 .873 271 592 1,603 19.8 2004-05 59 319 .464 134 .865 157 301 799 13.5 2005-06 78 493 .443 289 .863 287 491 1,345 17.2 2006-07 58 261 .455 160 .891 167 270 714 12.8 2007-08 55 233 .438 127 .882 136 214 616 11.2 Totals 993 5,698 .454 3,567 .861 3,221 5,939 15,635 15.7 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

52 Basketball Sam Cassell fewer than twenty games for the Mav- Career Highs 2005-2006 season, Sam proved that ericks. In 1997, he became the start- he could elevate any team on which ing point guard for the New Jersey Points, 40 he played by leading the long-suffer- Nets. Assists, 19 ing Clippers to the Western Confer- Rebounds, 11 Sam was criticized for not working Steals, 6 ence semifinals. hard enough in practices, having lim- During the 2007-2008 season, Sam ited defensive skills, and playing self- accepted a buyout from the Clippers, ishly on offense. In reality, Sam was usually among and he was waived by the team. His release freed the league leaders in steals, and his midrange shoot- him to sign with any team he wished. Several teams ing percentage was excellent. Never a driving, slash- showed an interest, but he accepted the offer of the ing player and seldom a ball dunker, he was an out- Boston Celtics, which his former teammates Gar- standing midrange jump shooter—a type of player nett and Allen had also recently joined. By signing in short supply in the NBA. However, he did admit Sam, the Celtics hoped that his scoring bursts, lead- that he saw little to gain from running the same ership, and playoff experience would provide a plays repeatedly in practice sessions. spark to help propel the Celtics to the NBA Finals for the first time in two decades. Although Sam was The Emerging Champion reduced to a role player behind the Celtics’ young Although Sam had already played on two champi- point guard Rajan Rondo, his presence and timely onship teams, his court skills were yet to peak. His scoring helped the team reach the 2008 finals best statistical years were still ahead of him. A piv- against the Los Angeles Lakers, and he collected otal trade during the 1998-1999 season had Sam his third championship ring. The following season, join Ray Allen and on the Milwau- the Celtics did not use Sam. In early 2009, they kee Bucks. There, he found a home for four sea- traded him to the Sacramento Kings, who quickly sons under Coach . In his last seasons released him. with the team, he was paired in the backcourt with Gary Payton—another point guard. This was a rare Summary combination, as few NBA teams put two point Although not a high draft choice or a franchise guards on the floor at the same time. However, Sam player, Sam Cassell had a fifteen-year career with and Payton’s games complemented each other. To- eight NBA teams and was an important member of gether, they almost led the Bucks to the champion- three championship teams. Throughout all those ship series in 2001, only to be eliminated in game seasons, except the first and last, he was a starting seven of the Eastern Conference Finals. point guard, and he improved the fortunes of ev- After narrowly missing his third trip to the NBA ery team for which he played. His perpetual grin Finals, Sam was more determined than ever to ele- and bubbling personality made him a fan favorite vate his game. However, the Bucks traded him to the everywhere he played and reflected his deep love Minnesota Timberwolves in 2003. There he joined of the game. with center Kevin Garnett and forward Latrell Spre- Randy L. Abbott well to form a high-performing scoring triangle. Sam had his best season in 2003-2004, when he was Additional Sources named to the all-star game squad for the first and Howard, Johnette. “Sam I Am.” Sports Illustrated 83, only time. During this same year, he helped the no. 21 (November 13, 1995): 82. Timberwolves reach the Western Conference Fi- McCallum, Jack. “Mighty Mouth.” Sports Illustrated nals for the first time in the team’s history. 100, no. 3 (January 26, 2004): 54-57. MacMullen, Jackie. “Sam’s Jam.” Sports Illustrated Continuing the Story 99, no. 10 (March 8, 1999): 92. After three seasons, the Minnesota Timberwolves Ryan, Jeff. “Raggedy Sam.” The Sporting News 224, traded Sam to the Los Angeles Clippers. In the no. 9 (February 28, 2000): 10.

53 Tamika Catchings

Born: July 21, 1979 wear a hearing aid as a young girl; she worked hard Stratford, New Jersey to overcome her impediment. The Catchings sib- Also known as: Tamika Devonne Catchings (full lings participated in a variety of sports, including name); Mika; Catch , soccer, baseball, and tennis.

Early Life The Road to Excellence Tamika Catchings was born on July 21, 1979, in By the time Tamika was in seventh grade, she knew Stratford, New Jersey, to Harvey and Wanda that she wanted to play professional basketball. She Catchings. Her father played in the NBA for eleven chose to wear uniform number 24 because it was years. She has a brother, Kenyon, and sister, Tajua. the numerical inversion of her father’s, which was She was born with a hearing disability and had to 42. She played basketball for two years at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincoln- shire, Illinois. Tamika was shy and often felt different from her class- mates because of her hearing dis- ability, but she found confidence by playing basketball. She was even known to be a flashy player. Tamika and her older sister Tajua played on the same team in high school. They played together until 1995, when Tamika moved to Texas with her mother, and Tajua stayed in Illi- nois with their father. Tamika was named Miss Illinois Basketball in 1995. In Duncanville, Texas, Tamika, playing as a guard and a forward, av- eraged 23.5 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 4.3 steals per game—making her a top college prospect. Tamika was also a straight-A student. She was a top-ten finalist for the Dial Award, an honor given to top scho- lastic athletes in the country. She was recruited by more than 140 col- leges.

The Emerging Champion Tamika considered joining her sis- ter at the University of Illinois be- cause of the close bond the two shared. Eventually she chose to at- Tamika Catchings of the dribbling to the basket in the 2008 tend the University of Tennessee, WNBA playoffs. (NBAE/Getty Images) her first choice since junior high

54 Basketball Tamika Catchings school. There, she teamed with two more of the Honors and Awards top-five high-school prospects in a well-established women’s program led by Coach . The 2002 WNBA Rookie of the Year summer between high school and college, Tamika 2002-07 WNBA All-Star Team 2004 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball won a gold medal on the U.S. junior women’s bas- 2005, 2006 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year ketball team. 2006 WNBA All-Decade Team At Tennessee, Tamika was an all-around player. She could pass, shoot, and rebound. She joined Chamique Holdsclaw and Semeka Randall, and ceived. She also made the U.S. women’s national the trio became known as “The Three Meeks.” team and played summer basketball in the Wom- Tamika broke the freshman scoring record with en’s . more than 600 points. The Lady Volunteers went For Tamika, the year 2004 was special. Not only on to win the national championship that year, did she lead the Fever in points scored, rebounds, with Tamika averaging 18 points per game. assists, steals, and blocks, but also she became the In 2000, Tamika suffered a moderate to severe first Fever player to score 1,000 points. She was the ankle sprain, but she refused to let that stop her two-time WNBA defensive player of the year, in from playing. Three days following the injury, 2005 and 2006, and one of twelve women chosen Tamika was back on the court. That year, she won for the U.S. Women’s Olympic team in 2004. The the nation’s top honor, the Naismith Award, and team won the gold medal. was designated the Associated Press’s top women’s Furthermore, Tamika was considered a star off player. In January of 2001, Tamika tore her knee the court for her community involvement. She ligament and was forced to sit out the rest of the founded the Catch the Stars Foundation, which season, which ended her college basketball career. works with at-risk youth in the Indianapolis area to Not only was she a star on the court, but also she ex- provide academic and sports-related programs. celled in academics. She graduated with honors a She wanted children never to give up on their semester early. Even though she was still recovering dreams and goals by helping them realize that with from her injury, Tamika was selected third in the hard work they could achieve their objectives. Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Tamika participated in the National Basketball/ draft by the Indiana Fever. WNBA “Read to Achieve” program. For the 2003 season, Tamika purchased a block of tickets that Continuing the Story she donated to local children and the section be- Tamika made her professional debut in the 2002 came known as “Catchings’ Corner.” She was a season. She quickly became a leading player for the three-time winner of the WNBA Community Assist Fever, with more than 20 points in many of her Award, which honored her involvement in her games. She was soon discussed as a top candidate community, and was a finalist for the John Wooden for WBNA rookie of the year, which she later re- Citizenship Cup Award.

WNBA Statistics

Season GP FGA FGM FG% FTA FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 2002 32 439 184 .419 184 150 .815 276 118 594 18.6 2003 34 512 221 .432 183 155 .847 272 114 671 19.7 2004 34 468 180 .385 178 152 .854 249 115 568 16.7 2005 34 410 157 .383 193 152 .788 264 143 501 14.7 2006 32 398 162 .407 204 165 .809 240 119 521 16.3 2007 21 259 108 .417 133 109 .820 189 98 348 16.6 2008 25 258 101 .391 115 92 .800 157 83 332 13.3 Totals 212 2,744 1,113 .406 1,190 975 .819 1,647 790 3,535 16.7 Notes: GP = games played; FGA = field goals attempted; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTA = free throws attempted; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

55 Tamika Catchings Great Athletes

Summary disability to become one of the greatest basketball Tamika Catchings is a success on and off the basket- players in the world. She also recognized her status ball court. She continues to lead her Indiana Fever as a role model and continued to help children team to the playoffs and has been a WNBA all-star achieve their own goals. every year she has played in the league. In 2006, Deborah Stroman Tamika was chosen as a member of the all-decade team. Her passion and sheer determination makes Additional Sources her a great player and person. She also served as Buren, Jodi, Donna Lopiano, and Billie Jean King. president of the WNBA Players Association and be- Superwomen: One Hundred Women, One Hundred came a mainstay on the USA senior national team. Sports. New York: Bulfinch, 2004. In 2007, she received the Major Taylor Award, Catchings, Tamika, et al. My Favorite Moves: Making which recognizes African Americans in sport who the Big Plays. Terre Haute, Ind.: Wish, 2003. encourage excellence among future generations. Smith, Michelle. Megastars. New York: Scholastic, Tamika inspired many as she overcame a hearing 2003.

56 Wilt Chamberlain

Born: August 21, 1936 Wilt earned seven all-American first-team berths Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as a sophomore. However, Kansas lost to the Uni- Died: October 12, 1999 versity of North Carolina, led by Lennie Rosen- Bel-Air, California bluth, in a triple-overtime game, 53-52, for the Also known as: Wilton Norman Chamberlain 1957 National Collegiate Athletic Association (full name); Big Dipper; Wilt the Stilt (NCAA) Championship, played at Kansas City, Mis- souri. Wilt played at Kansas through his junior year, Early Life when he signed for a year with the Harlem Globe- Wilt Chamberlain was born on August 21, 1936, in trotters. He also won the Big Eight Conference out- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was one of nine door high-jump crown at 6 feet 5 inches, and tied children of William and Olivia Chamberlain. His for first place at the Relays with a jump of 6 father was a handyman and his mother, a domestic feet 61⁄2 inches in the spring of 1957. worker. Wilt soon dwarfed his 5-foot 8-inch father Wilt was the most dominant player in college and reached the height of 6 feet 10 inches by the basketball history. He was dubbed “Wilt the Stilt,” a age of fifteen. Even at that early age, he attracted considerable attention when he played basketball in junior high school. At Philadelphia’s Overbrook High School, Wilt averaged 36.3 points per game over a three-year period. He also played during the summers at a re- sort in the Catskill Mountains of New York and competed in track and field events. In high school, he scored 2,252 points in three years, including 90 points in one game. Overbrook was 58-3 and won two city championships. After his senior year, Wilt was drafted by the Phil- adelphia Warriors of the NBA.

The Road to Excellence When Wilt graduated from high school, he received more than two hundred scholarship offers from colleges. He fi- nally settled on the University of Kansas, under the legendary coach Forrest C. “Phog” Allen. Wilt participated in track as well as in basketball. As a sophomore at Kansas, Wilt opened his collegiate ca- reer on December 3, 1956, scoring 52 points against Northwestern. He used his famed one- and two-hand dunk shots as well as short-range right hand fade- away jumpers. The crowd of more than Center Wilt Chamberlain as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters. 17,000 went wild at . (Library of Congress)

57 Wilt Chamberlain Great Athletes

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1959-60 72 1,065 .461 577 .582 1,941 168 2,707 37.6 1960-61 79 1,251 .509 531 .504 2,149 148 3,033 38.4 1961-62 80 1,597 .505 835 .613 2,052 192 4,029 50.4 1962-63 80 1,463 .528 660 .593 1,946 275 3,586 44.8 1963-64 80 1,204 .524 540 .531 1,787 403 2,948 36.9 1964-65 73 1,063 .510 408 .464 1,673 250 2,534 34.7 1965-66 79 1,074 .540 501 .513 1,943 414 2,649 33.5 1966-67 81 785 .683 386 .441 1,957 630 1,956 24.1 1967-68 82 819 .595 354 .380 1,952 702 1,992 24.3 1968-69 81 641 .583 382 .466 1,712 366 1,664 20.5 1969-70 12 129 .568 70 .446 221 49 328 27.3 1970-71 82 668 .545 360 .538 1,493 352 1,696 20.7 1971-72 82 496 .649 221 .422 1,572 329 1,213 14.8 1972-73 82 426 .727 232 .510 1,526 365 1,084 13.2 Totals 1,045 12,681 .540 6,057 .511 23,924 4,643 31,419 30.1 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

name he disliked; he preferred the nickname “The by others. Since Wilt retired, the highest single- Big Dipper.” His presence changed the sport, and game point total was 81, achieved by the Los An- several rule changes were made in order to contain geles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant in 2006. his overwhelming abilities. Continuing the Story The Emerging Champion Basketball styles and times have changed, but Wilt signed with the Philadelphia Warriors and Wilt’s dominance of the game is apparent when his played his first year in the NBA in 1960, a year in statistics are compared with those of his contempo- which he was named both rookie of the year and raries. When one player accounts for more than 75 most valuable player. He possessed amazing power, percent of all of the highest-scoring performances coordination, and stamina, and an unexpected in thirty-three years, his accomplishments cannot grace that once led Red Auerbach, the Boston be described as anything other than awesome. Be- Celtics coach, to comment that the first time he saw fore he retired, Wilt scored 31,419 points and Wilt he “just stood and watched him walk. Just grabbed 23,924 rebounds, both NBA career rec- watched him walk. It was incredible.” ords at the time. On March 2, 1962, in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Meanwhile, in 1972, Wilt led the Los Angeles Wilt scored 100 points in an NBA game against the Lakers to the franchise’s first NBA Championship New York Knicks. Wilt’s mark remains an almost since its move from Minneapolis, Minnesota. A unbelievable achievement for a single player. In his year later, he left the Lakers and coached the 100-point game, Wilt also had 25 rebounds, and his San Diego Conquistadores of the American Basket- league-leading average that season was 25.7. In the ball Association (ABA)—a move that triggered a category of scoring, Wilt reached a level that has lengthy contract dispute. never been approached. In the 1961-1962 season, After leaving the NBA in 1972, Wilt pursued a he averaged 50.4 points per game. His dominance number of different interests. He played profes- of the game during a career that lasted from 1959 sional volleyball and sponsored a women’s track through 1973 can best be understood by these sta- team. In later years, the Cleveland Cavaliers pub- tistics: Up to the end of Wilt’s career, there were licly confirmed attempting to lure Wilt out of re- seven 70-point-plus performances, and Wilt had six tirement. In 1978, rumors circulated that Wilt was of them. Elgin Baylor had the other, a 71-point per- considering signing to play with the Chicago Bulls, formance. Of the forty-one 60-point-plus perfor- and he reportedly also held discussions with the mances, thirty-two were achieved by Wilt and nine Phoenix Suns. In the late 1970’s, he even seriously

58 Basketball Wilt Chamberlain considered challenging Muhammad Ali for the Additional Sources heavyweight boxing championship but later aban- Chamberlain, Wilt. A View from Above. New York: doned the idea. He made many television commer- Dutton Books, 1992. cials and played a role in the 1984 film the De- Cherry, Robert Allen. Wilt: Larger than Life. Chi- stroyer. cago: Triumph Books, 2004. Wilt wrote a number of books, including A View Goudsouzian, Aram. “Can Basketball Survive Cham- from Above (1992) and Who’s Running the Asylum: berlain? The Kansas Years of Wilt the Stilt.” Kan- The Insane World of Sports Today (1998). His writings sas History 28, no. 3 (Autumn, 2005). range from recollections of his playing career to his Lynch, Wayne. Season of the 76ers: The Story of Wilt opinions on sports, politics, and social issues in the Chamberlain and the 1967 NBA Champion Philadel- 1990’s. Large portions of the proceeds from the phia 76ers. New York: Thomas Dunne Books/St. sale of his books were donated to Operation Smile Martin’s Press, 2002. to help provide health care for needy children. For Platt, Jim, and James Buckley. Sports Immortals: many years, he sponsored the Wilt Chamberlain Stories of Inspiration and Achievement. Chicago: Rising Star Shootout Tournament in Florida to Triumph Books, 2002. provide an environment where young basketball Pomerantz, Gary M. Wilt, 1962: The Night of One players could compete and showcase their skills. Hundred Points and the Dawn of a New Era. New Wilt made a fortune in the restaurant business, York: Crown, 2005. designed homes, owned racehorses, sponsored Taylor, John. The Rivalry: Bill Russell, Wilt Chamber- youth track and volleyball teams, and developed lain, and the Golden Age of Basketball. New York: land in countries all over the world. In February, Random House, 2005. 1979, Wilt was named to the Naismith Memorial Wahl, Grant. “Wilt’s World.” Sports Illustrated 99, Basketball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. no. 18 (November 10, 2003): 41. In 1996, he was named one of the fifty greatest NBA players of all time. In 1999, he was named as one of the twenty best NBA players of all NBA Records time. He died of heart failure on October 12, 1999, at his home in Bel-Air, California. Most rebounds, 23,924 Highest average in rebounds per game, 22.9 Most points in a season, 4,029 Summary Highest scoring average in a season, 50.4 Wilt Chamberlain’s achievements on the bas- Most rebounds in a season, 2,149 Highest single-season average in rebounds per game, 27.2 (1960-61) ketball court are legendary and border on Highest field goal percentage in a season, .727 mythical. Many NBA players, coaches, and Most points in a game, 100 (1962) experts say that Wilt was the strongest man Most field goals in a game, 36 (1962) Most free throws made in a game, 28 (1962) and best athlete ever to play the game. His fe- Most rebounds in a game, 55 (1960) rocious battles with Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics are engraved in NBA history. Wilt sin- Honors and Awards gularly dominated the game like no other 1957 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player NBA player ever had. He was particularly NCAA All-Tournament Team proud of the fact that he was the only non- 1957-58 Consensus All-American 1960 NBA Rookie of the Year guard to win an NBA assist title (1967-1968). NBA All-Star Game most valuable player When Wilt announced his retirement in 1972, 1960-68, 1972 All-NBA Team Bob Cousy was reported to have remarked 1960-69, 1971-73 NBA All-Star Team 1960, 1966-68 NBA most valuable player with relief that the NBA could “go back to 1972 NBA Finals most valuable player playing basketball.” 1972-73 NBA All-Defensive Team Arthur F. McClure 1978 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 1980 NBA 35th Anniversary All-Time Team 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team 1999 Named one of the twenty best NBA players of all time Uniform number 13 retired by Los Angeles Lakers

59 Cynthia Cooper

Born: April 14, 1963 The Road to Excellence Chicago, Illinois While attending Gompers Junior High School, Also known as: Cynthia Lynne Cooper (full Cynthia had her first introduction to basketball name); Cynthia Cooper-Dyke while watching others practice. She persuaded one of the high school coaches, Lucias Franklin, to Early Life teach her how to play the summer before she en- Cynthia Lynne Cooper grew up in a big family, with tered Locke High School. As a result, Cynthia three brothers and four sisters. She was the middle made the varsity team her first year in high school. child. Her mother, Mary Cobb, taught her children In addition to developing as a basketball star, she the importance of hard work and trusting in the also ran track, devoting her energies to the 400 me- Lord. Her mother raised eight children by herself, ters. During her senior year the Locke Saints won working for the rapid transit department in Los the California AAAA state championship. Cynthia Angeles. The family had moved from Chicago when was named the league’s most valuable player Cynthia was about one year old. For a number of (MVP) and Los Angeles player of the year in 1981. years, they lived in the area known as Watts. Cynthia faced tough times living in that area, and she de- The Emerging Champion sired to get out of the neighborhood someday. Cynthia attended the University of Southern Cali- fornia (USC), graduating as a major in 1986. While at col- lege she helped the USC Lady Trojans to three Final Four competitions and to na- tional championships in 1983 and 1984. After the victory in 1983, Cynthia and her teammates received an invitation to the White House to meet President Ron- ald Reagan. In 1985, Cynthia’s basketball career took a backseat to family obligations when she dropped out of school to work for a bank in Inglewood, California. After spending a season away from the game, Cynthia began playing pickup games and joined a local touring team that played in Mexico. From this experience came an offer to play professionally in Austria. In- stead, Cynthia reenrolled in college to finish her senior year and graduate. While at USC Cynthia never really had the chance to shine; She played in the backcourt and was overshadowed by stars like Cheryl Miller. She never was named to an all-American team, but she did make the all-Pac-10 Conference team in 1985- Cynthia Cooper of the in 2003. (Bill Baptist/NBAE/ 1986. When she graduated, her choices Getty Images) for continuing her basketball career were

60 Basketball Cynthia Cooper

WNBA Statistics Season GP FGA FGM FG% FTA FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1997 28 406 191 .470 199 172 .864 111 131 621 22.2 1998 30 455 203 .446 246 210 .854 110 131 680 22.7 1999 31 458 212 .463 229 204 .891 87 162 686 22.1 2000 31 392 180 .459 168 147 .875 85 156 550 17.7 2003 4 38 16 .421 28 25 .893 10 22 64 16.0 Totals 124 1,749 802 .459 870 758 .871 403 602 2,601 21.0 Notes: GP = games played; FGA = field goals attempted; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTA = free throws attempted; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game fairly limited and outside the United States. In and 1998. She led the league in scoring from 1997 1986 and 1987, she played in Segovia, Spain, fol- to 1999. Finally, Cynthia was a star in her own coun- lowed by more than a decade of playing in both try. In 1997-1998, she won the ESPY Award for fe- Parma and Alcamo, Italy. While in Italy, Cynthia male basketball player of the year. That same year, was named rookie of the year and player of the year she was second in the voting to soccer star Mia in 1987. Hamm for the woman athlete of the year award. Cynthia played in the Goodwill Games in 1986 Cynthia also won an Arete Award for courage in and 1990 and the Pan-American Games in 1987, sports in 1998. when her team won the gold medal. In addition, In 1999, Cynthia wrote a book about her basket- she played in the 1986 FIBA Women’s World ball journey, She Got Game. In this book Cynthia Championship with the U.S. national team. She talked about her life from humble beginnings in also had the joy of representing her country in the Watts to her later stardom in the WNBA. She also Olympics in 1988, 1992, and 2000, winning three discussed her family and the people in her life who medals: two gold and one bronze. She was not helped and inspired her to become the best she asked to play in 1996, when the call seemed to go to could be. In December, 2000, Cynthia was named younger, better known players. the of the , replacing Cheryl Miller. Having married sports agent Brian Continuing the Story Dyke earlier in 2000, Cynthia Cooper-Dyke re- In 1997, Cynthia finally had the chance to play pro- turned briefly to the WNBA in 2003, hoping to re- fessionally in the United States following the cre- capture her past glory on the court. At the age of ation of the Women’s National Basketball Associa- forty and after two years out of the league, she re- tion (WNBA). In 1997, she joined the Houston ceived a loud ovation during player introductions Comets, and the team won WNBA Championships her first night, and she scored eleven points and in 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000. Cynthia was named had seven assists in her first game back, reunited MVP in each of those four series. She was selected with teammate Sheryl Swoopes and the Comets. to the all-WNBA first team for four consecutive Her comeback was short-lived, however, as she re- years and was a Western Conference all-star in 1997 tired from the league in 2004. In 2005, Cynthia was named the women’s bas- Honors, Awards, and Milestones ketball coach at Prairie View A&M University, a small school in Texas primarily known for a losing 1987 Most valuable player, European All-Star Game sports program. The football team had an eighty- 1988, 2000 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball game losing streak and the men’s basketball team 1992 Bronze medal, Olympic Basketball 1996 Leading scorer (37.5 ppg) in European Cup finished 0-28 in one season during the 1990’s. 1997-98 WNBA Most Valuable Award Cynthia, a noted disciplinarian who approached 1997-2000 Most valuable player of the WNBA Championship the game with a fierce intensity, made an immedi- All-WNBA First Team 1998 First WNBA player to top 1,000 career points ate impact on her new team, leading the Panthers 1999-2000 All-Star Team to the Southwestern Athletic Conference tourna- ment title and the school’s first women’s National

61 Cynthia Cooper Great Athletes

Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Basketball role model for others, showing them what was pos- Tournament bid. However, success came with a sible with hard work. She used her time in the high price for Cynthia, who was penalized by the WNBA to become a positive example for others NCAA for rules violations in 2008. Prairie View was from the inner city and beyond. Cynthia also be- placed on probation for four years, scholarships came a spokesperson for breast cancer awareness were cut, and practice hours were curtailed. Viola- and research both on and off the court, wearing a tions committed by Cynthia ranged from giving pink ribbon on her uniform as a constant re- small amounts of money to players, holding unau- minder of the disease that killed her mother in thorized practices, and giving away free Comets 1999. game tickets to her players. School officials at Prai- Leslie Heaphy, updated by Randy L. Abbott rie View accounted for the violations, citing inex- perience on the part of coaches and other athletic Additional Sources staff. Berkow, Ira. “Cooper Leaving Behind a Legacy of Greatness.” The New York Times, August 28, 2000, Summary p. D4. Cynthia Cooper retired from professional basket- Cooper, Cynthia. She Got Game: My Personal Odyssey. ball competition at the end of the 2004 season, hav- New York: Warner Books, 2000. ing won four consecutive WNBA Championships Deitsch, Richard, Richard O’Brien, and Mark with the Houston Comets from 1997 to 2000. She Bechtel. “Q and A: Cynthia Cooper.” Sports Illus- left behind much more than that legacy, however. trated 98, no. 22 (June 2, 2003): 31-33. She played basketball with high intensity. The only Ponti, James. WNBA: Stars of Women’s Basketball. retired player to be named to the WNBA’s first all- New York: Pocket Books, 1999. decade team, Cynthia averaged 21 points in 124 Rutledge, Rachel. The Best of the Best in Basketball. games over five seasons. She considered herself a Brookfield, Conn.: Millbrook Press, 1998.

62 Michael Cooper

Born: April 15, 1956 chael played sparingly in his first year, competing Los Angeles, California in only three games in the season. However, in 1979 Also known as: Michael Jerome Cooper (full Michael emerged as a solid, hybrid guard/for- name); Coop ward. Michael finished his sophomore NBA season with 722 points, 229 rebounds, and 221 assists and Early Life shot more than 52 percent from the field. The ad- Michael Jerome Cooper was born April 15, 1956. dition of the three-point basket to the NBA in the Basketball was Michael’s sport of choice at an early 1979-1980 season was critical in Michael’s later suc- age. However, he had to overcome several chal- cess with the Lakers. In 1979, the selection of 6-foot lenges to eventually excel at the sport. At less than 6 9-inch guard Magic Johnson from Michigan State feet and undersized for his position, he was cut University increased Michael’s statistics profoundly. from his high school basketball team in Pasa- dena, California, his freshman and sopho- more years. After a growth spurt late in his ju- nior year, Michael excelled at the sport and was integral in his team’s 1973 league cham- pionship. However, after finishing his senior season, national collegiate powerhouses were not knocking on “Coop’s” door.

The Road to Excellence Michael chose little-known Pasadena City Col- lege to further his studies and keep busy with basketball. After two productive years at Pasa- dena, Michael transferred to the , home of the Lobos. Quickly his contributions to the team were recog- nized. After a few unsuccessful seasons, the Lobos won the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) championship in 1977-1978 thanks to Michael and a talented team. After averag- ing more than 16 points per game, Michael finished the season as an all-WAC first team addition. His well-rounded ability to score, rebound, and play solid defense was recog- nized in the 1978 NBA draft. The 5-foot 10- inch adolescent who was twice cut from his high school basketball team had grown to 6 feet 7 inches and could play both guard and forward in the National Basketball Associa- tion.

The Emerging Champion In 1978, the Los Angeles Lakers drafted Mi- Michael Cooper completing an uncontested layup. (Bill Baptist/ chael in the third round, sixtieth overall. Mi- NBAE/Getty Images)

63 Michael Cooper Great Athletes

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1978-79 3 3 .500 0 .000 0 0 6 2.0 1979-80 81 303 .524 111 .776 229 221 722 8.9 1980-81 81 321 .491 117 .785 336 332 763 9.4 1981-82 76 383 .517 139 .813 269 230 907 11.9 1982-83 82 266 .535 102 .785 274 315 639 7.8 1983-84 82 273 .497 155 .838 262 482 739 9.0 1984-85 82 276 .465 115 .865 255 429 702 8.6 1985-86 82 274 .452 147 .865 244 466 758 9.2 1986-87 82 322 .438 126 .851 254 373 859 10.5 1987-88 61 189 392 97 .858 228 289 532 8.7 1988-89 80 213 .431 81 .871 191 314 587 7.3 1989-90 80 191 .387 83 .883 227 215 515 6.4 Totals 872 3,014 .469 1,273 .883 2,769 3,666 7,729 8.9 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

The Lakers had evolved from an undersized perim- sive abilities but also his ability to hit the big shot. eter team, dependent upon the interior big man He ranked among the club’s best in assists, re- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, to a dominant perimeter bounds, steals, and three-point field goals upon his team that could outhustle, outrun, outshoot, and retirement in 1990. outrebound many of its foes. This fast-paced, elec- tric style of offense earned the Lakers the nick- Continuing the Story name “Showtime.” Michael’s legacy is as a solid role player with one of Michael’s production as a shooter, especially in the NBA’s most dominant dynasties of all time. important playoff games, earned “Coop” the re- However, Michael’s story goes beyond the NBA spect of the players and, especially, the fans. During and the “Showtime” era of the Los Angeles Lakers. the 1980’s, whenever Michael touched the ball, Michael quickly remerged on the basketball scene Lakers fans chanted “Coooooop.” From 1978 to after retirement and was introduced as an assistant 1990, Michael played twelve seasons for the Lakers coach for the Lakers in 1994. He held this job un- and helped lead the club to five NBA Champion- der two coaches and until 1997. After leaving the ships, in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988. He was part game for a year, Michael reemerged as a coach in of a Lakers dynasty that included Abdul-Jabbar, the recently formed Women’s National Basketball Johnson, , and James Worthy. Although Association (WNBA). Michael began as an assistant he was noted for defensive abilities and won the coach. As head coach, he led his hometown Los NBA defensive in 1987, his Angeles Sparks to WNBA Championships in 2001 popularity among Lakers fans was earned through and 2002. “Coop” coached the Sparks until the playoff production. For a man who averaged fewer 2004 season when he reentered the NBA arena as than 9 points a game for his career, his 39.2 percent an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets. One average from three-point range in the playoffs was fourth of the way into the 2004 season, the Nuggets notable. Michael was known not only for his defen- fired its head coach , and Michael was named interim coach. The Nuggets replaced Honors and Awards Michael at the end of the 2004 season, and Mi- chael resurfaced in the National Basketball As- 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987-88 NBA Championship sociation Developmental League (NBADL), a 1981, 1983, 1986 NBA All-Defensive Second Team minor-league affiliate of the NBA, coaching 1982, 1984-85, 1987-88 NBA All-Defensive First Team 1986 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award the Albuquerque Thunderbirds to a champi- 1987 NBA Defensive Player of the Year onship in 2006. At the start of the 2007 season, 2000 WNBA Coach of the Year Michael again found himself in Los Angeles. After a successful playing campaign with the

64 Basketball Michael Cooper

Lakers, and coaching stints with the Lakers and went, championships followed. More important, Sparks, he accepted the head coaching position of Michael’s ability to cross gender lines and become the Sparks once again. a successful coach of a WNBA team opened the door for other past NBA greats, such as Bill Laim- Summary beer, to succeed in the WNBA as a coach. Michael Cooper’s contribution to basketball is ap- Keith J. Bell preciated in many ways. His hard work and deter- mination at an early age encouraged many aspiring Additional Sources players to never quit on their dreams. Michael was a Lazenby, Roland. The Show: Inside the Story of the Spec- champion at every level of competition. Beginning tacular Los Angeles Lakers in the Words of Those Who with his 1973 high school championship and con- Lived It. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006. tinuing with his WAC Championship at New Mex- Riley, Pat. The Winner Within: A Life Plan for Team ico, five NBA Championships, two WNBA Champi- Players. New York: Putnam’s Sons, 1993. onships as the coach of the Sparks, and a title in the Springer, Steve. The Los Angeles Times Encyclopedia of floundering NBADL in 2006, wherever Michael the Lakers. Los Angeles: Los Angeles Times, 1998.

65 Krešimir ^osi6

Born: November 26, 1948 gars fans. Due to his inspired play, the Marriott Zagreb, Croatia, Yugoslavia (now in Center, where BYU played, was consistently packed Croatia) to capacity with 22,700 excited fans. Died: May 25, 1995 Krešimir led BYU to the Western Athletic Con- Baltimore, Maryland ference (WAC) title and the NCAA Basketball Tour- Also known as: Kreso; Kresh nament regional finals in both 1971 and 1972. He was selected as a first-team all-WAC player three Early Life times and earned all-American accolades in 1972 Born in Croatia, Krešimir ^osi6 spent his younger and 1973. Krešimir was the first international years in Zadar, Yugoslavia, a Croatian city along the player to earn all-American honors and was chosen Adriatic coast and, at the time, under the influence to play in the NCAA East-West all-star game in 1973. of communism. Encouraged by his parents, Kreši- During his three-year career at BYU, Krešimir mir developed his athletic skills, particularly in bas- scored 1,512 points, fourth best in the school’s his- ketball. On November 28, 1964, just two days after tory; had 919 rebounds, second in BYU history; turning sixteen, he played his first game for the and garnered double figures in points and re- Zadar Yugoslav team and soon became its key bounds in forty-seven games. While at BYU, he player. In addition to winning games, he believed joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day in entertaining the fans with his basketball skills. Saints, which played a significant role throughout He led Zadar to the Yugoslavian championship in the rest of his life. 1965, 1967, and 1968. By that time, Krešimir some- times scored as many as 60 points or more in a The Emerging Champion game. Krešimir was selected to play in the NBA three dif- After leading Yugoslavia to an Olympic silver ferent times. He was drafted by the Portland Trail medal in 1968, Krešimir was recruited to play bas- Blazers in 1972 and by the Los Angeles Lakers in ketball at Brigham Young University (BYU) in 1973 and was chosen to fill a roster spot on the Bos- Provo, Utah. After arriving at BYU, Krešimir had ton Celtics in 1976. He turned down each offer and second thoughts about staying. Not only did he chose to live in his native Croatia, where he played have to cut his long hair, but also he had to adhere professional basketball for Zadar, from 1973 to to a strict honors code that included no smoking, 1975, and for Cibona Zagreb, from 1980 to 1983, no alcohol, and no immoral conduct. Krešimir fi- for about $250 per week. His basketball career nally decided to accept the challenge and became soared as he led Yugoslavia to a second Olympic sil- a BYU Cougar in 1970. ver medal in 1976 and the Olympic gold medal in 1980. He served his military commitment in the The Road to Excellence Yugoslav army between 1976 and 1980. Since National Collegiate Athletic Association Krešimir earned first-team all-European honors (NCAA) rules at the time did not allow freshmen to seven different times. In 1970 and 1978, he led his play varsity basketball, the 6-foot 11-inch Krešimir country to FIBA World Championship gold med- waited until 1971 to become the starting center at als; in 1973, 1975, 1977, he guided Yugoslavia to Eu- BYU. An athletic, versatile big man, Krešimir ropean titles. He was recognized by many as the played equally as well on the perimeter as he did greatest player in the history of Yugoslav basket- near the basket. He enjoyed playing like a big ball. Krešimir also played for Virtus and guard and often dribbled the ball down the floor, led the team to Italian National championships in threw passes between his legs, and made shots from 1979 and 1980 and a third-place finish in the Euro- a distance equal to the modern-day three-point pean Cup of Champions in 1980. line. He soon became a crowd favorite with Cou- In addition to basketball, Krešimir devoted a

66 Basketball Krešimir ^osi6

Honors and Awards and the principles of democracy and freedom, Krešimir was presented the prestigious Freedom 1967, 1974 Silver medal, World Championships Award in 1993. In 1994, he served as Croatia’s act- 1968, 1976 Silver medal, Olympic Basketball ing ambassador to the United States. That same 1969, 1971, 1981 Silver medal, European Championships year, he was awarded the Order of Merit by FIBA 1970, 1978 Gold medal, World Championships for his contributions to basketball. After a bout 1973, 1975, 1977 Gold medal, European Championships with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, cancer of the lymph 1979 Bronze medal, European Championships nodes, Krešimir passed away at Johns Hopkins Hos- 1980 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball pital in Baltimore, Maryland, on May 25, 1995. To 1993 Freedom Award honor his contributions as a collegiate player, he 1994 FIBA Order of Merit was inducted into the Utah Basketball Hall of Fame 1996 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001, and his jersey, number 11, was retired by 2006 Uniform number retired by Brigham Young BYU on March 4, 2006. University 2007 Inducted into FIBA Hall of Fame Summary As the first foreign player to earn all-American honors in basketball, Krešimir ^osi6 paved the way great deal of his time to his wife and two daughters for other international players to participate in col- and to building up The Church of Jesus Christ of legiate and professional basketball in the United Latter-day Saints in his native country. He was re- States. He also became a highly successful profes- sponsible for translating the Book of Mormon and sional basketball coach in Yugoslavia and served as other church materials into the Croatian language. a prominent political diplomat to the United States. Due to his zealous missionary spirit, he helped con- Due to his national and international accomplish- vert many fellow Croatians to the Mormon reli- ments in basketball and human relations, Krešimir gion. He became a hero on and off of the basket- was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basket- ball court. ball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, on May 6, 1996, and into the FIBA Hall of Fame in Continuing the Story 2007. After his successful playing career, Krešimir ac- Alvin K. Benson cepted the opportunity to coach the Yugoslav na- tional team. He coached it to third place in the Additional Sources 1986 FIBA World Championship and the 1987 Eu- Bertin5evi6, Neven. Krešo: The Legend of Krešimir ropean Championship and to a silver medal in the ^osi6. Provo, Utah: BYU Academic, 2005. 1988 Olympics. He was a mentor and coach to sev- Perica, Vjekoslav. Balkan Idols: Religion and Nation- eral of the first Europeans to play in the NBA. alism in Yugoslav States. Oxford, England: Ox- In September, 1992, Krešimir was appointed the ford University Press, 2002. Croatian deputy ambassador to the United States. Smith, Ron, Ira Winderman, and Mary Schmitt He and his family moved to Washington, D.C. Due Boyer. The Complete Encyclopedia of Basketball. to his hard work and devotion to his native country London: Carlton, 2002.

67 Bob Cousy

Born: August 9, 1928 Island. Bob spent his early years in an urban ghetto. New York, New York Like his parents, he spoke French. He did not mas- Also known as: Robert Joseph Cousy (full name); ter the English language until he began attending the Cooz; Houdini of the Hardwood elementary school in New York City. At the age of twelve, Bob and his parents left the Early Life inner city for St. Albans, Queens. Before moving to Robert Joseph Cousy was born on August 9, 1928, the suburbs, Bob had demonstrated his athletic the only child of immigrant parents who had re- abilities in handball and stickball, but he had never cently settled in the Upper East Side of Manhattan played basketball. At Andrew Jackson High School in St. Albans, however, basketball was socially popular, and the varsity players were treated as heroes. At this time, Bob became deter- mined to learn the game.

The Road to Excellence As a high school freshman, Bob failed to make even the junior varsity team. Although disappointed, he became more determined to develop his inborn basketball skills. His hard work soon paid off. By the time he grad- uated from high school, Bob was among the most highly recruited basketball players in the country. In selecting a college to attend, Bob had two requirements. To fulfill a promise he had made to his grandmother, the school had to be a Catholic college. To satisfy his own sense of adventure, the school had to be away from home. Bob narrowed his choices to and Holy Cross. At the persuasion of Ken Haggerty, a high school buddy already playing at the latter school, Bob decided to at- tend Holy Cross. During Bob’s freshman and sophomore years at Holy Cross, the school’s team, the Crusaders, twice made it to the National Col- legiate Athletic Association Final Four, de- feating Oklahoma for the championship in 1947, and losing to the eventual champions, Kentucky, in 1948. Although pleased with his team’s successes, Bob was frustrated with his lack of playing time. After becoming a starter in his junior year, however, the self-confident Bob Cousy, shown here in 1953, guided the Boston Celtics to Bob began to impress others with his court six championships. (AP/Wide World Photos) wizardry. An honorable mention all-Ameri-

68 Basketball Bob Cousy

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1950-51 69 401 .352 276 .756 474 341 1,078 15.6 1951-52 66 512 .369 409 .808 421 441 1,433 21.7 1952-53 71 464 .352 479 .816 449 547 1,407 19.8 1953-54 72 486 .385 411 .787 394 518 1,383 19.2 1954-55 71 522 .397 460 .807 424 557 1,504 21.2 1955-56 72 440 .360 476 .844 492 642 1,356 18.8 1956-57 64 478 .378 363 .821 309 478 1,319 20.6 1957-58 65 445 .353 277 .850 322 463 1,167 18.0 1958-59 65 484 .384 329 .855 359 557 1,297 20.0 1959-60 75 568 .383 319 .791 352 715 1,455 19.4 1960-61 76 513 .371 352 .779 331 587 1,378 18.1 1961-62 75 462 .391 251 .754 261 584 1,175 15.7 1962-63 76 392 .397 219 .735 193 515 1,003 13.2 1969-70 7 1 .333 3 1.000 5 10 5 0.7 Totals 924 6,168 .375 4,624 .803 4,786 6,955 16,960 18.4 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game can in 1949 and a consensus all-American in 1950, and college, it did not take the court magician long Bob ended his collegiate career in a sensational to prove that he could play with the big boys. As the fashion. Although lacking in size and leaping abil- NBA’s rookie of the year in 1951, Bob averaged ity, Bob proved that a good shooter with quickness, 15.6 points per game—ninth best in the league— exceptional court vision, and a masterful knowl- and helped to turn the last-place Celtics into divi- edge of the game could compete with the best of sion contenders. Throughout the next decade, the nation’s collegiate stars. Bob dazzled both fans and opponents with his ball- handling and backcourt skills. Early in his career, The Emerging Champion when the Celtics desperately needed a scorer, Bob Although a local favorite in the Boston area, Bob proved he could score. A long-distance shooter in was overlooked in the professional draft by his be- the days before the three-point shot, Bob placed loved Boston Celtics, a team whose scouting re- among the top three in scoring for four consecu- ports labeled him too small to make it in the NBA. tive years, from 1951-1952 to 1954-1955, and be- Selected instead by the Tri-Cities Black Hawks, and came the first player to score 50 points in a playoff then promptly traded to the , Cousy game. As a playmaker and backcourt artist, how- made his way back to Boston when the Stags fran- ever, Bob achieved his greatest fame. As the NBA’s chise folded and its players were distributed around the league. Honors, Awards, and Records When the Boston Celtics drew Cousy’s name out of the hat, the 1950 Consensus All-American franchise had some hopes that 1951 NBA Rookie of the Year 1951-63 NBA All-Star Team Cousy’s popularity would bring 1952-63 All-NBA Team additional fans to the Boston 1953 NBA record for the most free throws made in a playoff game (30) (four overtimes) Garden. At the start of the 1950- 1954, 1957 NBA All-Star Game most valuable player 1957 NBA most valuable player 1951 season, however, few basket- 1970 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame ball minds—including Boston’s NBA 25th Anniversary All-Time Team new coach, Red Auerbach—were 1980 NBA 35th Anniversary All-Time Team 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team optimistic that the 6-foot 1-inch 1999 Named one of the twenty best NBA players of all time guard could contribute much on ESPN Sports Century top 100 Athletes of the 20th Century the court. Uniform number 14 retired by Boston Celtics In the NBA, as in high school

69 Bob Cousy Great Athletes assist leader for eight consecutive seasons, from 1974. He wrote an acclaimed book on basketball ti- 1952-1953 to 1959-1960, Bob, at the time of his re- tled Basketball: Concepts and Techniques (1970). He tirement, held NBA records for most career assists, ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the United States 6,955, and most career minutes played, 30,230. Congress and served as the commissioner of the While amassing these career statistics, Bob per- American Soccer League from 1974 to 1979. He formed a number of amazing basketball stunts that conducted basketball clinics in Europe and in Asia. stand among the great moments in NBA history. In 1980, Bob was selected to the NBA’s thirty- Once in 1954, with Boston trailing by four points fifth anniversary team. Possessing exceptional pe- with half a minute remaining, Bob pulled a Celtics ripheral vision, large hands, and extremely sturdy victory out of defeat with two steals in the final 30 legs, Bob was known as the “Houdini of the Hard- seconds. On another occasion, in 1960, Bob pre- wood,” the ultimate point guard. In 1996, he was served a dramatic one-point Boston victory by kill- named one of the fifty greatest NBA players of all ing the final 23 seconds with a fabulous dribbling time. In 1999, he was named as one of the twenty exhibition around and between five frustrated New best NBA players of all time. Furthermore, Bob York Knicks. In 1963, Bob ended his playing career provided color commentary on Celtics telecasts in razzle-dazzle style by dribbling off the final sec- and was one of the most respected NBA analysts on onds to preserve a hard-fought victory in the sev- television. enth game of the NBA Finals. This victory marked the fifth consecutive NBA title for the Celtics fran- Summary chise led by the man known by sport enthusiasts as One of the greatest playmakers of all time, Bob “Mr. Basketball.” Cousy was selected to every all-star game through- out his thirteen-year career and made the all-NBA Continuing the Story first team for ten consecutive years. Bob demon- After retiring as a player, Bob did not leave basket- strated that there was room in basketball for the ball. In 1963, he became coach of the Boston Col- average-sized player who has the talent and deter- lege team. Over the next six years, Bob took the Ea- mination to be successful. gles to five national tournaments while compiling a Terry D. Bilhartz record of 117 wins against 38 losses. Upon leaving collegiate coaching, he spent five years as coach of Additional Sources the Cincinnati Royals and the Kansas City Kings in Bjarkman, Peter C. Boston Celtics Encyclopedia. Cham- the NBA. In 1973, he coached the United States na- paign, Ill.: Sports, 2002. tional team, which successfully avenged the contro- The Boston Collection: The Best Boston Sports Stories versial defeat by the Soviet Union in the 1972 from the Pages of SI. Los Angeles: Time, 1998. Olympics. Elected to the Naismith Memorial Bas- Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling Kin- ketball Hall of Fame in 1971, Bob was selected to dersley, 2003. the NBA silver anniversary team, which recognized Reynolds, Bill. Cousy: His Life, Career, and the Birth of the ten best players during the NBA’s first quarter Big-Time Basketball. New York: Pocket Star, 2006. century. Also, Bob served as a general goodwill am- Shouler, Kenneth A. The Experts Pick Basketball’s Best bassador for the sport. Fifty Players in the Last Fifty Years. Lenexa, Kans.: Bob began broadcasting games for the Celtics in Addax, 1998.

70 Dave Cowens

Born: October 25, 1948 play basketball again. During his senior year, Dave Newport, Kentucky averaged 13 points and 20 rebounds per game, and Also known as: David William Cowens (full Newport, boasting a 29-3 record, headed for the name); the Cow state tournament.

Early Life The Road to Excellence David William Cowens learned basketball early, Many universities actively recruited Dave. Ulti- and by the age of eight he joined his first basketball mately, he chose Florida State University (FSU). As team. He planned to play for his high school, New- promised by Coach , Dave was a port Catholic High; however, a conflict with his starter during his sophomore year. The 6-foot 9- coach during his freshman year caused him to quit. inch, red-haired left-hander—a highly energetic, Instead of basketball, the 6-foot 1-inch freshman consistent performer and a master playmaker— joined the swimming and track and field teams. By helped develop FSU’s fast-break offense. After an his junior year, Dave was 5 inches taller, and the bas- 11-15 record in Dave’s sophomore year, FSU im- ketball team had a new head coach. He decided to proved to 18-8 his junior year and 23-3 his senior year. His soft jump shot from the 15- to 20- foot range and his driving layup provided Dave with a 19-point average and shooting percentage of 52 percent, for a total of 1,479 career points. Dave ranked eighth in total points for the Seminoles. However, his re- markable 17.2 rebounds per game and ag- gressive playmaking made Dave unique. He became the Seminole leader in total re- bounds and per-game rebounds. To honor his accomplishments, Dave’s number, 13, was retired by FSU. On the recommendation of retiring cen- ter Bill Russell, the Boston Celtics sought Dave. He was selected fourth overall in the 1970 NBA draft. Although Dave, at 6 feet 9 inches, lacked Russell’s size as a center, he compensated by nonstop hustle and re- sourcefulness. His 32 points and 12 re- bounds in the preseason Benefit Game in August, 1970, earned Dave the title of most valuable player and set the tone for his rapid acceptance by the Celtics.

The Emerging Champion During his first year with the Celtics, Dave averaged 17.0 points and 15.4 rebounds, setting a Celtic record second only to that of Bill Russell. He shared rookie of the year Dave Cowens. (Focus on Sport/Getty Images) honors with of the Portland

71 Dave Cowens Great Athletes

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1970-71 81 550 .422 273 .732 1,216 228 1,373 17.0 1971-72 79 657 .484 175 .720 1,203 245 1,489 18.8 1972-73 82 740 .452 204 .779 1,329 333 1,684 20.5 1973-74 80 645 .437 228 .832 1,257 354 1,518 19.0 1974-75 65 569 .475 191 .783 958 296 1,329 20.4 1975-76 78 611 .468 257 .756 1,246 325 1,479 19.0 1976-77 50 328 .434 162 .818 697 248 818 16.4 1977-78 77 598 .490 239 .842 1,078 351 1,435 18.6 1978-79 68 488 .483 151 .807 652 242 1,127 16.6 1979-80 66 422 .453 95 .779 534 206 940 14.2 1982-83 40 136 .444 52 .825 274 82 324 8.1 Totals 766 5,744 .460 2,027 .783 10,444 2,910 13,516 17.6 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

Trail Blazers. Dave’s aggressive ballplaying also had the league’s most valuable player award, joining its drawbacks. He committed a league-high 350 the two Celtics greats Bob Cousy and Bill Russell. fouls. During his first year, Dave was up and down That year Dave also received the all-star game MVP court, setting picks, making daring passes, diving award for his 15 points and 13 rebounds during the after , and continually getting in the game. The Celtics went on to a 68-14 record in faces of the opposing team by blocking shots. His 1972-1973. daring aggressiveness and dogged determination Dave averaged 19.0 points and 15.7 rebounds quickly won over the hearts of normally tough Bos- during his fourth season, 1973-1974. Boston fin- ton fans. ished with an impressive 56-26 record and faced During his second season, Dave improved his av- the Milwaukee Bucks for the championship. In the erage to 18.8 points per game, shooting .484 on seventh game, Dave scored 28 points and made 14 field goals. He was selected to appear in the first of rebounds to give Boston an easy 102-87 victory over six all-star games. In his first all-star game, Dave the Bucks. scored 14 points and grabbed 20 rebounds, playing The Celtics won sixty games during the 1974- against giants such as Wilt Chamberlain and 1975 season, with Dave averaging 20.4 points and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. At the end of Dave’s second 14.7 rebounds. However, they fell to the Washing- season, Boston won the Atlantic Division title with a ton Bullets in the Eastern Division Championship. 56-26 record. The next season, 1975-1976, Dave averaged 19.0 In his third season, 1972-1973, Dave averaged a points with 16.0 rebounds per game. Boston went career-high 20.5 points per game and averaged 16.2 on to the finals, winning against the Phoenix Suns rebounds. For his performance he was awarded in game five, a 128-126 triple-overtime basketball classic. Fortunes for both Boston and Dave Honors and Awards had peaked. 1970 Sporting News All-America Second Team Continuing the Story 1971 NBA Co-Rookie of the Year 1972-78 NBA All-Star Game Following the championship, Boston traded 1973 NBA most valuable player Paul Silas, a close friend of Dave, to the Den- NBA All-Star Game most valuable player ver Nuggets. Following this, Dave announced 1973, 1975-76 All-NBA Second Team his plans to retire from basketball. He was 1975, 1980 NBA All-Defensive Second Team 1976 NBA All-Defensive First Team only twenty-eight and was leaving at the peak 1990 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame of his career, giving as his only reason that the 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team game was no longer fun. The retirement lasted only thirty games. However, when he

72 Basketball Dave Cowens returned in the 1976-1977 season, Dave was not in Dave became the first head coach of the Chicago his old form. He averaged 16.6 points and 11.4 Sky of the Women’s National Basketball Associa- rebounds. This was a bad season for Boston, and tion (WNBA). After a season in which the team the next season was even worse. After a misera- compiled a 5-29 record, Dave resigned from his ble start in the 1978-1979 season, Dave became a coaching duties. Subsequently, Dave became a coach player/coach. He had never coached before, and for the Detroit Pistons. Boston finished the season with only twenty-nine victories. The Celtics had fallen from great heights. Summary Dave headed for his second retirement; his uni- Dave Cowens played ten seasons for the Boston form number, 18, was retired in 1981. Celtics and one season for the Milwaukee Bucks, Dave emerged in the 1982-1983 season playing scoring 13,516 points in 766 regular-season games for the Milwaukee Bucks. He averaged 8.1 points and averaging 17.6 points per game. He had 10,444 and 6.9 rebounds per game. At the end of the sea- rebounds and 2,910 assists. His nonstop hustle led son, he entered his third and final retirement as a Boston to two NBA Championships and helped player. In 1990, Dave was selected for the Naismith earn for him a place among the NBA’s top fifty play- Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and ranked ers. After 1994, his career in basketball continued among the NBA’s top fifty players. Reacting to in a coaching capacity. these honors, a humble Dave commented: “I never Irwin Halfond considered myself a superstar. I feel I represent the working class of the NBA.” Additional Sources In August, 1994, Dave was hired as assistant Bjarkman, Peter C. Boston Celtics Encyclopedia. Cham- coach by the . In 1996, he moved paign, Ill.: Sports, 2002. to the head coaching position for the Charlotte Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling Hornets. He led the Hornets to two consecutive Kindersley, 2003. fifty-win seasons. However, with a 4-11 record in the Johnson, Dick, and Robert Hamilton Johnson. The 1998-1999 season he quit, dissatisfied with being Celtics in Black and White. Charleston, S.C.: Arca- one of the NBA’s lowest paid coaches. In 2005, dia, 2006.

73 Billy Cunningham

Born: June 3, 1943 and rebounding records, which is particularly im- Brooklyn, New York pressive because he played in an era when fresh- Also known as: William John Cunningham (full men were ineligible. name); Kangaroo Kid Billy’s collegiate accomplishments include se- lections as UNC’s most valuable player, from 1963 Early Life to 1965; all-Atlantic Coast Conference, from 1963 Billy Cunningham was born on June 3, 1943, in to 1965; and first-team all-American, 1964 and Brooklyn, New York. Billy’s father was a fire chief. 1965. Billy’s hard work in the classroom also was Billy’s early basketball experience was gained on rewarded; in 1965, he was selected to the academic the outdoor courts of Manhattan Beach, New York. all-American team. He was one of the few athletes Billy and a boyhood friend, Lewis Schaffel, spent to receive all-American and academic all-American many hours shooting baskets, and Schaffel helped selection in the same season. Billy perfect his slashing style. Billy played in all kinds of weather on the playgrounds, where windy conditions encouraged players to drive to the basket rather than shoot out- side jump shots. Billy’s strong competitive spirit soon earned him the nickname “Billy the Kid.” The highlight of Billy’s early career was leading to an undefeated season and the New York City title in 1961.

The Road to Excellence Billy was recruited by the legendary coach Frank McGuire to play college basketball at the University of North Carolina (UNC). McGuire, originally from New York, was suc- cessful at luring many outstanding high school stars to UNC. Although recruited by McGuire, Billy played for Coach Dean Smith, after McGuire took a coaching position in the professional ranks. During Billy’s time at UNC, Smith was try- ing to develop his program and establish a winning basketball tradition. The UNC bas- ketball team did not experience great suc- cess those first years of Smith’s coaching, but Billy was an instant star. He is remembered by Smith as a dedicated and intelligent player who always gave 100 percent. At UNC, Billy earned the nickname the “Kangaroo Kid” for his tremendous leaping ability. He was considered to be the first of Smith’s many great players. Billy set many UNC scoring Billy Cunningham. (Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

74 Basketball Billy Cunningham

Professional Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1965-66 80 431 .426 281 .634 599 207 1,143 14.3 1966-67 81 556 .459 383 .686 589 205 1,495 18.5 1967-68 74 516 .438 368 .723 562 187 1,400 18.9 1968-69 82 739 .426 556 .737 1,050 287 2,034 24.8 1969-70 81 802 .469 510 .729 1,101 352 2,114 26.1 1970-71 81 702 .462 455 .734 946 395 1,859 23.0 1973-74 32 253 .471 149 .797 331 150 656 20.5 1974-75 80 609 .428 345 .777 726 442 1,563 19.5 1975-76 20 103 .410 68 .773 147 107 274 13.7 NBA Totals 654 5,116 .446 3,394 .720 6,638 2,625 13,626 20.8 1971-72 75 658 .461 428 .712 918 443 1,744 23.3 1972-73 84 771 .487 472 .789 1,012 530 2,028 24.1 ABA Totals 116 1,024 .483 621 .791 1,343 680 2,684 23.1

Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

The Emerging Champion and was forced to retire before the start of the 1976- Billy’s professional career began in 1965, when he 1977 season. During his professional career, which was drafted in the first round by the Philadelphia lasted eleven years, Billy averaged more than 20 76ers of the NBA. Early in his professional career, points and 10 rebounds per game and played in he proved his ability and was named to the NBA’s more than eight hundred games. He was a starter 1966 all-rookie team. Billy spent seven seasons, on the NBA all-star team from 1969 to 1971 and 1966-1972, with the 76ers, establishing himself as played on the ABA all-star team in 1973. one of the NBA’s top players. In Philadelphia, Billy was fortunate to play with some of the greatest play- Continuing the Story ers in NBA history; his teammates included Wilt Following his retirement from the NBA, Billy was Chamberlain, Hal Greer, and . In named head coach of the 76ers in 1977. His success 1966-1967, the 76ers won the NBA Championship. continued as a coach. He won two hundred and The 1966-1967 team won a league-record sixty- eight games while losing only thirteen and is con- Honors and Awards sidered by some experts to be the greatest team in the history of professional basketball. 1963-65 All-ACC Team Billy became a free agent after the 1971-1972 1964-65 College All-American season and signed with the of the 1965 Academic All-American American Basketball Association (ABA). In his first season, he captured the MVP award and led Caro- 1966 NBA All-Rookie Team lina to the best ABA regular-season record. The 1969-71 NBA All-Star Team year before Billy arrived, the Cougars were only a 1969-72 All-NBA Team fifth-place team. Billy showed all-around ability by 1973 ABA most valuable player leading the Cougars in scoring, rebounding, as- ABA All-Star Team sists, and steals. Billy was just what a new profes- sional basketball league needed—an established 1986 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame star who could put people in the seats at arenas around the league. 1989 Inducted into New York City Sports Hall of Fame After two ABA seasons, Billy returned to the 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team 76ers. In 1976, his playing time was limited by a kid- Uniform number 32 retired by Philadelphia 76ers ney ailment, and he sustained a serious knee injury

75 Billy Cunningham Great Athletes three hundred games faster than any coach in NBA known basketball personality, Billy was a strong ad- history. During Billy’s tenure, the 76ers compiled a vocate for the values of the game and was a re- record of 454 wins and 196 losses for a winning per- spected goodwill ambassador for the NBA. centage of .698. He also guided the 76ers to the NBA Championship series in 1980 and 1982 and Summary won the NBA Championship in 1983. Whether as a player, coach, broadcaster, or team Billy’s numerous accomplishments have been owner, Billy Cunningham was always known for his recognized by many. The 76ers retired his jersey, desire to excel and his complete dedication to the number 32, and in 1986, Billy was elected to the game. His success came from a combination of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In intensity of a New York City playground child and 1989, Billy was one of the ten initial inductees into the intelligence of a Wall Street business executive. the New York Sports Hall of Fame. Never one to Billy knew the fundamentals of success and used rest, Billy took on a new challenge when he became them in all aspects of his life. a Columbia Broadcast System (CBS) television Joe McPherson commentator for the NBA. Because of his insights into the game and his ability to verbally express Additional Sources himself, he received recognition as one of the top Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- television analysts for NBA games. ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters Press, 2000. Following his stint with CBS, Billy worked with Sachare, Alex, and Joe Hubbard. The NBA the city of Miami to acquire an NBA franchise. As in Basketball Encyclopedia. London: Hi Marketing, the past, Billy’s hard work paid off, and he became 2000. vice president and part owner of the Miami Heat, Shouler, Kenneth A. The Experts Pick Basketball’s Best an NBA expansion team. Billy was named to the Fifty Players in the Last Fifty Years. Lenexa, Kans.: fifty greatest NBA players of all time in 1996. A well- Addax, 1998.

76 Dramen Dalipagi6

Born: November 27, 1951 the fine points of the game. Within a year, the solid, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 235-pound, 6-foot 6-inch athlete had become a Yugoslavia (now in Bosnia and slick-playing, sharp- for the Parti- Herzegovina) zan team. Also known as: Praja The Road to Excellence Early Life Dramen, while completing his education, starred Dramen Dalipagi6 was born November 27, 1951, in for Partizan Belgrade from 1971 to 1978. In the Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the time, process, he became one of the highest-scoring play- Bosnia and Herzegovina was one of the provinces ers in the history of European basketball, equally that made up the Federal People’s Republic of Yu- capable of making and long jump shots. Not goslavia (later the Socialist Federal Republic of Yu- only a dynamic offensive machine but also an accu- goslavia). Yugoslavia splintered during the Yugo- rate passer with superior court awareness, Dramen slav wars of the 1990’s and was divided into several led his team to the 1973 European Championship independent states including Montenegro, Serbia, in Spain. He repeated the feat in 1975, in Yugosla- Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and via, and in 1977, in Belgium, as Partizan Belgrade Macedonia. again captured the gold medal as European cham- Ethnicity was a major cause of the vicious sectar- pions. Between those victories was a silver medal in ian wars that fragmented Yugoslavia. Dramen was men’s basketball at the 1976 Montreal Summer born to a Bosnian father and a Croatian mother, Olympic Games, when Serbian-speaking Dramen who, despite their ethnic differences, maintained a played for the unified Yugoslavia team—which con- harmonious family life. Dramen attended Mostar sisted of players from Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Technical School, where he excelled in a number Slovenia, Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzego- of sports, including soccer, gymnastics, and hand- vina. In 1978, after winning a silver medal at the ball. After graduation, he enrolled at the teachers’ 1974 FIBA World Championship in Puerto Rico, college in Belgrade, Yugoslavia (now in Serbia), Dramen led Partizan to the gold medal in the Philip- where, at the age of nineteen, he first encountered pines. the game of basketball. Dramen quickly mastered During his seven seasons with Partizan Belgrade, Dramen averaged more than 33 points per Honors and Awards game and scored more than 50 points more than a dozen times. He led the league 1973, 1975, 1977 Gold medal, European Championships in scoring in 1977, at 34.6 points per game, 1974 Silver medal, FIBA World Championships and was named European player of the 1976 Silver medal, Olympic Basketball 1976-78 Belgrade’s Best Athlete year in 1978 and 1980. In 1978, while tally- 1977-78, 1980 European Player of the Year ing 48 points in the final game—the most 1978 Yugoslavia’s Best Athlete ever scored in the finals of the tourna- FIBA World Championship most valuable player ment—he guided his team to the Korac Gold medal, FIBA World Championships 1979 Bronze medal, European Championships Cup, which was named in honor of late Yu- 1980 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball goslav basketball star Radivoj Korac, killed 1981 Silver medal, European Championships in a 1969 automobile accident. 1982, 1986 Bronze medal, FIBA World Championships 1984 Bronze medal, Olympic Basketball 2004 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame The Emerging Champion 2007 Inducted into FIBA Hall of Fame After serving in the military in 1979, Dra- 2008 Fifty Greatest Euroleague Contributors men returned to the Partizan Belgrade team for the 1979-1980 season. Again named

77 Dramen Dalipagi6 Great Athletes

European player of the year, Dramen led a powerful ball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, Yugoslav team to the men’s basketball gold medal one of only a handful of international stars so hon- at the Olympic Games in Moscow, Soviet Union. ored. In 2007, Dramen was enshrined in the FIBA For the 1980-1981 season, Dramen was lured away Hall of Fame in Alcobendas, Spain. He was one in to play for Reyer Venice but returned the follow- the initial class of inductees that included such ing year to Partizan Belgrade, again leading the stars as Sergei Belov, Dramen Petrovi6, Oscar Fur- league in scoring, with 42.9 points per game. Dur- long, Teófilo Cruz, Ann Meyers, and Bill Russell. ing his final years of competition, he played for Real , APU Undine, Reyer Venice, Verona, Summary and Crvena Zvezda Belgrade, before retiring in One of the most prolific guards in the history of in- 1991. ternational basketball, Dramen Dalipagi6 scored In a career spanning more than 240 games for 3,131 points while playing in 243 games for the Yu- the Yugoslav men’s basketball team between 1973 goslav national team over a two-decade career. and 1986, Dramen garnered a dozen international Winner of a dozen team medals for his prowess at medals. He won three Olympic team medals, four international competitions, Dramen was one of the World Championship medals, and five European first international players to be inducted into the Championship medals. Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Jack Ewing Continuing the Story Following his retirement from competition, Dra- Additional Sources men coached MZT Skopje in the men’s professional Caraccioli, Jerry, and Tom Caraccioli. Boycott: Stolen of Macedonia basketball. He man- Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. New aged and eventually became president of the Novi York: New Chapter Press, 2008. Belgrade basketball club, a position he continued Riordan, James, and Arnd Kruger, eds. European to maintain. In 2004, in recognition of his talents Cultures in Sport: Examining the Nations and Re- and for on-court performances that helped make gions. London: Intellect, 2003. basketball a prominent sport worldwide, Dramen Wolff, Alexander. Big Game, Small World: A Basket- was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basket- ball Adventure. New York: Warner Books, 2002.

78 Bob Davies

Born: January 15, 1920 His baseball ability, however, attracted professional Harrisburg, Pennsylvania baseball scouts. After his high school graduation, Died: April 22, 1990 Bob attended on a baseball Hilton Head, South Carolina scholarship arranged by the Boston Red Sox. Also known as: Robert Edris Davies (full name); In his first year of college, Bob played baseball Harrisburg Houdini; Li’l Abner and basketball, but he chose to concentrate on bas- ketball the remainder of his collegiate career. His Early Life decision voided the scholarship arrangement with Robert Edris Davies was born on January 15, 1920, the Red Sox, but basketball coach John “Honey” in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the state capital. Rob- Russell recognized Bob’s basketball ability and ert grew up in a middle-class neighborhood, the granted him a scholarship. younger of two brothers. His father, Edris, was a Coach Russell moved Bob to a starting guard po- sales executive, and his mother, Esther, a homemaker. Bob learned about sports from his father and brother at an early age. With a loving family and comfort- able lifestyle, he found plenty of time to devote to a variety of sporting activities. Bob first discovered baseball while play- ing catch in the family’s backyard at the age of five. He soon discovered football and basketball and enjoyed many hours playing on neighborhood sandlots and playground courts.

The Road to Excellence Bob’s first organized sport was baseball, which he began playing at the age of nine on a Harrisburg recreation league team. By the time Bob entered John Harris High School in Harrisburg, he was devel- oping into a fine all-around athlete. In addition to baseball, football, and basket- ball, Bob participated in track and field. Upon graduation in 1937, he was the sec- ond four-sport letterman in the school’s history. Bob’s enthusiasm for basketball soon began to overshadow his interest in other sports. He read magazine articles about Hank Luisetti and copied the Stanford star’s behind-the-back dribble and one- handed shooting style. Bob’s basketball prowess during high Bob Davies of the Rochester Royals posing in 1946. (NBAE/Getty school did not attract college recruiters. Images)

79 Bob Davies Great Athletes

Honors and Awards The Emerging Champion Bob’s outstanding collegiate basketball career did 1941-42 College All-American not go unnoticed by professional basketball scouts, 1942 College All-Star Game most valuable player and the Boston Red Sox baseball scouts still 1947 NBL most valuable player showed interest. Following graduation in 1942, All-NBL Team however, Bob felt a strong duty to serve his country 1949-53 All-NBA Team during World War II. 1951-54 NBA All-Star Team Bob joined the United States Navy in late sum- 1966 Inducted into Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame mer of 1942. Before reporting for duty at the Great 1969 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Lakes Naval Training Station, Bob married his col- Fame legiate sweetheart, Mary Helfrich. They were to 1970 NBA 25th Anniversary All-Time Team have four children: James, Robert, Richard, and Uniform number 11 retired by Sacramento Kings Carole. During his first year of military service, Bob spent most of his time playing basketball. In 1943, he led his Great Lakes Naval Training Station team sition in his sophomore year. Although barely 6 to the service title. feet tall, blond-haired and baby-faced, Bob was an Following his discharge in 1945, Bob joined intimidating figure. With his defense, shooting, the Rochester Royals of the National Basketball passing, and freelance play, the Seton Hall Pirates League (NBL), which soon merged with another won the last twenty games of the 1939-1940 season. league to form the NBA. Bob played ten seasons As team captain in 1940-1941, Bob led the Pi- with the Royals, leading them to championships in rates to a 23-0 season and a National Invitational 1946 and 1951. Tournament (NIT) bid. The Pirates won the first- As a professional, Bob did not score with the round NIT game over Rhode Island State 70-54. In same proficiency as he did in college. In 569 career the second-round game against Uni- games, Bob scored 7,771 points for a 13.7 points- versity, however, Bob was held scoreless in the first per-game average. To compensate for his point half and scored only 4 points in the second half be- production, Bob became an excellent playmaker. fore fouling out with 7 minutes left in the game. A magician with a basketball, he led the NBA in as- Without Bob’s leadership, Seton Hall lost 49-26, sists with 321 in 1949, and set a single-game record ending the team’s forty-three-game win streak. for assists with 20 in 1951. Bob led the league in as- Twice during his college career, in 1940-1941 sists seven times and finished his career with 2,250 and 1941-1942, Bob earned all-American honors. total assists. He was named most valuable player of the 1942 col- In 1947, Bob was named to the all-NBL team and lege all-star game following his senior season. received the league’s most valuable player award.

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1945-46 27 86 — 70 .680 — — 242 9.0 1946-47 32 166 — 130 .783 — — 462 14.4 1947-48 48 176 — 121 .752 — — 473 9.9 1948-49 60 317 .364 270 .776 — 321 904 15.1 1949-50 64 317 .357 261 .752 — 294 895 14.0 1950-51 63 326 .372 303 .795 197 287 955 15.2 1951-52 65 379 .383 294 .776 189 390 1,052 16.2 1952-53 66 339 .385 351 .753 195 280 1,029 15.6 1953-54 72 288 .371 311 .718 194 323 887 12.3 1954-55 72 326 .415 220 .751 205 155 872 12.1 Totals 569 2,720 — 2,331 .758 — — 7,771 13.7 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game (complete records not available.)

80 Basketball Bob Davies

After the merger, Bob received all-NBA honors five Summary times from 1949 to 1953, and he played in the For his size, Bob Davies was an exceptional athlete. NBA’s first four all-star games, from 1951 to 1954. He probably could have played several sports pro- fessionally, but his love for and dedication to bas- Continuing the Story ketball helped to establish the game at the profes- In 1947, while playing with the Royals, Bob joined sional level and to ensure the success of the NBA. the college coaching ranks, guiding his Seton Hall Jerry Jaye Wright alma mater to a 24-3 season. After retiring from professional basketball at the end of the 1954 sea- Additional Sources son, Bob spent two seasons as coach of six sports at Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania: ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters Press, 2000. basketball, baseball, football, soccer, tennis, and Hickok, Ralph. A Who’s Who of Sports Champions. track and field. In 1957, Bob left coaching and Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1995. joined the Converse Rubber Company to take LaBlanc, Michael L., and Mary K. Ruby, eds. Profes- charge of promotion and sales of athletic footwear. sional Sports Team Histories: Basketball. Detroit: Gale, 1994.

81 Baron Davis

Born: April 13, 1979 basketball privileges away from him once before he Los Angeles, California learned not to test them. To be sure Baron never Also known as: Baron Walter Louis Davis (full had to go far for a game, his grandfather erected a name); BD; B-Diddy; B-Dazzled; Bulletproof; makeshift court in the backyard. By the time Baron Boom Dizzle; the Bodyguard finished elementary school, he was so accom- plished that he was given a scholarship to attend Early Life the both academically and athletically prestigious Baron Davis was born on April 13, 1979, in Los An- Crossroads School for the Arts and Sciences. geles, California. He and his sister, Lisa, were raised by their grandparents, Luke and Lela Nicholson. The Road to Excellence Not much is known about Baron’s parents. Living By 1996, when Baron was a junior at Crossroads, his in South Central Los Angeles during the 1980’s, coach was receiving upward of twenty calls a week the Nicholsons knew well what lurked out on the from college coaches. A point guard with light- streets and did everything in their power to keep ning quickness and a scorer’s mentality, Baron be- Baron and his sister off them. Baron grew up in the came one of the top recruits in the United States. middle of the South Central street gang explosion During his senior year at Crossroads, he averaged of the 1980’s. Baron’s grandparents were strict and 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists per game. The this, coupled with Baron’s love for sports, kept him college coaches waited for Baron to make a deci- on the right path. If he lapsed in his behavior or sion. When , who had become close brought home poor grades, he could not play bas- with Baron during the recruiting process, was ketball. Baron’s grandparents only had to take his named head coach of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins, the deal was sealed. Baron at- tended hometown UCLA and played for the storied Bruins bas- ketball team. While Baron only stayed a short time at UCLA, he made an impact. During his sophomore season, Baron averaged 15.9 points, 5.6 assists, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game and was named by Associated Press as a third-team all-American. Baron’s incredible speed, shooting, pass- ing, and jumping ability were be- ginning to garner the attention of NBA scouts. Baron decided to forgo his final two years at UCLA and enter the NBA draft. Though Baron had a great desire to stay in Los Angeles and play for either the Lakers or Clippers, the Char- Golden State Warriors guard Baron Davis shielding the ball from a Dallas lotte Hornets selected Baron Mavericks defender in 2008. (Terry Schmitt/UPI/Landov) with the third pick in the draft.

82 Basketball Baron Davis

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1999-00 82 182 .420 97 .634 165 309 486 5.9 2000-01 82 409 .427 228 .677 408 598 1,311 13.8 2001-02 82 559 .417 196 .580 349 698 1,484 18.1 2002-03 50 332 .416 93 .710 186 320 856 17.1 2003-04 67 554 .395 237 .673 287 501 1,532 22.9 2004-05 46 291 .387 185 .761 175 362 885 19.2 2005-06 54 335 .389 111 .675 236 480 967 17.9 2006-07 63 452 .439 195 .745 276 509 1,264 20.1 2007-08 82 650 .426 275 .750 385 623 1,791 21.8 Totals 608 3,764 .414 1,824 .692 2,467 4,400 10,396 17.1 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

The Emerging Champion ries. Undeterred by history, the Warriors defeated Baron was a reserve guard his initial season with the Mavericks four games to two. During this series, the Hornets, but in his second season, he started Baron was clearly the best player on the court. every game. He led the Hornets to the second round of the playoffs in consecutive years. Then, in Continuing the Story 2002, the team moved to New Orleans. There, After a disappointing 2007-2008 season in which Baron prospered, making the NBA all-star team in the Warriors failed to make the playoffs, a rift de- 2002 and 2004. However, off the court, Baron did veloped between Baron and Nelson. Then, in July, not seem to get along with Hornets management. 2008, Baron signed a five-year, $65-million contract This was confirmed when, in February, 2005, Baron to play with the Los Angeles Clippers. Baron was ec- was traded to the Golden State Warriors. After a static to return to Los Angeles, but both he and five-year stint in the east, Baron was headed back the Clippers struggled throughout the 2008-2009 home to California. At Golden State, Baron solidi- season. fied himself as one of the elite guards in the game. Baron’s first two years with the Warriors were a Summary disappointment. While Baron’s numbers were fine, Baron Davis was one of the biggest college recruits the talented team underachieved. Things changed of the 1990’s. As a professional, he made the NBA when the Warriors replaced Coach Mike Mont- all-star team on several occasions. He staged one of gomery with offensive-minded , who the greatest single-series performances in NBA instituted a fast-paced, “run-and-gun” offense that playoff history, guiding his team to victory over the was perfect for Baron. In 2006-2007, though Baron heavily favored Dallas Mavericks. In 2008, he re- battled knee problems the entire season, he helped turned to Los Angeles, where he had grown up and the Warriors capture the eighth and final spot in played college basketball, joining the Clippers. the Western Conference playoffs. In the first round, Baron was one of the most exciting players of his against the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks, Baron generation. and the Warriors made history. Theodore Shields In the 2007 NBA playoffs, Baron displayed his skills for a national audience. He averaged 25.3 Additional Sources points, 6.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.9 steals in “Davis Is Face of a Warriors Team Made of Castoffs the series against the Mavericks. The Mavericks and Renegades.” The New York Times, May 1, had been heavily favored after winning an astound- 2007. ing sixty-seven games in the regular season. More- Deitsch, Richard. “Q and A: Baron Davis.” Sports Il- over, no number-eight seed had ever beaten a lustrated 100, no. 16 (April 19, 2004): 22. number-one seed since the league lengthened the Thomsen, Ian. “Hornets’ Hopes Hinge on Davis.” opening round of the playoffs to a seven-game se- Sports Illustrated 98, no. 9 (March 3, 2003): 77.

83 Dave DeBusschere

Born: October 16, 1940 over, Dave was Detroit’s all-time leading scorer and Detroit, Michigan the top rebounder in school history. Died: May 14, 2003 Shortly after graduation in 1962, Dave received New York, New York a baseball contract with the that Also known as: David Albert DeBusschere (full included a $160,000 , and also signed a con- name); Big D tract with the Detroit Pistons to play basketball. Over the next four years, Dave played both sports Early Life professionally. The forty-eight consecutive months David Albert DeBusschere, born October 16, 1940, of competition were very strenuous, and Dave had spent the first twenty years of his life in his home- doubts about his curveball and control on the Ma- town of Detroit, Michigan. He de- veloped some of his physical strength by spending his afternoons and summers unloading boxcars for his father’s business. Dave attended Austin High School, a Catholic, all- boys institution. He was a top-notch athlete, successful in any sport he tried. “From as early as I can re- member,” Dave once recalled, “I just had the drive to excel in sport— football, baseball, basketball, you name it.”

The Road to Excellence Over the course of his career at Aus- tin, Dave became the most highly publicized basketball player in the state of Michigan up to that time. As a senior, he led Austin to a state championship victory over Benton Harbor. In that game, Dave went up against Benton Harbor’s star, Chet Walker. Their rivalry continued over the years, as both Dave and Walker later became stars in the NBA. Dave decided to stay home to at- tend college, receiving an athletic scholarship from the University of Detroit. The team got a bargain in Dave. Not only was he an excellent basketball player, but also he was equally talented on the baseball di- amond, where he was a star pitcher. Dave DeBusschere leaping toward the basket in a 1972 game. (AP/Wide By the time his collegiate career was World Photos)

84 Basketball Dave DeBusschere

Honors, Awards, and Records In the media spotlight of New York, Dave, although an all-star 1963 NBA All-Rookie Team in Detroit, began to gain recog- 1966-68, 1970-73 NBA All-Star Team nition as one of the best for- 1967 NBA record for the most field goals in one quarter of an All-Star Game (18) wards in the NBA. He was much 1969 All-NBA Team more comfortable on the Knicks, 1969-74 NBA All-Defensive Team a more balanced and talented 1982 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team team than the Pistons. He did Uniform number 22 retired by New York Knicks not score as much as he had in 1999 National Collegiate Athletic Association Silver Anniversary Award Detroit, but he was able to excel 2005 Minerva Award in the areas in which he was most United States Olympic Committee’s Olympic Torch Award skilled: rebounding and scoring. An intense, tough player, Dave almost always guarded the op- jor League Baseball level. He was quite successful posing teams’ best forwards, usually holding them on the basketball court, however. In his first four well below their scoring averages. His outstand- seasons with Detroit, he averaged nearly 15 points ing defensive efforts were appreciated by other per game. When the Pistons, hoping he would play players and coaches, as he was named to the NBA’s basketball exclusively, offered him a new contract all-defensive team every year he played with the as both player and coach, Dave accepted. Knicks. New York certainly benefited from Dave’s team- The Emerging Champion oriented play, and he was a vital member of the At twenty-four, Dave was the youngest head coach teams that won NBA Championships in 1970 and in . With his additional respon- 1973. In the latter year, Dave had his best scoring sibilities of coaching, Dave’s record at the helm of season with the Knicks up to that point, 16.3 points the Pistons was not spectacular. Dave was greatly re- per game. During the 1973 playoffs, with Knick lieved when he was traded to the New York Knicks captain Willis Reed, the center, out with an injury, on December 19, 1968. Dave proved his worth. Without Reed at center, Dave broke the hearts of Detroit fans during his New York coach turned to Dave to first game with the Knicks. Although he had yet to guard the great Wilt Chamberlain, who towered practice with New York, he scorched his former over Dave by 7 inches. The unorthodox move paid teammates for 21 points and 15 rebounds on the off, and the Knicks won the contest. Dave, Paul Pistons’ home court. Zimmerman, and Dick Schaap wrote an insightful

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. PPG 1962-63 80 406 .430 206 .718 694 207 12.7 1963-64 15 52 .391 25 .581 105 23 8.6 1964-65 79 508 .425 306 .700 874 253 16.7 1965-66 79 524 .408 249 .659 916 209 16.4 1966-67 78 531 .415 361 .705 924 216 18.2 1967-68 80 573 .442 289 .664 1,081 181 17.9 1968-69 76 506 .444 229 .698 888 191 16.3 1969-70 79 488 .451 176 .688 790 194 14.6 1970-71 81 523 .421 217 .696 901 220 15.6 1971-72 80 520 .427 193 .728 901 291 15.4 1972-73 77 532 .435 194 .746 787 259 16.3 1973-74 71 559 .461 164 .756 757 253 18.1 Totals 875 13,249 .432 2,609 .699 9,618 2,497 16.1 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

85 Dave DeBusschere Great Athletes

book about the 1970 champion Knicks titled The tack and died. Dave will be remembered for his Open Man: A Championship Diary (1970). work ethic, superb rebounding skills, and impor- tant contribution to two NBA Championship Continuing the Story teams. Dave’s high standards of play continued despite his advancing age. When the Knicks needed someone Summary to help pick up the scoring load in the 1973-1974 It takes not only great talent to play two sports pro- season, Dave responded with a remarkable 18.1 fessionally, but hard work and desire as well. Dave points per game at thirty-three years of age. DeBusschere possessed all these qualities, as he was That was Dave’s last season as a professional bas- able to play both professional baseball and profes- ketball player, but his presence was still felt off the sional basketball for four years. Once dedicated court, as he put to good use his degree in business solely to basketball, Dave’s attributes were obvious, administration. Dave was named commissioner of and he will always be thought of as one of the gritti- the American Basketball Association (ABA) follow- est forwards ever to play the game. ing his retirement, overseeing spectacular perfor- Stephen T. Bell mances from the likes of Julius Erving and George McGinnis. Following the 1976 season, the ABA Additional Sources merged with its longtime rival, the NBA. Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- Without a league to direct, Dave moved to the ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters Press, 2000. front office of a team close to where he had won DeBusschere, Dave. The Open Man: A Championship two NBA Championships with the Knicks, becom- Diary. Edited by Paul D. Zimmerman and Dick ing general manager of the New Jersey Nets. In Schaap. New York: Random House, 1970. 1982, he was given one of the greatest honors a bas- Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling ketball player can receive: election to the Naismith Kindersley, 2003. Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Kalinsky, George, and Phil Berger. The New York Between 1982 and 1986, Dave served as the gen- Knicks: The Official Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration. eral manager of the Knicks. He was responsible for New York: Macmillan, 1996. choosing Patrick Ewing from Georgetown as the Mallozzi, Vincent M. Basketball: The Legends and the first overall draft pick in the 1985 NBA lottery. Af- Game. Willowdale, Ont.: Firefly Books, 1998. ter his days as general manager, he became in- Shouler, Kenneth A. The Experts Pick Basketball’s Best volved in the commercial real estate business. In Fifty Players in the Last Fifty Years. Lenexa, Kans.: 1996, Dave was named one of the fifty greatest NBA Addax, 1998. players of all time. In 2003, he suffered a heart at-

86 Vlade Divac

Born: February 3, 1968 vanced through the Yugoslav basketball levels. By Prijepolje, Serbia, Yugoslavia (now in the time he was sixteen, he was already playing in Serbia) the senior leagues of the Yugoslav basketball system and had signed a contract with the professional Early Life team Sloga. In the United States, his feat was com- Vlade Divac was born in the small town of Pri- parable to a sixteen-year-old joining the NBA. jepolje, in Serbia, Yugoslavia (now in Serbia). His Meanwhile, as a member of the national team, father, Milenko Divac, was an executive of an elec- Vlade traveled throughout Europe. tronics firm. His mother was named Rada Divac. When Vlade was twelve years old, he left Prijepolje The Road to Excellence to play on a club team in Kraljevo, a town larger In 1985, while still only seventeen, Vlade helped than his about four hours away. He quickly ad- lead the Yugoslavian Junior Olympic team to the gold medal in the World University Games, beating a group of soon-to-be superstars from the United States that included Gary Payton and Larry Johnson. When he was eighteen, he began playing for Belgrade Partizan, one of the leading teams in the Yu- goslav league. During his seasons with Parti- zan, he averaged approximately 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. Three years later, in 1988, he was the starting center on the Yugoslav Olympic team at , Korea, where he averaged 11.7 points and 6.5 re- bounds per game. That year, his team won the silver medal.

The Emerging Champion When 7-foot 1-inch Vlade was drafted as a center by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1989, he faced huge challenges. He was selected to replace the legendary center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who had retired the year be- fore, so expectations were high. Moreover, as NBA basketball tended toward a much rougher style of play than the European game, Vlade had to adjust to a different set of rules. However, he was fortunate to have excellent teachers. His new teammates—in- cluding Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Mi- chael Cooper, and Byron Scott—were NBA champions ready to help him, and his new coach, , was also willing to teach Vlade Divac playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in 1990. (Tim him the intricacies of NBA basketball. His Defrisco/Getty Images) playing experience and athleticism earned

87 Vlade Divac Great Athletes

NBA Statistics Season GP FGA FGM FG% FTA FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1989-90 82 549 274 .499 216 153 .708 512 75 701 8.5 1990-91 82 637 360 .565 279 196 .703 666 92 921 11.2 1991-92 36 317 157 .495 112 86 .768 247 60 405 11.3 1992-93 82 819 397 .485 341 235 .689 729 232 1,050 12.8 1993-94 79 895 453 .506 303 208 .686 851 307 1,123 14.2 1994-95 80 957 485 .507 382 297 .777 829 329 1,277 16.0 1995-96 79 807 414 .513 295 189 .641 679 261 1,020 12.9 1996-97 81 847 418 .494 259 177 .683 725 301 1,024 12.6 1997-98 64 536 267 .498 188 130 .691 518 172 667 10.4 1998-99 50 557 262 .470 255 179 .702 501 215 714 14.3 1999-00 82 764 384 .503 333 230 .691 656 244 1,005 12.3 2000-01 81 755 364 .482 350 242 .691 673 231 974 12.0 2001-02 80 716 338 .472 340 209 .615 671 297 888 11.1 2002-03 80 655 305 .466 251 179 .713 574 274 795 9.9 2003-04 81 668 314 .470 260 170 .654 463 432 800 9.9 2004-05 15 31 12 .419 12 8 .667 32 19 34 2.3 Totals 1,134 10,510 5,205 .495 4,176 2,888 .692 9,326 3,541 13,398 11.8 Notes: GP = games played; FGA = field goals attempted; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTA = free throws attempted; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

him a spot on the all-rookie first team, and his obvi- season for his new team he averaged 12.6 points, 9 ous love for the game and impressive agility and rebounds, 3.7 assists, and a career-high 2.22 blocks speed quickly endeared him to Los Angeles fans. per game. During his two years as a Hornet, he led The summer after his first season in the NBA, the team in blocked shots and set a team record for Vlade married his girlfriend, Snevana. As a testa- blocks in one game, with 12. In a statistic that dem- ment to his popularity in his homeland, his wed- onstrates Vlade’s quick-handedness, he also led the ding—which was attended by more than one thou- Hornets in steals during his first season and was sand people—was filmed by a television crew and second in steals during his second season. later broadcast on Yugoslav national television. After Vlade completed his contract with the Meanwhile, his apprenticeship in the NBA contin- Hornets, he exercised his rights as a free agent by ued. Over the next five seasons, his production signing with the Sacramento Kings so he could re- steadily increased in all areas. During the 1994- turn to California for the 1998-1999 season. Dur- 1995 season, while starting all eighty games for the ing his first year with the Kings, he averaged 14.3 Lakers, he averaged 16 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.1 points, 10 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. His assists—leading all NBA centers in that category experience served the Kings well as the team chal- that year—and 2.17 blocks per game. Following lenged the favored in a strong first-round this impressive season, he helped the Yugoslav na- playoff match. During the playoff series, Vlade led tional team to a victory in the European Champi- the Kings in points, rebounds, and assists. After onships in the summer of 1995. that season, he signed a five-year extension to his contract with the Kings. Continuing the Story No longer a newcomer to the NBA game, Vlade After the 1995-1996 season, the Lakers traded became a wily veteran who contributed eleven Vlade to the Charlotte Hornets for a superstar-to- years of experience to a young Sacramento team be Kobe Bryant and an opportunity to sign free- that quickly became one of the best in the league. agent center Shaquille O’Neal. Before he reported In 2001, when the Lakers’ Shaquille O’Neal could to the Hornets, Vlade helped the Yugoslav team not play in the all-star game, Vlade was named to re- win a silver medal in the Atlanta, Georgia, Olym- place him. In 2001-2002, Vlade and teammates pics during the summer of 1996. Afterward, al- Chris Webber, Peja Stojakovi6, and Mike Bibby led though he was disappointed to leave Los Angeles, the Kings to the franchise’s best-ever record and a he performed well for the Hornets. During his first tie for first place in the NBA’s Pacific Division. At

88 Basketball Vlade Divac the end of the season, the Kings met the Lakers in Milestones the conference finals, only to lose in a heartbreak- ing seven-game series. 1993 Matched Lakers franchise record of 13 offensive rebounds After the Kings came within one game of mak- 1997 1,000th career blocked shot ing the NBA Finals in 2002, Vlade continued to 5,000th career rebound perform at a high level through his last two seasons Honors and Awards with the team. The Kings remained competitive but did not pose another serious challenge for the 1989-90 NBA All-Rookie First Team league championship during those years. At the 1988, 1996 Silver medal, Olympic Basketball end of the 2003-2004 season, Vlade again became a 2008 Fifty Greatest Euroleague Competitors free agent. By then, O’Neal was no longer with the 2009 Uniform number 21 retired by Sacramento Kings Lakers, who signed Vlade. However, Vlade strug- gled with serious back problems and was unable to put in much time on the court. During the 2004- but he eventually performed well enough in his 2005 season, he appeared in only fifteen games adopted language to appear in many commercials, and had limited minutes of playing time. In July, television programs, and films. Initially unaccus- 2005, he announced his retirement. tomed to the pace and the physicality of the NBA Despite the considerable wealth and fame that game, he quickly mastered the various tricks of vet- NBA stars acquire, Vlade never forgot his roots. eran American players and was generous in passing While he was earning millions of dollars playing along his knowledge and experience to younger basketball in the United States during the 1990’s, teammates. However, although he showed remark- the violence in Yugoslavia was never far from his able development throughout his NBA career, he mind, as he had left many family members and already had many of the skills that made him one of friends behind when he moved to the United the league’s best players. For a center, he was an ex- States. Throughout his playing career, he used his ceptional outside shooter, passer, and ball-handler. status as a professional athlete to bring attention to Moreover, his enthusiasm and love for the game the human side of the political confrontation. were always obvious and contributed to both his Aside from his two sons, Luka and Matia, Vlade success on the court and the respect he earned and his wife adopted a Yugoslav orphan girl, Petra. from his teammates, opponents, and fans in both In 1995, Vlade, along with teammates from his Yu- his homeland and the United States. goslav basketball days, founded the Divac Chil- Alexander Jordan, updated by the Editors drens’ Foundation/Group 7, which raised funds for children of all ethnic backgrounds affected by Additional Sources the war in Yugoslavia. He also took part in a num- Grabowski, John F. The Los Angeles Lakers. San ber of activities dedicated to disadvantaged chil- Diego, Calif.: Lucent Books, 2002. dren in the United States. Thanks to his work in Kalb, Elliott. Who’s Better, Who’s Best in Basketball? these fields, in 2000, he became the first foreign- Mr. Stats Sets the Record Straight on the Top Fifty born player ever awarded the J. Walter Kennedy NBA Players of All Time. Chicago: Contemporary Citizenship Award. Books, 2004. After retiring from playing, Vlade invested in LeBoutillier, Nate. The Story of the Sacramento Kings. business enterprises in the Sacramento area and in Mankato, Minn.: Creative Education, 2006. his native Serbia, which gained its independence Reilly, Rick. “Vlade Divac’s Private War.” Sports Illus- from Yugoslavia in 2006. Toward the end of 2007, trated 90, no. 21 (May 24, 1999): 114. he founded an organization to assist Serbian refu- Reynolds, Jerry. Reynolds Remembers: Twenty Years with gees from the disorders of the previous decade. the Sacramento Kings. Champaign, Ill.: Sports, 2006. Summary Wolff, Alexander. “Prisoners of War: Nine Years Vlade Divac matured significantly as a player dur- Ago, as Yugoslavs and Friends, They Beat the ing his sixteen-year career in the NBA. When he be- U.S. to Win the World Junior Basketball Title.” gan his NBA career, he could barely speak English, Sports Illustrated, June 3, 1996, 80.

89 Anne Donovan

Born: November 1, 1961 ferent reason: her height. Anne’s father was 6 feet 6 Ridgewood, New Jersey inches, her mother was 5 feet 11 inches, and all her brothers and sisters ranged from 5 feet 11 inches to Early Life 7 feet 1 inch. Everywhere she traveled, Anne was Anne Donovan was born in Ridgewood, New Jer- looked upon differently because of her tallness, sey, on November 1, 1961. The youngest of eight which caused her much frustration. Eventually, she children, Anne was picked on as the baby of the found a sport in which she could release her frus- family. However, at school, she was teased for a dif- trations: basketball. Although Anne’s father died when she was five years old, he instilled a love of the sport. He set up a basket- ball hoop outside the family’s house, and the older children played while Anne watched. She received the most valuable player trophy in fifth grade and felt that she was destined to be a great women’s basketball player.

The Road to Excellence Anne and each of her siblings loved bas- ketball, and they all continued to play the sport into their adolescences. Anne’s mother raised eight children by herself, so when they misbehaved she sent them out to play basketball. Never in her wild- est dreams did she imagine that during these times, talent was turning into skill in most of her children. In her youngest child particularly, a champion was devel- oping. Anne attended Paramus Catholic High School in Paramus, New Jersey. As a freshman Anne had reached 6 feet tall. Although she was ridiculed, her height was an advantage in basketball. With her skill and determination, she was one of the best players in the nation. Through- out high school she continued to grow until she reached the astonishing height of 6 feet 8 inches. Five of her other sib- lings continued to play basketball as well, and they all received athletic scholarships to attend college. As a senior, Anne was the most highly recruited player in the nation and chose to attend Old Domin- Anne Donovan of Old Dominion University taking a shot in 1985. ion University (ODU) in Norfolk, Vir- (Collegiate Images/Getty Images) ginia.

90 Basketball Anne Donovan

Basketball Records round of the Olympic Games. Anne continued playing with the U.S. basketball team, until moving Most points, women’s basketball, Old Dominion University (ODU) onto the professional level after the 1988 Olympics (2,719) in Seoul, . As a professional, Anne Most rebounds, women’s basketball, ODU (1,976) played in both Japan and Italy. Anne’s time in Ja- Most blocked shots, women’s basketball, National Collegiate pan was difficult. The overly intense training be- Athletic Association (801) came a major distraction to her and her team. She Honors and Awards played in Japan for five years before moving to Italy to play with a less extreme coaching staff on a re- 1979 Parade Player of the Year spectable professional team. Although Italian bas- 1981-83 All-American ketball was considered a less competitive brand 1983 Naismith College Player of the Year than Japanese basketball, Anne described her ex- 1984, 1988 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball perience as the most memorable and fun of her 1988 Inducted into Old Dominion University Hall of Fame playing career. 1995 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Continuing the Story 1996 Inducted into Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Anne’s accomplishments as a basketball player 1999 Inducted into Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame were impressive, and she would have accumulated 2004 All-Time Women’s Basketball many more accolades in future years. However, Player while playing professionally in Italy, she was in- formed of a health issue in a routine medical exam- ination, which forced her to end her career. This decision was hard for Anne because she had such a The Emerging Champion strong passion for playing basketball. She contin- In 1979, Anne started her collegiate career with ued her involvement in the sport and became the ODU. In 1980, Anne led her ODU team to victory assistant coach for ODU from 1989 to 1995. After in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics the assistantship at her alma mater, she accepted a Women’s Basketball Championship, which was the position as the head coach at East Carolina Univer- forerunner to the NCAA Basketball Tournament. sity from 1995 to 1997. After working at the colle- She led the team to two more championship ap- giate level, Anne became the head coach of the pearances during her four years as a Lady Monarch Philadelphia Rage of the American Basketball player. She earned Kodak All-American honors for League, which eventually folded with the forma- three years as well as academic all-American hon- tion of the Women’s National Basketball League ors for two straight seasons. In 1983, she was (WNBA). awarded the Naismith Award, becoming the first Anne was the interim coach with the Indiana Fe- female to receive this honor. Not only was Anne the ver in the WNBA. In 2001, Anne became head all-time leading scorer and rebounder in ODU his- coach of the Charlotte Sting and led the team to tory and the NCAA’s all-time shot-blocker, but also the WNBA Finals in 2001, losing to the Los Angeles she graduated college with a cumulative grade Sparks. In 2003, Anne moved to Seattle, where she point average of 3.5, with a major in leisure studies. became the second head coach of the Seattle This achievement qualified her for an NCAA post- Storm. Under Anne’s leadership, the Storm won graduate scholarship for her academic achieve- the WNBA Championship in 2004. The next sea- ments. Along with all the athletic accomplish- son, Anne became the first female coach to win one ments, Anne had deeper aspirations: She wished to hundred games in the WNBA and, after another compete at the Olympics and on the professional successful year, her contract with Seattle was ex- level. tended. In 2006, she continued her winning tradi- Because of the U.S. boycott of the 1980 Olym- tion, compiling the third-most coaching victories pics, Anne was unable to compete. However, in in WNBA history. Anne’s passion led her to achieve 1984, she became an Olympic gold medalist when many great accomplishments; in the fall of 2007, the U.S. women’s basketball team won in the final Anne resigned as coach of the . How-

91 Anne Donovan Great Athletes

ever, this legend in the basketball world was not fin- she needed to be successful. She was a ground- ished with the sport. In January of 2006, she was breaking player and coach and became a legend in named the head coach of the U.S. women’s team basketball. for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and led the team to a Deborah Stroman gold medal. Additional Sources Summary Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- Anne Donovan was one of the most influential ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters, 1998. women’s basketball players in the United States Donovan, Anne. Women’s Basketball: The Post Player’s and world. She has been inducted into the Nai- Handbook. Terre Haute, Ind.: Wish, 2001. smith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Wom- Taragano, Martin. Basketball Biographies: 434 U.S. en’s Basketball Hall of Fame, Virginia’s Sports Hall Players, Coaches, and Contributors of the Game, of Fame, and ODU’s Sports Hall of Fame. Anne’s 1891-1990. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland, 1991. will and enthusiasm for her sport gave her the drive

92 Clyde Drexler

Born: June 22, 1962 most every position on the team. His hard work, New Orleans, Louisiana dedication, and patience began to pay off. His im- Also known as: Clyde Austin Drexler (full name); provement was steady, but he was not yet a com- Clyde the Glide plete ballplayer. He was recruited by only three ma- jor colleges: Texas Tech, New Mexico State, and Early Life the University of Houston. Although he was over- Clyde Drexler was born on June 22, 1962, in New looked by most college recruiters in high school, Orleans, Louisiana. His family moved to Houston, he was a two-year starter, the team’s most valuable Texas, when he was four years old. Clyde grew up player, and an all-Houston Independent School in a family of five children. His mother, Eunice District selection as a senior. Drexler Scott, was a single parent who stressed edu- cation as the first priority for her children. The Emerging Champion Like most of his friends, Clyde played Little One of Clyde’s friends, Michael Young, attended League baseball and basketball during his early ad- Jack and was the most sought- olescence. Although he enjoyed sports and games and loved the thrill of com- peting and winning, he also spent a great deal of time on his schoolwork.

The Road to Excellence Clyde was fascinated with the dunk shot, which became one of his most thrilling, powerful, acrobatic moves. The first time he dunked was on the playground be- hind Albert Thomas Junior High School. He was fifteen years old and 6 feet 1 inch tall. Two tall youths who were guarding the basket scared him as he drove for the basket, but he made the shot. As a sophomore, Clyde declined an invitation to play for Sterling, his high school team. His height increased to 6 feet 4 inches by his junior year. He was again invited by the coach to join the school’s team. He wanted to play, but, be- cause of the hard practices and time in- volved, he could not make the commit- ment. All his life, he was told by family members to go to school and get a good education. After talking with Clyde’s mother, however, the coach persuaded Clyde to play. Clyde’s basketball ability improved with each practice and game. He worked Clyde Drexler handling the ball for the Portland Trail Blazers. (Cour- hard to enhance his game, playing al- tesy of Portland Trail Blazers)

93 Clyde Drexler Great Athletes

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1983-84 82 252 .451 123 .728 235 153 628 7.7 1984-85 80 573 .494 223 .759 476 441 1,377 17.2 1985-86 75 542 .475 293 .769 421 600 1,389 18.5 1986-87 82 707 .502 357 .760 518 566 1,782 21.7 1987-88 81 849 .506 476 .811 533 467 2,185 27.0 1988-89 78 829 .496 438 .799 615 450 2,123 27.2 1989-90 73 670 .494 333 .774 507 432 1,703 23.3 1990-91 82 645 .482 416 .794 546 493 1,767 21.5 1991-92 76 694 .470 401 .794 500 512 1,903 25.0 1992-93 49 350 .429 245 .839 309 278 976 19.9 1993-94 68 473 .428 286 .777 445 333 1,303 19.2 1994-95 76 571 .461 364 .824 480 362 1,653 21.8 1995-96 52 331 .433 265 .784 373 302 1,005 19.3 1996-97 62 397 .442 201 .750 373 354 1,114 18.0 1997-98 70 452 .427 277 .801 346 382 1,287 18.4 Totals 1,086 8,335 .472 4,698 .788 6,677 6,125 22,195 20.4 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game after basketball player in the state. When the Uni- of the best college teams of the decade. The team versity of Houston signed Michael, he told Coach was nicknamed “Phi Slamma Jamma” because of its that Clyde was the best player he had propensity for the dunk shot. Clyde was the most played against. That convinced Coach Lewis to sign creative and spectacular of the players. The team Clyde. Clyde and Michael were roommates as fresh- advanced to the finals of the National Collegiate men, but their friendship had begun long before, Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship Tour- on the playgrounds of MacGregor Park, less than nament, only to lose to North Carolina State Uni- one mile south of the University of Houston’s cam- versity. pus. During Clyde’s freshman year, a Houston After the NCAA loss, Clyde decided to forgo his sports reporter said that Clyde’s style was reminis- senior year and turn professional. He agonized for cent of Julius Erving, who was one of Clyde’s idols. weeks over whether to remain in school or declare Coach Lewis said that Clyde was improving all the himself eligible for the NBA. Becoming a profes- time. sional basketball player was one of Clyde’s child- Through Clyde’s first three seasons, the Univer- hood dreams. His mother wanted him to stay in sity of Houston had eighty-six wins and only twelve school to get his degree, but she left the decision to losses. Clyde’s individual play was remarkable dur- Clyde. ing that period. He was called “Clyde the Glide” because of his style of play. He played Honors and Awards smoothly on the basketball court and often scored with improbable open-court moves. 1981 Newcomer of the Year His versatility as a player was evident; he be- 1982-83 Consensus All-Southwest Conference Team 1983 Consensus All-American came the first Houston player to score at Dallas Times-Herald Southwest Conference Player of the Year least 1,000 points, collect at least 800 re- 1988, 1990-92 All-NBA Team bounds, and pass for at least 3,000 assists. 1992 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team 1999 All-Star 2ball Championship (with Cynthia Cooper) Continuing the Story Inducted into Texas Sports Hall of Fame The 1983 season was thrilling for all Hous- Inducted into Houston Hall of Fame 2001 Uniform number 22 retired by Portland Trail Blazers ton Cougars basketball fans. Clyde was 2001 Inducted into Oregon Sports Hall of Fame joined by future NBA star Akeem Olajuwon 2004 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (later know as Hakeem Olajuwon) on one

94 Basketball Clyde Drexler

In 1983, Clyde was drafted in the first round by son. He ended his NBA career ranked seventeenth the Portland Trail Blazers. His on-court displays on the all-time scoring list with 22,195 points and thrilled the fans in the NBA. Magic Johnson fourth in steals with 2,207. He became only the ranked Clyde with other stars of the NBA such as third player in NBA history—after Oscar Robert- Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, and himself, consider- son and John Havlicek—to amass more than ing Clyde a tremendous player on both ends of the 20,000 points, 6,000 rebounds, and 6,000 assists in court. Clyde had seasons where he averaged more a career. than 25 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals On March 18, 1998, Clyde announced his accep- per game for his team. tance of the head coaching job with his alma mater, During his playing years, Clyde worked in a the . Although his first year of Houston bank during the off-season to gain finan- coaching produced only a 10-17 record, Clyde sel- cial knowledge to help him handle his investments. dom changed his calm courtside demeanor in He also continued to be involved with community games. He resigned from his head-coaching posi- activities during the off-season. He sponsored a tion in March, 2000. In 2004, Clyde received bas- summer inner-city youth basketball camp for eight- ketball’s highest honor: He was inducted into the to eighteen-year-olds in Houston. Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in his The 1991-1992 season was one of Clyde’s most first year of eligibility. memorable. He averaged 25.0 points per game, be- came only the second player in Trail Blazers history Summary to make the all-NBA first team, finished second to “Clyde the Glide” Drexler was a superstar in the Jordan for the most valuable player award, and NBA. He exhibited genuine concern for his team- took the Trail Blazers to the NBA Finals against Jor- mates and was considered a team player even when dan and the Chicago Bulls. Later in 1992, Clyde he had achieved superstar status. He has contrib- earned a gold medal as a member of the 1992 U.S. uted to the community by sponsoring basketball Dream Team at the Summer Olympics in Barce- camps and making frequent personal appear- lona, Spain. ances. His commitment to education and personal In the middle of the 1994-1995 season, Clyde growth continued in his post-NBA life. was traded to the Houston Rockets. He left Port- Thurman W. Robins land as the team’s all-time leader in scoring, games played, minutes played, field goals, free throws, re- Additional Sources bounds, and steals. The trade reunited him with his Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- former college teammate Olajuwon, and the two ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters Press, 2000. led the Rockets to the 1995 NBA Championship. In Deitsch, Richard. “Clyde Drexler.” Sports Illustrated 1996, Clyde was named one of the fifty greatest 106, no. 12 (March 19, 2007): 26-29. NBA players of all time. Because of a number of in- Drexler, Clyde, Kerry Eggers, and . Clyde juries and the addition of Charles Barkley to the the Glide. Champaign, Ill.: Sports, 2004. Rockets, Clyde’s output began to diminish. He an- Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling nounced his retirement during the 1997-1998 sea- Kindersley, 2003.

95 Joe Dumars

Born: May 24, 1963 the year award. His ability continued to evolve, and Shreveport, Louisiana after four years in the Cowboys’ basketball pro- Also known as: Joe Dumars III (full name); G.I. gram he had become one of the top scorers in col- Joe; Joe Cool lege basketball history. His ability to score his se- nior year at McNeese State propelled him into the Early Life first round of the 1985 NBA draft. During his se- Joe Dumars was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, in nior year of college, Joe averaged almost 26 points 1963, the youngest of seven children of Joe and a game and become nationally recognized despite Ophelia Dumars. The children’s participation in the scant exposure his university’s basketball pro- athletics was viewed as an additional disciplinary gram received. tool for Joe’s hardworking parents. Joe was a multisport athlete and excelled on the football The Emerging Champion field before becoming nationally recognized as a In 1985, with the eighteenth pick in the NBA draft, college basketball standout. Much like his five the Detroit Pistons selected Joe, pairing him in the brothers, at an early age, Joe believed football was backcourt with future hall-of-fame point guard the path to stardom and played defensive back for Isiah Thomas. However, Joe’s joy quickly dimin- his junior high school squad. However, unlike his ished because he had to begin his career as a siblings, during junior high, Joe acquired an appre- backup and role player. Nonetheless, Joe had an ciation for basketball. His athleticism earned him opportunity to excel in the Pistons’ organization. an invitation to McNeese State University, in Loui- Coach believed in a physical style of de- siana, and a spot on the Cowboys’ basketball team. fense. Winning in Daly’s system meant outhustling, outrebounding, and physically dominating oppo- The Road to Excellence nents. Thus, Joe had a way into the lineup. By be- McNeese State University was not nationally recog- coming a feared defensive player, Joe gained an in- nized as a basketball powerhouse, and Joe’s emer- crease in his playing time; he emerged as a star. Joe gence as a future NBA first-round draft pick did not was credited as one of the best defenders of his occur immediately. Joe chose McNeese State over time and one of few players who could slow down larger, nationally known programs because of the Michael Jordan. close proximity of the school to his family. The Although Joe was a defensive standout for the small conference, and therefore less media atten- Pistons of the 1980’s and 1990’s, known as the “Bad tion, did not deter Joe. He became a star in his first Boys,” he also had the ability to score, becoming year of college. After his freshman season, in 1982, a dominant one-two offensive punch with team- Joe was given the rookie of mate Thomas. The famous duo led the Pistons to NBA Championships in 1989 and 1990. Honors and Awards Joe was selected as the NBA Finals most valuable player in 1989 and was the 1986 NBA All-Rookie Team NBA defensive player of the year in 1989 NBA Finals most valuable player 1989, 1990, 1992, and 1993. Further- 1989-90, 1992-93 NBA All-Defensive First Team 1990-93, 1995, 1997 NBA All-Star Team more, he was a six-time NBA all-star, 1990-91 All-NBA Third Team from 1990 to 1993 and in 1995 and 1993 All-NBA Second Team 1997. 1994 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award Joe also contributed as the captain to 1996 Sportsmanship Award (renamed the “Joe Dumars Award”) 2000 Uniform number 4 retired by the Detroit Pistons the gold-medal-winning U.S. basketball 2003 NBA executive of the year team at the 1994 FIBA World Champi- onship. His ability to mold his game to-

96 Basketball Joe Dumars ward the needs of his team may NBA Statistics not have won Joe the national fame some athletes desire, but Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG Joe was one of the most respected 1985-86 82 287 .480 190 .798 119 390 769 9.37 men on his team and in the 1986-87 79 369 .492 184 .747 167 352 931 11.8 1987-88 82 453 .471 251 .814 200 387 1,161 14.2 league. He set records for most 1988-89 69 456 .504 260 .849 172 390 1,186 17.2 three-pointers in a game and 1989-90 75 508 .480 297 .900 212 368 1,335 17.8 most three-pointers in a half. He 1990-91 80 622 .481 371 .889 187 443 1,629 20.4 ended his career with 16,401 1991-92 82 587 .447 412 .867 188 375 1,635 19.9 1992-93 77 677 .465 343 .863 148 308 1,809 23.5 points, 2,203 rebounds, and 4,612 1993-94 69 505 .451 276 .836 151 261 1,410 20.4 assists. A statistic often overlooked 1994-95 67 417 .429 277 .805 158 368 1,214 18.1 is his 1,388 career steals, several 1995-96 67 255 .426 162 .822 138 265 793 11.8 1996-97 79 385 .440 222 .867 191 318 1,158 14.7 of which came when assigned to 1997-98 72 329 .415 127 .824 104 253 943 13.1 the game’s top offensive talents. 1998-99 38 144 .411 51 .836 68 134 428 11.3 Totals 1,018 5,994 .460 3,423 .843 2,203 4,612 16,401 16.1 Continuing the Story Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = Joe played an intense, tough, and free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total physical style of defense on the points; PPG = points per game court. His offensive abilities were equal to many of the greats in the game. However, he managed to keep his physical agency allowed the Pistons to contend for confer- style of play and his determination to win within ence and league championships beginning with the confines of the game. Joe could trash talk if his arrival. Additionally, Joe did not forget his needed, but his play often dictated the tone of the roots. He became president of and sat on the board game. Joe’s playing days ended after the 1999 sea- for several inner-city programs aimed at education son, but his ability to manage a basketball team did and awareness for Detroit youth. Most notably, Joe not. Beginning in 2000, Joe became the president was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basket- of basketball operations for the Pistons, building ball Hall of Fame in 2006. the team that won an NBA Championship in 2004. Keith J. Bell His most innovative trade was of Grant Hill—his friend, ex-teammate, and a player he helped be- Additional Sources come an NBA all-star—for little-known Ben Wal- Farrell, Perry A., , and Joe Dumars. lace. Wallace, much like Joe, became known for de- Tales from the Detroit Pistons: With Reflections of Rick fensive abilities, stifling some of the best centers in Mahorn and Joe Dumars. Champaign, Ill.: Sports, the game and leading the Pistons to the title. 2004. “NBA Preview—Can Anyone Shut Down Michael? Summary Of Course Not, but Joe Dumars and the Pistons Joe Dumars’s significance to basketball was in his Come Closest.” Sports Illustrated 71, no. 19 (No- playing ability and position as a positive role vember, 6, 1989). model. Joe was born into a working-class environ- “Sports Illustrated Presents the 101 Most Influential ment and overcame numerous setbacks during his Minorities in Sports.” Sports Illustrated 98, no. 18 college and professional career. He played hard (May 5, 2003). and was often hurt, doing whatever his team needed Thomas, Isiah, and Mark Dobek. Bad Boys: An In- to win. This determination proceeded him to the side Look at the Detroit Pistons’ 1988-89 Champion- management aspect of basketball, where Joe’s abil- ship Season. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Masters Press, ity to recognize talent in the draft and in free 1989.

97 Tim Duncan

Born: April 25, 1976 season. He wanted to earn his degree, as he had Christiansted, St. Croix, Virgin Islands promised his mother he would. He also wanted Also known as: Timothy Theodore Duncan (full one more chance to lead his team to an NCAA name); Big Fundamental Championship. Tim ended his career as the all-time leading Early Life shot-blocker in Atlantic Athletic Conference his- Tim Duncan was born in Christiansted, St. Croix, tory. To honor his achievements, the Demon Dea- in the Virgin Islands, on April 25, 1976, and only cons retired Tim’s number, 21, at the Joel Coli- came to the attention of NBA scouts when he left seum. While at Wake Forest, Tim earned a degree home to play at Wake Forest University. Tim’s fa- in psychology. ther, William, was a mason and hotel employee, while his mother, Ione, was a midwife. The Emerging Champion Interestingly, Tim’s favorite sport when he was In 1997, the San Antonio Spurs picked Tim first in growing up was swimming, not basketball. He the NBA draft. The franchise’s faith was rewarded seemed to be following in the steps of his sister when Tim won rookie of the year honors, beating Tricia, who swam in the 1988 Olympics in the 100- out New Jersey’s Keith Van Horn with 113 points and 200-meter backstroke. Tim’s best event was the out of a possible 116. Tim was also named to the 400-meter freestyle. His participation in swimming ended when Hurricane Hugo swept through his home island and destroyed the swimming complex where he trained. At the same time, Tim’s mother lost her battle with breast cancer, passing away in April, 1990. She had always been Tim’s biggest fan at his swimming meets. Tim turned to basketball his freshman year of high school and never looked back. He played for St. Dunstan’s Episcopal High School, where he av- eraged 25 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 blocked shots per game during his senior season. Tim was discov- ered by an alumnus of Wake Forest, Chris King, when an exhibition team toured the island. King watched Tim play well against Alonzo Mourning. Wake Forest coach Dave Odom visited Tim at his home, and Tim went on to enjoy a great college ca- reer for the Demon Deacons.

The Road to Excellence Once Tim committed to playing basketball for Wake Forest, he steadily improved. By his senior year in college he was named National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) player of the year and the national defensive player of the year for the third consecutive season. Some had thought Tim might leave after his junior year and enter the Tim Duncan about to grab a rebound. (Joe Mitchell/ NBA, but Tim returned to Wake Forest for his final Reuters/Landov)

98 Basketball Tim Duncan

Honors, Awards, and Milestones game. In addition to playing in the all-star game, he helped his team win the NBA 1997 Finished his college career first in Atlantic Coast Championship; he was named the most valu- Conference and second in NCAA history with 481 able player (MVP) of the championship se- blocked shots, and third all-time in the ACC in rebounds (1,570) ries. After the Spurs eliminated the Lakers 1997-98 Schick Rookie of the Year from the playoffs in a four-game sweep, some reporters began referring to Tim as Schick All-Rookie First Team, unanimous selection basketball’s newest and best player. Schick Rookie of the Month for all six months of the season During the summer of 1999, Tim was named to Team USA and played in the Tour- 1997-2005, 2007 All-NBA First Team nament of the Americas in preparation for 1998-2000 NBA All-Defensive First Team the Olympics. The team finished 10-0 and 1998, 2000-09 NBA All-Star Team won the gold medal over Canada. 1999 NBA Player of the Month: March U.S. Basketball Men’s Senior National Team for Continuing the Story 1999 Americas Qualifying Tournament for the 2000 Olympic Games During the 1999-2000 season, Tim contin- ued where he finished the previous year. He 1999, 2003, 2005 NBA Finals most valuable player started in seventy-four contests, averaging 2000 NBA All-Star Game, co-most valuable player nearly 39 minutes a game. Injuries kept him 2001-03, 2005, 2007-08 NBA All-Defensive First Team sidelined during some games that season 2002-03 NBA most valuable player and prevented him from participating in the playoffs, from which the Spurs were quickly eliminated. After the season, Tim Schick all-rookie first team. Tim and Van Horn became a free agent and negotiated with the Or- were the only unanimous selections, receiving all lando Magic. However, he chose to remain with the twenty-eight first-place votes. In his rookie year, Spurs. Tim averaged 21.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 2.5 Tim and his teammate David Robinson became blocked shots in approximately thirty-nine min- one of the most feared tandems in the NBA. Their utes a game. He started all eighty-two games for San skills and style complemented each other, though Antonio and played in the all-star game. at times, some criticized Tim as too easygoing. In his second year Tim played in only fifty games However, Tim played with a quiet style that did not because of the strike-shortened season, but he still fit with many of the younger players in the NBA, averaged more than 21 points and 11 rebounds a who are vocal and emotional.

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGA FGM FG% FTA FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1997-98 82 1,287 706 .549 482 319 .662 977 224 1,731 21.1 1998-99 50 845 418 .495 358 247 .690 571 121 1,084 21.7 1999-00 74 1,281 628 .490 603 459 .761 918 234 1,716 23.2 2000-01 82 1,406 702 .499 662 409 .618 997 245 1,820 22.2 2001-02 82 1,504 764 .508 701 560 .799 1,042 307 2,089 25.5 2002-03 81 1,392 714 .513 634 450 .710 1,043 316 1,884 23.3 2003-04 69 1,181 592 .501 588 352 .599 859 213 1,538 22.3 2004-05 66 1,042 517 .496 455 305 .670 732 179 1,342 20.3 2005-06 80 1,185 574 .484 533 335 .629 881 253 1,485 18.6 2006-07 80 1,131 618 .546 568 362 .637 846 273 1,599 20.0 2007-08 78 1,178 585 .497 463 338 .730 881 218 1,599 19.3 Totals 824 13,432 6,818 .508 6,047 4,136 .684 9,747 2,583 17,796 21.6 Notes: GP = games played; FGA = field goals attempted; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTA = free throws attempted; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

99 Tim Duncan Great Athletes

In 2000-2001, Tim led the league in “double- ferred to as a dynasty. According to Player Effi- doubles,” double figures in two major statistical ciency Rating—a system devised by ESPN’s John categories, for the third time in his career. In 2001- Hollinger that adds points scored, rebounds, and 2002, he became only the fifth player in NBA his- assists minus shots missed and turnovers—Tim’s tory to be in the top five in scoring, rebounding, score is sixth best all time. He is considered by and blocked shots. The following season, he be- many to be the best player of his era and one of the came the eighth player to win consecutive MVP greatest power forwards to have ever played the honors for the regular season; furthermore, he game. was the MVP of the NBA Finals. Each year, he was selected to play in the all-star game. In his first Summary five years, Tim led the NBA four times in double- Tim Duncan began playing in the NBA in 1997, doubles. and he made his mark on the game in a short time. Tim’s career continued to be an example of ex- His accomplishments with the San Antonio Spurs cellence and quiet leadership. Although his team- placed him among the league’s best. His stoic de- mates changed over the years, the success of his meanor on the court has helped distinguish Tim team remained constant. Through the 2007-2008 from his NBA colleagues, and his consistently ex- season, he had been named to the all-NBA first emplary play ranks him with the greatest NBA play- team nine times and the defensive first team eight ers of all time. times. In 2009, he played in his tenth consecutive Leslie Heaphy, updated by Philip E. Lampe all-star game. Tim helped lead the Spurs to the team’s only Additional Sources championships, in 1999, 2003, 2005, and 2007. In Byman, Jeremy. Tim Duncan. Greensboro, N.C.: the process, Tim was named NBA Finals MVP in the Morgan Reynolds, 2000. first three championships, becoming only the Kernan, Kevin. Tim Duncan: Slam Duncan. Cham- fourth player ever to be so honored. Since 1999, in paign, Ill.: Sports, 2000. terms of championships, the Spurs have been the Roselius, J. Chris. Tim Duncan: Champion on and off most successful professional team in the four ma- the Court. Berkeley Heights, N.J.: Enslow, 2006. jor North American sports—basketball, football, Thornley, Stew. Super Sports Star Tim Duncan. Berke- baseball, and hockey—and have thereby been re- ley Heights, N.J.: Enslow, 2001.

100 Alex English

Born: January 5, 1954 was particularly interested in the humanities, espe- Columbia, South Carolina cially creative writing. As an undergraduate stu- Also known as: Alexander English (full name); dent, Alex developed an interest in poetry. As a the Blade result of his hard work in the classroom, Alex grad- uated from the University of South Carolina in Early Life 1976, with a bachelor’s degree in English. Alexander English was born on January 5, 1954, in Columbia, South Carolina. Alex came from a large The Emerging Champion family. With twelve hungry mouths to feed, his In the 1976 NBA draft, Alex was the second-round grandparents—who raised the children—continu- pick of the Milwaukee Bucks. Once again, Alex had ally struggled to make enough money to support to prove himself at a higher level of basketball, the family. Despite the hardships, Alex had a happy without assurance that he could succeed in the pro- childhood in Columbia. His first contact with orga- fessional game. In his first two seasons, Alex, a shy, nized basketball was at Dunbar High School. Alex unassuming, and 6-foot 7-inch forward, adjusted was an outstanding high school player, and quickly slowly to the rigors of the NBA. He made steady became a recognized talent. Although basketball progress, and in his second season shot an excel- was a major part of Alex’s high school experience, lent 54.2 percent from the field. he was always interested in his studies. Unlike many of his teammates, Alex was determined that basket- ball would not distract him from his schoolwork.

The Road to Excellence Following his impressive high school basketball performances, Alex was recruited by many univer- sities from all over the United States. In the end, he chose to stay near home, and he committed to the University of South Carolina. Alex was a promising player in high school, but at the collegiate level, he blossomed into an outstanding player who dis- played the potential to go to the NBA. Alex made the transition to college basketball smoothly. He started every game in his four-year col- lege career at South Carolina. Playing under coach Frank McGuire, Alex produced scintillating perfor- mances that endeared him to the Gamecocks fans. He became one of the first black sports stars on the South Carolina campus. In four years as a Game- cocks forward, Alex had more than 1,000 rebounds and shot more than 50 percent from the field. In all, he amassed a school record of 1,972 points. Alex realized that basketball had given him a great opportunity to become educated. While at South Carolina, Alex took the opportunity to fur- Alex English, who ranked ninth on the NBA’s all-time ther his academic development as much as possi- scoring list at the time of his retirement. (Courtesy of ble. As a result he emerged as a gifted student. Alex Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles)

101 Alex English Great Athletes

Inexplicably, Don Nelson, the shrewd Bucks 1982 to 1988, he consistently finished among the coach, released Alex following the 1978-1979 sea- top scorers in the league. Averaging at least 23 son. The Indiana Pacers signed him in June of the points per game, Alex was a perennial NBA all-star. same year. With the Pacers, Alex developed into a In 1982-1983, he topped the NBA scorers with an highly competent NBA player. In his only season average of 28.4 points per game. However, it was with Indiana, Alex was fourth on the team in scor- the 1984-1985 season that best demonstrated ing, with 16.0 points per game; third in assists, with Alex’s qualities as an all-around basketball player. 271; second in rebounding, averaging 8.1 per In that season, in addition to scoring 27.9 points game; and second in field goal percentage, at 51.1 per game, he led the Denver franchise in offensive percent. rebounds, blocked shots, and minutes played. Indiana had acquired a prized asset in Alex. For much of the 1980’s, Alex was the key compo- However, rather than hold on to its emerging su- nent in the Nuggets team. However, off the court perstar, the Pacers decided to trade him for an es- Alex proved that he was more than a mere basket- tablished palyer. In 1979, Indiana traded Alex and ball player. While with Denver, Alex became well a first-round draft pick to Denver for George known for his poetry, and he even published a vol- McGinnis, who had starred for the Pacers in the ume of his own work. During this period Alex also team’s American Basketball Association (ABA) starred in the motion picture Amazing Grace and days. The trade was a disaster for the Pacers. Chuck (1987). Playing the role of a member of the Whereas McGinnis failed to rediscover his glory Boston Celtics, Alex tackled the thorny antinuclear days, Alex moved to the Nuggets and established question in what proved to be one of the most himself as one of the NBA’s best forwards. novel sports films ever made. Alex finally left Den- ver at the end of the 1989-1990 season and signed a Continuing the Story one-year contract with the Dallas Mavericks. Al- By the time of his arrival in Denver, Alex was rapidly though his career was drawing to a close, Alex still maturing into an outstanding NBA player. His first possessed the scoring skills with which he had full season with the Nuggets gave a hint of what was made his mark in the NBA. to come in the next nine seasons: Alex scored 23.8 In 1991, after having scored 25,613 points in his points per game and shot 49.4 percent from the illustrious career, Alex retired from the NBA. In field. Alex became renowned throughout the NBA 1991-1992, at the age of thirty-seven, he played one for his elegant and productive shooting. From year in Italy for Depi Napoli, averaging 13.9 points

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1976-77 60 132 .477 46 .767 168 25 310 5.2 1977-78 82 343 .542 104 .727 395 129 790 9.6 1978-79 81 563 .511 173 .752 655 271 1,299 16.0 1979-80 78 553 .501 210 .789 605 224 1,318 16.9 1980-81 81 768 .494 390 .850 646 290 1,929 23.8 1981-82 82 855 .551 372 .840 558 433 2,082 25.4 1982-83 82 959 .516 406 .829 601 397 2,326 28.4 1983-84 82 907 .529 352 .824 464 406 2,167 26.4 1984-85 81 939 .518 383 .829 458 344 2,262 27.9 1985-86 81 951 .504 511 .862 405 320 2,414 29.8 1986-87 82 965 .503 411 .844 344 422 2,345 28.6 1987-88 80 843 .495 314 .828 373 377 2,000 25.0 1988-89 82 924 .491 325 .858 326 383 2,175 26.5 1989-90 80 635 .491 161 .880 286 225 1,433 17.9 1990-91 79 322 .439 118 .850 254 105 763 9.7 Totals 1,193 10,659 .507 4,276 .832 6,538 4,351 25,613 21.5 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

102 Basketball Alex English

Honors and Awards to develop a positive working relationship between the IBA and the NBA. In 2004, he became the To- 1982-89 NBA All-Star Team ronto Raptors director of player development and 1982-83, 1986 All-NBA Team assistant coach. Alex also served as the director for 1988 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award the Africa 100 Camp, a program that combined 1993 Uniform number 2 retired by Denver Nuggets basketball instruction with education for the top 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team one hundred young basketball players in Africa. 1997 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Summary Alex English was one of the superstars of basketball during the 1980’s and one of the top NBA scorers in eighteen games. In 1992, he was named the di- of all time. Basketball gave Alex the opportunity to rector of player programs of the National Basket- get an education and have a comfortable lifestyle. ball Players Association. His duties included man- Despite fame and fortune, Alex remained a level- aging programs such as player orientation in the headed individual and developed interests in other NBA, alcohol and drug abuse, education, career- areas, all of which enabled him to become a planning, and improvement of the communities thoughtful, sensitive, and well-rounded individual. where NBA teams were located. David L. Andrews In 1993, the Denver Nuggets retired Alex’s num- ber 2 uniform. As part of the celebration of the Additional Sources golden anniversary of the NBA in 1996, Alex was Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- named one the fifty greatest NBA players of all ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters Press, 2000. time. In 1997, he received the ultimate basketball Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling honor when he was inducted into the Naismith Me- Kindersley, 2003. morial Basketball Hall of Fame. The following year, Mallozzi, Vincent M. Basketball: The Legends and the Alex was appointed as the first commissioner of the Game. Willowdale, Ont.: Firefly Books, 1998. International Basketball Association (IBA). Alex Shouler, Kenneth A. The Experts Pick Basketball’s Best oversaw league operations, resolved game disputes, Fifty Players in the Last Fifty Years. Lenexa, Kans.: and enhanced the league’s profile, as he continued Addax, 1998.

103 Julius Erving

Born: February 22, 1950 when Julius was only three, leaving his mother to Hempstead, New York support two sons and a daughter. Money was scarce Also known as: Julius Winfield Erving II (full in the household, and Julius’s mother had a variety name); Dr. J of jobs to make ends meet. Julius was often left on his own, and he usually ended up playing in the Early Life streets. Julius discovered basketball, and as he got Julius Winfield Erving II was born on February 22, older, he spent more and more of his time prac- 1950, at Hempstead on Long Island, New York. Jul- ticing. ius’s early life was very hard. His father left home The local Salvation Army Youth Center was the first organized team for which Jul- ius played, and with it he traveled all over Long Island. Playing for the Salvation Army, Julius visited places that he would never have gone were it not for basketball. From a very early age, Julius understood that basketball could provide him with many opportunities in life.

The Road to Excellence After years of struggling, Julius’s family gained a bit of stability fol- lowing Julius’s mother’s remarriage in 1963. The family moved to Roo- sevelt, Long Island. Julius’s basket- ball skills grew stronger, as he spent hours at the Roosevelt Park play- ground perfecting his game and developing the incredible moves for which he became famous. By the time Julius entered Roo- sevelt High School, he was already an accomplished player. He started on the freshman basketball team and was quickly promoted to the varsity. While at Roosevelt High, Julius picked up the nickname of “The Doctor.” Throughout his high school career, Julius continued to improve. By his senior year, the 6- foot 3-inch, 165-pound wisp was the star of the team. Julius’s play was brought to the Julius Erving, one of the first “high flyers” in professional basketball, slam attention of college coaches. He dunking the ball during the 1977 all-star game. (AP/Wide World Photos) was recruited by more than one

104 Basketball Julius Erving

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1971-72 84 910 .498 467 .745 1,319 335 2,290 27.3 1972-73 71 894 .496 475 .776 867 298 2,268 31.9 1973-74 84 914 .512 454 .766 899 434 2,299 27.4 1974-75 84 914 .506 486 .799 914 462 2,343 27.9 1975-76 84 949 .507 530 .801 925 423 2,462 29.3 1976-77 82 685 .499 400 .777 695 306 1,770 21.6 1977-78 74 611 .502 306 .845 481 279 1,528 20.6 1978-79 78 715 .491 373 .745 564 357 1,803 23.1 1979-80 78 838 .519 420 .787 576 355 2,100 26.9 1980-81 82 794 .521 422 .787 657 364 2,014 24.6 1981-82 81 780 .546 411 .763 557 319 1,974 24.4 1982-83 72 605 .517 330 .759 491 263 1,542 21.4 1983-84 77 678 .512 364 .754 532 309 1,727 22.4 1984-85 78 610 .494 338 .765 414 233 1,561 20.0 1985-86 74 521 .480 289 .785 370 248 1,340 18.1 1986-87 60 400 .471 191 .813 264 191 1,005 16.8 Totals 1,243 11,818 .506 6,256 .777 10,525 5,176 30,026 24.2 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game hundred universities. He thought long and hard put him in an extremely difficult position. Julius about which college to attend; he was determined valued his education and had a great deal of affec- to go to the institution that would give him the best tion for and loyalty to the University of Massachu- education. In the end, Julius decided to go to the setts. In the end, however, Julius decided that a University of Massachusetts. In the fall of 1968, he professional contract would give his family much started college and swiftly became a well-known fig- needed financial support. In 1971, following his ju- ure on campus. Spectators got to games early in or- nior year, Julius signed a four-year contract with the der to watch Julius’s spectacular warm-up drills. Virginia Squires of the ABA. The contract was Under the guidance of the Massachusetts coach worth $500,000. , Julius developed into a complete basketball player. He was capable of dominat- Honors and Awards ing a game with his scoring, rebounding, pass- ing, and defensive skills. As a sophomore, Julius 1972 ABA All-Rookie Team averaged 25.7 points and 20.9 rebounds per All-ABA Second Team game, and 26.9 points and 19.5 rebounds per 1972-76 ABA All-Star Team game as a junior. Julius was destined to have an 1973-76 All-ABA First Team 1974-76 ABA most valuable player outstanding career in professional basketball, 1974, 1976 ABA Playoffs most valuable player but as it happened, his entry into the pro game 1976 ABA All-Defensive Team occurred slightly earlier than expected. 1977-87 NBA All-Star Team 1977, 1983 NBA All-Star Game most valuable player The Emerging Champion 1977, 1984 All-NBA Second Team In 1967, the American Basketball Association 1978, 1980-83 All-NBA First Team (ABA) was set up in competition with the NBA. 1980 NBA 35th Anniversary All-Time Team The ABA was committed to stealing some of 1981 NBA most valuable player 1983 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award the NBA’s popularity, and signed top college 1993 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame players before they had used up their four 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team years of college eligibility. 1999 Named one of the twenty best NBA players of all time As one of the premier college players in the Uniform number 32 retired by New Jersey Nets nation, Julius was predictably offered pro con- Uniform number 6 retired by Philadelphia 76ers tracts by numerous ABA teams. These offers

105 Julius Erving Great Athletes

In 1971-1972, Julius had an outstanding rookie Julius’s proudest achievement came in 1983, when season in the ABA, averaging 27.3 points and 15.7 he led the 76ers to a coveted NBA Championship. rebounds per game. He quickly became one of the In the last few years of his professional career, Julius best players in the league. In his second season, Jul- helped the 76ers build for the future by guiding up- ius won the ABA scoring title, averaging 31.9 points and-coming stars such as Charles Barkley. per game. By this time, he was the best player in the Most basketball experts say that “Doctor J.” league. Julius’s play—a mixture of power and fi- saved the ABA and kept the NBA afloat with his ex- nesse characterized by breathtaking dunks, deli- citing, free-form style of basketball. During his ca- cate lay-ups, and athletic rebounding—made him reer in professional basketball, he represented the very popular with the fans and ensured the Squires essence of citizenship and sportsmanship. In 1993, a large following. he was justly honored for his basketball heroics as Unfortunately for Julius, the Virginia Squires an inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basket- had financial problems and found it increasingly ball Hall of Fame. In 1996, Julius was named one of harder to honor Julius’s contract. Julius had al- the fifty greatest NBA players of all time. In 1999, ready made an unsuccessful attempt to sign with he was named one of the twenty best NBA players the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA, so, in 1973, when of all time. the Squires could not pay Julius the money he was After his retirement from the NBA, Julius forged owed, the team agreed to trade him. Subsequently, a successful business and broadcasting career. He Julius signed a seven-year, $2 million contract with purchased a Coca-Cola bottling plant in Philadel- the ABA’s New York Nets. In doing so, Julius made phia and cable television stations in New York and a triumphant return to his hometown as one of the New Jersey. Julius served as the in-studio analyst for finest players in professional basketball. NBC during its coverage of NBA action. In 2000, Julius accepted a job as executive vice president of Continuing the Story the . During 2008, he began appear- Julius continued his outstanding exploits with the ing frequently on television as a spokesman for Dr. Nets. In his three seasons with the team, the Nets Pepper soft drinks. won two ABA Championships. Julius garnered three league and two playoff most valuable player Summary (MVP) awards. Julius was fast becoming a legend- Julius Erving was arguably the most complete bas- ary figure in basketball. His awesome displays dom- ketball player of all time. His skill, grace, and com- inated both the play of his team and that of the mitment dominated the professional game for whole league. In many respects, Julius Erving had more than fifteen years. However, without his car- become the American Basketball Association. ing, supportive, and unselfish attitude, Julius While Julius was setting basketball alight in the would not have become the great champion that ABA, there were skeptics who said he could never he was. survive in the more demanding setting of the NBA. David L. Andrews In 1976, Julius was handed the opportunity to prove that he was one of the greatest players to play Additional Sources the game. In 1976, after concerted financial pres- Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling sure was put on the league, the ABA folded. Follow- Kindersley, 2003. ing an elongated contract dispute with the Nets— Mallozzi, Vincent M. Basketball: The Legends and the who were one of the four ABA teams to join the Game. Willowdale, Ont.: Firefly Books, 1998. NBA—Julius started his NBA career with the Phila- Orr, Frank, and George Tracz. The Dominators: The delphia 76ers. Remarkable Athletes Who Changed Their Sport For- The star of the ABA soon became the star of the ever. Toronto: Warwick, 2004. NBA, as Julius steered the 76ers to the playoffs in Shouler, Kenneth A. The Experts Pick Basketball’s Best each of his eleven seasons with the club. Julius was Fifty Players in the Last Fifty Years. Lenexa, Kans.: also an NBA all-star in all eleven seasons, winning Addax, 1998. the all-star game MVP award in 1977 and 1983, and Taylor, Phil. “Julius Erving.” Sports Illustrated 95, winning the NBA’s MVP award in 1981. However, no. 8 (August 27, 2001): 47-49.

106 Patrick Ewing

Born: August 5, 1962 Early Life Kingston, Jamaica Patrick Ewing was born into a poor family in Also known as: Patrick Aloysius Ewing (full Kingston, Jamaica, on August 5, 1962, the fifth of name); the Beast; Hoya Detroya seven children of Carl and Dorothy Ewing. As a boy, Patrick, who was always big for his age, enjoyed drawing and demonstrated a talent for soccer and cricket, Jamaica’s most popular sports. When he was nine, his mother immigrated to the United States, and the other family members followed her over the next few years. In 1975, thirteen-year-old Patrick joined his fam- ily in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where his parents had found work. He was already more than 6 feet tall. Soon, he was invited to try basketball, a sport he had never played before. At Cambridge’s Rindge and Latin High School, he blossomed un- der the coaching of , leading the school to three consecutive state titles. He also continued to grow; by his senior year, he was more than 7 feet tall. In 1980, after his junior year, he became the first high-school player to be invited to try out for the U.S. Olympic basketball team. His height and obvious basketball talent made him one of the most sought-after college recruits in the country, and he received dozens of scholarship offers.

The Road to Excellence Patrick chose to attend Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., in part because the school’s coach, John Thompson, was himself nearly 7 feet tall. Patrick said that he thought another tall man would be better able to relate to him, both as a player and as a person. In his freshman season, Patrick, a huge yet agile center, led the Hoyas into the finals of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Basketball Tournament. He had grown to almost 240 pounds, and he was enormously strong. He became known for his powerful dunks, and his exceptionally long arms made him an intimidating shot-blocker. Al- though the Hoyas lost the championship game to a University of North Carolina team that starred Mi- Center Patrick Ewing, who was one of the premier NBA chael Jordan and James Worthy, Patrick impressed players of his era with the New York Knicks. (Courtesy fans around the country with his rebounding and of NBA) ferocious defense.

107 Patrick Ewing Great Athletes

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1985-86 50 386 .474 226 .739 451 102 998 20.0 1986-87 63 530 .503 296 .713 555 104 1,356 21.5 1987-88 82 656 .555 341 .716 676 125 1,653 20.2 1988-89 80 727 .567 361 .746 740 188 1,815 22.7 1989-90 82 922 .551 502 .775 893 182 2,347 28.6 1990-91 81 845 .514 464 .745 905 244 2,154 26.6 1991-92 82 796 .522 377 .738 921 156 1,970 24.0 1992-93 81 779 .503 400 .719 980 151 1,959 24.2 1993-94 79 745 .496 445 .765 885 179 1,939 24.5 1994-95 79 730 .503 420 .750 867 212 1,886 23.9 1995-96 76 678 .466 351 .761 806 160 1,711 22.5 1996-97 78 655 .488 439 .754 834 156 1,751 22.4 1997-98 26 203 .504 134 .720 265 28 540 20.8 1998-99 38 247 .435 163 .706 377 43 657 17.3 1999-00 62 361 .466 207 .731 604 58 929 15.0 2000-01 79 294 .430 172 .685 585 92 760 9.6 2001-02 65 148 .444 94 .701 263 35 390 6.0 Totals 1,183 9,702 .504 5,392 .740 11,607 2,215 24,815 21.0 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

In his junior year, Patrick led Georgetown back professional career with the added burden of to the finals. This time the Hoyas emerged victori- meeting the high expectations of the tough New ous, beating the University of Houston Cougars York fans and media. and its star center, Hakeem Olajuwon, for the In his first NBA season, Patrick won the league’s NCAA Championship. That summer, too, Patrick rookie of the year award, averaging 20 points and helped the U.S. team to a gold medal at the Los An- 9 rebounds a game and playing impressive defense. geles Olympics. The Knicks finished last in the NBA’s Atlantic Divi- Despite the temptation of the enormous amount sion in Patrick’s first two seasons with the team, of money he could make by turning professional, however. Though he had established himself as Patrick chose to stay in school and earn his degree one of the game’s top players, he was criticized for in four years. He had promised his mother, who failing to lead the team out of its doldrums. died shortly before his graduation, to finish on time. In Patrick’s senior year, Honors and Awards Georgetown advanced to the NCAA Finals again. Although the favored 1983-85 College All-American Hoyas were upset by Villanova Univer- 1984 NCAA Division I Tournament most outstanding player sity, Patrick received the Naismith 1984, 1992 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball 1985 Eastman Award Award, the Rupp Trophy, and the Naismith College Player of the Year Award Eastman Award as college player of Rupp Trophy the year. 1986 NBA All-Rookie Team NBA Rookie of the Year The Emerging Champion 1986, 1988-94 NBA All-Star Team After Patrick’s senior season, the New 1988-89, 1990-93, 1996-97 All-NBA Second Team York Knicks chose him with the first 1988-89, 1992 NBA All-Defensive Second Team 1990 All-NBA First Team pick of the 1985 NBA draft. The 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team Knicks, a once-proud team that had 1997-2001 President of NBA Players Association fallen on hard times, looked to the 2003 Uniform number 33 retired by Knicks huge young center as a potential sav- 2008 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame ior. He thus began the challenge of a

108 Basketball Patrick Ewing

Continuing the Story but retired September 18, 2002. In recognition of Patrick silenced his critics by continuing to im- his numerous records for the New York Knicks, prove. He led the Knicks into the playoffs in the the team retired his number 33 jersey on February 1987-1988 season, and by the 1990’s, New York was 28, 2003. Patrick served as an assistant coach with again one of the NBA’s premier franchises. Patrick the Houston Rockets, retired again, and then be- became a perennial all-star selection, pulling down came an assistant coach for the Magic for the 2007- more than 10 rebounds a game year after year and 2008 season. To cap his outstanding career, he was averaging as many as 28.6 points a game. inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball In 1992, Patrick’s status among the game’s great- Hall of Fame in September, 2008. During that ca- est players was confirmed when he was named to reer, he scored 24,815 points and had 2,894 blocks the U.S. Dream Team at the Olympics. and 11,607 rebounds. He also made the all-NBA He started at center on the American team along- first team once and the all-NBA second team six side such stars as Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, times. Larry Bird, and Charles Barkley, becoming one of the first players to win a second Olympic gold Summary medal in men’s basketball. Patrick Ewing allied his tremendous talent with a Patrick led the Knicks to the NBA Finals in 1994, ferocity that made him one of the most intimidat- but New York lost in seven games to the Houston ing basketball players of all time. His natural skills Rockets. In 1996, Patrick was named to the presti- and his will to win helped to make his amateur gious list of the fifty greatest NBA players of all teams champions and made him a top professional time. On an attempted dunk play in December, as well. He is considered one of the finest centers in 1997, he tore ligaments and dislocated the lunate the history of the game. bone in his right wrist and spent the rest of the sea- Robert McClenaghan, updated by Thomas L. Erskine son in rehabilitation. After some rather rapid heal- ing, Patrick returned to play against the Indiana Additional Sources Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. DeCourcey, Mike. “College Should Be the Devel- Patrick was elected the president of the NBA opmental League: College Basketball Was Good Players Association for a four-year term in 1997. He Enough for Patrick Ewing, Michael Jordan, was the key man for the players during the 1998 Larry Bird, and Isiah Thomas but It Has Be- NBA lockout and eventually helped work out a set- come Obvious Has No Use for It.” tlement. He took some criticism for the role he The Sporting News, 229 (April 29, 2005): 58. played in the negotiations; some accused him of Kalinsky, George, and Phil Berger. The New York dragging out the proceedings longer than needed Knicks: The Official Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration. and frustrating fans by saying that the players were New York: Macmillan, 1996. only fighting for their livelihoods. Mallozzi, Vincent M. Basketball: The Legends and the On September 1, 2000, Patrick was traded to the Game. Willowdale, Ont.: Firefly Books, 1998. Seattle SuperSonics in a complicated three-team Saraceno, Jon. “Ewing Leads Seven into Tonight’s deal. He left the Knicks as the all-time leader in Hall Induction.” USA Today, September 6, 2008, franchise history in scoring, rebounding, and p. 7c. other major statistical categories. After one disap- Shouler, Kenneth A. The Experts Pick Basketball’s Best pointing season with the Sonics, Patrick became Fifty Players in the Last Fifty Years. Lenexa, Kans.: a free agent and signed with the Orlando Magic Addax, 1998.

109 Walt Frazier

Born: March 29, 1945 family gave Walt little privacy. Walt was a shy child, Atlanta, Georgia but he loved sports. Because of the stress related to Also known as: Walter Frazier, Jr. (full name); a large family, he had to find an inner calm to help Clyde him through the chaos of everyday life. Walt’s abil- ity to remain calm in crises later helped him to ex- Early Life cel in close games. Walter Frazier, Jr., was born on March 29, 1945, in Atlanta, Georgia. He was the oldest child of Walter, The Road to Excellence Sr., and Eula Wynn Frazier’s nine children. Walt By the time Walt reached high school, he had ma- learned early that as the oldest, he had more re- tured enough both physically and emotionally to sponsibility. The Frazier family lived in a duplex in become the guiding force on his school basketball, a poor section of Atlanta. Growing up in a large baseball, and football teams. He attended David T. Howard High School, which was a segre- gated school in Atlanta. Walt was the quar- terback on the football team, not only because of his leadership ability but also be- cause he could throw a forward pass more than 70 yards. On the baseball team, he was the catcher, a position that demands leader- ship skills. Walt was the playmaker on the basketball team. At the guard position, he had a wonderful command of game situa- tions and adjusted quickly to the needs of his team. Because of his skill as a football player, Walt received offers of football scholarships from Indiana University and Kansas Univer- sity. Walt wanted to continue playing quar- terback, but neither college would guaran- tee that he would be used at that position. Black quarterbacks were rare at both the college and the professional level, so Walt decided to turn down the schools’ offers. Instead, he accepted a basketball scholar- ship from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. Walt decided that he could go further in basketball without hav- ing to learn a new position, as he would have had to do if he wanted to continue playing football. was the basketball coach at Southern Illinois. He and Walt were ideally suited for each other because they both be- New York Knicks guard Walt Frazier. (Courtesy of New York lieved that defense was of prime impor- Knickerbockers) tance. Walt became more efficient as a player

110 Basketball Walt Frazier under the tutelage of Hartman. During his sopho- out of Southern Illinois and pursue a basketball ca- more year, he was named all-American. The South- reer after the New York Knicks of the NBA drafted ern Illinois Salukis became a potent team that him in the first round. could compete against the major college teams of Walt’s rookie year was disappointing, but by his the country. second year, Walt had become accustomed to the professional style of play. He finished his second The Emerging Champion season with a 17.5 points-per-game average. He Walt became an outstanding college player, but he also finished the season averaging 7.2 assists and was struggling academically. Because he had failed 6.2 rebounds per game. The Knicks were a con- too many courses, he became ineligible to play bas- tender for the championship. The starting five in- ketball during the 1965-1966 season. Walt decided cluded Walt and at the guards, Bill to stay in school and straighten out his academic Bradley and Dave DeBusschere at the forwards, standing so that he would regain his eligibility for and Willis Reed at the center position. Everything the next season. During the year away from varsity came together in the 1969-1970 season, and the basketball, Walt worked hard on his defensive skills New York Knicks won its first NBA Championship. by playing against the varsity squad. In scrimmages against the varsity, he was so tenacious on defense Continuing the Story that no one wanted to practice against him. With Red Holzman as the Knicks coach, New York The 1966-1967 season, with Walt back on the was the toughest defensive team in the league. Hav- team, was Southern Illinois’ most successful. Walt ing Walt on the team made the task that much eas- averaged 18.2 points per game as he led the Salukis ier. From 1969 through 1975, he was named to the to the United Press International top ranking for NBA’s all-defensive first team. The Knicks won the small-college teams. Southern Illnois also became championship again in 1972-1973. the first small-college team to be invited to the Na- Always cool on the court, Walt played his best in tional Invitational Tournament, held in New York pressure situations. He remained composed and City. Walt was outstanding in the tournament and was rarely visibly angry. Throughout his career, helped his team to capture the championship. The Walt never got overly excited. He played the game Salukis defeated Marquette University in the finals with grace, never wasting a single movement. Walt 71-56. Walt was named most valuable player for became known as “Clyde” because he liked to dress the tournament. He was also named first-team all- in the style of the movie Bonnie and Clyde (1967). American for the season. Although Walt had one He was considered one of the best-dressed athletes more year of college eligibility, he decided to drop in the country. Walt may have been a quiet individ-

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1967-68 74 256 .451 154 .655 313 305 666 9.0 1968-69 80 531 .505 341 .746 499 635 1,403 17.5 1969-70 77 600 .518 409 .748 465 629 1,609 20.9 1970-71 80 651 .494 434 .779 544 536 1,736 21.7 1971-72 77 669 .512 450 .808 513 446 1,788 23.2 1972-73 78 681 .490 286 .817 570 461 1,648 21.1 1973-74 80 674 .472 295 .838 536 551 1,643 20.5 1974-75 78 672 .483 331 .828 465 474 1,675 21.5 1975-76 59 470 .485 186 .823 400 351 1,126 19.1 1976-77 76 532 .489 259 .771 293 403 1,323 17.4 1977-78 51 336 .471 153 .850 209 209 825 16.2 1978-79 12 54 .443 21 .778 20 32 129 10.8 1979-80 3 4 .364 2 1.000 3 8 10 3.3 Totals 825 6,130 .490 3,321 .786 4,830 5,040 15,581 18.9 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

111 Walt Frazier Great Athletes ual, but when it came to clothes, he certainly stood Honors and Awards out. Walt led the Knicks in scoring from 1971 through 1975 and in assists from 1968 through 1965, 1967 Little All-American 1977. He was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers be- 1967 NIT most valuable player fore the 1977-1978 season. He played for the Cava- Sporting News All-American liers for two years before retiring. For his career, he 1968 NBA All-Rookie Team averaged 18.9 points and 6.1 assists per game. 1969-75 NBA All-Defensive Team After retiring, Walt invested in a variety of busi- 1970-75 All-NBA Team nesses. He served as president of All-Star Sports, 1970-76 NBA All-Star Team setting up promotional work for athletes. He also 1975 NBA All-Star Game most valuable player started Walt Frazier Enterprises, which offered rep- 1979 Uniform number 10 retired by New York Knicks resentation for athletes. Walt had married in 1965; 1984 Inducted into Madison Square Garden Wall of Fame although the marriage ended in divorce, it pro- 1986 Inducted into Georgia Sports Hall of Fame duced a son, Walter III. 1987 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of In 1981, Walt made his way into broadcasting Fame by working as a television analyst for the Atlanta 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team Hawks. He also worked on several NBA telecasts for Turner Broadcasting. In 1987, he joined the Madi- son Square Garden (MSG) Network as a radio ana- who knew how to remain calm even in the most lyst for the Knicks. In 1996, as part of the celebra- stressful game situations, Walt helped lead the New tion of the golden anniversary of the NBA, Walt was York Knicks to two NBA Championships. He will named one of the fifty greatest NBA players of all be remembered for the grace, savvy, and quiet lead- time. ership he brought to every team on which he After eleven seasons on the radio with MSG, played. Walt teamed up with to do MSG Net- Jeffry Jensen work’s telecasts of the Knick games. Walt brought a unique and innovative style to the booth, using a Additional Sources smooth voice, an array of rhymes, and an extensive Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- vocabulary. He and Breen ranked as one of the ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters Press, 2000. best commentator pairs in basketball broadcast- D’Agostino, Dennis. Garden Glory: An Oral History of ing. Walt became a member of the Madison Square the New York Knicks. Chicago: Triumph Books, Garden Wall of Fame and the Georgia Sports Hall 2005. of Fame. Elliott, Josh. “Walt Frazier, Debonair Knick.” Sports Walt established the Walt Frazier Youth Founda- Illustrated 94, no. 16 (April 16, 2001): 19-21. tion, a nonprofit organization to help inner-city Frazier, Walt. Game Within the Game. New York: Hy- high school students achieve their full potential. In perion, 2007. the off-season, he spent a great deal of time in St. Frazier, Walt, Alex Sachare, and Bill Walton. The Croix in the Virgin Islands, where he owned a bed Complete Idiot’s Guide to Basketball. New York: and breakfast. Macmillan, 1999. Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling Summary Kindersley, 2003. In 1987, Walt Frazier was elected to the Naismith Shouler, Kenneth A. The Experts Pick Basketball’s Best Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He is one of the Fifty Players in the Last Fifty Years. Lenexa, Kans.: NBA’s greatest defensive players ever. As a player Addax, 1998.

112 Joe Fulks

Born: October 26, 1921 moved to Kuttawa, Kentucky, where he made the Birmingham, Kentucky Kuttawa High School team. As a junior, Joe was 6 Died: March 21, 1976 feet 41⁄2 inches, and his new coach was in awe of Eddyville, Kentucky Joe’s unique shooting ability. By the end of his se- Also known as: Joseph Franklin Fulks (full nior year at Kuttawa High School, Joe was Ken- name); Jumpin’ Joe tucky’s top high school player, having broken every state scoring record. Early Life Following graduation, Joe entered tiny Murray Joseph Franklin Fulks was born on October 26, State Teachers’ College (later Murray State Univer- 1921, in a rural farmhouse on the banks of the Mar- sity), where he played varsity basketball for two sea- shall River, outside of Birmingham, Kentucky. Joe’s sons, from 1941 to 1943. At Murray State, Joe per- early childhood sports were hunting and fishing. fected his innovative jump-shooting skills, and his He was always busy with chores. Joe’s introduction exceptional leaping ability made him a fine college to basketball occurred one autumn afternoon in rebounder. In forty-seven collegiate games, Joe 1929, at the age of eight. He had wan- dered into Birmingham, where he ob- served the local high school team practic- ing on an outdoor court. From that brief introduction, Joe was fascinated with the game. He spent every spare moment toss- ing a tin can through the baskets on the outside court. When the high school coach discovered who had been cutting up his nets each night, he gave Joe an old ball with which to practice. In a short time, Joe was imitating all the shots and moves of the high school players.

The Road to Excellence In Birmingham in the 1920’s, there were no youth leagues. Therefore, Joe did not play organized basketball until he joined the Marshall County High School team. As a lanky 6-foot freshman forward, Joe easily became the team’s star player. He shot the ball with either hand, while mov- ing and jumping into the air. He took turnaround shots and frequently trans- ferred the ball from one hand to the other to shoot or pass. Joe was criticized by his coach for his unorthodox playing style. Joe limited his offensive style during games, but continued to practice his tech- nique at every opportunity. In the summer of 1938, Joe’s family Joe Fulks. (NBAE/Getty Images)

113 Joe Fulks Great Athletes

Honors and Awards often criticized by sportswriters and opposing coaches for taking too many shots. Although 1942-43 Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Star Team he was 6 feet 5 inches tall and an excellent 1943 NAIA All-American jumper, Joe was not a rebounding threat in 1947-49, 1951 All-NBA Team the professional league. Also, he was slow on 1951-52 NBA All-Star Team his feet and not a great defensive player. How- 1970 NBA 25th Anniversary All-Time Team ever, few denied Joe’s value to the Warriors as 1977 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame he led them to the professional basketball championship in 1947. The 1948-1949 season was Joe’s best. De- scored 621 points for an average of 13.2 points per spite missing five games with injuries and suffering game. He was selected as Kentucky Intercollegiate nearly two weeks with a stomach ailment, Joe led Athletic Conference all-star both of his college the league in scoring with a 26.0-points-per-game seasons, and named National Association of Inter- average. This average was aided significantly by a collegiate Athletes all-American in 1943. Joe left single-game performance on February 10, 1949, in school following the 1943 season to serve in the a game against the Indianapolis Jets. Everything United States Marine Corps during World War II. came together for Joe during the game as he While undergoing training in San Diego, Califor- scored on every kind of shot. By halftime, he had nia, Joe played service basketball. In the service, he 30 points and the Warriors led 49-38. Joe did not saw action at Guam and Iwo Jima. miss two shots in a row until late in the third quar- ter, and when the quarter ended, he had 49 points, The Emerging Champion eclipsing George Mikan’s previous single-game In 1947, upon discharge from military service, Joe record. With four minutes remaining in the final signed an $8,000 contract with the Philadelphia quarter, Joe had scored 59 points and was ex- Warriors of the newly formed Basketball Associa- hausted, but his teammates continued to get him tion of America. Warriors coach Eddie Gottlieb the ball. When Coach Gottlieb finally substituted needed a player like Joe to attract fans and ensure for Joe with 56 seconds remaining, he had scored a the success of the first-year franchise. Coach Gott- league record of 63 points, and the Warriors won lieb instructed Warriors team members to get the 108-87. Joe’s record stood for ten seasons until ball to Joe. Elgin Baylor scored 64 points against the Boston Joe did not disappoint Gottlieb or the fans. From Celtics. the forward position, he was the sparkplug of the Philadelphia offense and a virtual scoring machine. Continuing the Story In his rookie year, Joe led the league in scoring with Joe enjoyed eight seasons with the Philadelphia 1,389 points for a 23.2-points-per-game average. Warriors from 1947 to 1954. During his career, he Joe was not an all-around player, and he was scored 8,003 points in 489 regular season games for

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1946-47 60 475 .305 439 .730 — 25 1,389 23.2 1947-48 43 326 .259 297 .762 — 26 949 22.1 1948-49 60 529 .313 502 .787 — 74 1,560 26.0 1949-50 68 336 .278 293 .696 — 56 965 14.2 1950-51 66 429 .316 378 .855 523 117 1,236 18.7 1951-52 61 336 .312 250 .825 368 123 922 15.1 1952-53 70 332 .346 168 .727 387 138 832 11.9 1953-54 61 61 .266 28 .571 101 28 150 2.5 Totals 489 2,824 .302 2,355 .766 — 587 8,003 16.4 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

114 Basketball Joe Fulks

16.4 points per game. In thirty-one playoff con- for the fans. His style helped to shape the fast- tests, Joe averaged 19 points per game. He led the paced, high-scoring game that became popular at league in free-throw percentage in 1950-1951, every level of basketball. played in two NBA all-star games, and was selected Jerry Jaye Wright to the all-NBA first team three times. After retiring from basketball, Joe worked as a production fore- Additional Sources man for the GAF Corporation in Calvert, Kentucky, Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- and scouted for the Philadelphia 76ers until 1965. ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters Press, 2000. Hubbard, Jan, and David J. Stern. The Official NBA Summary Encyclopedia. New York: Doubleday, 2000. In the sometimes slow, almost predictable, game of Macnow, Glen, and Big Daddy Graham. The Great basketball played during the 1940’s, Joe Fulks’s Book of Philadelphia Sports Lists. Philadelphia: wide-open, freelance offensive style was exciting Running Press, 2006.

115 Nick Galis

Born: July 23, 1957 offering him a contract. Nick was left with an un- New Jersey certain future in American sports. Also known as: Nikos Georgalkis (birth name); Nick decided to go to , where he signed Nick the Greek; Nikos Galis; Michael Jordan of with Aris . At that time, Greece had Greece; Nik the Greek made little impact on worldwide basketball, but Nick changed that situation quickly. His extraordi- Early Life nary basketball capability was highly valued in Nick Galis was born the youngest of four children Greek athletics. Two teams besides Aris—Panathi- of George Georgalis, a poor immigrant from the naikos and Olympiakos—were interested in having Greek island of Rhodes and a boxer in his youth. Nick join them, but he loved Thessaloniki and cast Nick tried boxing, but his mother dissuaded him his lot with Aris. Almost immediately, Nick trans- because of the brutality inherent in the sport. formed his Greek basketball team into one of the As a student at Union Hill High School in Union best teams in Europe. City, New Jersey, Nick was a star player on the school’s basketball team. College scouts, im- Emerging Champion pressed by his performance, offered him athletic Nick helped Aris achieve first place in the 1987 scholarships. In 1975, he accepted the invitation of Eurobasket contest, scoring 37 points per game in Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, that championship competition. In the previous to play on its basketball team, the Pirates. year, Nick participated in the FIBA World Champi- onship, during which he maintained a 33-points- The Road to Excellence per-game average and scored 53 points against the Nick had an impressive career playing for Seton Panamanian team. In 1989, he played a stunning Hall. As a senior, he played shooting guard and game in the Eurobasket semifinals, scoring 45 of scored an impressive 27.5 points per game. He his team’s 81 points. He helped to assure an Aris ranked third among the NCAA’s highest scorers, victory in a last-minute surge that resulted in a one- behind Larry Bird and Lawrence Butler. In the point victory. 1979 NBA draft, the Boston Celtics chose him in During his years with Aris, Nick averaged more the fourth round. than 30 points a game in every season until 1991. At this point, Nick incurred a life-changing and He won seven Greek Championships and six Greek serious injury while playing in the Celtics’ presea- Basketball Cups and was the leader during the son camp. Because of the injury, he could not play team’s participation in the European Champions for several months. By the time he recovered, the League Final Four of 1988, 1989, and 1990. Despite Celtics had replaced him and showed no interest in Nick’s excellent play and his phenomenal popular- ity among Greeks, his team was defeated in the Honors and Awards semifinal round of the Final Four. 1980-94 Greek League scoring champion Continuing the Story 1987 Eurobasket most valuable player In 1992, Aris appointed a new team president who FIBA Europe Player of the Year feared that the team was declining. In his efforts to 1987-91 Greek League playoff most valuable player 1987-90, 1992-93 Greek Cup most valuable player revive it, he was not supportive of Nick, who was ad- 1987, 1989, 1991 Eurobasket All-Tournament Team amant about remaining on the team and continu- 1988-91 Greek League most valuable player ing his life in Thessaloniki, a place that he loved. 2007 Inducted into FIBA Hall of Fame The team’s president refused to retain Nick. This 2008 Fifty Greatest Euroleague Competitors intransigence on his part was devastating to Nick, who considered joining Aris’ chief rival PAOK.

116 Basketball Nick Galis

Instead, Nick joined Panathinaikos in . much to completely leave the sport. In 1995, he be- In his first year on that team, he helped the team came the owner and director of a summer basket- win the Greek Basketball Cup. In 1994, he played ball camp for young people in Halkidiki, Greece. in the European Final Four with his new team. His- This organization was a significant business with tory seemed to repeat itself: Panathinaikos lost in shares listed on the Athens Stock Exchange. In the semifinals, just as Aris had in three consecutive 2004, in recognition of his contributions to sports competitions when Nick was a member of that team. in Greece, Nick was the first torchbearer in the fi- Nick was the highest scorer in the third-place nal round of the Olympic-torch relay. He entered match against Barcelona, which was of meager the Olympic stadium at the end of the Opening comfort to him. His career was in decline, and at Ceremony and carried the flame to the altar. the end of the 1994 season, Kostas Politis, the head R. Baird Shuman coach of Panathinaikos, refused to include him in the starting lineup in the Greek Championship Additional Sources game against Ambelokipi. Nick, discouraged and Delozier, Alan B. Seton Hall Pirates: A Basketball His- defeated, turned his back on the team and, for a tory. Mount Pleasant, S.C.: Arcadia, 2002. time, on basketball. Gould, Don. “Stopping Nick Galis.” Jerusalem Post, April 4, 1989, p. 11. Summary Thomsen, Ian. “He Conquered Greece, but Failed Feeling that he had been forced into an involun- to Win Europe.” International Herald Tribune, tary retirement, Nick Galis was understandably bit- April 20, 1994, p. 23. ter for some time. However, he loved basketball too

117 Kevin Garnett

Born: May 19, 1976 American Game he was named most outstanding Maudlin, South Carolina player for his 18 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, and Also known as: Kevin Maurice Garnett (full 3 blocked shots. Kevin’s four-year high school to- name); the Big Ticket; KG; the Kid tals included 2,533 points, 1,807 rebounds, and 739 blocked shots. During these years he grew a Early Life foot in height. Kevin Maurice Garnett was born in Maudlin, South After failing to pass the American College Test Carolina, on May 19, 1976, to Shirley Garnett and (ACT) college entrance examination, Kevin de- O’Lewis McCullough, an outstanding high school clared himself eligible for the 1995 NBA draft. The basketball player who played for local leagues and Minnesota Timberwolves drafted Kevin in the first in the Army. Kevin was not encouraged to play bas- round; Kevin initiated a trend of the late 1990’s ketball—his stepfather did not allow a hoop at and 2000’s by skipping college and entering the home, and his mother wanted him to study so he NBA directly after high school. The Timberwolves could go to college. That did not de- ter him from shooting baskets at the local park until midnight or from get- ting up early during the summer to play ball. He did not tell his mother that he had made the Maudlin High School basketball team until after the season began.

The Road to Excellence By Kevin’s junior year, the Maudlin team was playing to standing-room- only crowds. Kevin’s exceptional tal- ent earned him the title of “Mr. Basketball” for the state of South Car- olina. However, Kevin had trouble at school, motivating his mother to move with him and his younger sister to Chicago, Illinois. Kevin played his senior year at Farragut Academy; he had met the school’s coach at a Nike summer bas- ketball camp. He averaged 25.2 points, 17.9 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and 6.5 blocked shots per game. These numbers earned Kevin numerous honors, including the title of “Mr. Basketball” for the state of Illinois, the USA Today national high school player of the year award, and Parade magazine’s first-team all-American Kevin Garnett slamming the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers in the selection. At the McDonald’s All- 2008 NBA Finals. (Jeff Haynes/Reuters/Landov)

118 Basketball Kevin Garnett

NBA Statistics Season GP FGA FGM FG% FTA FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1995-96 80 735 361 .491 149 105 .705 501 145 835 10.4 1996-97 77 1,100 549 .499 272 205 .754 618 236 1,309 17.0 1997-98 82 1,293 635 .491 332 332 .738 786 348 1,518 18.5 1998-99 47 900 414 .460 206 206 .704 489 202 977 20.8 1999-00 81 1,526 759 .497 404 309 .765 956 401 1,857 22.9 2000-01 81 1,475 704 .477 467 357 .764 921 401 1,784 22.0 2001-02 81 1,401 659 .470 448 359 .801 981 422 1,714 21.2 2002-03 82 1,481 743 .502 502 377 .751 1,102 495 1,883 23.0 2003-04 82 1,611 804 .499 465 368 .791 1,139 409 1,987 24.2 2004-05 82 1,360 683 .502 549 445 .811 1,108 466 1,817 22.2 2005-06 76 1,191 626 .526 489 396 .810 966 308 1,656 21.8 2006-07 76 1,341 638 .476 498 416 .835 975 313 1,704 22.4 2007-08 71 990 534 .539 336 269 .801 655 244 1,337 18.8 Totals 998 16,404 8,109 .494 5,117 3,762 .781 10,695 4,185 20,378 20.3 Notes: GP = games played; FGA = field goals attempted; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTA = free throws attempted; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game signed the fifth-overall pick to a $5.6-million three- Continuing the Story year contract. Kevin continued to improve and annually led his team into the playoffs only to lose in the first round The Emerging Champion every year from 1998 to 2002. Despite playing as On January 9, 1996, at the age of nineteen, Kevin well or better than anyone in the league, Kevin was started his first professional game and became the criticized for not taking charge of games in crucial third-youngest player at that time to start an NBA situations. In 2002-2003, Kevin elevated his game game. As a rookie, he averaged 10.6 points, 6.3 re- to a new level, playing with tremendous intensity bounds, and 1.6 blocked shots per game. His 131 and imposing his will in close games. Minnesota blocked shots set a franchise record. In his second won fifty-two games but lost in the first round of the season his averages of 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 playoffs for the seventh consecutive time. Kevin fin- blocks earned him a spot on the NBA all-star team. ished second to Tim Duncan for the most valuable In 1997, the Timberwolves signed Kevin to a con- player (MVP) award. tract extension worth $125 million over six years, In 2003-2004, Kevin had his best supporting cast the largest multiyear deal in professional sports at to that point. The Timberwolves added Latrell the time. Sprewell and Sam Cassell, among others. Kevin had a magnificent season—averaging 24.2 points, 13.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.2 blocks, and 1.5 steals Honors and Awards per game—and was named the NBA’s MVP. With Kevin continuing to play brilliantly, Minnesota ad- 1997, 1998, 2000-09 NBA All-Star Team vanced to the Western Conference Finals. How- 1999, 2007 All-NBA Third Team ever, early in the series against the Los Angeles 2000-05, 2008 All-NBA Defensive First Team Lakers, the Timberwolves lost both point guards— 2000, 2003-04, 2008 All-NBA First Team Cassell and Troy Hudson—to injury. Kevin had an 2001-02, 2005 All-NBA Second Team outstanding series, but without a point guard, the Timberwolves lost in six games. 2003 NBA All-Star Game most valuable player The Timberwolves did not respond well to the 2004 NBA most valuable player disappointment of losing the Western Conference 2006 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award Finals, and in 2004-2005, internal frictions caused 2006-07 All-NBA Defensive Second Team the team to miss the playoffs for the first time in 2008 NBA Defensive Player of the Year nine years. In 2005-2006, the team’s record sank to 33-49; in 2006-2007, Minnesota won only thirty-two

119 Kevin Garnett Great Athletes

games. Through these difficult seasons Kevin con- J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award winner for his tinued to play hard and was selected to the all-star outstanding local, national, and international team. charity work. After these disappointing seasons, Minnesota traded Kevin to the Boston Celtics, who had also ac- Summary quired Ray Allen and already had Paul Pierce. With Winning the NBA Championship helped solidify the addition of Kevin, the Celtics had the best Kevin Garnett as one of the greatest players in the three-player combination in the league. The team history of the NBA. He was named the league MVP, did not disappoint its fans, racing to the best record defensive player of the year, all-NBA numerous in the NBA at 66-16. While Pierce and Allen were times, and to the all-defensive team on multiple oc- great scorers, Kevin’s defensive intensity and intel- casions. Furthermore, he was the first player in ligence helped separate the Celtics from every NBA history to average at least 20 points, 10 re- other team in the league. His efforts earned him bounds, and 5 assists per game for six consecutive the NBA’s defensive player of the year award. seasons. When he retires, Kevin will certainly join In the playoffs, the Celtics were less dominant other Celtics greats in the Naismith Memorial Bas- than expected, needing seven games in each series ketball Hall of Fame. to defeat the Atlanta Hawks and the Cleveland Cav- Marlene Bradford, updated by Jerome L. Neapolitan aliers. Thus, the team entered the NBA Finals as partial underdogs to the Los Angeles Lakers. How- Additional Sources ever, the Celtic defense, led by Kevin, stopped Edwards, Ethan. Meet Kevin Garnett: Basketball’s Big Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, and the Celtics won Ticket. New York: PowerKids Press, 2009. the series in six games. Paul Pierce was named se- Fedorko, Jamie. Kevin Garnett. Philadelphia: Ma- ries MVP for his “” scoring, but Kevin’s de- son Crest, 2008. fense keyed the team’s victory. Roselius, J. Chris. Kevin Garnett: All-Star on and off Off the court, Kevin married Brandi Padilla in the Court. Berkeley Heights, N.J.: Enslow, 2007. 2005; the couple had their first child on April 19, Torres, John. Kevin Garnett: Da Kid. Minneapolis: 2008. In 2005-2006, Kevin was selected as the NBA’s Lerner Sports, 2000.

120 Pau Gasol

Born: July 6, 1980 was rapid. Within two years of his decision to com- Barcelona, Spain mit fully to the sport, he became the star of FC Bar- Also known as: Pau Gasol Sáez (full name) celona, the anchor of the Spanish national team, and a player scrutinized and admired by NBA Early Life scouts. In 2001, he won the most valuable player Pau Gasol was born in Barcelona, Spain, and spent award at the Copa del Rey de Baloncesto (King’s his childhood in that city’s upper-middle-class sub- Cup of Basketball), the most prestigious basketball urb of Sant Boi. His father, Agusti, and his mother, tournament in Spain, as FC Barcelona defeated Marisa, both worked in the medical field and both Real Madrid in the final. In the same year, Spain played basketball competitively. Influenced by his finished third in the FIBA World Championship, parents, Pau played basketball from a young age and began his career as a point guard, developing his passing skills and strategic understanding of the game at this position. In 1992, Barcelona hosted the Summer Olympic Games, which featured the first Dream Team, a collection of NBA stars competing for the U.S. national team. Cap- tivated by U.S. players such as Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, and Magic Johnson, Pau vowed to play in the United States if ever given the opportunity. Three years later, at the age of fifteen, he joined the FC Barce- lona junior team and quickly became its most promising player.

The Road to Excellence Though a highly regarded basketball pros- pect, Pau desired to follow the career path of his parents and entered medical school at the University of Barcelona when he was eighteen. Eventually, balancing his com- mitments to school and basketball became unrealistic, and Pau chose instead to pursue his athletic ambitions. In 1998, he guided his FC Barcelona junior team to the cham- pionship in the Albert Schweitzer Tourna- ment, the preeminent youth basketball competition in Europe. The following year, he and the Spanish under-nineteen na- tional team finished first in the junior World Championship, defeating a favored American team. Pau Gasol in the 2008 Western Conference Finals. (Robert Gal- Pau’s ascension in Spanish basketball braith/Reuters/Landov)

121 Pau Gasol Great Athletes

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 2001-02 82 551 .518 338 .709 730 223 1,441 17.6 2002-03 82 569 .510 416 .736 720 229 1,555 19.0 2003-04 78 506 .482 365 .714 600 198 1,381 17.7 2004-05 56 357 .514 282 .768 410 135 997 17.8 2005-06 80 600 .503 425 .689 713 371 1,628 20.4 2006-07 59 462 .538 299 .748 581 201 1,226 20.8 2007-08 66 475 .534 292 .807 553 154 1,246 18.9 Totals 503 3,520 .514 2,417 .733 4,307 1,568 9,474 18.8 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game relying on Pau’s scoring and rebounding abilities. coaching staff and management, who considered Soon after, Pau left Spain for the NBA, enticed by him the player on which the future of the franchise the chance to compete against the best basketball rested. players in the world. From the outset of his NBA career, Pau was fol- lowed by a band of Spanish reporters who chroni- The Emerging Champion cled his every move for his country’s public. Despite In the 2001 NBA draft, twenty-year-old Pau became pressure from the Spanish media, the expectations the highest-drafted international player ever, at the of Memphis fans and management, limited En- time, as the Atlanta Hawks selected him with the glish ability, and the homesickness any twenty-one- third overall pick and sent him to the Memphis year old would naturally experience, in his first Grizzlies as part of a prearranged trade. By this NBA season, Pau exhibited the skills that eventu- time, Pau had grown to 7 feet and weighed 227 ally established him as a top-tier power forward and pounds. Though regarded as light for his height, center. He was the leading rookie in numerous of- especially considering the physically demanding fensive categories—including points, rebounds, play of the NBA, he possessed offensive skills that and blocked shots—and captured the rookie of the induced comparisons to Toni Kukoc and Kevin year award. Furthermore, as evidence of his ability Garnett. Because of his previous experience as a to adapt to a new set of teammates, he led the Griz- point guard, he dribbled and passed with uncanny zlies in points- and rebounds-per-game averages. accuracy for his size and could shoot with both In 2002-2003, Pau played a complete eighty-two- hands. His fluid style near the basket differentiated game season for the second consecutive year, ele- him from other players of his position, and his bas- vated his scoring average to nearly 20 points per ketball intelligence endeared him to the Grizzlies’ game, and finished in the top ten in the league with a 51 percent field-goal average. Honors and Awards The following two seasons, Pau struggled slightly to maintain his 2001 Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto League most valuable player elite status. Against the established Spanish National Cup most valuable player players at his position, such as Tim Copa del Rey most valuable player Duncan and Garnett, he was often 2001-02 Western Conference Rookie of the Month (November, January, and March) outplayed. However, the Grizzlies 2002 NBA Rookie of the Year 2006 FIBA World Championship most valuable player advanced to the playoffs both sea- Gold medal, World Championships sons, thanks largely to Pau’s leader- World Championships most valuable player ship. 2006, 2009 NBA All-Star Team 2008 Silver medal, Olympic Basketball Continuing the Story 2009 Named 2008 FIBA Europe Player of the Year In 2004-2005, Pau signed a lucrative, long-term contract with the Grizzlies.

122 Basketball Pau Gasol

Though the team entered the playoffs again, the scored 36 points and had 16 rebounds and 8 assists. Phoenix Suns defeated the Grizzlies in four games, By helping the Lakers defeat three Western Con- the second of three consecutive seasons in which ference opponents, Pau became the first Spanish Memphis was winless in the postseason. Pau shoul- player ever to reach the NBA Finals. dered much of the blame and decided not to play for the Spanish national team in the summer of Summary 2005. His choice to forego international competi- In the summer after Pau Gasol advanced to the tion gave him time to reassess his skills and his role NBA Finals with the Los Angeles Lakers, he guided as the Grizzlies’ leader. He entered the 2005-2006 the Spanish national team to a silver medal at the season physically and mentally stronger. Further- 2008 Beijing Olympics. In the final game, he more, out of the media spotlight for the summer, played against Kobe Bryant, his Lakers teammate. he entered training camp with a beard, a physical Pau, like Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks, feature that symbolized his maturation as a person helped alter the perception of European players in and as a leader on the basketball court. the NBA as qualified outside shooters and second- In 2005-2006, Pau’s teammates noticed his im- ary contributors to a team. He proved that NBA provement in intangible skills: He was more pa- franchises could utilize European players as cen- tient; he involved his teammates, while asserting terpieces of a team. In fact, the emergence of inter- his control of the offense; and he was tougher men- national players like Pau refocused the NBA game tally, especially when matched against the eminent on basketball fundamentals. A national hero in players of his position. That season, he played in his Spain, Pau became one of the best European play- first all-star game, becoming both the first Grizzlies ers to enter the NBA in the first decade of the and the first Spanish player to earn the honor. Fur- twenty-first century. In early 2009, he was named thermore, he averaged more than 20 points per FIBA European player of the year. Back in the game for the first time in his career. United States, he amply proved he was worthy of In 2006-2007, Pau tallied career-high totals in this award by helping to lead the Lakers to the points and rebounds and became the top scorer in 2008-2009 NBA Championship. Grizzlies history. However, the team was in decline Christopher Rager and missed the playoffs for the first time in four years. In 2007-2008, Memphis continued its de- Additional Sources scent, though Pau averaged almost 19 points and Ballard, Chris. “Pau Gasol Versus European His- 9 rebounds in thirty-nine games. In February of tory.” Sports Illustrated 95, no. 17 (October 29, 2008, the Grizzlies, seeking to reduce payroll, sent 2001): 110. Pau to the Los Angeles Lakers in a trade that Gilbert, Sara. The Story of the . Man- shifted the balance of power in the league’s West- kato, Minn.: Creative Education, 2007. ern Conference. Moving from his natural position Higgins, Ron. Tales from the Memphis Grizzlies Hard- of power forward to center, Pau recorded 24 points wood. Champaign, Ill.: Sports, 2006. and 12 rebounds in his Lakers debut. With Pau, the Mannix, Chris. “The NBA: What L.A. Needs from Lakers compiled the best record in the Western Pau Gasol.” Sports Illustrated 108, no. 5 (February Conference. In his first playoff game as a Laker, he 11, 2008): 80.

123 George Gervin

Born: April 27, 1952 aged to stay out of trouble and channel his energies Detroit, Michigan toward basketball. A janitor at a neighborhood Also known as: The Iceman school befriended George and offered him the chance to use the school gymnasium after school Early Life and at night. The only condition was that George George Gervin was born April 27, 1952, in Detroit, had to sweep up after he was finished. George Michigan. George’s parents were poor, and his fa- spent countless hours in the gymnasium, taking ther left the family when George was only two. hundreds of shots every day. He realized later that While growing up in the inner city, George man- his time alone in the gymnasium served two pur- poses. First, it gave him a skill, a means of escaping the poverty of the city. Second, it kept him out of trouble.

The Road to Excellence George became a standout player at Mar- tin Luther King High School and decided to attend Long Beach State University, a basketball power in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. The sunny beaches of Cali- fornia seemed like a long way from the troubled streets of Detroit. As it turned out, Long Beach was too far away from Detroit. George was lonely and home- sick, and he dropped out of school be- fore the season started. He transferred to Eastern Michigan University and imme- diately became a good player. In his final season at the school, he averaged 29.5 points per game and was considered an excellent professional prospect—he was even invited to try out for the Olympic team. Then everything came crashing down around him. In a rare fit of temper, he punched an opposing player and was expelled from school. Suddenly, his dreams of stardom were cut short.

The Emerging Champion George did the only thing he knew how to do—play basketball—joining the Pon- tiac, Michigan team in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), which served as a sort of minor league for the George Gervin taking the ball to the hoop for the San Antonio Spurs. NBA. Luckily for George, the turmoil (Focus on Sport/Getty Images) had not affected him as a player. He aver-

124 Basketball George Gervin

Professional Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1972-73 30 161 .472 96 .814 128 34 424 14.1 1973-74 74 672 .471 378 .815 624 142 1,730 23.4 1974-75 84 784 .474 380 .830 697 207 1,965 23.4 1975-76 81 706 .499 342 .857 546 201 1,768 21.8 ABA Totals 269 2,323 .480 1,196 .831 1,977 584 5,887 21.9 1976-77 82 726 .544 443 .833 454 238 1,895 23.1 1977-78 82 864 .536 504 .830 420 302 2,232 27.2 1978-79 80 947 .541 471 .826 400 219 2,365 29.6 1979-80 78 1,024 .528 505 .852 403 202 2,585 33.1 1980-81 82 850 .492 512 .826 419 260 2,221 27.1 1981-82 79 993 .500 555 .864 392 187 2,551 32.3 1982-83 78 757 .487 517 .853 357 264 2,043 26.2 1983-84 76 765 .490 427 .842 313 220 1,967 25.9 1984-85 72 600 .508 324 .844 234 178 1,524 21.2 1985-86 82 519 .472 283 .879 215 144 1,325 16.2 NBA Totals 791 8,045 .511 4,541 .844 3,607 2,214 20,708 26.2 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game aged more than 37 points per game and drew the him to the guard position because play in the NBA attention of the Virginia Squires of the now de- was more physical and because George could shoot funct American Basketball Association (ABA), and score from anywhere. He remained a guard for which was then a rival league to the NBA. the rest of his career. He was too big for most Virginia picked George, but he spent some time guards to cover and too quick for most forwards to getting adjusted to the ABA and did not play much guard. his first year. He played in only thirty games that Many people did not think that the ABA players season, but averaged a solid 14 points per game. could compete in the more established NBA, but In the playoffs following the 1972-1973 season, George proved otherwise. He helped his team George began to show flashes of greatness. In five reach the playoffs every season he played in the playoff games, he averaged almost 19 points per league—nine times with the Spurs and once with game. However, George did not last another full the Chicago Bulls, his last season. George made the season with the Squires. Like many of the fran- all-star team in each of his nine NBA seasons and chises in the renegade league, the Virginia team was voted the 1980 all-star game most valuable was in constant financial trouble and began releas- player after scoring 34 points. Scoring points was ing its highest-priced players, including George and another promising young forward named Honors, Awards, and Records Julius Erving. Eventually, George was sold to the San Antonio Spurs, where he made his name. 1974-76 ABA All-Star Team George scored 23 points per game in his first 1977-83 All-NBA Team 1977-85 NBA All-Star Team full season in Texas and became a fan favorite. 1978 NBA record for the most points in a quarter, 33 1978-79 Seagram’s Seven Crowns of Sports Award Continuing the Story 1980 NBA All-Star Game most valuable player 1996 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame When the Spurs became part of the NBA after NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team the ABA disbanded, George kept on scoring. 1999 Named one of the best twenty NBA players of all time He was helped by a switch in positions when his Uniform number 44 retired by San Antonio Spurs team changed leagues. In the ABA, players Milestone were smaller but quicker, and George played forward, where he could help with the re- One of only four NBA players to capture at least four scoring titles bounding at 6 feet 7 inches. The Spurs moved

125 George Gervin Great Athletes easy for George. He led the league in scoring three players of all time. In addition, George was in- straight seasons and four times overall. He finished ducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall his NBA career with more than 20,000 points. In of Fame. In 1999, he was named one of the twenty his twelve-year career with the Spurs, George set best NBA players of all time. In 2000, the George or tied sixty club records, including most points Gervin Youth Center and St. Philip’s College scored, most field goals, and the most consecutive formed a partnership to create a new program games scoring in double figures. called the San Antonio New Enterprise and Job After his difficult, turbulent youth, George Creation Project. The project was designed to help knew that he might not get many chances in life. create new career and self-employment opportuni- He took advantage of every opportunity he was ties among low-income minority populations. given, and became one of the highest scorers in the history of professional basketball. Also, after his Summary one outburst in college, George was determined to George Gervin had a difficult upbringing but man- keep himself under control. His “clutch” perfor- aged to find success through determination and mances in the professional ranks earned him the ability. His coolness and confidence impressed nickname “The Iceman.” those around him, and he was a team leader From 1986 until 1992, George served as the throughout his career. community relations director for the Spurs. In John McNamara 1992, Spurs head coach John Lucas made George one of his assistant coaches. In 1994, after two years Additional Sources on the bench, George returned to the community Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- relations department of the Spurs. The following ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters Press, 2000. year, he founded the George Gervin Youth Center Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling to help troubled young people in the San Antonio Kindersley, 2003. area. George had a banner year in 1996. As part of Shouler, Kenneth A. The Experts Pick Basketball’s Best the celebration of the NBA’s golden anniversary, Fifty Players in the Last Fifty Years. Lenexa, Kans.: George was named one of the NBA’s fifty greatest Addax, 1998.

126 Artis Gilmore

Born: September 21, 1949 game. He had strength, size, and determination. In Chipley, Florida 1969, he accepted a grant-in-aid from Jacksonville Also known as: The A-Train University. He liked Coach Joe L. Williams, who treated him well as a person and not simply as an Early Life athlete. Artis was quiet and reserved, and he appre- Artis Gilmore was born on September 21, 1949, in ciated kindness in others. Chipley, Florida, a poor community. Artis attended one school until the eleventh grade, and he and The Road to Excellence the other children played basketball outdoors on a Artis, characteristically, worked hard at Jackson- clay court. In his senior year of high school, Artis ville. He was determined to earn a degree. Coach moved to Dothan, Alabama, because at eighteen Williams supplied Artis with academic tutoring so years of age, he could not play for the high school that he could realize his dream of college gradua- at Chipley. He averaged thirty-nine points a game tion. The coach also offered Artis basketball tutor- playing high school basketball in Dothan. The first ing so that the 7-foot 2-inch, 235-pound center two years after high school, Artis played basket- could realize another dream: playing major- ball at Gardner-Webb Junior College in Boiling college basketball. Artis performed extremely well Springs, North Carolina, averaging 22.5 points per for the . In his first season, the Dolphins won twenty-seven games and lost only two. He averaged 26.5 points per game that year, scoring a total of 742 points. His also had 621 rebounds and led Jacksonville to the final game of the National Collegiate Ath- letic Association (NCAA) championship tour- nament. In the finals, however, the Dolphins lost 80-69 to the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). In his senior year, Artis averaged 21.9 points per game and had 603 rebounds. The Dol- phins won twenty-two games and lost only four, but they were defeated in the NCAA tourna- ment by Western Kentucky University. Artis, however, was named first-team all-American that year, and his career at Jacksonville clearly marked him for professional play. In the fifty- four games he played as a Dolphin, Artis aver- aged 22.7 rebounds, an all-time NCAA record, and 24.3 points per game. Artis had acquired the skills to match his talent. As a top profes- sional prospect, he could pursue another dream: attaining the financial security his fam- ily had never known.

The Emerging Champion In 1971, both the NBA Chicago Bulls and the Artis Gilmore in 1970. (Focus on Sport/Getty Images) American Basketball Association (ABA) Ken-

127 Artis Gilmore Great Athletes

tucky Colonels drafted Artis, but it was the Colo- game in his five-year ABA career. Artis was almost as nels who signed Artis to a ten-year, $1.5-million dominant in the ABA as Wilt Chamberlain was in contract. When the Colonels introduced Artis as its the NBA; the ABA, however, was on its last legs. future starting center at a game during halftime, Artis wore a tie for the first time in his life. Artis’s ca- Continuing the Story reer with the Colonels began with great excite- After the ABA collapsed in 1976, the Chicago Bulls ment. In his first season, Artis became the fourth wasted no time recruiting Artis, who moved to Chi- rookie in ABA history to score 2,000 points, averag- cago for the 1976-1977 season and quickly started ing 23.8 points per game. That year, he also pulled at center. He worked with the same determination down 17.8 rebounds per game, blocked 422 shots, and strength as before; his first five years in the and compiled a .598 field goal percentage. Those NBA, he continued to average more than 20 points figures led the league, and Artis was named both per game. Despite the pummeling he took under ABA rookie of the year and ABA most valuable the boards, Artis did not miss a game until the player. In his second season, Artis made 56 percent 1979-1980 season, when he was injured and out for of his shots, blocked 259 shots, and averaged 17.6 thirty-four games. His next season, however, he was rebounds per game, again leading the ABA. back in form: He played in all eighty-two of the Artis worked hard on his offensive moves and Bulls’ games and averaged 17.9 points per game. never let pressure affect his game. ABA teams typi- In July, 1982, Artis was traded to the San Antonio cally played a fast-breaking style, but with Artis and Spurs. With the Spurs, Artis continued to be one of star forward Dan Issel, the Colonels played a slow, the NBA’s most dependable centers. From 1981 low-post, NBA-style game. In the 1974-1975 season, through 1984, Artis led the NBA in field-goal per- the Colonels won the ABA Championship, and centage. In June of 1987, he was traded back to the Artis was chosen as the most valuable player of the Bulls, and in 1988, he signed as a free agent with playoffs. His career in the ABA was characterized the Boston Celtics, helping his new team to the At- by calm, determination, and strength. He played lantic Division title. every regular-season game, always made the ABA During his twelve years in the NBA, Artis aver- all-star first team, and averaged 22.3 points per aged 17.1 points and 10.1 rebounds per game and

Professional Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1971-72 84 806 .598 391 .646 1,491 230 2,003 23.8 1972-73 84 687 .559 368 .643 1,476 295 1,743 20.9 1973-74 84 621 .493 326 .667 1,538 329 1,568 18.7 1974-75 84 784 .580 412 .696 1,361 208 1,081 23.6 1975-76 84 773 .552 521 .682 1,303 211 2,067 24.6 ABA Totals 420 3,671 .557 2,018 .668 7,169 1,273 8,462 22.3 1976-77 82 570 .522 387 .660 1,070 199 1,527 18.6 1977-78 82 704 .559 471 .704 1,071 263 1,879 22.9 1978-79 82 753 .575 434 .739 1,043 274 1,940 23.7 1979-80 48 305 .595 245 .712 432 133 855 17.8 1980-81 82 547 .670 375 .705 828 172 1,469 17.9 1981-82 82 546 .652 424 .768 835 136 1,517 18.5 1982-83 82 556 .626 367 .740 984 126 1,479 18.0 1983-84 64 351 .631 280 .718 662 70 982 15.3 1984-85 81 532 .623 484 .749 846 131 1,548 19.1 1985-86 71 423 .618 338 .701 600 102 1,184 16.7 1986-87 82 346 .597 242 .680 579 150 934 11.4 1987-88 71 99 .547 67 .523 211 21 265 3.7 NBA Totals 909 5,732 .599 4,114 .713 9,161 1,777 15,579 17.0

Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

128 Basketball Artis Gilmore played in five all-star games. His career .599 Honors and Awards field goal percentage is still the best ever in the NBA. At the conclusion of his five ABA years, 1970-71 College All-American 1972 ABA most valuable player Artis averaged 22.3 points and 17.1 rebounds ABA Rookie of the Year per game, with a league record of 750 blocked 1972-76 All-ABA First Team shots. He was a unanimous selection to the ABA All-Star Team thirty-man all-time ABA team. One year after 1973-76 ABA All-Defensive Team retiring from the NBA, Artis made a comeback 1974 ABA All-Star Game most valuable player 1975 ABA Playoffs most valuable player with Bologna Arimo of the Italian League, av- 1978 NBA All-Defensive Second Team eraging 12.3 points and 11.0 rebounds per 1978-79, 1981-83, 1986 NBA All-Star Team game and making the European all-star team. 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team After calling it quits as a player, Artis ad- justed business claims. In 1996, he was named one of the NBA’s fifty greatest players of all time. into basketball’s hall of fame. He becomes eligible No center in the NBA or ABA played with any more again in 2012. intensity or worked harder inside than Artis. In Alicia Neumann 1999, Artis took a job as president of the Gulf Coast Sun Dogs of the United States Basketball League Additional Sources (USBL). Heisler, Mark. Giants: The Twenty-five Greatest Centers of All Time. Chicago: Triumph Books, 2003. Summary Hubbard, Jan, and David J. Stern. The Official NBA Artis Gilmore combined strength and enormous Encyclopedia. New York: Doubleday, 2000. size with work habits that made him one of the Mallozzi, Vincent M. Basketball: The Legends and the most consistent and rugged centers in basketball Game. Willowdale, Ont.: Firefly Books, 1998. history. His ability and his calm, steady personal- Shouler, Kenneth A. The Experts Pick Basketball’s Best ity won the respect of fans and fellow players at Fifty Players in the Last Fifty Years. Lenexa, Kans.: every level. Surprisingly, he has not been elected Addax, 1998.

129 Manu Ginóbili

Born: July 28, 1977 he was traded to Estudiantes de Bahía Blanca, Bahía Blanca, where he played until he went to Europe to join Also known as: Emanuel David Ginóbili (full the Italian League. At that time, he was 6 feet 3 name); Gino; Narigon; El Contusione; the inches and weighed 160 pounds. His slight build One; Neo caused him to develop his outside shot. Within a year, he had grown 3 inches and added more than Early Life 40 pounds, which allowed him to perfect the at- Emanuel David Ginóbili was born in Bahía Blanca, tacking style of play for which he became known. Argentina, to parents of Italian descent. His home- Having become a more complete player, he signed town is located 350 miles southwest of Buenos Ai- with Viola Reggio Calabria, where he played until res. Unlike most of Argentina, which is soccer- 1999, when he entered the NBA draft. The San An- crazy, Bahía Blanca focuses on bas- ketball and has twenty basketball clubs. Manu was born into a basket- ball family. His father, Jorge, was coach of a local team and his two older brothers, Leandro and Sebas- tian, played professional basketball. When Manu was three years old, a local coach taught him how to dribble without looking at the ball. Manu accompanied his brothers to their basketball practices and spent the time learning the game and dribbling the ball. As a youth he received the nickname “Narigon” (big nose) for his most prominent physical feature.

The Road to Excellence At the age of fifteen, Manu was just a scrawny teenager who showed no signs of his future stardom. How- ever, he always had a competitive nature. This, together with a love for the game and his willingness to work hard, led him to become an outstanding player. In his desire to improve, he spent many hours watching films of his idol Michael Jordan, a poster of whom hung on his bedroom wall. Manu began his pro career in 1995, playing for the Andino Sport Manu Ginóbili of the San Antonio Spurs beating his defender to the basket Club team La Rioja. After one year, in a 2007 game against the Utah Jazz. (Eric Gay/Reuters/Landov)

130 Basketball Manu Ginóbili

Honors and Awards cans saw what he could do. He helped lead the Argentina team to second place and was named 1995-96 Argentine National Basketball League Rookie of the Year to the all-tournament team. 1999-2001 Italian League All-Star Team Manu joined the Spurs for the 2002-2003 2000 Euroleague Final Four most valuable player 2000-01 Euroleague Finals most valuable player season, and although he only started five 2000-02 Italian League most improved player games, he was named Western Conference 2001-02 Italian League most valuable player rookie of the month in March. Manu had some 2002 Italian Cup most valuable player 2002-03 NBA All-Rookie Second Team difficulty adjusting to the American style of Western Conference Rookie of the Month (March) basketball, but he made steady improvement 2002, 2006 World Championships All-Tournament Team and played an important role in the playoffs, 2003, 2007 Olimpia de Oro Award (Argentina) 2004 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball which resulted in his first NBA Championship. Olympic Basketball most valuable player At the end of the year, he was named to the 2005 NBA All-Star Team NBA all-rookie second team. In his home 2008 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Fifty Greatest Euroleague Contributors country he was honored with the Olimpia de All-NBA Third Team Oro (Golden Olympia) Award as Argentina’s sportsperson of the year. In the summer of 2004, he helped lead Argentina to its first tonio Spurs selected him in the second round with Olympic gold medal in fifty-two years. Manu signed the fifty-seventh pick overall. However, he did not a six-year contract with the Spurs worth $52 mil- join the Spurs at that time but signed with the Ital- lion. The next year, he helped the Spurs win an- ian team Kinder Bologna. The Spurs wanted him other NBA Championship. to develop his game in order to play at the high- est level. The year before he entered the draft, Continuing the Story he played on the Argentina national team for the Manu has been widely labeled as one of the Spurs first time. Gradually, he became the team leader, “big three,” along with Tim Duncan and Tony and teammates began calling him “The One” and Parker. He is known as a team player, willing to do “Neo,” after the hero of the movie The Matrix. whatever is necessary for the good of the team. Al- though Manu became a starter and was a fan favor- The Emerging Champion ite, in the 2006-2007 season, Coach Gregg Popo- In 2001, with the leadership of Manu, his new team vich suggested he come off the bench as the sixth won the Italian Championship and the Euroleague man to provide scoring and leadership when the Championship, and he was named most valuable starters were resting. He embraced his new role player (MVP). His team also won the Italian Cup in and helped lead his team to a fourth champion- 2001 and 2002, and he was MVP both years. Manu ship. Although he did not start the games, he was played in the Italian League all-star game three always on the court during the fourth quarter, han- times. In the 2002 FIBA World Championships, dling the ball. In the playoffs he averaged 20.8 which were held in Indianapolis, Indiana, Ameri- points and 5.8 rebounds. His scoring average was

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 2002-03 69 174 .438 126 .737 161 138 525 7.6 2003-04 77 330 .418 239 .802 344 291 987 12.8 2004-05 74 367 .471 355 .803 329 288 1,186 16.0 2005-06 65 309 .462 280 .778 230 235 981 15.1 2006-07 75 396 .464 320 .860 327 263 1,240 16.5 2007-08 74 453 .460 380 .860 354 332 1,442 19.5 Totals 432 2,029 .455 1,700 .816 1,745 1,547 6,361 14.7 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

131 Manu Ginóbili Great Athletes the third highest of all players, and many observers ships and played in an all-star game. He was the first believed he should have been co-MVP with team- player to win Euroleague, NBA, and Olympic mate Duncan. Again, he won Argentina’s Olimpia championships. As of 2008, he has won nine titles de Oro Award, thus becoming only the fourth per- and has received sixteen awards: four all-star selec- son to win the award two years in a row. Statistically tions, one most-improved player, one sixth man his best season was 2008, when he averaged 19.5 award, five MVPs, two all-tournament selections, points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. This earned two Olimpia de Oro Awards, and one Olympic him the sixth man of the year award. gold medal. His success encouraged the Spurs, Manu’s unorthodox high-energy style of play and other NBA teams, to look for players in Latin not only endeared him to fans but also caused America. some injuries and limited his minutes on the court. Philip E. Lampe Teammate nicknamed Manu “El Con- tusione” (the bruise) because of the frequency of Additional Sources his falls from taking charges and fouls and diving Ballard, Chris. “A Hero in Hiding.” Sports Illustrated for loose balls. This has caused some opponents to 101, no. 18 (November 8, 2004): 58-62. accuse him of falling, or flopping, whenever there Deveney, Sean. “El Contusione.” The Sporting News, is any physical contact, in an attempt to draw fouls. June 17, 2005, pp. 10-14. Ludden, Johnny. “Muy Grande.” San Antonio Express- Summary News, August 7, 2005, p. 1C. Manu Ginóbili became a proven winner and team Robbins, Liz. “Spurs’ Ginóbili Is Predictably Un- leader wherever he played. In his first five years in predictable.” The New York Times, February 20, the NBA, he helped the Spurs win three champion- 2005.

132 Tom Gola

Born: January 13, 1933 giate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship Philadelphia, Pennsylvania tournament. In the first game against Fordham, Also known as: Thomas Joseph Gola (full name) Tom scored 28 points. In the next game, against North Carolina State, he scored 26 points and got Early Life 26 rebounds; he followed this with 22 points and 24 Thomas Joseph Gola was born on January 13, 1933. rebounds in the game against Navy. In the final He was the third of Helen and Isadore Gola’s seven game, La Salle defeated Bradley, and Tom was children. His father was a Philadelphia police offi- named the tournament’s most valuable player. The cer who also worked part-time as a mechanic. Tom following year, La Salle again advanced to the final grew up in a middle-class neighborhood made up game of the NCAA tournament, but lost to the Uni- of German, Jewish, and Polish families. He at- versity of San Francisco and its center, Bill Russell. tended Incarnation Parochial School, two blocks The La Salle offense did not have the tradi- from his home. Tom was an altar boy and assisted tional pivot man, but used Tom’s 6-foot 6-inch the priest with mass. This priest, Father Joseph height to great advantage with speed and constant Belz, introduced Tom to basketball in the fifth movement. Tom twice led the nation in total re- grade. When Father Belz took the altar boys to the bounds and still holds the NCAA record for career gym, it was the first time that Tom had even seen a rebounds. While at La Salle, Tom was the first basketball. player to be chosen as a consensus all-American for three consecutive years. He finished his college The Road to Excellence career with a 20.8-points-per-game average. Most After his introduction to basketball, Tom devel- coaches agreed that there had not been a colle- oped quickly, and in the eighth grade he was on giate player who could control a game the way that the Catholic Youth Organization City champion- Tom Gola did. ship and Eastern State Championship team. He re- ceived a scholarship to a private high school, La Continuing the Story Salle, located on the campus of La Salle College. In 1955, Tom joined the Philadelphia Warriors of Both the high school and the college were run by the NBA. Because he had handled the ball so much the Christian Brothers. Tom was named to the all-state team in both his junior and senior NCAA Division Record years. As a result of his outstanding playing, he was awarded a scholarship to La Salle College. Most career rebounds, 2,201

The Emerging Champion Honors and Awards Tom is probably best known for his accom- 1952 NIT most valuable player (honor shared) plishments as a collegiate player. As an eigh- 1952-53 All-NIT Team teen-year-old freshman in 1952, Tom received 1953-55 Consensus All-American 1954 NCAA Tournament most valuable player the biggest thrill of his basketball career by Helms Division I Player of the Year leading La Salle to the National Invitational Citizens Savings College Basketball Player of the Year Tournament (NIT) championship, played an- 1954-55 NCAA All-Tournament Team 1955 United Press International Division I Player of the Year nually in Madison Square Garden. This was the 1958 All-NBA Team premier collegiate tournament of the time. In 1976 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame the final game, Tom scored 22 points and 1979 NCAA Silver Anniversary Award 1986 Inducted into Philadelphia Big 5 Hall of Fame shared the tournament’s most valuable player 1998 Nov. 21 named Tom Gola Day in Pennsylvania honors. Two years later, in 1954, Tom and the 1999 Named Philadelphia’s greatest college basketball player La Salle Explorers were in the National Colle-

133 Tom Gola Great Athletes

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1955-56 68 244 .412 244 .733 — 404 732 10.8 1956-57 59 295 .415 223 .746 — 327 813 13.6 1958-59 64 310 .401 281 .787 — 269 901 14.1 1959-60 75 428 .433 270 .794 — 409 1,122 15.0 1960-61 74 420 .447 210 .747 — 202 1,050 14.2 1961-62 60 322 .421 176 .765 — 288 820 13.7 1962-63 73 363 .465 170 .776 — 298 896 12.3 1963-64 74 258 .429 154 .726 — 257 870 9.1 1964-65 77 204 .448 133 .739 — 220 541 7.0 1965-66 74 122 .450 82 .781 — 191 326 4.4 Totals 698 2,964 .431 1,943 .760 — 2,953 7,871 11.3 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

in La Salle’s five-man weave offense, Tom made the In 1999, Tom was selected as Philadelphia’s transition to professional basketball easily. At 6 feet greatest college basketball player by mail-in and 6 inches, Tom was one of the first big men to play online balloting in a contest sponsored by the Phil- guard. He played ten seasons with the Philadelphia adelphia Daily News. Many basketball experts be- Warriors and the New York Knicks before retiring in lieve that inch-for-inch, Tom may have been the 1966, with a lifetime scoring average of 11.3 points greatest college basketball player of all time. per game. In 1969, Tom returned to La Salle as the basketball coach and was nearly as successful as he Summary had been as a player. In two seasons, he compiled a Tom Gola was one of the top collegiate players of record of 37-13, including a record of 23-1 in 1969. the 1950’s; he earned consensus all-American hon- Following his athletic career, Tom became in- ors three times and was named a four-time all- volved in his community and in the political arena. American by some polls. He was one of the first big He served two terms in the Pennsylvania State men to play the guard position, and his success led House of Representatives and was then elected coaches to look for taller players to play in the the city controller of Philadelphia. Thereafter, he backcourt. In 1976, he was inducted into the Nai- worked on ’s presidential campaign smith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In 1979, and served as a regional administrator for the he was awarded the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award United States Department of Housing and Urban for his distinguished playing ability, and his busi- Development. In 1983, he lost a bid to become ness success and community involvement after his mayor of Philadelphia. After achieving success in playing career. both the insurance and waste disposal business, Joe Blankenbaker Tom served as vice president of the Valley Forge In- vestment Corporation, president of Bridgeview, and Additional Sources chairperson of the Valley Forge Institutional Man- Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- agement Company. November 21, 1998, was desig- ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters Press, 2000. nated “Tom Gola Day” in Pennsylvania because of Hubbard, Jan, and David J. Stern. The Official NBA all his accomplishments both on and off of the Encyclopedia. New York: Doubleday, 2000. court. To further honor his success, the basketball Macnow, Glen, and Big Daddy Graham. The Great court in the Hayman Center on the campus of La Book of Philadelphia Sports Lists. Philadelphia: Salle University was named the Tom Gola Arena. Running Press, 2006.

134 Gail Goodrich

Born: April 23, 1943 season. This was the first time in UCLA history that Los Angeles, California the freshman team had gone undefeated. By the Also known as: Gail Charles Goodrich, Jr. (full start of his sophomore year, Gail had grown to 6 name); Stumpy feet 1 inch and weighed 160 pounds. He became part of Coach Wooden’s varsity squad. The 1962- Early Life 1963 season was a learning experience for Gail. Gail Charles Goodrich, Jr., was born on April 23, Playing against the best college players in the coun- 1943, in Los Angeles, California. He learned bas- try was not an easy task. He began to rush his shots ketball from his father, Gail Sr., who had been an because of the size and quality of the players against all-Pacific Coast Conference guard when he was at the University of Southern California in the late 1930’s. Gail’s father coached his son in the fundamentals of basketball, start- ing when Gail was in elementary school. Gail was enthusiastic about learning the game, and having a father who was knowl- edgeable about basketball and patient was a definite asset.

The Road to Excellence Gail may have perfected his basketball skills with the help of his father, but he added a jump shot to his game that was his own. The main drawback for Gail was his lack of size. When he was at Polytechnic High School, he stood 5 feet 7 inches tall and only weighed 135 pounds, but had quick hands. John Wooden, the great University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) coach, saw Gail play for the first time when Gail was a junior at Polytechnic. Wooden was impressed by Gail’s quickness and his ability to play sound defense. Knowing how much desire, hustle, and solid fundamentals can make up for lack of size, Coach Wooden wanted Gail to attend UCLA and join the team’s backcourt with Walt Hazzard. During Gail’s senior year at Polytechnic, the team won the Los An- geles City Championship. Gail averaged 23.2 points a game during his senior year and was named player of the year for the Los An- geles area. He had also grown to a height of 5 feet 11 inches. The next year, Gail attended UCLA and Gail Goodrich scooping a shot in 1970 as Walt Frazier watches. helped the freshman team to an undefeated (Wen Roberts/NBAE/Getty Images)

135 Gail Goodrich Great Athletes whom he was competing. He was inconsistent on go through the season undefeated, but the team the court, and he started only sixteen of the twenty- did become stronger as the season progressed. nine games that season. UCLA played the University of Michigan Wol- verines in the NCAA Championship game, and The Emerging Champion UCLA came away with its second championship With a tough season behind him, Gail started his by winning the game 91-80. This final game was junior year with more determination than ever. He Gail’s best as a collegiate player. He scored 42 had learned from the previous season how to relax points and was practically unstoppable. Gail was and to make the correct decisions on the court. The named an all-American for his senior year and was 1963-1964 season culminated with UCLA’s first ready to make the transition into the professional National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) ranks. Championship. With Gail and Walt Hazzard as the In 1965, the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA UCLA guards and the tallest man on the team 6- drafted Gail. The Lakers had Jerry West and Elgin foot 5-inch , it was amazing that the Baylor, who filled the role as the scorers on their team was able to go through the year undefeated. team. Gail did his best to learn the Laker system For the season, Gail came away with a 21.5-points- and improve his basketball skills. In the 1968 NBA per-game average. In the championship game, Gail , Gail was chosen by the Phoenix scored 27 points in UCLA’s 98-83 victory over Suns. Although the Suns had a losing season, Gail Duke. Gail was not the playmaker of the team. Walt played like a veteran. He averaged 23.8 points and Hazzard was the guard who handled the ball; Gail 6.4 assists a game. roamed around until he got free and then would receive the ball and, if open enough, shoot his fa- Continuing the Story vorite jump shot. After only two seasons with the Phoenix Suns, Gail The next season, Gail had to take over the role was traded back to the Los Angeles Lakers. Former of the playmaker because Hazzard graduated. Dur- UCLA teammate , as well as West ing the 1964-1965 season, Gail came into his own and Wilt Chamberlain, were on the Lakers when as one of the outstanding college players in the he returned. Gail and the team put everything to- country. He had no trouble taking over the role of gether in the 1971-1972 season and won the Los the playmaker. His quickness and uncanny tim- Angeles Lakers’ first NBA Championship. At one ing made him a threat, not only to score but also to point during Gail’s second season back with the be in the right place for rebounds. UCLA did not Lakers, the team won an incredible thirty-three

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1965-66 65 203 .404 103 .691 130 103 509 7.8 1966-67 77 352 .454 253 .751 251 210 957 12.4 1967-68 79 395 .486 302 .770 199 205 1,092 13.8 1968-69 81 718 .411 495 .747 437 518 1,931 23.8 1969-70 81 568 .454 488 .808 340 605 1,624 20.0 1970-71 79 558 .475 264 .770 260 380 1,380 17.5 1971-72 82 826 .487 475 .850 295 365 2,127 25.9 1972-73 76 750 .464 314 .840 263 332 1,814 23.9 1973-74 82 784 .442 508 .864 250 427 2,076 25.3 1974-75 72 656 .459 318 .841 219 420 1,630 22.6 1975-76 75 583 .441 293 .847 214 421 1,459 19.5 1976-77 27 136 .446 68 .800 61 74 340 12.6 1977-78 81 520 .495 264 .795 177 388 1,304 16.1 1978-79 74 382 .449 174 .853 183 357 938 12.7 Totals 1,031 7,431 .456 4,319 .807 3,279 4,805 19,161 18.6 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

136 Basketball Gail Goodrich games in a row. The Lakers set an NBA record Honors and Awards by winning sixty-nine games for the season, and Gail led the team in scoring with an aver- 1964 Sporting News All-American age of 25.9 points per game. He stayed with the 1964-65 NCAA All-Tournament Team 1965 Helms Division I Co-Player of the Year Lakers for another four seasons and averaged Citizens Savings College Basketball Player of the Year less than 20 points per game only once, with an Consensus All-American average of 19.5. 1969, 1972-75 NBA All-Star Team 1974 All-NBA First Team In 1976, Gail signed with the New Orleans 1996 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Jazz as a free agent. He played with the Jazz for Uniform number 25 retired by Los Angeles Lakers three seasons but never equaled the standard he had set with the Lakers. During Gail’s four- teen-year professional career, he played in five all- Summary star games and was named to the all-NBA first team Gail Goodrich is a prime example of what hard in 1974. With a hair-trigger, left-handed release, work and determination can accomplish in a tall Gail was an excellent shooter from the field and the man’s game. It cannot be denied that his father free-throw line. He and Jerry West formed one of had a major impact on Gail during his formative the best backcourts in NBA history. years, and that he was fortunate to play for the leg- While helping to run the basketball venue dur- endary Coach Wooden of UCLA. Gail had enough ing the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, highlights in his basketball career to be the envy of Gail met some contacts who got him interested the majority of those who love the game. He rose to in golf course development. Sometime later, he the top in both the collegiate and professional moved to Greenwich, Connecticut, to pursue his ranks, and left a mark as a solid performer who al- interest. Gail became a successful businessman, ways gave his best to the game. serving as the president of National Fairways, a Jeffry Jensen golf course acquisition and management com- pany. Additional Sources In 1996, Gail received the ultimate basketball Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- honor when he was inducted into the Naismith Me- ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters Press, 2000. morial Basketball Hall of Fame. On November 20, Hubbard, Jan, and David J. Stern. The Official NBA 1996, the Lakers retired Gail’s number, 25, and in Encyclopedia. New York: Doubleday, 2000. 2004, UCLA did the same. As part of the celebra- Lazenby, Roland. The Show: The Inside Story of the tion of the golden anniversary of the NBA in 1996, Spectacular Los Angeles Lakers in the Words of Those Gail received strong consideration to be one of the Who Lived It. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006. fifty greatest NBA players of all time. In 1998, Gail Mallozzi, Vincent M. Basketball: The Legends and the and former basketball coach Bill Foster put to- Game. Willowdale, Ont.: Firefly Books, 1998. gether a video titled Basketball for How-To Sports Rosen, Charles. The Pivotal Season: How the 1971- that illustrates the fundamental principles of the 1972 Los Angeles Lakers Changed the NBA. New game. York: T. Dunne Books, 2005.

137 Hal Greer

Born: June 26, 1936 teams existed in the United States. Hal was an aver- Huntington, West Virginia age high school basketball player until Zelma Da- Also known as: Harold Everett Greer (full name) vis, his coach, inspired him to improve his skills. Davis is recognized as one of West Virginia’s out- Early Life standing high school basketball coaches. Under Hal Greer was born on June 26, 1936, in Hunting- Davis’s leadership, Hal became an all-state per- ton, West Virginia. He was the youngest of nine former in high school. children. His father worked on the railroads in the Huntington area, and his mother died at an early The Road to Excellence age. Hal’s father remarried. Hal’s parents became In 1954, Hal was recruited by coach Cam Hen- strong supporters of their children and encour- derson to attend Marshall University, located in aged Hal to develop his basketball skills. Huntington. Hal agreed to attend Marshall and be- Hal played basketball at Douglas High School in came the first black athlete to break the “color bar- Huntington. Douglas was an all-black high school. rier” in West Virginia college sports. Hal began to Prior to 1954, segregated high schools and athletic have an immediate impact on the basketball pro- gram at Marshall. He averaged more than 19 points and 10 rebounds per game, and he was able to develop an ac- curate one-hand jump shot. When he graduated, Hal held Marshall’s career record for field goal percentage, at 54 percent. Hal used his ball-handling, playmaking, and shooting ability to lead Marshall to the 1956 Mid-American Conference Championships. This was the only time in the school’s history that the team won this conference basket- ball championship—Marshall moved to Conference USA in 2005. College coaches and fans began to recognize Hal’s basketball talents. In 1958, he was selected as a member of the North col- lege all-star team. During this all-star game, he scored 17 points and helped his team defeat the South 111-109. Hal concluded an outstanding basketball career at Marshall University, holding numerous records that stood many years.

The Emerging Champion In 1958, after graduating from Marshall University, Hal was selected by the Na- tional Basketball Association’s (NBA’s) Hal Greer. (NBAE/Getty Images) Syracuse Nationals. He was coached at

138 Basketball Hal Greer

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1958-59 68 308 .454 137 .778 196 101 753 11.1 1959-60 70 388 .476 148 .783 303 188 924 13.2 1960-61 79 623 .451 305 .774 455 302 1,551 19.6 1961-62 71 644 .446 331 .819 524 313 1,619 22.8 1962-63 80 600 .464 362 .834 457 275 1,562 19.5 1963-64 80 715 .444 435 .829 484 374 1,865 23.3 1964-65 70 539 .433 335 .811 355 313 1,413 20.2 1965-66 80 703 .445 413 .804 473 384 1,819 22.7 1966-67 80 699 .459 367 .788 422 303 1,765 22.1 1967-68 82 777 .478 422 .769 444 372 1,976 24.1 1968-69 82 732 .459 432 .796 435 414 1,896 23.1 1969-70 80 705 .455 352 .815 376 405 1,762 22.0 1970-71 81 591 .431 326 .805 364 369 1,508 18.6 1971-72 81 389 .449 181 .774 271 316 959 11.8 1972-73 38 91 .392 32 .821 106 111 214 5.6 Totals 1,122 8,504 .452 4,578 .801 5,665 4,540 21,586 19.2 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game first by Paul Seymour and then by Alex Hannum. more than 20 points per game. In 1967, the team Hal’s rookie year with Syracuse was not very suc- won its first NBA Championship. During this sea- cessful. He saw limited playing time and averaged son Hal entered the 10,000-career-point club. Hal only 11 points per game. One of the highlights of concluded his NBA playing career with 21,586 his rookie year came on February 14, 1959, when points. he scored 39 points in one half against the Boston Celtics. Continuing the Story Hal played during the “Golden Era” of the Hal Greer was one of the most outstanding players NBA, with such players as Wilt Chamberlain, Bill in the NBA. From 1961 to 1970, he played on ten Russell, K. C. Jones, Bob Pettit, Elgin Baylor, and NBA all-star teams. His most memorable game was Jerry West. Despite the elite competition, Hal be- in 1968: He played only 17 minutes, hit 8 field goals came an NBA all-star. As a result of much practice without missing, and scored 21 points. For this per- and dedication, Hal’s average increased to more formance he was selected most valuable player. than 22 points per game during the 1961-1962 sea- Hal Greer overcame the barriers of racial segre- son. He continued to develop his playmaking, ball- gation at Marshall University and went on to be- handling, and shooting skills. During the 1965- come an NBA all-star. He is a legend at Marshall 1966 season, he finished among the top ten in free University, where his uniform number is retired. throw percentage (.804) and assists, with about 5 assists per game. Honors, Awards, and Records During the 1963-1964 NBA season, the Syracuse Nationals moved to Phil- 1961-70 NBA All-Star Team adelphia, where they became known 1963-69 All-NBA Team as the 76ers. Dolph Schayes, who had 1966 Hal Greer Day designated in Huntington, West Virginia been an outstanding player, became 1968 NBA All-Star Game most valuable player Hal’s coach. During this season, Wilt NBA record for the most points in one quarter of an All-Star Game, 19 Chamberlain was traded to Philadel- 1978 Sixteenth Street in Huntington, West Virginia, renamed Hal Greer Boulevard phia from San Francisco. The addi- 1982 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame tion of Wilt Chamberlain helped the 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team 76ers win the Eastern Division in Uniform number 15 retired by Philadelphia 76ers 1966, a season in which Hal averaged

139 Hal Greer Great Athletes

The city of Huntington, West Virginia, in recogni- Summary tion of Hal’s athletic and personal achievements, Hal Greer was an all-star in the era of Oscar Robert- named a street on his behalf, Hal Greer Boulevard. son, Jerry West, and Wilt Chamberlain. As a basket- This street runs through Hal’s old neighborhood ball player, he was known for his ball-handling, in Huntington. leadership ability, and shooting skill. His ability In 1973, Hal retired from the Philadelphia to remain composed under pressure earned him 76ers. The 1966-1967 Philadelphia 76ers team, led much respect. He is one of Marshall University’s by Wilt Chamberlain and Hal Greer, is considered and the Philadelphia 76ers’ most popular players. one of the best in NBA history. The team ended the Dana D. Brooks Boston Celtics’ streak of eight consecutive champi- onships. During his fifteen-year career with Syra- Additional Sources cuse and Philadelphia, Hal was one of the most Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- dominant and durable guards in the NBA. Few ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters Press, 2000. players have been able to emulate his work ethic. In Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling 1996, Hal was selected as a member of the NBA’s Kindersley, 2003. fifty greatest players of all-time team. Lynch, Wayne. Season of the 76ers: The Story of Wilt Hal remained actively involved with community Chamberlain and the 1967 NBA Champion Philadel- projects and often participated in celebrity events. phia 76ers. New York: Thomas Dunne Books/St. To help raise money for needy people, he often do- Martin’s Press, 2002. nated autographed to charitable auc- Macnow, Glen, and Big Daddy Graham. The Great tion events. He also remained a strong supporter of Book of Philadelphia Sports Lists. Philadelphia: the Marshall University athletic program. Hal’s Running Press, 2006. wife, Mayme, holds a doctorate in mathematics; Shouler, Kenneth A. The Experts Pick Basketball’s Best they have two children. Hal’s trademarks on and Fifty Players in the Last Fifty Years. Lenexa, Kans.: off the court have been consistency and reliability. Addax, 1998.

140 Cliff Hagan

Born: December 9, 1931 academic performance was only average, but his Owensboro, Kentucky basketball skills were exceptional. It became appar- Also known as: Clifford Oldham Hagan (full ent to many living near his Locust Street home that name) this youngster was determined to be a great basket- ball player. Early Life Clifford Oldham Hagan, one of Tom and Mable The Road to Excellence Hagan’s ten children, was born on December 9, Most of Kentucky, particularly Owensboro, be- 1931, in Owensboro, Kentucky. Cliff began playing came acquainted with Cliff after he began to play basketball when he was in the fourth grade at basketball at Owensboro Senior High School. He Longfellow Elementary School, near his Locust had a profound impact on high school basketball Street home. His first coach was William Arm- in Kentucky. People who never had seen a game of strong, who later was head of the Indiana Univer- basketball came out to the small gym to see this sity Foundation. young man who played with finesse. At 6 feet 4 Cliff was a polite, easygoing youth who never inches tall, Cliff was remarkably strong. He was seemed to get into trouble, partly because he never smart and quick enough that he always got a good had time—he was always shooting basketballs. His position. “Cliff the Cat,” as he was later nicknamed, did not allow his size to be a disadvantage against the sometimes bigger players. The greatest of his many high school accom- plishments was when he led his team to the 1949 Kentucky State Championship. He scored a then- record 41 points in the final game, a 64-57 victory over Lexington Lafayette. Some years later, this achievement was voted the greatest individual per- formance by anyone in the history of Kentucky tournament basketball. Thousands turned out to pay tribute to Cliff in his last home game.

The Emerging Champion In January of 1950, Cliff entered the University of Kentucky as one of the most highly publicized freshmen in the . He had been heavily recruited before signing with the legendary Adolph Rupp. Coach Rupp recognized that Cliff was a ferocious rebounder capable of lightning-fast breaks. Cliff proved quickly that he was on his way to becoming great. Using a variety of shots, includ- ing his well-known , as a sophomore, he played on Kentucky’s 1951 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) champion team. During the 1951-1952 season, Cliff amassed the Cliff Hagan, who was an all star in both the NBA and the then-staggering total of 692 points in thirty-two American Basketball Association. (Courtesy of Ama- games for an average of 21.6 points per game. The teur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles) team was rated first in the nation in every major

141 Cliff Hagan Great Athletes

Professional Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1956-57 67 134 .361 100 .690 247 86 368 5.5 1957-58 70 503 .443 385 .768 707 175 1,391 19.9 1958-59 72 646 .456 415 .774 783 245 1,707 23.7 1959-60 75 719 .464 421 .803 803 299 1,859 24.8 1960-61 78 661 .441 383 .820 718 381 1,705 21.9 1961-62 77 701 .470 362 .825 533 370 1,764 22.9 1962-63 79 491 .465 244 .800 341 191 1,226 15.5 1963-64 77 572 .447 269 .813 377 189 1,413 18.4 1964-65 77 393 .436 214 .799 276 136 1,000 13.0 1965-66 74 419 .445 176 .854 234 164 1,014 13.7 NBA Totals 746 5,239 .450 2,969 .798 5,019 2,236 13,447 18.0 1967-68 56 371 .489 277 .789 334 276 1,019 18.2 1968-69 35 132 .510 123 .854 102 122 387 11.1 1969-70 3 8 .615 1 .500 0 0 17 5.7 ABA Totals 94 511 .496 401 .807 436 398 1,423 15.1

Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game poll, and Cliff led them in total points, average versity of Kentucky, the basketball team won an in- points per game, highest percentage of shots credible eighty-six of ninety-one games and an made, greatest total free throws made, and re- NCAA Championship. Cliff also participated in bounds and assists—despite the fact that the team student government, the Sigma Nu fraternity, and included another all-American, Frank Ramsey. the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He finished Cliff was a consensus all-American. He was named among the top ten students of the College of Edu- to the all-Southeastern Conference (SEC) Team in cation and graduated with high distinction. 1952 and 1954. After leaving the University of Kentucky, Cliff During the 1952-1953 season, Kentucky was on served a two-year stint in the United States Air probation for actions occurring prior to Cliff’s Force before beginning his professional career. He playing years and thus did not play a schedule. In led his Air Force team to two World Wide Air Force 1953-1954, Cliff reached his peak. He scored 600 Championships and won all-service honors both points with a school-record 24 points per game av- years. erage as the Wildcats finished with a 25-0 record and a number-one ranking. Cliff’s record average Continuing the Story stood until 1969. Kentucky declined a bid to partic- Although Cliff had been drafted by the Boston ipate in the NCAA Tournament because Cliff, Celtics of the NBA in the spring of 1956, the St. Frank Ramsey, and had gradu- Louis Hawks obtained him from Boston. His first ated and were ineligible. Again, Cliff was a consen- professional contract was for $7,500 a year. During sus all-American. During Cliff’s career at the Uni- ten years with the Hawks, Cliff averaged 18 points per game and was selected to play in five NBA Honors and Awards all-star games. The Hawks won the NBA’s West- ern Division six times during Cliff’s playing ca- 1952, 1954 Consensus All-American reer and, in 1958, defeated the Celtics for the All-SEC Team 1954-56 All-Service Team championship. He was an NBA all-star from 1958-59 All-NBA Team 1958 to 1962. Cliff then joined the Dallas 1958-62 NBA All-Star Team Chaparrals of the American Basketball Associ- 1968 ABA All-Star Team 1977 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame ation (ABA) as a player-coach and was selected 1984 Boys’ Club Medallion to the first ABA all-star team. Cliff scored 14,870 points during his professional career.

142 Basketball Cliff Hagan

Cliff received many honors and awards after his complishments were becoming a state high school retirement from professional basketball. For exam- champion, an NCAA champion, and an NBA ple, the Owensboro Boys’ Club was named after champion. He was one of the best “clutch” players him. Cliff became the first University of Kentucky ever. basketball player to be elected to the Naismith Me- morial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mas- Summary sachusetts. Cliff became the assistant athletics di- Cliff Hagan will be remembered for his graceful rector at the University of Kentucky on June 1, shots, his leaping rebounds, and his exceptional 1972, and was named the director on July 1, 1975. timing, which permitted him to outjump and out- In 1984, Cliff was the recipient of the Boys’ Club play taller players consistently. Cliff personified the Medallion, which recognizes individuals who have all-American athlete. He was reared in a relatively served the Boys’ Club over an extended period of humble environment, and through tremendous time. ambition, hard work, and dedication, became one In honor of his contributions to the University of the great basketball players of his time. of Kentucky as a player and as an administrator, the Ronald L. Crosbie baseball stadium in Shively Sports Center Complex was named . In 1988, Cliff Additional Sources retired as the athletic director at the University Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- of Kentucky in order to pursue business oppor- ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters Press, 2000. tunities. He became the head of Cliff Hagan Hubbard, Jan, and David J. Stern. The Official NBA Ribeye Franchise. Cliff believed that his greatest ac- Encyclopedia. New York: Doubleday, 2000.

143 Penny Hardaway

Born: July 18, 1971 emption from Memphis State University and en- Memphis, Tennessee rolled there. By then, his unhappy experience in Also known as: Anfernee Deon Hardaway (birth high school had taught him the importance of tak- name) ing his studies seriously. He went on to make the dean’s list his last two years at college. This was Early Life partly inspired by an incident that occurred in Named Anfernee at birth, Penny Hardaway was April, 1991, in his freshman year. He and a friend born in Memphis, Tennessee, to Fae Patterson and were robbed in front of his cousin’s house by gun- Eddie Golden. He did not meet his father until he men who forced them to lie down in the driveway. was six years old. When he was about four, his The robbers shot at Penny and his friend, hitting mother moved to California to pursue a career as a Penny’s right foot and breaking it in three places. lounge singer. Consequently, he was raised by his That frightening experience made him realize that grandmother, Louise Hardaway, who insisted that he could not rely on basketball to make his living, he stay with her in Memphis so he could have a sta- so he had better study hard with determination. ble life. His grandmother often called him “Pretty,” As a 6-foot 7-inch point guard, Penny took Mem- which got converted into the nickname “Penny” phis State to the National College Athletic Associa- because of her accent. tion Basketball Tournament twice. He was named Penny’s grandmother had strict rules for him. the Great Midwest Conference player of the year in He had to clean up after himself, get good grades both 1992 and 1993. in school, do his homework before he could watch television, wake up early every day, go to church The Emerging Champion regularly, and never use foul language. He hated Penny skipped his senior year of college to enter his early curfews, but his grandmother told him the NBA draft in 1993 with hopes of playing for the one day he would thank her for protecting him Orlando Magic with his friend Shaquille O’Neal. from the rough street life of their Memphis neigh- The Golden State Warriors made him the number- borhood. By the age of seven or eight, Penny real- three overall pick. In a surprise move, the Warriors ized he wanted to play basketball. He made basket- immediately traded him to Orlando for Chris ball hoops out of wire clothes hangers and milk Webber, who had been the number-one overall crates with the bottoms broken out, and he used pick. During Penny’s first game for the Magic, he whatever he could find for a ball. was booed several times because the audience had wanted Webber, whom many fans had preferred. The Road to Excellence Despite this rocky start, Penny eventually proved Penny’s skills on the basketball court were evident himself in Orlando. Meanwhile, he made good on from an early age. By his freshman year in high his promise to buy his grandmother and mother a school, he received offers to play college basket- nice house in Memphis. He especially wanted to re- ball. In 1990, after his senior year, he was Parade ward his grandmother for having cared for him so magazine’s national high school player of the year well. and was a McDonald’s All-American. However, dur- Soon after joining Orlando, Penny also signed ing his high school years, he began living with his a multimillion-dollar deal with the athletic-shoe mother, and without his grandmother’s strict rules, manufacturer Nike, which created a popular gim- his grades began to slip. Although his basketball mick for the commercials in which Penny appeared. skills flourished, he did not play the last half of his In each of his Nike commercials, Penny appeared senior year because of his poor grades. alongside a tiny puppet named “Li’l Penny,” whose Penny’s test scores and grades were not good voice was supplied by comedian Chris Rock. Li’l enough for college, but he received a special ex- Penny soon became Penny’s famous alter ego and

144 Basketball Penny Hardaway

Honors, Awards, and Milestones season. After the 1995-1996 NBA season, he played for the U.S. team that won a gold medal 1991-93 Great Midwest Conference Player of the Year in the Atlanta Olympic Games. 1993-94 NBA All-Rookie First Team The six seasons that Penny spent with Or- 1994 Most valuable player of the inaugural Schick Rookie Game lando were the best in his professional career. 1994-96 All-NBA First Team Through those years he averaged between 15.8 1995 NBA Player of the Month (November) and 21.7 points per game and between 3.6 to 1995-96 Was the only player during the season to average more than 20 7.2 assists. After O’Neal left Orlando for the points (21.7 ppg) and 5 assists (7.1 ppg) and shoot better than Los Angeles Lakers in 1996, Penny felt there 50 percent from the floor (.510) were unfair expectations of him, and manage- 1995-98 NBA All-Star Team ment wearied of his criticisms. After he be- 1996-97 All-NBA Third Team came a free agent during the summer of 1999, 1996 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball he was part of a sign-and-trade deal that took him to the Phoenix Suns. During the 1999-2000 season, Penny aver- took on a life of its own, with talking dolls, books, aged 16.9 points per game and helped Phoenix and even its own Web sites. In 1994, Penny achieved reach the second round of the NBA playoffs. After another of his dreams when he was cast as a basket- that solid start with his new team, a knee injury ball player in the film Blue Chips, which starred hobbled him, and he appeared in only four games Nick Nolte as the head coach of a college basket- during the following season. He returned to form ball team and featured O’Neal. in 2001-2002 to play in eighty games, but both his productivity and his playing time began to dimin- Continuing the Story ish. By 2003-2004, his last season in Phoenix, he was United with center O’Neal on the basketball court, averaging only 25.8 minutes and 8.7 points per Penny helped lead Orlando to its first playoff win game. In January of 2004, the Suns traded him to in his first season. He was named to the 1994 NBA the New York Knicks, along with Stephon Marbury. all-rookie team, on which he was voted the most At the end of the 2003-2004 season, Penny and valuable player. During his first six seasons, he Marbury helped the Knicks reach the NBA playoffs. helped lead Orlando to the playoffs five times, in- The team lost in the first round, despite Penny’s cluding an appearance in the NBA Finals in 1995. 16.5 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game. He was also selected for the NBA all-star game that Afterward, Penny’s averages and playing time se-

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGA FGM FG% FTA FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1993-94 82 1,092 509 .466 330 245 .742 439 544 1,313 16.0 1994-95 77 1,142 585 .512 463 356 .769 336 551 1,613 20.9 1995-96 82 1,215 623 .513 580 445 .767 354 582 1,780 21.7 1996-97 59 941 421 .447 345 283 .820 263 332 1,210 20.5 1997-98 19 273 103 .377 118 90 .763 76 68 311 16.4 1998-99 50 717 301 .420 211 149 .706 284 266 791 15.8 1999-00 60 798 378 .474 286 226 .790 347 315 1,015 16.9 2000-01 4 36 15 .417 11 7 .636 18 15 39 9.8 2001-02 80 931 389 .418 195 158 .810 350 324 959 12.0 2002-03 58 573 256 .447 97 77 .794 258 235 615 10.6 2003-04 76 679 279 .411 138 111 .804 287 176 699 9.2 2004-05 37 260 110 .423 46 34 .739 89 74 269 7.3 2005-06 4 14 4 .286 2 2 1.000 10 8 10 2.5 2007-08 16 60 22 .367 9 8 .889 35 35 60 3.8 Totals 704 8,731 3,995 .458 2,831 2,191 .774 3,146 3,525 10,684 15.2 Notes: GP = games played; FGA = field goals attempted; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTA = free throws attempted; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

145 Penny Hardaway Great Athletes verely declined as new injuries plagued him. In Penny puppet based on him, the real Penny was al- early 2006, Penny was traded back to the Magic but ways quiet, unassuming, and quick to credit others was waived before he could even put on a uniform. for their contributions. During his playing career, After sitting out the following season, he signed he held charity basketball games in Memphis every with the Miami Heat in August, 2007, for the mini- year and sponsored a youth basketball camp. He mum veteran’s salary. There he was reunited with also formed Penny’s Pals, a foundation that do- O’Neal. After playing in only sixteen games for the nated money to charities for every slam dunk he Heat, Penny was waived in December. This was not made. how he wanted to end his playing career, however, Eleanor B. Amico, updated by the Editors and he thought he still had some good basketball remaining in him. Additional Sources Gutman, Bill. Anfernee Hardaway: Super Guard. Summary Brookfield, Conn.: Millbrook Press, 1997. The lessons Penny Hardaway learned growing up, Kalb, Elliott. Who’s Better, Who’s Best in Basketball? especially from his grandmother, helped make him New York: McGraw-Hill, 2003. the man he became. In addition to his stellar play Rappoport, Ken. Super Sports Star Penny Hardaway. during the peak of his career, he earned a reputa- Berkeley Heights, N.J.: Enslow, 2001. tion as one of the most unselfish players in basket- Rosenthal, Bert. Anfernee Hardaway: Star Guard. ball. He always went out of his way to help his team- Springfield, N.J.: Enslow, 1999. mates by passing them the ball and encouraging Townsend, Brad. Anfernee Hardaway: Basketball’s them. In sharp contrast to the hip, raucous Li’l Lucky Penny. Minneapolis: Lerner, 1997.

146 Tim Hardaway

Born: September 1, 1966 over move so quick that the local media dubbed it Chicago, Illinois the “UTEP two-step.” His signature move was later Also known as: Timothy Duane Hardaway (full titled the “killer crossover,” a dribble imitated by name) many NBA point guards. During his senior season at UTEP, 1988-1989, Early Life Tim was named Western Athletic Conference Timothy Duane Hardaway was born to Gwen and player of the year after leading the UTEP Miners to Donald Hardaway on September 1, 1966, in Chi- 26 wins and a berth in the National Collegiate Ath- cago, Illinois. Tim’s father was a local playground letic Association (NCAA) Basketball Tournament. basketball legend who taught Tim the fundamen- He became the Miners’ all-time leading scorer, tals of the game at an early age. However, despite with 1,586 points, passing Nate Archibald. At the this bond with his father, Tim suffered through family difficulties early in his life. At home, his father’s drinking and his par- ents’ arguments were daily issues. When Tim was twelve, his parents divorced, and his father left the home. Tim turned to the basketball courts of the South Side of Chi- cago to release his frustrations. Like many players from the area, Tim honed his abilities while battling the strong wind gusts on Chicago playgrounds. Pickup games provided Tim with some of his great- est competition. As a teenager he competed against some of Chicago’s best athletes, in- cluding future NBA stars Isiah Thomas and Glenn “Doc” Rivers.

The Road to Excellence Tim was known for his quick dribbling abil- ity and had a solid career at Carver High School in Chicago. Still less than 6 feet tall, he was not one of the larger high school point guards in the country. However, he gained the attention of University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) coach Don Haskins. Be- fore heading for UTEP, Tim told his father that he would end their relationship unless he quit drinking. That ultimatum helped his father overcome his alcoholism and work toward repairing his relationship with Tim. With the improvement of his family life, Tim began to make a name for himself on the basketball court. In college he was Tim Hardaway celebrating after making a play in a 2001 game. known for attacking the basket with a cross- (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images)

147 Tim Hardaway Great Athletes

NBA Statistics Season GP FGA FGM FG% FTA FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1989-90 79 985 464 .471 276 211 .764 310 689 1,162 14.7 1990-91 82 1,551 739 .476 381 306 .803 332 793 1,881 22.9 1991-92 81 1,592 734 .461 389 298 .766 310 807 1,893 23.4 1992-93 66 1,168 522 .447 367 273 .744 263 699 1,419 21.5 1994-95 62 1,007 430 .427 288 219 .760 190 578 1,247 20.1 1995-96 80 992 419 .422 305 241 .790 229 640 1,217 15.2 1996-97 81 1,384 575 .415 364 291 .799 277 695 1,644 20.3 1997-98 81 1,296 558 .431 329 257 .781 299 672 1,528 18.9 1998-99 48 752 301 .400 149 121 .812 152 352 835 17.4 1999-00 52 638 246 .386 133 110 .827 150 385 696 13.4 2000-01 77 1,042 408 .392 181 145 .801 204 483 1,150 14.9 2001-02 68 620 226 .365 97 77 .794 124 278 652 9.6 2002-03 10 49 18 .367 4 2 .500 15 24 49 4.9 Totals 867 13,076 5,640 .431 3,263 2,551 .782 2,855 7,095 15,373 17.7 Notes: GP = games played; FGA = field goals attempted; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTA = free throws attempted; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game end of his collegiate career, he was selected by the game’s most exciting players, Tim experienced in- Golden State Warriors, who had the fourteenth juries from 1993 to 1995. He missed the entire pick of the first round of the 1989 NBA draft. 1993-1994 season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during training The Emerging Champion camp. The following season, the surgically repaired In drafting Tim, Golden State placed its faith in the knee and an injured ligament in his wrist slowed least heralded point guard of a strong rookie crop, him. Despite the pain, he managed to average 20.1 which included and B. J. Arm- points and 9.3 assists in the sixty-two games that he strong. However, Tim did not disappoint the team. was able to play. He finished second in the rookie of the year voting behind San Antonio’s David Robinson and aver- Continuing the Story aged 14.7 points, 8.7 assists, and 2.1 steals per game In the 1995-1996 season, Tim was traded to the Mi- for the season. ami Heat after battling with new Warriors head After his rookie season, Tim’s confidence soared coach over his reduced playing as he went on to lead the trio of Warriors sharp- time. With a desire to prove that he could still per- shooters dubbed “Run TMC”—a group that in- form at a high level, Tim ranked among the elite cluded and Chris Mullin. Together they formed the highest-scoring Honors, Awards, and Records trio of teammates in the league. For his ef- forts, Tim was named an NBA all-star for the 1985-89 University of Texas at El Paso all-time leading scorer, 1,586 points first time and, at the age of twenty-four, was the youngest player to be voted to the team 1988-89 Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 1991. 1989-90 NBA All-Rookie First Team Over the next two seasons Tim continued Second rookie in history to lead NBA’s highest-scoring team in assists his stellar play, becoming only the fifth player in league history to average 20 points and 10 1991-93, 1997-99 NBA All-Star Team assists in consecutive seasons. He made the 1991-92 Most steals in NBA playoff game, 8 (twice) all-star team both years but relinquished his 1991-92, 1997-99 All-NBA Second Team starting spot in 1992 so that the retired Magic 1992-93 All-NBA Third Team Johnson could make his final appearance as 1996-97 All-NBA First Team a Western Conference starter. 2000 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball After solidifying his status as one of the

148 Basketball Tim Hardaway

NBA point guards in his first full season with the ready to give up basketball. In 2006, he briefly Heat. He was named to the all-NBA first team with served as player, coach, and part owner of the averages of 20.3 points, 8.6 assists, and 1.86 steals American Basketball Association’s Florida Pit Bulls. per game and guided the team to a 61-21 record. Tim led the team to a first-place finish in its divi- More important that season, Tim proved once sion, but because of disruptions from hurricanes again that he was a “clutch” player by registering a and other problems, the team elected not to go career playoff high of 38 points in a 101-90 victory into the playoffs. When the team folded, Tim was over the New York Knicks in the decisive game seven once again out of basketball, but he was not ready of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The win led to give up on the game. His chances of finding a to the Heat’s first appearance in the conference fi- coaching job in the NBA may have been damaged nals, where the team lost to Michael Jordan and the by a series of antigay remarks he made during a ra- Chicago Bulls, the eventual NBA champions. dio interview in early 2007. Nevertheless, he con- In 1998, Tim was named an all-star for the fifth tinued looking. After all, he had more than once time. In 1999, he was part of the all-NBA second proven he could overcome adversity. team and established the Heat, coached by Pat Riley, as one of the league’s toughest playoff foes. Summary On April 22, 1999, he passed his 1,947th assist with On the basketball court, Tim Hardaway always the Heat to become the team’s all-time leader in made up for his lack of height with quickness and a that category. In September, 2000, after Tim had passion for the game that placed him among the become a free agent, the team gave him a one-year, NBA elite for more than a decade. As with many $12 million contract extension. players with long careers, Tim’s statistics dimin- Meanwhile, as Tim continued toward his dream ished during his last seasons. Nevertheless, his final of an NBA Championship another of his goals was career figures of 17.7 points, 8.2 assists, and 3.3 re- fulfilled when he became part of Dream Team III bounds per game, coupled with a 3-point field goal during the 2000 Olympics. The gold medal that the percentage of 35.5 percent, testify to the all-around team won in Sydney, Australia, was particularly sat- excellence he maintained for many years. With isfying to Tim because an injury had removed him many all-star guards paying tribute to Tim by incor- from the previous Dream Team that had competed porating his “killer crossover” dribble into their in the FIBA World Championship. games, a part of Tim has already become an aspect Tim’s last season with the Heat, 2000-2001, was a of NBA history. solid one for him statistically. However, after the Craig Causer, updated by the Editors season ended, he was traded to the Dallas Maver- icks, which used him mainly in a reserve role. Mid- Additional Sources way through the 2001-2002 season, Dallas traded Hishberg, Dan. Tim Hardaway. Philadelphia: Chel- him to the Denver Nuggets in a deal for point sea House, 1999. guard . Tim started all fourteen of Howerton, Darryl. “Head Games.” Sport 89 (June, the games he played for Denver and then an- 1998): 48-50. nounced his retirement so he could become an an- Kalb, Elliott. Who’s Better, Who’s Best in Basketball? alyst for ESPN. Not surprisingly, perhaps, he still Mr. Stats Sets the Record Straight on the Top Fifty had an itch to play. The following March, he signed NBA Players of All Time. Chicago: Contemporary with the Indiana Pacers, for whom he played the fi- Books, 2004. nal ten games of his career. Rosenthal, Bert. Tim Hardaway: Star Guard. Berke- After retiring from the NBA, Tim was still not ley Heights, N.J.: Enslow, 2001.

149 John Havlicek

Born: April 8, 1940 John received basketball and football scholar- Martins Ferry, Ohio ship offers from more than thirty-five universities. Also known as: John J. Havlicek (full name); He decided to attend Ohio State University and ac- Hondo cepted its basketball scholarship. The summer be- fore attending Ohio State, John played on the Early Life Ohio all-star basketball team. , a mem- John Havlicek was born April 8, 1940, in Martins ber of the team, gave John the nickname “Hondo.” Ferry, Ohio. He spent his childhood in Lansing, Mel claimed that John resembled , who Ohio, a town of about seven hundred hardworking had played a character named Hondo in one of his people who were mostly employed in the nearby recent movies. coal mines and steel mills. John was the youngest of At Ohio State, John devoted himself to playing three children of Frank and Amanda Havlicek. defense and soon became an important part of the John’s father had come to the United States from team. John was always assigned to guard the oppo- at the age of eleven, and his mother was of Croatian descent. The family operated a grocery store in Lan- sing and provided John an excellent childhood. When John was six years old, he discovered his talent for running by running nonstop between mileposts along the highway. Running gave John a sense of accomplishment and became an enjoyable routine. The passion for run- ning and the ensuing stamina developed as a youth would serve as John’s trade- mark for his entire athletic career.

The Road to Excellence John participated in high school sports in nearby Bridgeport, Ohio. He excelled in football, basketball, and baseball and was selected to the all-state teams for each sport. As quarterback for the football team, John proved to be a hard runner, an ex- ceptional passer, a master ball handler, and an exemplary leader. In basketball, John was an offensive star who excelled at defense. He averaged almost 30 points per game, but he was better known for his defensive play. In baseball, John played all the infield positions and had a .460 batting average. Had he not entered college, he undoubtedly would have be- come a professional baseball player. John Havlicek. (Dick Raphael/NBAE/Getty Images)

150 Basketball John Havlicek

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1962-63 80 483 .445 174 .728 534 179 1,140 14.3 1963-64 80 640 .417 315 .746 428 238 1,595 19.9 1964-65 75 570 .401 235 .744 371 199 1,375 18.3 1965-66 71 530 .399 274 .785 423 210 1,334 18.8 1966-67 81 684 .444 365 .828 532 278 1,733 21.4 1967-68 82 666 .429 368 .812 546 384 1,700 20.7 1968-69 82 692 .405 387 .780 570 441 1,771 21.6 1969-70 81 736 .464 488 .844 635 550 1,960 24.2 1970-71 81 892 .450 554 .818 730 607 2,338 28.9 1971-72 82 897 .458 458 .834 672 614 2,252 27.5 1972-73 80 766 .450 370 .858 567 529 1,902 23.8 1973-74 76 685 .456 346 .832 487 447 1,716 22.6 1974-75 82 642 .455 289 .870 484 432 1,573 19.2 1975-76 76 504 .450 281 .844 314 278 1,289 17.0 1976-77 79 580 .452 235 .816 382 400 1,395 17.7 1977-78 82 546 .449 230 .855 332 328 1,322 16.1 Totals 1,270 10,513 .439 5,369 .815 8,007 6,114 26,395 20.8 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game nents’ best player, whether the player was a guard, him to be in position to take good shots and get re- forward, or center. John also made important of- bounds. His defensive pressure wore down oppo- fensive contributions, averaging 17 points per game nents. during his senior season. In his all-American senior Within three seasons, John established himself year, John was voted team captain. Ohio State won as the league’s premier sixth man. Usually during three Championships during the first quarter of the game, John would replace John’s three years of varsity basketball (1960-1962). one of the starters and lift the team with his tena- In 1960, John’s team won the National Collegiate cious defense and consistent offense. He worked in Athletic Association (NCAA) Basketball Tourna- the off-season to improve his ballhandling and ment. In 1961 and 1962, his team again advanced scoring so he could play guard as well as forward. to the NCAA Tournament. John’s presence on the team helped them to win another four consecutive championships. The Emerging Champion John turned in several outstanding plays during In 1962, John was drafted by the Boston Celtics of this championship run. He is probably best re- the NBA and the of the National membered, however, for his play in the 1964-1965 Football League (NFL). He reported to the Browns Eastern Conference Finals against the Philadel- during the summer but was cut during the presea- phia 76ers. In the decisive final game, John inter- son. John proceeded to report to the Celtics. The cepted an inbound pass under the 76ers’ basket Boston Celtics had won a fourth consecutive cham- with five seconds remaining to preserve the Celtics’ pionship when John joined the team. Even though 110-109 victory. The play set off a mob celebration the team was loaded with outstanding veterans and was immortalized by Celtics broadcaster such as Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, Tommy Heinsohn, Johnny Most, who shouted over the radio, “Havli- K. C. Jones, Sam Jones, , and Frank cek stole the ball. He stole the ball!” Ramsey, John established himself in an important role. He did not start, but he came off the bench to Continuing the Story bolster the team. John averaged 14 points per Although the Celtics did not win the champion- game in his rookie season. He also used his run- ship in 1966-1967, they were back as champions in ning ability and endurance to establish a style of 1967-1968 and 1968-1969. Again, John was an im- constant movement on offense and defense. On portant part of the team; he was the team captain offense, his movement without the ball enabled and the leader in assists and scoring.

151 John Havlicek Great Athletes

Honors and Awards In 1980, John was named to the NBA thirty-fifth anniversary all-time team. In 1962 NCAA All-Tournament Team 1996, during the celebration of the golden Consensus All-American anniversary of the NBA, John was selected 1963 NBA All-Rookie Team 1964, 1966, 1968-76 All-NBA Team as one of the fifty greatest NBA players of 1964, 1966, 1968-78 NBA All-Star Team all time. In 1999, he was named one of the 1969-76 NBA All-Defensive Team twenty best NBA players of all time. John is 1973 NBA record for the most field goals in a playoff game, 24 1974 NBA Finals most valuable player still recognized by many as a goodwill am- 1980 NBA 35th Anniversary All-Time Team bassador for NBA basketball. He gave his 1984 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame best every time he took the court and con- 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team 1999 Named one of the twenty best NBA players of all time tinued to do so as he participated in com- Uniform number 17 retired by Boston Celtics munity activities and charitable events. In 1999, former New York Knicks star Bill Bradley said that of all the NBA players he John took on a new role for the Celtics begin- had defended, he most hated to guard John. For- ning in the 1969-1970 season. With the exception mer teammate and NBA coach Dave Cowens sug- of John, the veteran players from the champion- gested that John’s jersey number, 17, should be ship teams had retired. John was no longer the retired throughout the NBA. The ultimate compli- young child on the Celtics; he was the old veteran. ment to John probably came on the night of his re- He was no longer the sixth man; he was a starter. As tirement, when Celtics general manager and for- team captain, he was given the responsibility to re- mer coach Red Auerbach stated that he would be build the Celtics. During this time, the fledgling the happiest man in the world if he had a son just American Basketball Association (ABA) attempted like John. to persuade NBA stars such as John to switch to the new basketball league. He was offered a contract Summary with more money. John showed his loyalty to the John Havlicek was an ideal basketball player. His Celtics by staying with the team, and he received a all-out effort on defense and offense and his versa- substantial salary increase. tility made him one of the finest players in the his- Rebuilding the team was difficult; the team fin- tory of the NBA. John’s exemplary personality and ished with a losing record and did not make the lifestyle provided an excellent role model for youth. playoffs. Under John’s leadership, and with the ac- In 1984, John’s contributions to the NBA were for- quisition of players such as Dave Cowens, Don mally recognized when he was inducted into the Chaney, and Jo Jo White, the Celtics improved and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. again became serious contenders for the title. In Duane A. Gill 1973-1974 and 1975-1976, John led the Celtics back to championship status. He was named most valu- Additional Sources able player in the 1974 NBA playoffs. By this time, Auerbach, Red, and . Let Me Tell You his endurance was legendary in the NBA. Further- a Story: A Lifetime in the Game. Boston: Little, more, John had become one of the league’s high- Brown, 2004. est scorers. Bjarkman, Peter C. Boston Celtics Encyclopedia. Cham- In 1978, after sixteen years with the Celtics, John paign, Ill.: Sports, 2002. retired. Including playoffs, he had played in more Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling games (1,442) than any other player, scored more Kindersley, 2003. than 30,000 points, grabbed more than 9,000 re- Shouler, Kenneth A. The Experts Pick Basketball’s Best bounds, and given out almost 7,000 assists. John Fifty Players in the Last Fifty Years. Lenexa, Kans.: had been a part of eight NBA Championship teams. Addax, 1998.

152 Connie Hawkins

Born: July 17, 1942 City Championship. As a result, Connie was named Brooklyn, New York to the all-city team and made Parade magazine’s Also known as: Cornelius L. Hawkins (full High School All-American team. name); Hawk Connie developed and improved his basketball skills and style while playing in the summer league Early Life basketball programs in New York City. He often Cornelius “Connie” L. Hawkins was born on July played in the famous Rucker League against such 17, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York. Connie’s family players as Oscar Robertson, Hal Greer, and Wilt was poor and lived in a small apart- ment located in the ghetto of Bed- ford-Stuyvesant. He was one of six children born to Isaiah and Dorothy Hawkins. Connie’s parents worked in the tobacco fields of North Carolina prior to moving to New York. When Connie was very young, his father left the family, and Dorothy found em- ployment as a cook at one of the local nursery schools. Connie was a shy, tall, awkward child. At an early age, he be- gan playing basketball on the play- grounds and at Young Men’s Chris- tian Associations (). Playing basketball became his love.

The Road to Excellence Connie played organized basketball for Boys High School under its suc- cessful coach, Mickey Fisher, who be- came a father figure for Connie. The coach was demanding and taught Connie many of the fundamentals of basketball. Throughout his school career, Connie had academic problems. He was committed to graduate from high school, and he began to work with tu- tors and coaches to improve his spell- ing, grammar, and reading skills. Af- ter his sophomore high school year, Connie began to have a brilliant high school basketball career. During his senior year he was responsible for leading Boys High School to forty consecutive wins and the New York Connie Hawkins slamming the ball. (NBAE/Getty Images)

153 Connie Hawkins Great Athletes

Chamberlain. Connie became a legend on the Professional Statistics playgrounds of New York City. He was given the nickname “Hawk” for his style of play and his one- Season GP FGM FTM TP PPG handed half hook shot. 1967-68 70 633 603 1,875 26.8 1968-69 47 493 425 1,420 30.2 ABA Totals 117 1,126 1,028 3,295 28.2 The Emerging Champion 1969-70 81 709 577 1,995 24.6 After Connie graduated from high school, more 1970-71 71 512 457 1,481 20.9 than 250 colleges tried to recruit him. Connie 1971-72 76 571 456 1,598 21.0 chose to attend the University of Iowa. However, he 1972-73 75 441 322 1,204 16.1 1973-74 79 404 191 999 12.6 did not have a strong academic record, and he was 1974-75 43 139 68 346 8.0 not permitted to play freshman basketball at the 1975-76 74 237 136 610 8.2 university. In 1961, while attending Iowa, Connie NBA Totals 499 3,013 2,207 8,233 16.5 was implicated in a basketball gambling scandal. Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FTM = free He was never formally charged or sent to jail, but throws made; TP = total points; PPG = points per game he was forced to withdraw from the University of Iowa. This scandal had a major impact on the re- mainder of his basketball playing career. In 1961, and finished second in the league in rebounding the NBA decreed that no player associated with col- and shooting percentage. He led the team to its lege sports scandals would be signed to play in the first ABA title. As a result of these achievements, he NBA. Dejected, Connie returned to play basketball was voted the league’s most valuable player. Con- on the playgrounds of New York City. He never nie was earning a reputation as one of the best bas- gave up his dream of playing in the NBA, though. ketball players in the country. During the league In 1961, the American Basketball League (ABL) playoffs, though, Connie injured a ligament in his formed, and Connie was selected to play for the knee—one of many injuries Connie suffered dur- Pittsburgh Rens. He dominated the league and won ing his career. During the 1968-1969 season, the the most valuable player award. In 1962, because Pittsburgh franchise moved to Minneapolis. That of poor financial support, the ABL folded. Abe season, Connie set an ABA single-game scoring Saperstein, the coach of the famous Harlem Globe- record with 57 points against the New York Nets trotters, recognized Connie’s outstanding basket- and averaged more than 30 points per game. ball talent and recruited him. Connie played four years with the Globetrotters, playing with Globetrot- Continuing the Story ter greats Tex Harrison and Meadowlark Lemon. In 1969, Connie won a lawsuit against the NBA and During this time, Connie met and married his wife, was permitted to play in the league. His dream had Nancy Foster. They would have three children. come true. He was selected to play for the Phoenix In 1967, the American Basketball Association Suns. During his first year in the league, he aver- (ABA) was established. Connie played for the Pitts- aged more than 24 points per game and grabbed burgh Pipers, coached by Vince Cazzella. Connie more than 600 rebounds. He was selected to the led the league in scoring with 26.8 points per game NBA all-star team his first and second years in the league. From 1970 to 1976, Connie played in the Honors and Awards NBA for Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Atlanta. He sustained numerous injuries during his career, 1962 ABL most valuable player however, and retired after the 1975-1976 season. 1968 ABA most valuable player Connie had outstanding ABA and NBA careers. 1968-69 ABA All-Star Team Former members of the Globetrotters, teammates, 1970 All-NBA Team and playground competitors recognized Connie as 1970-71 NBA All-Star Team one of the best basketball players in the country. 1976 Uniform number 42 retired by Phoenix Suns His style of play and jumping, ballhandling, shoot- 1992 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall ing, and one-on-one abilities made him a superior of Fame basketball player. Connie’s climb from the play- grounds of New York to the NBA is a story of tri-

154 Basketball Connie Hawkins umph over tragedy. He overcame personal obsta- conducted a basketball clinic with students from cles, injuries, poverty, and lawsuits to reach his the school. Connie became a legend on the play- goal. grounds, yet he always found time to work with In 1976, Connie’s number 42 jersey was retired young children at local YMCAs and to encourage by the Phoenix Suns. When Kareem Abdul-Jabbar them to stay in school. retired, he listed Connie as one of the top fifteen players he had ever played against or with during Summary his twenty years in the NBA. In 1992, Connie be- Connie Hawkins persevered through difficult cir- came the first Suns player ever inducted into the cumstances. He did not let anything stand in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In way of obtaining his goal of playing in the NBA. His 1994, he was presented with a Harlem Globetrot- flashy style of play, ball-handling skills, sensitive ters “Legends” ring during a special ceremony personality, and kindness to others made him an prior to a Suns’ game. outstanding role model for young players. Connie was involved in many community ser- Dana D. Brooks vice projects and worked for the Suns as a commu- nity relations representative. He participated with Additional Sources the franchise to help renovate thirty basketball Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- courts across the state of Arizona. In 1998, he and ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters Press, 2000. Suns’ owner helped christen a ren- Hubbard, Jan, and David J. Stern. The Official NBA ovated court at Scottsdale’s Eldorado Park. Connie Encyclopedia. New York: Doubleday, 2000.

155 Elvin Hayes

Born: November 17, 1945 Early Life Rayville, Louisiana Elvin Ernest Hayes was born on November 17, Also known as: Elvin Ernest Hayes (full name); 1945, in Rayville, Louisiana, a small northeastern the Big E Louisiana town about twenty-four miles from Mon- roe. Elvin grew up in a family of six children, of which he was the youngest. He also was the tallest in his family. His father was only 5 feet 5 inches tall, and his tallest brothers and sisters were 5 feet 7 inches tall. Elvin’s boyhood days were full of sports and games, even though there was much poverty and prejudice in Rayville. In Elvin’s early years, his fam- ily did not have indoor plumbing or a telephone. He compares his period of growing up in Rayville as a combination of the Tom Sawyer life and the inner-city ghetto. During the summer, he picked cotton all day. On the days when he was not in the cotton fields, he would play baseball. His dream as a child was to become a great baseball player. Playing baseball was another way of keeping out of trouble.

The Road to Excellence When Elvin entered the eighth grade, he still har- bored dreams of becoming a baseball player. Small for his age, he ran around with a bad crowd and had a few minor scrapes. The Reverend John Cal- vin, an eighth-grade teacher at Eulah Britton High School, took a personal interest in Elvin. Realizing that these minor scrapes would lead to major ones, Calvin had Elvin transferred into his class and lec- tured him about his behavior. He also placed Elvin on the school’s eighth-grade basketball team, which he coached. Elvin admits that he was not hav- ing much fun playing basketball then. He did not know what to do on the court or how to do it. His basketball skills were limited because he previously had practiced and played only baseball. Over the summer months, he played basketball every spare minute, acquired some basic skills, learned some of the rules, and soon began to like the game.

Surrounded by three defenders, Elvin The Emerging Champion Hayes leaping upward to take the shot. (Courtesy of At the beginning of his junior year in high school, Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles) Elvin was 6 feet 2 inches. His basketball skills had

156 Basketball Elvin Hayes

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1968-69 82 930 .447 467 .626 1,406 113 2,327 28.4 1969-70 82 914 .452 428 .688 1,386 162 2,256 27.5 1970-71 82 948 .428 454 .672 1,362 186 2,350 28.7 1971-72 82 832 .434 399 .649 1,197 270 2,063 25.2 1972-73 81 713 .444 291 .671 1,177 127 1,717 21.2 1973-74 81 689 .423 357 .721 1,463 163 1,735 21.4 1974-75 82 739 .443 409 .766 1,004 206 1,887 23.0 1975-76 80 649 .470 287 .628 878 121 1,585 19.8 1976-77 82 760 .501 422 .687 1,029 158 1,942 23.7 1977-78 81 636 .451 326 .634 1,075 149 1,598 19.7 1978-79 82 720 .487 349 .654 994 143 1,789 21.8 1979-80 81 761 .454 334 .699 896 129 1,859 23.0 1980-81 81 584 .451 271 .617 789 98 1,439 17.8 1981-82 82 519 .472 280 .664 747 144 1,318 16.1 1982-83 81 424 .476 196 .683 616 158 1,046 12.9 1983-84 81 158 .406 86 .652 260 71 402 5.0 Totals 1,303 10,976 .452 5,356 .670 16,279 2,398 27,313 21.0 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game improved greatly, and he had matured as an indi- from all over the United States. He had always vidual. He was a good team player, and the team dreamed of leaving Louisiana. These dreams were was very good. Britton’s basketball team reached realized when he accepted a scholarship from the the finals in the state championships but lost to a University of Houston. He liked Houston because team from DeQuincy, Louisiana. The loss in the the school had never had a star basketball player, championship game helped Elvin to mature fur- and he would not be compared to some local leg- ther and taught him to control his emotions and to end. Elvin and , a friend from Baton deal with adversity. As a senior in high school, Elvin contin- NCAA Division I Records ued to be a success in basketball. The team had more success than the 1963 team. Most points in NCAA Tournament play, 358 Elvin was 6 feet 5 inches and became a team Most rebounds in NCAA Tournament play, 222 leader. The team headed into the state Most rebounds in one NCAA Tournament series, 97 tournament with fifty-three wins and no de- Honors and Awards feats. Although facing taller and more tal- ented players, Britton won the final game 1966-68 Sporting News All-American by more than 20 points. Elvin scored 45 1967 NCAA All-Tournament Team points and was selected the most valuable 1967-68 Consensus All-American player of the tournament. Elvin remem- 1968 Rupp Trophy bers that the victory enabled him to see his United Press International Division I Player of the Year name in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana, news- U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division I Player of the Year paper for the first time. No black player or Sporting News College Player of the Year Overall first choice in the NBA draft school had ever received any publicity in 1969 NBA All-Rookie Team the Rayville newspapers. Even though El- 1969-80 NBA All-Star Team vin’s accomplishments never appeared in 1973-77, 1979 All-NBA Team the media, there always seemed to be a few 1974-75 NBA All-Defensive Team college recruiters attending the school’s 1990 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame games. 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team In 1964, Elvin had more than one hun- Uniform number 11 retired by Washington Bullets dred college basketball scholarship offers

157 Elvin Hayes Great Athletes

Rouge, were two of three black players to integrate side Moses Malone during the 1981-1982 season the athletic program. Elvin became a local hero and averaging 16.1 points and 9.1 rebounds, Elvin during his stay at Houston, leading his team to two accepted a reserve role for his final two NBA cam- National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) paigns. Over his sixteen-year career, Elvin was an Championship Tournament Final Four appear- extremely durable player. He retired after the 1984 ances. In the 1965-1966 and 1966-1967 seasons, season with 27,313 points and 16,279 rebounds, an Houston won fifty games and lost ten. average of 21 points and 12.5 rebounds per game. After retirement, Elvin returned to the Univer- Continuing the Story sity of Houston to finish his education, something In his senior year, Elvin became a central figure— he did not have time to complete as a college bas- along with Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) ketball player. After two years of hard work, he of the University of California at Los Angeles graduated with a degree in recreation and speech. (UCLA)—in college basketball’s “game of the cen- Later, he ran his cattle ranch near Brenham, Texas, tury.” Houston and UCLA, both undefeated, met and purchased a car dealership in Houston. In in the Houston on January 20, 1968, 1996, he was named one of the fifty greatest NBA The game was witnessed by 52,693 paying fans and players of all time. In 2007, he became a Liberty a national television audience. Elvin scored the County, Texas sheriff’s deputy. game’s first points. Houston led 46-43 at halftime, with Elvin having scored 29 points. The game was Summary close throughout. With only 28 seconds remaining Elvin Hayes retired from professional basketball as in the contest, the score tied at 69-69, Elvin calmly one of the most personable and well-liked players sank 2 free throws, the game’s final points. Hous- in the game. Many basketball experts rank Elvin as ton won the contest 71-69, and Elvin finished with a the best shooting big man in all basketball history. total of 39 points and 15 rebounds. His match-up In 1990, he was voted into the Naismith Memorial opponent, Alcindor, had 15 points and 12 re- Basketball Hall of Fame. His abiding religious faith bounds. and his family did much to sustain him throughout In 1968, his senior year, Elvin led his team to his career. His positive attitude has been advanta- thirty-one straight wins before losing in the NCAA geous not only in basketball but in all of life as well. Final Four to UCLA. He completed his collegiate Thurman W. Robins season as the nation’s third most prolific scorer and rebounder. He earned all-American honors Additional Sources from 1966 to 1968. Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- Elvin was the number-one player selected in the ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters Press, 2000. 1968 NBA draft. His professional career spanned Davis, Seth. “Washington Bullets Forward Elvin sixteen seasons with the San Diego/Houston Hayes.” Sports Illustrated 86, no. 23 (June 9, Rockets and the Baltimore/Capital/Washington 1997): 7. Bullets. He led the NBA in scoring in 1969 and in Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling rebounding in 1970 and 1974. In 1978, his Wash- Kindersley, 2003. ington Bullets won the NBA Championship. He was Shouler, Kenneth A. The Experts Pick Basketball’s Best also named to the all-NBA team six times. Fifty Players in the Last Fifty Years. Lenexa, Kans.: After starting for the Rockets at forward along- Addax, 1998.

158 Marques Haynes

Born: October 3, 1926 ters while catching the eye of the Globetrotters’ Sand Springs, Oklahoma owner and manager, . After Mar- Also known as: Marques Oreole Haynes (full ques earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial edu- name) cation in 1946, Saperstein got him to sign a con- tract with the Kansas City Stars, an affiliate of the Early Life Globetrotters. Within a year, Marques was playing Marques Oreole Haynes was born on October 3, for the Globetrotters, where he became one of the 1926, in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, near Tulsa. He most famous members of the all-black basketball lived with his father and mother, Matthew and team. He thrilled fans with dribbling skills that his Hattie Haynes, along with two older brothers and brother, Wendell, had taught him when he was his one sister. His father, who made a living doing do- junior high school coach. mestic work, left the family when Marques was only four years old, so his mother and siblings were pri- The Emerging Champion marily responsible for his upbringing. From 1947 to 1953, Marques and teammate Reece Marques’s elder brothers and sister all partici- “Goose” Tatum were the team’s major attractions. pated in athletics, and Marques eventually took an Fans marveled at Marques’s ability to dribble a interest in sports. The Haynes children all excelled basketball three times a second and continually in basketball; in addition, Marques was a good foot- bounce the ball one inch off the floor. Marques be- ball player at Booker T. Washington High School. came known as “The World’s Greatest Dribbler,” A two-sport star, Marques guided his high school and many ballplayers emulate his ball-handling basketball team to a state championship during his ability even today. senior year in 1942. Marques continued to receive fame and finan- cial success by playing basketball even though he The Road to Excellence broke away from the Globetrotters and decided to Once again, Marques followed in the footsteps of form his own barnstorming team, the Fabulous his older siblings by attending , Magicians. The Magicians were successful but a predominantly black university in Oklahoma. Joe never attained the same popularity the Globetrot- and Wendell had already played for the school. ters had. In 1972, Marques rejoined the Globetrot- However, Marques would outshine his older broth- ters before teaming with former Globetrotter ers. At Langston, the 6-foot, 160-pound guard teammate Meadowlark Lemon and his Bucketeers guided the school to an outstanding 112-3 record in 1979. In 1981, Marques went back to the Globe- and a 51-game winning streak. In the process, trotters before restarting the Harlem Magicians in Langston collected two conference titles and a vic- 1983. tory over the Harlem Globetrotters. Marques Marques never played professional basketball scored a team-high 26 points against the Globetrot- in the NBA, even though he was offered contracts by several NBA teams. He enjoyed the aspect of global travel while entertaining millions of fans Milestones yearly. Marques spent more than forty years play- 1944-45 National Negro Basketball Championship Team ing basketball and holding dribbling exhibitions all over the world. He played more than 12,000 1951 Most Valuable Globetrotter games and traveled more than four million miles— 1985 Inducted into NAIA Hall of Fame including to every U.S. state and ninety-seven coun- 1998 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of tries. Even past his sixtieth birthday Marques played Fame more than 250 games a year on the barnstorming circuit.

159 Marques Haynes Great Athletes

Continuing the Story Summary Marques used basketball to his advantage and be- Marques Haynes helped bring global awareness to came successful in numerous business ventures a sport that was created in the United States. As a and real estate deals. He and his wife, Joan, a pro- ballplayer for the Globetrotters, Magicians, and fessional model, owned Hayneco, Incorporated, a Bucketeers, he became an informal U.S. diplomat company that designed air-filtration bags. Marques by touring dozens of countries. Furthermore, dur- remained on the lecturing circuit, speaking to ing a time when there were few black ballplayers in both children and adults about his adventures any professional sports, Marques and his team- around the world playing basketball in front of mil- mates helped combat prejudice in segregated cit- lions of fans. He also put on dribbling exhibitions ies and towns. Marques helped break barriers, and that were second to none. Despite facing adverse he helped revolutionize the game with his fancy odds, Marques never allowed much to stop him dribbling and passing skills. from seeking his goals. He dealt with racism as Don Emmons well as anyone as the Globetrotters traveled all over the world. In fact, Marques and the rest of the Additional Sources barnstorming ballplayers of the 1940’s and 1950’s Green, Ben. Spinning the Globe: The Rise, Fall, and Re- deserve the credit for breaking some of the racial turn to Greatness of the Harlem Globetrotters. New barriers by playing in cities that were known for ra- York: Amistad, 2006. cial discrimination. Marques was inducted into the Hubbard, Jan, and David J. Stern. The Official NBA National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Encyclopedia. New York: Doubleday, 2000. (NAIA) Hall of Fame in 1985 and the Naismith Me- Velin, Bob. “Globetrotters Helped Spur NBA to In- morial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998. tegrate with ’48 Win Versus Lakers.” USA Today, February 21, 2003.

160 Walt Hazzard

Born: April 15, 1942 phia’s Overbrook High School—the same school Wilmington, Delaware where a tall, skinny child named Wilt Chamberlain Also known as: Walter Raphael Hazzard, Jr. (full had once been the team’s most dominant force. name); Mahdi Abdul-Rahman Coach Paul Ward helped Walt develop his overall skills, turning him into an excellent playmaker Early Life with great ball-handling and passing abilities. An Walter Raphael Hazzard, Jr., was born on April 15, all-around athlete, Walt also earned varsity letters 1942, in Wilmington, Delaware. Walt became a stand- in baseball and track. out athlete at an early age and became an instru- mental part of one of college basketball’s greatest The Road to Excellence dynasties and a solid playmaker in the NBA. After leading Overbrook to an 89-3 record and After his family moved to nearby Pennsylvania, two city championships, Walt was widely recruited Walt played on the basketball team at Philadel- during his 1961 senior season. As a 6-foot 2-inch guard, he was a skilled playmaker, an exceptional scorer, and a defensive standout on the Overbrook team. His outstanding leadership qualities on the court, however, attracted col- lege coaches from across the coun- try. Legendary coach John Wooden, who is considered by many to be the greatest college coach ever, also saw the leadership qualities in the young point guard. Wooden’s interest led Walt to the west coast to play at the University of California at Los An- geles (UCLA). At the conclusion of Walt’s high school basketball career, he received all-city, all-state, and all- American prep honors. He had also been the captain of the basketball, baseball, and track teams, and had served as student body president.

The Emerging Champion Walt’s decision to play at UCLA turned out to be a major factor in the Bruins dominance of men’s col- lege basketball for nearly a decade. Walt helped guide the Bruins to a 30-0 record en route to two straight National Collegiate Athletic Associ- ation (NCAA) championships. In Los Angeles Lakers guard Walt Hazzard in a game against the New York 1964, after his all-American senior Knicks. (Focus on Sport/Getty Images) season, Walt competed on the men’s

161 Walt Hazzard Great Athletes

Honors and Awards mostly in a limited role, with his best statistical year coming in the 1965-1966 season, when he averaged 1963 Southern California Basketball Writers’ Association 13.7 points and 4.9 assists per game. The Lakers Southern California Player of the Year lost Walt to the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1967 ex- 1963-64 Consensus All-American pansion draft. He played with the SuperSonics one 1964 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball season and then was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. Inducted into U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame He enjoyed his best scoring season during the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division I Player of 1967-1968 campaign with Seattle, when he scored the Year almost 24 points per game. Helms Athletic Foundation outstanding player In 1968, Walt made the NBA all-star team for the Citizens Savings College Basketball Player of the Year only time in his career. In 1973, for religious rea- NCAA Tournament most outstanding player sons, Walt changed his name to Mahdi Abdul- NCAA All-Tournament Team Rahman. Under that name, he finished his career 1968 NBA All-Star Team playing for the Buffalo Braves and Golden State 1983 California Collegiate Athletic Association Coach of the Warriors in 1973 and the SuperSonics in 1974. Year Over his ten-year career in the NBA, he averaged 1987 Athletes for Kids Father of the Year 12.6 points and 4.9 assists per game.

Continuing the Story U.S. Olympic team that played in Tokyo and won Walt coached at UCLA for four years before leaving the gold medal. in 1988, after recording a 77-47 record from 1985 As in high school, Walt collected numerous to 1988. Despite a winning record—which in- awards for outstanding play in college—he was a cluded a National Invitational Tournament cham- Look magazine All-American and the U.S. Basket- pionship—his three-year stint as the Bruins’ head ball Writers Association Division I player of the coach was not totally satisfying. With so much tradi- year. He was a unanimous all-coast team selection. tion, the Bruins wanted more than just winning He was United Press International’s Southern Cali- seasons—they wanted national championships. fornia player of the year. He was a physical educa- Walt did not produce any championships as a tion major, a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fra- coach, but he did help reintroduce a winning spirit ternity, and an assistant Bruin yell leader. to the program. Although his tenure was short, it is Seeking a point guard to complement Jerry notable because he was one of the first black head West in the backcourt, the Los Angeles Lakers se- coaches for a major university. His time spent in the lected Walt in the first round in the 1964 NBA national coaching ranks led to other minorities re- draft. Walt played three seasons for the Lakers, ceiving job offers from major universities.

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1964-65 66 117 .382 46 .648 111 140 280 4.2 1965-66 80 458 .457 182 .708 219 393 1,098 13.7 1966-67 79 301 .426 129 .729 231 323 731 9.3 1967-68 79 733 .441 428 .774 332 493 1,894 23.9 1968-69 80 345 .397 208 .707 266 474 898 11.2 1969-70 82 493 .467 267 .809 329 561 1,253 15.3 1970-71 82 517 .459 315 .759 300 514 1,349 16.5 1971-72 72 450 .451 237 .782 213 406 1.137 15.8 1972-73 55 107 .418 47 .825 88 129 261 4.7 1973-74 49 76 .422 34 .756 57 122 186 3.8 Totals 724 3,597 .441 1,893 .757 2,146 3,555 9,087 12.6 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

162 Basketball Walt Hazzard

Prior to coaching the Bruins, Walt gained some at his alma mater. He and his wife, Pat, have had of his coaching experience at the junior college four children. ranks. From 1980 to 1982, he was at Compton Col- Whether Walt was playing for or coaching at lege before working at Chapman College from UCLA, he was a major reason why the Bruin basket- 1982 to 1984. Walt is the founder and executive di- ball program accumulated such outstanding achieve- rector of the Los Angeles Sports Academy. Its mis- ments. As a player, he helped lead the Bruins to two sion is to develop responsible, educated youth. national championships. As one of the first African Academy students learn discipline and teamwork Americans to head a major college basketball pro- through the fundamental drills of basketball. In an gram, Walt put UCLA back in the spotlight. attempt to improve the skills of young basketball Don Emmons players, Walt, Bill Walton, and Greg Lee put to- gether a video titled Sports Clinic Basketball, which il- Additional Sources lustrates basketball fundamentals as well as more Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- advanced basketball concepts. ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters Press, 2000. Howard-Cooper, Scott. The Bruin One Hundred: The Summary Greatest Games in the History of UCLA Basketball. Whether Walt Hazzard was on the court or on the Lenexa, Kans.: Addax, 2002. bench, he was a key member of each team for Lazenby, Roland. The Show: The Inside Story of the which he played. After establishing a winning tradi- Spectacular Los Angeles Lakers in the Words of Those tion at UCLA, Walt went on to play ten years in the Who Lived It. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006. NBA, where he exhibited steady and solid play. Af- Wallechinsky, David, and Jaime Loucky. The Com- ter his playing career ended, Walt moved to the plete Book of the Olympics: 2008 Edition. London: coaching ranks and eventually wound up coaching Aurum Press, 2008.

163 Tom Heinsohn

Born: August 26, 1934 Although no one realized it at the time, the Jersey City, New Jersey Celtics were about to become one of the most suc- Also known as: Thomas William Heinsohn (full cessful franchises in the history of sports. Along name) with Tom, the team added center Bill Russell that season. The two new acquisitions joined two tal- Early Life ented holdovers—Bob Cousy and Bill Sharman— Thomas William Heinsohn was born August 26, to form a championship team. Tom quickly ad- 1934, in Jersey City, New Jersey. He later claimed it justed to life in the professional ranks; he scored 16 was a wonder he ever learned to play basketball. points per game and was voted the league’s top He was tall for his age, eventually growing to 6 feet rookie. He and Russell carried the Celtics to the 7 inches, but he was clumsy as a youngster. One day, NBA Finals against the St. Louis (later Atlanta) his mother took him aside and gave him dancing Hawks, winning the title in seven games. In the fi- lessons. This helped Tom develop more coordina- nals, Tom played one of the great games in the his- tion, a necessary basketball skill. Tom got his first tory of the finals, scoring 37 points and grabbing 23 big break when a local college player began teaching him the finer points of the game on the playground. Tom picked up some valuable tips on that playground and quickly became known as one of the best players in his area, even before going to high school.

The Road to Excellence Playing with older boys through- out his childhood and early years of high school taught Tom to be an unselfish player. As the youngest on the court, he was given strict instructions to pass and rebound and not take any shots. By the time he became a star, he was doubly dangerous—a talented player who could do more than score. After high school, Tom decided to go to Holy Cross, which was then one of the premier basketball schools in the East. He helped the Crusaders to win twenty-six of twenty-eight games in his first season. By the time he was a senior, Tom was con- sidered the best player in the East and one of the best in the country. The Boston Celtics drafted Tom when he graduated in 1956. Tom Heinsohn. (NBAE/Getty Images)

164 Basketball Tom Heinsohn

Honors and Awards scorer from the other team, or Tom might be asked to pass more on some nights or to set 1956 Consensus All-American screens and picks so that his teammates could 1957, 1961-65 NBA All-Star Team 1957 NBA Rookie of the Year get free for shots. With Tom providing a little 1961-64 All-NBA Team of everything, and whatever was needed in a 1973 NBA Coach of the Year particular situation, the Celtics dynasty was es- 1986 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 1995 Jack McMahon Award tablished. Tom averaged 18.6 points per game Uniform number 15 retired by Boston Celtics during his career, with a high scoring average of 22.1 during the 1961-1962 season. Tom stepped aside after the 1964-1965 sea- rebounds. That day, the Celtics won the first of the son, allowing the younger players to develop. He franchise’s many titles. was near the peak of his abilities but had become a successful businessman during his off-seasons, so The Emerging Champion he retired to pursue his business interests. The 1956-1957 championship was just the begin- ning for Tom and the Celtics. Although Boston lost Continuing the Story in the finals the next season, neither the team nor Red Auerbach, the coach of the Celtics, was so im- Tom was discouraged. The Celtics won the title for pressed with Tom’s will to win that, when Auerbach the next eight years in a row, the longest such streak stepped down, he asked Tom to take over the team. in professional sports. Tom always played a big role Tom declined, and Russell took over the coaching on those teams. He was known primarily as a duties, but several years later, once Russell retired shooter during his nine-year career. In fact, oppos- and the Celtics fell on hard times, Tom took over to ing players often teased him, labeling him a “gun- try to bring the Celtics back. ner.” Those opponents failed to see the whole pic- In his fourth year at the helm, the Celtics posted ture, however. Tom scored points because that was the best record in the NBA at 68-14. Tom was bit- his job. Celtics’ coach Red Auerbach knew he had terly disappointed when the New York Knicks de- players who could defend and players who could feated Boston in seven games in the 1970 Eastern rebound, but they could not shoot that well. Tom Conference Finals. Even so, Tom won the coveted was supposed to take many of the shots. NBA coach of the year honors. Adhering to Tom’s Shooting was not Tom’s only talent, however. In- coaching philosophy to keep pressure on the op- side the Celtic family, Tom was known as a fierce ponent at all times, play with great intensity, and competitor, someone who would do anything to control the tempo of the game, the Celtics won the win a game. Auerbach often took advantage of NBA Championship in 1974 and 1975. The Celtics that. On a particular night, he might ask Tom to of the 1970’s were led by Dave Cowens at center. concentrate more on defense to shut down a big Cowens was 6 feet 8 inches tall, shorter than almost

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1956-57 72 446 .397 271 .790 705 117 1,163 16.2 1957-58 69 468 .382 294 .746 705 125 1,230 17.8 1958-59 66 465 .390 312 .798 638 164 1,242 18.8 1959-60 75 673 .423 283 .734 794 171 1,629 21.7 1960-61 74 627 .400 325 .767 732 141 1,579 21.3 1961-62 79 692 .429 358 .819 747 165 1,742 22.1 1962-63 76 550 .423 340 .835 569 95 1,440 18.9 1963-64 76 487 .398 283 .827 460 183 1,257 16.5 1964-65 67 365 .383 182 .795 399 157 912 13.6 Totals 654 4,773 .405 2,648 .790 5,749 1,318 12,194 18.6 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

165 Tom Heinsohn Great Athletes every center in the league. Like his coach, however, Summary he was dedicated to winning. Tom devised new Tom Heinsohn was the perfect man for the team- ways to run offenses and defenses to make up for oriented Celtics. As both a player and a coach, he Cowens’s relative lack of height, and the Celtics was willing to try any strategy and take any job nec- kept on winning. During Tom’s eight seasons as essary for his team to be successful. Tom was ac- coach, the Celtics compiled a record of 416-240. complished off the court as well. After retiring, he Because of his success as a player and a coach, Tom became a top insurance salesman in was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basket- before coming back to coach his old team. ball Hall of Fame in 1986. John McNamara After leaving the team as a coach, Tom could not stay away from the game or his old team. In time, he Additional Sources became a television commentator for professional Auerbach, Red, and John Feinstein. Let Me Tell You and college basketball games. In 1981, he became a Story: A Lifetime in the Game. Boston: Little, the color commentator for the Celtics. In 1995, Brown, 2004. Tom received the Jack McMahon Award from the Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- National Basketball Coaches Association for his ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters Press, 2000. positive contributions to the NBA coaching profes- Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling sion. Kindersley, 2003.

166 Grant Hill

Born: October 5, 1972 By the age of twelve, he was more than 6 feet tall. Dallas, Texas In the summer of 1985, when he was thirteen, Also known as: Grant Henry Hill (full name) he led the Northern Virginia Hawks to the Ama- teur Athletic Union (AAU) tournament champi- Early Life onship. Three years later, in 1988, the Hawks won Grant Hill was born on October 5, 1972, in Dallas, the AAU championship again. During this time, Texas, the only child of Calvin and Janet Hill. His Grant was developing skills that eventually took father was an all-American football player at Yale him to the top of college and professional basket- University and an all-pro running back in the Na- ball. tional Football League (NFL). His mother once roomed at Wellesley College with Hillary Clinton. The Road to Excellence In 1969, Calvin was named NFL rookie of the year. Grant went to South Lakes High School in Reston He retired from professional football in 1981 and and made the varsity team as a freshman in 1985. became a vice president for the Baltimore Orioles His idol was Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and he wore professional baseball team. He later was named by Johnson’s number, 32, at South Lakes. As a 6-foot President Bill Clinton to the President’s Council 7-inch sophomore, Grant led his team to victory on Physical Fitness and Sports. Grant’s mother was in the Great Falls district championship. During a prominent attorney in the Washington, D.C., his junior year, South Lakes won the school’s first metropolitan area. regional championship before losing only its sec- When Grant was three years old, his family ond game of the year in the Virginia state finals. As moved to Reston, Virginia. His parents wanted the a junior, Grant primarily played forward. During best for their young son. He learned to play the his senior year, his coach wanted him to be the piano, and he traveled with his parents all over point guard, a challenge he readily accepted. That the world. He met many profes- sional athletes and political dig- nitaries, including Clifford Alex- ander, former secretary of the Army, who became a legal part- ner of his mother. Always an ex- cellent student, Grant attended Terraset Elementary School and Langston Hughes Junior High School. At the age of five, Grant be- gan playing soccer for the Res- ton Flying Tigers. He played with the team as a forward for nine years. Participating in soccer en- abled him to develop his foot- work and coordination, which helped him in basketball. He learned the fundamentals of bas- ketball from his father and spent much of his free time practicing at Reston’s Twin Branches Park. Grant Hill playing for Phoenix in 2008. (Rebecca Cook/Reuters/Landov)

167 Grant Hill Great Athletes

NBA Statistics Season GP FGA FGM FG% FTA FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1994-95 70 1,064 508 .477 511 374 .732 445 353 1,394 19.9 1995-96 80 1,221 564 .462 646 485 .751 783 548 1,618 20.2 1996-97 80 1,259 625 .496 633 450 .711 721 583 1,710 21.4 1997-98 81 1,361 615 .452 647 479 .740 623 551 1,712 21.1 1998-99 50 802 384 .479 379 285 .752 355 300 1,053 21.1 1999-00 74 1,422 696 .489 604 480 .795 490 385 1,906 25.8 2000-01 4 43 19 .442 26 16 .615 25 25 55 13.8 2001-02 14 195 83 .426 80 69 .863 125 64 235 16.8 2002-03 29 307 151 .492 144 118 .819 206 122 421 14.5 2004-05 67 1,015 517 .509 341 280 .821 318 220 1,317 19.7 2005-06 21 243 119 .490 102 78 .765 48 48 318 15.1 2006-07 65 660 342 .518 324 248 .765 138 138 934 14.4 2007-08 70 712 358 .503 196 170 .867 353 203 919 13.1 Totals 705 10,304 4,981 .483 4,633 3,532 .762 4,761 3,540 13,592 19.3 Notes: GP = games played; FGA = field goals attempted; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTA = free throws attempted; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game year, South Lakes won the prestigious Beach Ball The Emerging Champion Classic in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Grant During Grant’s first two years at Duke, the Blue was a member of the McDonald’s All-American Devils were back-to-back National Collegiate Ath- Team. letic Association (NCAA) Basketball Tournament In 1990, heavily recruited and offered scholar- champions. In a 1991 semifinal game against an ships by major colleges throughout the country, undefeated University of at Las Vegas Grant chose to attend Duke University. He found (UNLV) team that had trounced Duke by 30 points Duke’s dual emphasis on academics and athletics in the previous year’s championship game, Grant to his liking. Reminiscent of his freshman year held UNLV’s Stacey Augmon to 6 points in a thrill- in high school, he immediately became a starter ing 79-77 victory. Duke went on to defeat the Uni- as a freshman for Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s Blue versity of Kansas, winning its first NCAA Champi- Devils. onship in men’s basketball. In 1992, the Blue Devils finished with a 35-2 record, Honors and Awards including a memorable 1-point vic- tory over Kentucky in the Mideast re- 1990-92 Member of back-to-back NCAA Champion Duke Blue Devils gional final and a second consecu- 1992-93 Corinthian Award for top collegiate defensive player tive NCAA Championship with a win Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year over the University of Michigan. Consensus First-Team All-American In his junior year, 1993, Grant won 1994-95 NBA Co-Rookie of the Year (with Jason Kidd) NBA All-Rookie First Team the Henry Iba Corinthian award as 1995-98, 2000-01, 2005 NBA All-Star Team the nation’s top collegiate defensive 1996 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball player, taking some of the sting out NBA Player of the Week ending March 17 of Duke’s upset loss to the University 1996-97 IBM Award of California in the second round of All-NBA First Team the NCAA Basketball Tournament. 1997 NBA Player of the Week ending January 19, April 6 During his senior year, he led Duke NBA Player of the Month (January) 1997-2000 All-NBA Second Team to its fourth NCAA Championship 1999 NBA Player of the Week ending May 2 game in five years, this time resulting 2000 NBA Player of the Week ending January 9 in a tough loss to favored Arkansas. 2004-05 NBA sportsmanship award He received many awards his senior 2006 Magic Johnson Award year, among them the Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year, con-

168 Basketball Grant Hill sensus first-team all-American, and retirement of cause of his outstanding character, he was awarded his number, 33, only the eighth Duke player to be the NBA Joe Dumars Trophy for sportsmanship. so honored. As one of the nation’s premier college Fans loved having him back and voted him to the players, he was the third overall pick, by the Detroit all-star team. Groin injuries limited Grant to Pistons, in the 1994 NBA draft. twenty-one games in 2005-2006 but he played well in sixty-five games during the 2006-2007 season, Continuing the Story and the Magic made the playoffs. However, Or- Similar to his personal success on the high school lando fell in four games to Grant’s old team, the and college levels, Grant made an immediate im- Pistons. pact his rookie season with the Pistons. He led the As an unrestricted free agent, Grant decided to team in scoring, with 19.9 points per game, and go to the Phoenix Suns for the 2007-2008 season. steals, with 124. In 1995, he became the first rookie He was signed to a two-year contract and loved play- to be the leading vote getter for the NBA all-star ing the Sun’s fast-running game. Playing in seventy game. He was named to the NBA’s all-rookie team, games, Grant averaged more than 13 points and and, along with Jason Kidd, then of the Dallas Mav- made more than half of his field-goal attempts. As ericks, he was named co-rookie of the year. an aging star, Grant was still a starter but was ap- The ultimate team player, in 1995-1996, Grant proaching retirement. led the league with ten triple-double games, in Grant’s life off the court was fulfilling. He was in- which a player compiles double figures in three volved in many charities throughout the communi- major statistical categories. However, his crowning ties in which he played. In 1999, he served as vice achievement was selection to the U.S. team for the chairperson of the Special Olympics World Games. 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, where he He was a spokesperson for a variety of corpora- helped the Americans win a gold medal. In 1996- tions, including FILA, GMC trucks, Kellogg’s, and 1997, he was again the triple-double leader in the Sprite. In July, 1999, he married Tamia Washington NBA with thirteen. He had his highest scoring aver- of Windsor, , a professional singer for age during the 1999-2000 season with 25.8 points Elektra Records and a four-time Grammy Award per game. In his six years as a Piston, Grant was a nominee. five-time all-star, and he was named to the all-NBA first team once and the second team three times. In Summary 2000, as a free agent and one of the marquee play- Talented and articulate, unselfish and humble, ers in the NBA, he decided to sign with another Grant Hill embraced his opportunities with grace team, the Orlando Magic. However, after he played and style. On and off the basketball court, he was a only four regular-season games for the Magic, a se- winner and an ideal role model for young people vere ankle injury sidelined him for the rest of the and an active advocate for charitable works. After 2000-2001 season. his retirement, he was a strong candidate for en- Injuries continued to plague Grant during the shrinement in the Naismith Memorial Basketball 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 seasons. He was able to Hall of Fame. play in a total of only forty-seven games over his first Kevin Eyster, updated by Douglas A. Phillips three seasons in Orlando. He missed the entire 2003-2004 season, and he nearly died because of a Additional Sources severe infection. In 2004-2005, he was able to re- Gutman, Bill. Grant Hill: A Biography. New York: turn to basketball, and he performed well, averag- Pocket Books, 1997. ing 19.7 points a game over sixty-seven contests. Be- Lowenstein, Felicia. Super Sports Star Grant Hill. Berkeley Heights, N.J.: Enslow, 2001. Milestones Rolfe, John, and Dalton Ross. Grant Hill: Superstar Forward. New York: Rosen, 2002. 1995 First rookie in NBA history to lead the league in All-Star Torres, John Albert. Sports Great Grant Hill. Berke- Game voting ley Heights, N.J.: Enslow, 2001. 1996 Led all players in All-Star Game voting

169 Chamique Holdsclaw

Born: August 9, 1977 learned her skills mainly by playing with the boys in Astoria, New York her neighborhood. The real strength in her life, Also known as: Chamique Shaunta Holdsclaw however, came from her grandmother, June, who (full name) taught her from an early age to rely on God for all she needed. The number on Chamique’s jersey, Early Life 23, referred to the Twenty-third Psalm. Her grand- Born in 1977, in Astoria, New York, Chamique mother became the stabilizing influence in her life Holdsclaw showed her athletic promise early. She after her parents, Bonita and Willie, divorced when started playing basketball at the age of ten and she was eleven. Chamique and her brother, Davon, lived with their grandmother, in the Astoria Houses; eventually, Davon re- turned to live with his mother. On the outdoor basketball courts of Astoria, Chamique earned the nickname “flat out,” an expression used to indicate a high level of commitment. Although living in a housing project often plagued with drug dealings and shoot- ings, Chamique kept her focus on basketball and school.

The Road to Excellence At Christ the King High School, Cha- mique led the girls basketball team to four state championships and one na- tional title. The team compiled a rec- ord of 106-4 during the four years. In her final season, Chamique aver- aged 25 points and 15 rebounds per game. Her brother and grandmother attended her games regularly. Her coach, Vincent Cannizzaro, helped her polish her skills, while her grand- mother helped her decide which col- lege to attend.

The Emerging Champion Chamique accepted an offer to at- tend the University of Tennessee, play- ing for coach Pat Summitt, who be- came another influential figure in Chamique’s life. Under Summitt’s tu- telage, Chamique became the foun- Chamique Holdsclaw looking for a teammate in a 2004 WNBA game. dation on which an incredibly strong (Mitchell Layton/NBAE/Getty Images) team was built.

170 Basketball Chamique Holdsclaw

WNBA Statistics Season GP FGA FGM FG% FTA FTM FT% Reb. Ast. Pts. PPG 1999 31 462 202 .437 150 116 .773 246 74 525 16.9 2000 32 499 232 .465 128 87 .680 240 80 561 17.5 2001 29 467 187 .400 148 101 .682 256 66 486 16.8 2002 20 330 149 .452 106 88 .830 232 45 397 19.9 2003 27 480 204 .425 155 140 .903 294 89 554 20.5 2004 23 403 162 .402 132 106 .803 191 56 437 19.0 2005 33 450 216 .480 160 126 .788 223 104 561 17.0 2006 25 315 148 .470 86 76 .884 152 56 375 15.0 2007 5 63 31 .492 18 15 .833 28 15 79 15.8 Totals 225 3,469 1,531 .441 1,083 855 .789 1,862 585 3,975 17.7 Notes: GP = games played; FGA = field goals attempted; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTA = free throws attempted; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

Chamique earned many accolades and awards continued to return to Astoria to visit her family while playing for Tennessee. She started impres- and the old neighborhood. sively, winning most valuable player honors during her first road trip to Hawaii, where the Lady Volun- Continuing the Story teers won the Kona title. She did not stop there, as In the fall of 1999, Chamique took the next step in she continued to acquire personal honors and her career, joining the of the team victories. At the end of the 1998 and 1999 sea- Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) sons, Chamique was named the Associated Press as the number-one draft pick. In her first season basketball player of the year. After the 1998 season, she was the rookie of the year. She was a starter on she was one of twelve women athletes selected as in- the Eastern Conference all-star team in both 1999 spirational role models by Women’s Sports and Fitness and 2000. She traveled to Sydney, Australia, with magazine. the U.S. women’s basketball team to play in the In 1999, she won the ESPY award as female ath- 2000 Summer Olympics but suffered a foot injury lete of the year and was named Women’s Basket- on the eve of her team’s opening game. The team ball Coaches Association player of the year. She was also selected to the Honors and Awards Kodak twenty-fifth anniversary all- American team in 1999. Sports Illus- 1997-99 Associated Press First Team All-American trated and Sporting News named Cha- 1998 One of twelve female athletes selected as inspirational role models mique the national women’s player by Women’s Sports and Fitness magazine of the year. When Chamique won the 1998-99 Associated Press Women’s Basketball Player of the Year Sullivan Award for best amateur ath- Naismith College Player of the Year Award lete, she became the first female bas- 1999 WNBA Rookie of the Year ketball player to earn the prestigious Kodak 25th Anniversary Team honor. Women’s Basketball Journal, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News By the time Chamique left Tennes- National Woman Player of the Year see, she was the Southeastern Confer- James E. Sullivan Award ence’s all-time leading scorer, with ESPY Female Athlete of the Year 3,025 points. She led the Lady Volun- 1999-2003, 2005 WNBA All-Star Team teers to three national champion- 2000 Olympic Basketball Team ships. In 1995 and 1998, she also played for the Olympic Festival team; USA Basketball Women’s Senior National Team in 1997, she played in the FIBA World 2002 Women’s Research and Education Institute American Woman Award Olympic Qualifying Tournament. 2006 WNBA all-decade honorable mention Throughout her career, Chamique

171 Chamique Holdsclaw Great Athletes won the gold medal, though Chamique did not and in college. In the WNBA she shined as a peren- play in the Games. nial all-star. Her role in the WNBA also placed her Chamique played for the Mystics for six seasons, in the position of role model, giving her the oppor- becoming one of the stars of the WNBA. She was tunity to tell young girls that basketball is only a sometimes compared to Michael Jordan for the part of the equation: Getting a good education is range of her basketball skills. In 2002, however, she the real key. was deeply affected by the death of her grand- Leslie Heaphy, updated by Howard Bromberg mother. She was also slowed by ankle sprains. In 2004, she missed several games because of depres- Additional Sources sion. In March, 2005, she was traded to the Los An- Grundy, Pamela, and Susan Shackelford. Shattering geles Sparks. In May of that year, she scored her the Glass: The Remarkable History of Women’s Basket- 3,000th WNBA point. ball. New York: New Press, 2005. In the summer of 2007, Chamique announced Holdsclaw, Chamique, with Jennifer Frey. Chamique her retirement from the WNBA. She had a splen- on Family, Focus, and Basketball. New York: Scrib- did career in women’s professional basketball. ner, 2004. From 2002 to 2004, she averaged about 20 points ______. My Story. New York: Aladdin, 2001. and 10 rebounds per game. She was selected to the Moscatello, Caitlin. “Getting Away from It All.” WNBA all-star team six times. In 2007-2008, she Sports Illustrated 107, no. 22 (December 3, 2007): played for the Lotos Gdynia team in Poland’s bas- Z4. ketball league. Nelson, Kristi. The Chamique Holdsclaw Story. New York: Scholastic, 2000. Summary Summer, Barbara, ed. Open the Unusual Door: True Chamique Holdsclaw was one of the all-time great Life Stories of Challenge, Adventure, and Success by women’s basketball players both in high school Black Americans. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2005.

172 Robert Horry

Born: August 25, 1970 Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Basketball Harford County, Maryland Tournament in 1991 and 1992. Robert finished his Also known as: Robert Keith Horry (full name); college career as Alabama’s all-time leader in Big Shot Bob blocks; in his senior year, he was named to the all- Southeastern Conference (SEC) first team and the Early Life all-SEC academic team. Born in Maryland on August 25, 1970, the son of an Army staff sergeant and a third-grade teacher, Rob- The Road to Excellence ert Horry grew up in Alabama, where he won the In 1992, Robert was selected eleventh in the first Naismith Alabama high school player of the year round of the NBA draft by the Houston Rockets, award his senior year. Robert went on to play col- where he became close with Rockets coach Rudy lege basketball at the University of Alabama, lead- Tomjanovich. After his first season, Robert was ing the team to the Sweet Sixteen in the National named to the NBA all-rookie second team. While with the Rockets, Robert won his first two NBA Championships and made his first significant “clutch” shot in the playoffs, hitting a game- winning jump shot in the final seconds of game one of the Western Conference Finals. In 1995, Robert was traded to the Detroit Pistons for . However, because of Elliott’s kidney ail- ment, the trade was voided, and Robert remained with the Rockets. In 1996, Robert was traded to the Phoenix Suns, but after some tension with Suns coach , Robert was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Emerging Champion With the Lakers, Robert cemented his reputation as “Big Shot Bob.” During three consecutive NBA Championship runs, Robert made key shots to get the win for the Lakers. The most significant was in 2002, in game four of the Western Conference Fi- nals against the Sacramento Kings. Having trailed by 24 points in the first half, the Lakers had come to within 2 points in the final moments of the game. After teammates Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal both missed shots, Robert got the ball at the top of the key and made a three-point shot as time ex- pired. In 2002, Robert’s hometown of Andalusia, Alabama, named August 2 Robert Horry Day, and a park in town was renamed Robert Horry Park in his honor. Los Angeles Lakers forward Robert Horry slamming the In 2003, Robert became a free agent, signing ball during the 2002 playoffs against the Sacramento with the San Antonio Spurs to be closer to his Kings. (Adrees Latif/Reuters/Landov) family. After struggles during his first season with

173 Robert Horry Great Athletes

the team, Robert continued his NBA Statistics “clutch” shooting during his sec- ond season with the Spurs. In Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 2005, the Spurs made it to the 1992-93 79 323 .474 143 .715 392 191 801 10.1 1993-94 81 322 .459 115 .732 440 231 803 9.9 NBA Finals against the Detroit 1994-95 64 240 .447 86 .761 324 216 652 10.2 Pistons, and in game five, Robert 1995-96 71 300 .410 111 .776 412 281 853 12.0 scored 21 points in the fourth 1996-97 54 157 .436 60 .667 237 110 443 8.2 1997-98 72 200 .476 117 .692 542 163 536 7.4 quarter and overtime, including 1998-99 38 67 .459 34 .739 152 56 188 4.9 a game-winning three-point shot 1999-00 76 159 .438 89 .788 361 118 436 5.7 in the final seconds. Tim Duncan 2000-01 79 147 .387 59 .711 296 128 407 5.2 2001-02 81 183 .398 108 .783 479 232 550 6.8 called Robert’s performance in 2002-03 80 184 .387 103 .769 514 233 522 6.5 game five “the greatest perfor- 2003-04 81 141 .405 69 .645 272 101 392 4.8 mance I’ve ever been a part of.” 2004-05 75 157 .419 86 .789 268 80 451 6.0 2005-06 63 112 .384 44 .647 242 79 321 5.1 Robert went on to win his sev- 2006-07 68 90 .359 38 .594 229 77 268 3.9 enth NBA Championship ring 2007-08 45 38 .319 18 ..643 109 47 112 2.5 when the Spurs won the 2007 Totals 1,107 2,820 .425 1,280 .726 5,269 2,343 7,715 7.0 NBA Championship. Robert’s Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = role in the Spurs 2007 Western free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total Conference Finals series against points; PPG = points per game the Phoenix Suns was controver- sial, as he was suspended for two games in the series after making a hard foul against ward who could make “clutch” shots, particularly Suns guard Steve Nash. in the playoffs. His timely shooting led him to seven NBA Championships, with three different teams. Continuing the Story He won more NBA Finals than anyone not associ- He continued to play with the Spurs, who lost in the ated with the Boston Celtics, and, along with John 2008 Western Conference Finals to the Los Angeles Salley, he was the only player to win championship Lakers. During the 2008 playoffs, Robert broke rings with three different teams. Robert also holds Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record for most playoff- the NBA record for most three-pointers made in game appearances, with 244, although he remained the NBA Finals with 53. on the bench during the Spurs final playoff game Julie Elliott against the Lakers. Robert became a free agent at the end of the 2008 season. Additional Sources Asked why he has been such an excellent Beck, Howard. “Robert Horry.” Sports Illustrated for “clutch” shooter, Robert mentioned his ability to Kids 15, no. 5 (May, 2003): 36. relax and not take the game too seriously. He told D’Arcy, Grant, and Leslie Cooperstein. “Warm- Sports Illustrated for Kids: Up.” Sports Illustrated for Kids 17, no. 9 (Septem- ber, 2005): 15-24. A lot of guys feel like if they miss, it’s the end of McCallum, Jack. “Hurly-Burly Championship.” Sports the world. I know when I go home, my kids are go- Illustrated 102, no. 26 (June 27, 2005): 48-54. ing to still be happy to see me, my parents are go- ing to be happy to see me.

With a total of seven NBA Championships, Rob- NBA Records and Honors ert earned more rings than Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Most games played in the playoffs, 244 Jordan, and Magic Johnson. Most career three-pointers in the NBA Finals, 53 Most three-pointers in playoff game without a miss, 7 Summary Second player to win NBA title with three different teams Robert Horry was well-known as a solid power for- 1992-93 NBA All-Rookie Second Team

174 Dan Issel

Born: October 25, 1948 dent, he signed a letter of intent to attend academi- Batavia, Illinois cally strong Northwestern University. Dan wanted Also known as: Daniel Paul Issel (full name); the to play basketball more than anything else, how- Horse ever, and at his father’s suggestion, he chose to at- tend the University of Kentucky, a traditional bas- Early Life ketball power. Daniel Paul Issel was born on October 25, 1948, in Batavia, Illinois. After moving to Sedalia, Missouri, The Emerging Champion his family returned to Illinois and resettled in Dan was not an instant success with the Kentucky Batavia when Dan was twelve years old. Although Wildcats, although he was a starter during his soph- basketball is one of the most popular pastimes in omore year (freshmen were not eligible to play var- the Midwest, Dan was more interested in his studies. He enjoyed football, baseball, basketball, and track, but he did not show much promise as an athlete. Eventually, though, Dan learned to approach basket- ball with the same determination and ability with which he pursued his school- work.

The Road to Excellence Batavia High School did not have a good basketball team, so it was no surprise that Dan, a 6-foot freshman, earned a uni- form. The awkward youth showed little aptitude during his first two seasons; how- ever, by the time Dan entered his junior year, two dramatic events had occurred that altered his future. He had grown to 6 feet 7 inches, making him a far better bas- ketball prospect, and a new coach, Dono- van Van Der Snick, had come to Batavia from a successful basketball program at Galva, Illinois. Van Der Snick instilled the Batavia team with the confidence and determina- tion that carried them into two state sec- tional tournaments. Moreover, the coach realized Dan’s potential and groomed him into an all-state player by his senior season. The modest young man who was only a few years removed from clumsiness was suddenly receiving many scholarship offers. Dan also discovered how much he Denver Nugget Dan Issel boxing out the opposition and waiting for enjoyed playing basketball. Still a fine stu- the rebound. (Courtesy of NBA)

175 Dan Issel Great Athletes

Honors and Awards had been nicknamed “The Baron” because of his dominant personality. Rupp was one of the oldest 1969-70 College All-American and strictest coaches in basketball; Dan, though, 1971 ABA Co-Rookie of the Year learned to take his criticism constructively. ABA All-Rookie Team In 1970, Dan left Kentucky at the peak of the competition between the NBA and the American 1971-76 ABA All-Star Team Basketball Association (ABA) for talented players. 1971, 1973-74, 1976 All-ABA Second Team Dan’s combination of size, strength, quickness, 1972 All-ABA First Team and shooting ability made him a hotly pursued pro- ABA All-Star Game most valuable player fessional prospect. The , a finan- 1977 NBA All-Star Team cially troubled club in the ABA, selected Dan in the 1993 Inducted into Naismith Memorial first round of the 1970 ABA draft. Dan’s popularity Basketball Hall of Fame in Kentucky made him attractive to the Colonels, who hoped that the same fans who had cheered him at as a Wildcat would return sity sports at the time). Coach Adolph Rupp was there to cheer him as a Colonel. a fine judge of talent and could foresee the 6-foot Dan was also selected by the Detroit Pistons in 9-inch, 240-pound youngster as a star at the center the NBA draft, but he was offered approximately position. Dan continued to improve as a shooter $1.4 million by the Colonels, a huge contract for a and rebounder. By the time he concluded his col- rookie at the time, and he chose to sign with Ken- lege career at Kentucky, Dan had established new tucky. Moreover, shortly after Dan’s arrival at his school records by scoring 2,138 points and averag- first professional camp, the Colonel’s veteran cen- ing 25.7 points per game over three years. He had ter, Gene Moore, was traded away. also scored 53 points in one game and twice been selected an all-American, making as a Continuing the Story senior in 1970. As a rookie, Dan made an immediate impact, and Nearly as impressive as his play was the special he was selected to play in the ABA all-star game in relationship Dan had developed with his coach. the middle of his first season. He finished the sea- Adolph Rupp was not easy to get along with and son as the scoring leader, with an average of 29.9

Professional Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1970-71 83 938 .470 604 .807 1,093 162 2,480 29.9 1971-72 83 972 .486 591 .785 931 195 2,538 30.6 1972-73 84 902 .513 485 .764 922 220 2,292 27.3 1973-74 83 829 .480 457 .787 847 137 2,118 25.5 1974-75 83 614 .471 237 .738 710 188 1,465 17.7 1975-76 84 752 .511 425 .816 923 201 1,930 23.0 ABA Totals 500 5,007 .488 2,799 .787 5,426 1,103 12,823 25.6 1976-77 79 660 .515 445 .797 696 177 1,765 22.3 1977-78 82 659 .512 428 .782 830 304 1,746 21.3 1978-79 81 532 .517 316 .754 738 255 1,380 17.0 1979-80 82 715 .505 517 .775 719 198 1,951 23.8 1980-81 80 614 .503 519 .759 676 158 1,749 21.9 1981-82 81 651 .527 546 .834 608 179 1,852 22.9 1982-83 80 661 .510 400 .835 596 223 1,726 21.6 1983-84 76 569 .493 364 .850 513 173 1,506 19.8 1984-85 77 363 .459 257 .806 331 137 984 12.8 NBA Totals 718 5,424 .506 3,792 .797 5,707 1,804 14,659 20.0 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

176 Basketball Dan Issel points per game, and helped Kentucky into the commentary for the University of Kentucky basket- 1970-1971 playoffs. The Colonels fell to the Utah ball games, Dan provided commentary for the Stars in seven games during the championship Denver Nuggets’ games from 1988 to 1992. Dan round, but Dan had impressed everyone with his was selected as the head coach of the Nuggets for play, and he was named co-rookie of the year in the 1992-1993 season and led the Nuggets into the the ABA (along with Charlie Scott of the Virginia playoffs in 1994. After Denver finished the 1994- Squires). 1995 season at 41-41 and sneaked into the playoffs, Dan did not possess overwhelming size for a cen- Dan unexpectedly resigned as the head coach a few ter, but he was able to use his physical strength. An games into the following season. explosive first step also allowed him to drive around On March 25, 1998, Dan was named vice presi- larger players, while his convincing fakes moved dent and general manager of the Nuggets. His task opponents out of position. Completing his arsenal was to restore a winning tradition to the franchise. was a good medium-range jump shot. Rather than In 1999, he appointed himself to again coach the muscle for position near the basket as most NBA Nuggets. In 2001, he resigned from his coaching big men do, Dan often shot from the perimeter. position under controversial circumstances. The young all-star moved to the forward posi- tion during his second professional season to make Summary room for 7-foot 2-inch Artis Gilmore to play center. When Dan was named head coach of the faltering The Colonels had the best record in ABA history Denver Nuggets before the 1992-1993 season, he the next season—although they failed to win the brought to the job the same elements that had championship—and Dan raised his scoring aver- made him a successful player: intelligence, dedica- age to 30.6 points per game. tion, and determination. The Nuggets improved Four seasons later, Dan had played in six ABA by twelve games. In 1993, Dan Issel was rewarded all-star games and had been a key factor in Ken- for his accomplishments with induction into the tucky’s 1975 ABA Championship. In 1976, Dan was Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in sold to the Denver Nuggets and played one more Springfield, Massachusetts. His success and longev- ABA season before the league merged with the ity were a result of hustle and desire. NBA. After nine NBA seasons with Denver, Dan re- Ronald L. Ammons tired with 27,482 combined ABA/NBA points. He remained the Nuggets’ all-time leading scorer un- Additional Sources til Alex English passed him during the 1987-1988 Hubbard, Jan, and David J. Stern. The Official NBA season. Dan lived up to his nickname of “The Encyclopedia. New York: Doubleday, 2000. Horse” by missing only twenty-four games during Issel, Dan, and Buddy Martin. Parting Shots. Chi- his fifteen-year professional career. cago: Contemporary Books, 1985. After his retirement, Dan moved back to Ver- Sharpe, Wilton. Wildcat Madness: Great Eras in Ken- sailles, Kentucky, and ran a horse-breeding busi- tucky Basketball. Nashville, Tenn.: Cumberland ness on his farm. After spending a year doing color House, 2005.

177 Allen Iverson

Born: June 7, 1975 The only father Allen knew was Michael Free- Hampton, Virginia man, who moved in with his mother shortly after Also known as: Allen Ezail Iverson (full name); Allen’s birth. Allen has two younger half sisters; A. I.; the Answer Brandy was born to his mother Ann and Freeman in 1979, and Aiesha was born to the couple in 1991. Early Life From birth, Aiesha suffered from seizures. The Allen Ezail Iverson was born in Hampton, Virginia, bills from doctors, hospitals, and specialists drove on June 7, 1975. He spent his early life trying to sur- Ann deep into debt; there was often no power or vive hard times. His mother, Ann, was fifteen years heat in Allen’s house because his mother could not old when Allen was born, and she lived in Hartford, pay the utility bills. On one occasion, the floor was Connecticut, before his birth. His father, Allen coated with raw sewage. Allen had poor school at- Broughton, was from Hartford and had little con- tendance because he was often home taking care of tact with his son. Aiesha while his mother was working at the ship- yards or at a clothing factory.

The Road to Excellence Allen was an accomplished high school ath- lete, considered by some to be the best high school basketball player in the country. He won the state player of the year award in both football and basketball. He led Bethel High School to the state football title by throwing for 201 yards, returning a punt for a 60-yard touch- down, and intercepting 2 passes. Three days af- ter this state championship football game, Al- len scored 37 points in the basketball season opener. Because of his impoverished upbringing, Allen decided early he wanted to be rich. He often told his mother that when he became wealthy he would buy her a red Jaguar. His plan for success was nearly ruined on February 14, 1993, however, when he and a friend walked into a bowling alley in Hampton after a high school game. A racial dispute in the bowling alley turned into a fight. Allen testified he left as soon as the fight broke out. Despite his plea of innocence, seventeen-year-old Allen was among four black teenagers charged. He had no prior criminal record, but he was tried as an adult, convicted of maiming by mob, and sen- tenced to five years in the state penitentiary. Allen was granted a conditional release by Detroit Pistons guard Allen Iverson laying the ball in the basket then-governor of Virginia L. Douglas Wilder in a 2008 game. (Kirthmon F. Dozier/MCT/Landov) after serving four months. He could not play

178 Basketball Allen Iverson

NBA Statistics Season GP FGA FGM FG% FTA FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1996-97 76 1,504 625 .416 544 382 .702 312 567 1,787 23.5 1997-98 80 1,407 649 .461 535 390 .729 296 494 1,758 22.0 1998-99 48 1,056 435 .412 474 356 .751 236 223 1,284 26.8 1999-00 70 1,733 729 .421 620 442 .713 267 328 1,989 28.4 2000-01 71 1,813 762 .420 719 585 .814 273 325 2,207 31.1 2001-02 60 1,669 665 .398 585 475 .812 269 331 1,883 31.4 2002-03 82 1,940 804 .414 736 570 .774 344 454 2,262 27.6 2003-04 28 1,125 435 .387 455 339 .745 178 324 1,266 26.4 2004-05 75 1,818 771 .424 786 656 .835 299 596 2,302 30.7 2005-06 72 1,822 815 .447 829 675 .814 232 532 2,377 33.0 2006-07 65 1,313 581 .442 610 485 .795 193 468 1709 26.3 2007-08 82 1,556 712 .450 797 645 .809 243 586 2,164 26.4 Totals 847 18,756 7,983 .426 7,690 6,000 .780 3,142 5,295 22,988 27.1 Notes: GP = games played; FGA = field goals attempted; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTA = free throws attempted; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game organized sports again until after he graduated debut game. Later that season, he set an NBA from high school. Two years later, Allen’s convic- rookie record by scoring more than 40 points in tion was reversed by the state court of appeals. five consecutive games. He was named NBA rookie Allen entered Georgetown University in 1994. of the year and the most valuable player (MVP) in Because of his jail sentence, he had been away from the all-star rookie game. That season, Allen aver- competitive sports for a year. However, when he be- aged 23.5 points per game and was second in the gan playing basketball at Georgetown it seemed league with 7.5 assists per game. When he received as if he had never left the game. His mother had the rookie of the year award, he gave it to his reportedly approached Georgetown coach John mother, whom he credited for his success in the Thompson while her son was serving time, looking NBA, saying she gave him the heart to play. for a strong coach to guide Allen. She felt Thomp- son’s no-nonsense style was exactly what her son Continuing the Story needed to reorganize his life. Despite Allen’s achievements, he met with criti- cism during his first season. He had proclaimed The Emerging Champion himself “The Answer” with a body tattoo and a sig- While at Georgetown, Allen averaged 23 points, 4.7 nature Reebok shoe before even playing a profes- assists, and 3.4 steals per game. He was the Big East Conference defensive player Honors and Awards of the year for two consecutive seasons. Despite his love for Georgetown, Allen 1995-96 Big East League Defensive Player of the Year decided to leave college for the NBA af- Associated Press First Team All-American 1997 Schick NBA Rookie of the Year; first 76er to win the award ter two years. He had a plan for success NBA All-Rookie First Team aimed at helping his family. On June 26, NBA Rookie of the Month (April) 1996, the 6-foot 165-pound sophomore Most valuable player of the Schick Rookie Game NBA Rookie of the Month (November) point guard, who had led the 1998 NBA Player of the Week ending January 18 Georgetown Hoyas in scoring, became 1999 NBA Player of the Month (February) the first player chosen in the NBA draft, 1999, 2001, 2005 All-NBA First Team 1999, 2001-02, 2005 NBA scoring leader by the Philadelphia 76ers. The following 2000, 2002-03 All-NBA Second Team September, he signed a three-year, $9.4- 2000-09 NBA All-Star Team million contract. 2001 NBA most valuable player 2001, 2005 NBA All-Star Game most valuable player During his first pro season, Allen ac- 2004 Bronze medal, Olympic Basketball complished what is expected of a number- 2006 All-NBA Third Team one draft pick. He scored 30 points in his

179 Allen Iverson Great Athletes sional game. He was accused of being a selfish as strong. In 2004, Allen again played for Brown player who was not interested in his team’s accom- when the latter coached the U.S. team to a third- plishments. Furthermore, Chicago Bulls superstar place finish in the Olympics. Meanwhile, Allen con- Michael Jordan accused Allen of disrespecting him tinued to attract off-court notoriety in the NBA, during a game. having run-ins with management at Atlantic City Philadelphia 76ers coach made casinos. In 2005, he publicly criticized NBA com- one of his best coaching moves when he shifted Al- missioner David Stern’s dress code as racist; in len to shooting guard. This enabled Allen to clinch 2006, he was fined by the NBA for criticizing offi- the 1998-1999 NBA’s scoring title over Shaquille cials. O’Neal of the Los Angeles Lakers. Allen averaged Also in 2006, a confrontation with Coach Mau- 26.8 points per game and became the shortest rice Cheeks and a subsequent fine by general man- player ever to win the title. Also in 1999, Allen ager Billy King led to Allen’s irreparable breach signed a six-year, $71-million extension with the with the team. He was traded to the Denver Nug- 76ers. gets, where he joined Carmelo Anthony and In the 2000-2001 season Allen lifted his game to helped lead his new team to the sixth seed in the a new level. He began the year strongly and never tough Western Conference. In the 2007-2008 sea- let up, scoring even more profusely than ever, while son, Allen started all of Denver’s contests, averag- adding a stronger team-orientation to his game. By ing 26.4 points per game to lead the team. The the end of the season, not only did he lead the Nuggets made the playoffs in a tight race but lost to league in scoring for the second time, with a 31.1- the Lakers in the first round. During the series, Al- point average, but also he led his team in assists in len averaged 24.5 points per game, again leading most games, He was voted the league’s MVP by a the team. Early in the 2008 season, Allen was wide margin. Under his leadership, the Sixers fin- traded to the Detroit Pistons and made an immedi- ished the season with the second-best record in the ate impact on the team. In January, 2009, he was se- league and earned home-court advantage in the lected as a starter for the Eastern Conference all- Eastern Conference playoffs. star team. Although his body was wearing down after the long regular season, Allen played well throughout Summary the playoffs. Several key teammates were hurt, too, Allen Iverson earned a reputation in the NBA as ar- but he seemed to will his team to victory through rogant and angry. However, those close to him have three, tight playoff series. In the NBA Finals, the said he is often portrayed unfairly. He was one of Sixers faced the Los Angeles Lakers. In the first the quickest players in league history, and his high game, Allen led Philadelphia to a surprise upset was elegant and impressive. over the Lakers in Los Angeles. Afterward, how- Emerging from a difficult childhood, Allen be- ever, the powerful Lakers proved too strong for the came one of the best players in the history of the tired Sixers and won four consecutive games to University of Georgetown and established a hall-of- take the NBA title. With Allen, most of his team- fame caliber career in the NBA. mates, and Coach Brown returning, the Sixers Karen M. Turner, updated by Frederick B. Chary hoped to return to the finals in 2002. In the following years, the Sixers did not fare as Additional Sources well, although Allen continued to play exception- Finkel, Jon. Allen Iverson. Los Angeles: Tokyopop, ally, averaging around 30 points a game. He had 2005. some public confrontations with Brown, particu- Platt, Larry. Only the Strong Survive: The Odyssey of Al- larly in 2003, when Brown criticized Allen for miss- len Iverson. New York: ReganBooks, 2002. ing practice. Allen countered that he did not need Stewart, Mark. Allen Iverson: Motion and Emotion. practice. However, the two praised each other pub- Nass, Colo.: Millbrook Press, 2001. licly and appeared to respect each other. Taylor, Phil. “A Turn for the Better.” Sports Illus- In 2003, Brown left Philadelphia, and Allen’s re- trated 90, no. 11 (March, 1999): 42-47. lationships with the succeeding coaches were not

180 Mark Jackson

Born: April 1, 1965 years, professional basketball within 90 minutes of Brooklyn, New York where he grew up. Mark starred at St. John’s Uni- Also known as: Mark A. Jackson (full name); versity, starting on the great 1980’s Redmen (now Action Red Storm) teams under Coach Lou Carneseca. Mark was the eighteenth overall pick in the first Early Life round of the 1987 NBA draft. Playing point guard Early on, Mark Jackson gained a reputation as a for the New York Knicks under Coach , streetballer on New York’s playground basketball Mark was named NBA rookie of the year in 1988. courts, such as . One in a long line of gifted point guards to come out of New York City, The Road to Excellence Mark was already an elite player at Bishop Lough- With the Knicks, Mark teamed with center Patrick lin Memorial High School. Mark was lucky enough Ewing. This pairing of savvy floor general and dom- to play high school, college, and, for the first six inant big man composed the second best guard/ center combination in the NBA, sur- passed only by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The Knicks dominated many Eastern Conference opponents and had epic battles with Larry Bird’s Boston Celtics, Isaiah Thomas’s Detroit Pistons, and Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls. Mark, at 6 feet 3 inches and a bruis- ing 185 pounds, was well known for his ability to “back down” smaller oppos- ing point guards. Turning his back to his defender, Mark slowly worked his way to the basket and muscled up a shot against his defender or caused the other team’s big men to help out, thereby freeing his own teammates for passes under the basket. Mark was one of the masters of the no-look pass. A decent shooter from midrange, Mark had a knack for getting to the free- throw line. Critics pointed to Mark’s lack of speed. However, he was intelli- gent and knew how to conduct his team’s offense. He emphasized ball control and half-court offense.

The Emerging Champion In 1989, for the first and only time, Mark was named to the NBA all-star team. Playing under the media micro- Mark Jackson in 1987. (Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) scope in New York City, Mark felt the

181 Mark Jackson Great Athletes

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1987-88 82 438 .432 206 .774 396 868 1,114 13.6 1988-89 72 479 .467 180 .698 341 619 1,219 16.9 1989-90 82 327 .437 120 .727 318 604 809 9.9 1990-91 72 250 .492 117 .731 197 452 630 8.8 1991-92 81 367 .491 171 .770 305 694 916 11.3 1992-93 82 459 .486 241 .803 388 724 1,181 14.4 1993-94 79 331 .452 167 .791 348 678 865 10.9 1994-95 82 239 .422 119 .778 306 616 624 7.6 1995-96 81 296 .473 150 .785 307 635 806 10.0 1996-97 82 289 .426 168 .789 395 935 812 9.9 1997-98 82 249 .416 137 .761 322 713 678 8.3 1998-99 49 138 .419 65 .823 184 386 373 7.6 1999-00 81 246 .432 79 .806 296 650 660 8.1 2000-01 83 244 .419 73 .785 305 661 631 7.6 2001-02 82 260 .439 87 .791 309 605 686 8.4 2002-03 82 147 .398 61 .763 176 375 382 4.7 2003-04 42 34 .340 28 .718 70 119 103 2.5 Totals 1,296 4,793 .447 2,169 .770 4,963 10,334 12,489 9.6 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game pressure to win a championship. However, in 1992, years were memorable. In his first stay with Indi- he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, which ana, Mark had been reunited with Brown, his for- had been known as one of the worst franchises in mer Clippers coach. Coming back to the Pacers, the NBA. At the time, the team was coached by Mark was coached by Larry Bird, who had no previ- Larry Brown. With Mark as the starting point guard ous coaching experience. Bird’s 2000 team, led by and and as key com- Mark, made the NBA Finals for the first time in ponents, the Clippers turned into a contender, franchise history, losing the championship in six making the playoffs in 1993. games to Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, and the In 1994, Mark was traded to the Indiana Pacers Los Angeles Lakers. for point guard . Mark had two stints in Indiana, from 1994 to 1996 and from 1997 Continuing the Story to 2000. In 1996, Mark was traded to the Denver Despite stating publicly that he wanted to end his Nuggets for and played less than sixty career in Indiana, Mark accepted a lucrative offer games for the franchise. Meanwhile, Indiana’s rec- from the . Mark’s stay in Toronto ord suffered; the team missed the playoffs for the lasted less than one season, and he began his sec- first time in several years. The Pacers’ solution was ond run in New York. Playing for Knicks coach Jeff to bring back Mark, trading veteran Eddie Johnson Van Gundy, Mark was back at his starting position. and little-used Vincent Askew to Denver. Mark re- The franchise was rebuilding, and Mark reminded joined the Pacers lineup and started with Reggie the New York fans and media of better days. How- Miller, Rik Smits, Rose, and Dale Davis. This lineup ever, Mark’s slowness and deliberate style also was a proved potent for several seasons, and the team’s reminder of why he was traded in the first place. He rivalries with the Knicks and the Bulls during these was traded again to the Denver Nuggets, where he was immediately waived. Honors and Awards In 2002, Mark played with the Utah Jazz as John Stockton’s backup. Thus, the Jazz had the NBA’s 1988 NBA Rookie of the Year top-two career-assist leaders in Stockton and Mark. 1989 NBA All-Star Team Finally, Mark finished his career with the Houston 2003 Recorded 10,000 assists (only third player to do so) Rockets, again playing for Coach Van Gundy. After his retirement, Mark became an analyst for the YES

182 Basketball Mark Jackson

Network, broadcasting games for the New Jersey He was second in assists, thirteenth in games Nets. Mark’s intelligence, flair, and knowledge of played, and twenty-third in steals. Playing in an era the game drew the attention of ESPN and ABC. of flashy, high-flying point guards, Mark was an ex- Mark appeared on both networks, teamed with vet- ception. His cool head and talent for leadership on eran broadcaster Mike Breen and Van Gundy. In the floor earned him the respect of his rivals and 2008, when the Knicks head coaching job was va- teammates. cant, Mark was rumored to be one of the top con- Randy L. Abbott tenders. Though he did not get the job, NBA insid- ers believed he would be a head coach in the Additional Sources league at some point. Berkow, Ira. “Mark Jackson and His Pilot’s Li- cense.” The New York Times, May 14, 1989, p. A4. Summary Carter, Richard. “Mark Jackson, the Nets’ Classy TV From brash, young streetballer to experienced, Analyst, Is Rising Star.” The New York Amsterdam knowledgeable floor general and broadcaster, News, March 30, 2006, p. 10. Mark Jackson had a sixteen-year NBA career. He re- Rhoden, William C. “Mark Jackson Developing His tired among the leaders in several career statistics. Potential.” The New York Times, January 11, 1986.

183 LeBron James

Born: December 30, 1984 left hand and gained the fundamentals of the game Akron, Ohio by playing Sunday nights at the Akron Jewish Com- Also known as: LeBron Raymone James (full munity Center. As he got older, he grew much name); King James; the Chosen One; the taller. By the time he was in the eighth grade, he L-Train; the King was 6 feet tall and could play all five basketball posi- tions. At that time, he enrolled in Vincent-Saint Early Life Mary High School in downtown Akron. LeBron Raymone James was born on December LeBron had a remarkable freshman year at 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio. He started life with the Vincent-Saint Mary. He averaged 19 points per disadvantage of having a biological father, An- game and was a leader on the team in rebounding, thony McClelland, who was in and out of prison assists, and steals. His contributions helped lead and paid little attention to him. Consequently, his the team to a perfect 27-0 record and the school’s mother, Gloria James, become the most in- fluential person in his life. Despite her in- ability to find steady work and being forced to move often, Gloria kept LeBron away from the influences of crime and rampant poverty in the bad neighborhoods of Akron. Her de- termination played a major role in shaping LeBron’s future identity. LeBron showed remarkable and versatile athletic ability from an early age. On the football field, he was a gifted receiver. When he was in the fourth grade, he started playing Pee Wee football and scored 19 touchdowns during his first season. However, it was the basketball court on which he would show his true greatness. He had natural ability in bas- ketball and modeled his play after his idol Michael Jordan. LeBron had early success in playing bas- ketball, but he began missing classes, partly because of his unstable home environment. Frankie Walker, his Pee Wee football coach and mentor, talked to his mother and encour- aged her to allow LeBron to live with his fam- ily temporarily. In this arrangement, LeBron finally got the stability he needed to excel both in the classroom and on the basketball court.

The Road to Excellence Living with the Walker family made LeBron a better basketball player. During that pe- LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunking the ball in riod of his life, he learned to shoot with his 2008. (Aaron Josefczyk/Reuters/Landov)

184 Basketball LeBron James first state championship since 1984. He also still Honors and Awards played football: He gained more than 700 yards as a receiver on the high school team and was 2001-03 USA Today All-USA First Team named to Ohio’s all-state team, even though Ohio Mr. Basketball 2002 Gatorade national high school basketball player of the year his team finished an unremarkable 4-6. 2003 McDonald’s all-American game most valuable player During his sophomore year in high school, Naismith Prep Player of the Year LeBron averaged 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 2004 Bronze medal, Olympic Basketball NBA Rookie of the Year nearly 6 assists per game on the school basket- 2005, 2007 All-NBA Second Team ball team. He led Vincent-Saint Mary to a sec- 2005-09 NBA All-Star Team ond state title; the team lost only one game 2006, 2008 All-NBA First Team during the whole season. At the end of the sea- NBA All-Star Game most valuable player 2008 NBA scoring champion son, he became the first sophomore selected Gold medal, Olympic Basketball “Mr. Basketball” and the first sophomore to be 2009 NBA most valuable player named to the USA Today all-USA first team. As a junior, LeBron raised his scoring to nearly 30 points a game and was again voted “Mr. Basketball” The Emerging Champion and named to USA Today’s all-USA first team. As LeBron was finishing high school in Akron, After he was named the 2001-2002 Gatorade na- the Cavaliers of nearby Cleveland made him the tional boys basketball player of the year and fea- number-one pick in the 2003 NBA draft. League tured in several prominent magazines, LeBron was rules limited the size of his rookie contract, but he dubbed “King James.” His popularity allowed his signed a huge endorsement deal with a shoe com- team to move its games from Vincent-Saint Mary’s pany. Then, in his first professional game, he re- school gym to the James A. Rhodes Arena at the corded 25 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds, and 6 steals. University of Akron. Star athletes regularly attended In a game against the New Jersey Nets, he became games, and many of Vincent-Saint Mary’s games the youngest player to score at least 40 points in a were televised. LeBron began receiving hints of game. He made the Cavaliers more competitive by million-dollar offers to become a professional. averaging 21 points, 6 assists, and more than 5 re- Seeing an opportunity for him to play sooner as bounds per game. To no one’s surprise, he won a professional, LeBron attempted to declare him- rookie of the year honors. The only other NBA self eligible for the NBA draft and failed because of players ever to compile similar numbers during his high school status. As a senior at Vincent-Saint their first season had been Oscar Robertson and Mary’s, LeBron won a third consecutive title. In ad- Michael Jordan. dition to winning “Mr. Basketball” of Ohio again, After picking up a bronze medal as a member of he was the most valuable player (MVP) at the Mc- the U.S. men’s team during the summer 2004 Donald’s All-American game, the EA Sports Round- Olympic Games in Greece, LeBron was voted to his ball Classic, and the Jordan Capital Classic. He fin- first NBA all-star game during the 2004-2005 sea- ished his high school career with 2,657 points, 892 son. His accomplishments that season included be- rebounds, and 523 assists. coming the youngest player to score 50 points in

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 2003-04 79 622 .417 347 .754 432 465 1,654 20.9 2004-05 80 195 .472 477 .750 588 577 2,175 27.2 2005-06 79 875 .480 601 .738 556 521 2,478 31.4 2006-07 78 772 .476 489 .698 526 470 2,132 27.3 2007-08 75 794 .484 549 .712 592 539 2,250 30.0 Totals 391 3,858 .467 2,463 .728 2,694 2,572 10,689 27.3 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

185 LeBron James Great Athletes

a game and the youngest ever to register a triple- ond round. After the heightened expectations of double (10 or more points, rebounds, and assists) 2007, this was a disappointing finish for LeBron, in a game. During the season as a whole, the twenty- but he got some compensation during the summer year-old LeBron averaged 27 points, 7 rebounds, of 2008 as a member of the gold medal-winning and 7 assists per game, but his team missed the play- U.S. men’s basketball team at the Beijing Olym- offs. pics. After returning to the NBA for the 2008-2009 Continuing the Story season, LeBron led the Cavaliers to the best won- During the 2005-2006 season, LeBron was elected loss record during the regular season and was to his second consecutive all-star game, in which named the league’s most valuable player. In the he led the Eastern Conference team to victory and playoffs, he averaged more than 35 points, 9 re- was named the game’s MVP. In addition to becom- bounds, and 7 assists a game, and led the Cavaliers ing the youngest all-star game MVP in history, to sweeps of their first two opponents. However, LeBron scored other firsts that season. At twenty- even though LeBron increased his productivity one, he was the youngest player to average 30 in the conference finals, the Cavaliers met their points per game, and he was named NBA player of match in the Orlando Magic, which went on to lose the week five times. Moreover, under his leader- to the Los Angeles Lakers in the finals. ship, the Cavaliers made the playoffs for the first time since 1998. After winning the first-round se- Summary ries, Cleveland lost to the Detroit Pistons, who LeBron James had an extraordinary early career became the eventual Eastern Conference cham- and was on his way toward becoming a legend in pions. the game. His combination of unselfishness, lead- During the following season, 2006-2007, the ership, instinct, and intelligence on and off the Cavaliers won fifty games for the second consecu- court won him the respect of his teammates and tive year and went further in the playoffs than ever fans across the globe. His potential for future suc- before. In game five of the Eastern Conference Fi- cess was so great that one of the chief topics of dis- nals, a winning effort against the Pistons, LeBron cussion in the NBA during and after the 2008-2009 scored 48 points, 25 of which he recorded during NBA season was what team might land him after he the game’s two overtimes. By defeating the Pistons, became a free agent more than a year into the fu- the Cavaliers advanced to the NBA Finals for the ture. first time in the thirty-seven year history of the Brian Culp team; however, the team was swept by the San Anto- nio Spurs, who won a third championship in five Additional Sources seasons. Gregory, Sean. “King James.” Time 165, no. 5 (Janu- During the 2007-2008 season, LeBron won an- ary, 2005). other all-star game MVP award and led another Morgan, David Lee. LeBron James: The Rise of a Star. solid team to the NBA playoffs. This time, Cleve- Cleveland: Gray, 2003. land beat the in the first Pluto, Terry, and Brian Windhorst. The Franchise: round, only to lose in seven games to the Boston LeBron James and the Remaking of the Cleveland Celtics, the eventual NBA champions, in the sec- Cavaliers. Cleveland: Gray, 2008.

186 Gus Johnson

Born: December 13, 1938 that recruited Gus, but he turned them all away. He Akron, Ohio liked the idea of playing college basketball, but he Died: April 28, 1987 was not interested in going to class or in studying. Akron, Ohio No matter what anyone said, Gus was not motivated Also known as: Gus Johnson, Jr. (full name); to continue in any form of school. After finishing Honeycomb high school, he spent most of his time in Akron’s many poolrooms. Gus became good at winning Early Life money playing pool, but his mother did not like Gus Johnson, Jr., was born on December 13, 1938, what was becoming of her son. in Akron, Ohio. He was one of six children in the In 1959, Gus enrolled in the University of Akron Johnson household. As he grew up, Gus became a and attempted to participate in college life. He felt good all-around athlete. By the time he reached comfortable playing freshman basketball, but Central High School in Akron, he was skilled in studying was still something he did not take seri- basketball, football, and the high jump. He was ously. When Gus was not on the basketball court, strong and somewhat reckless in his play, especially he was in a poolroom perfecting his bank shot. He in football, where he became known as “Bloody stayed at the University of Akron for only one se- Gus.” As a linebacker, he could be brutal; in one mester, then got a job working for the treasurer’s high school game he broke his knee. Gus decided office of Cuyahoga County, Ohio. The job did not to give up football after that and concentrate on be- last long either. The lure of the poolroom was too coming a better basketball player. Focusing on bas- strong. ketball helped him to go from a solid player to a Gus seemed to be content with his life until he great player. Gus could shoot accurately, play tough was approached by a man named George Swyers. defense, and outjump players who were inches Swyers—a friend of the basketball coach at the Uni- taller than he. He was the center on the team his se- versity of Idaho—wanted Gus to attend junior col- nior year even though Nate Thurmond—a future lege in Boise for one year and then transfer to the great NBA center—was also on the team. , where he would play basket- ball for Joe Cipriano. Gus was at first hesitant to ac- The Road to Excellence cept the offer, but the more he thought about it, Gus had all the basketball tools necessary to go a the more he realized that it might be his only long way in the sport. He could make spectacular chance to get out of Akron. passes to his teammates because of his outstanding peripheral vision. Gus practiced for hours, throw- The Emerging Champion ing blind passes to a specific spot on a wall until he Before Gus left for Boise, he and his girlfriend were could hit it consistently. There were many colleges married, and the two headed for the unfamiliar en- vironment of Idaho. Gus wanted to make the most Honors and Awards of this opportunity. He impressed his junior col- lege coach, George Blankly, with his ability to shoot 1964 NBA All-Rookie Team with either hand. Blankly was somewhat skeptical 1965, 1968-71 NBA All-Star Team of how good Gus would be before he saw him; how- ever, after witnessing Gus perform on the court, 1965-66, 1970-71 All-NBA Team the coach knew that everything he had heard was 1970-71 NBA All-Defensive Team accurate. The year at Boise was good for Gus. He Uniform number 25 retired by Washington transferred to the University of Idaho as planned, Bullets and his future finally looked bright. Coach Cipriano was pleased with his new player

187 Gus Johnson Great Athletes

Professional Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1963-64 78 571 .430 210 .658 1,064 169 1,352 17.3 1964-65 76 577 .418 261 .676 988 270 1,415 18.6 1965-66 42 273 .413 131 .736 546 114 677 16.1 1966-67 73 620 .450 271 .708 855 194 1,511 20.7 1967-68 60 482 .467 180 .667 782 159 1,144 19.1 1968-69 49 359 .459 160 .717 568 97 878 17.9 1969-70 78 578 .451 197 .724 1,086 264 1,353 17.3 1970-71 66 494 .453 214 .738 1,128 192 1,202 18.2 1971-72 39 103 .383 43 .683 226 51 249 6.4 1972-73 21 69 .381 25 .694 136 31 163 7.8 NBA Totals 582 4,126 .440 1,692 .699 7,379 1,541 9,944 17.1 1972-73 50 132 .441 31 .738 245 62 299 6.0 ABA Totals 50 132 .441 31 .738 245 62 299 6.0 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

from Akron. During the 1962-1963 season, Gus fin- During Gus’s tenure, the 1969-1970 season was ished second in the nation in rebounding. He was the Bullets’ best. Even though Gus was recovering the star of the team, and the local press loved him, from a knee operation, he still managed to average reporting that he played like a real “Globetrotter.” 17.3 points per game and gather in more than Scouts from the NBA became interested in Gus. Be- 1,000 rebounds. The Bullets lost to the eventual cause four years had already passed since he had NBA champions—the New York Knicks—in the first enrolled at the University of Akron, Gus was el- playoffs. The knee injury did not heal as hoped. igible to enter the NBA draft without finishing his Gus continued to work as hard as ever, but he was in collegiate eligibility at Idaho. The Baltimore Bul- constant agony and could not sleep because of the lets chose Gus in the second round of the 1963 pain. In the spring of 1971, Gus underwent surgery NBA draft. on both of his troubled knees. He could no longer It took some time during his first year with Balti- contribute to the Bullets as he had in the past and, more for Gus to adjust, but once he did, a confi- therefore, was traded to the Phoenix Suns before dent Gus began making a name for himself in the the beginning of the 1972-1973 season. NBA. He scored 1,352 points and averaged 17.3 On his new team, Gus did not have to score as points per game during his rookie season. The fans much, but the Suns were not pleased with his con- loved the way he could hang in the air and make tribution, and he was put on waivers before the end seemingly impossible shots. Gus was a colorful indi- of the season. Gus still wanted to play and thought vidual and he enjoyed the spotlight. He helped the he could contribute positively on the right team. Baltimore Bullets contend for the title. He decided to sign with an American Basketball As- sociation (ABA) team, the Indiana Pacers. Continuing the Story Although he could no longer perform as be- Gus became a star in his second season. He was fore, his experience was invaluable to the younger named to the NBA all-star team and, for the season, Pacer players. His 6-foot 6-inch, 235-pound body he averaged 18.6 points and 13 rebounds per could no longer take the punishment of profes- game. Although the fans were in awe of his fantastic sional basketball, however, and he retired after moves and shots, Gus was not a one-dimensional only one season with the Pacers. player. He was tough on defense, a ferocious re- Gus was not able to enjoy a long life away from bounder, and able to score over almost anyone in competitive basketball. In 1986, he was diagnosed the league. He played in every all-star game be- with an inoperable brain tumor, and he died on tween 1968 and 1971. April 28, 1987, in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.

188 Basketball Gus Johnson

Summary competitor and a credit to the game that he loved Gus Johnson was a powerful basketball player who so much. possessed body control that amazed sportswriters Jeffry Jensen and fans alike. The power forwards of today can point to Gus as one of the first players to fill that Additional Sources role. He played in five all-star games and was named Hubbard, Jan, and David J. Stern. The Official NBA to the NBA all-defensive team in 1970 and 1971. Encyclopedia. New York: Doubleday, 2000. For his contribution to the Baltimore Bullets, his Smith, Ron, Ira Winderman, and Mary Schmitt uniform number, 25, was retired. He was known as Boyer. The Complete Encyclopedia of Basketball. “Honeycomb” during his career, and was a tough London: Carlton, 2002.

189 Larry Johnson

Born: March 14, 1969 quarterback on a Pop Warner League football Tyler, Texas team in which all of the other players were fourteen Also known as: Larry Demetric Johnson (full years old. He supplemented his toughness on the name); Grandma-ma; LJ gridiron by taking up boxing at the local Police Athletic League. Early Life That toughness served him well after he and his Larry Demetric Johnson was born to Dortha John- mother moved to the rugged streets of south Dal- son on March 14, 1969, in Tyler, Texas. Despite las when Larry was twelve. Basketball and tough growing up without a father, Larry rapidly ma- love from his mother kept Larry honest and away tured. By the time he was nine, he was the starting from the temptations of dealing drugs and run- ning with the tough neighborhood crowds. He learned his skills during physical games at Green Bay Park, an area riddled with crime, where players often feared the possi- bility of stray bullets hitting them. By the seventh grade the park pickup games, along with a growth spurt, had molded Larry into a 6-foot 2-inch, 190-pound child with a powerful post-up game and a soft outside shooting touch.

The Road to Excellence In 1983, Dortha took the advice of one of Larry’s junior high school coaches and sent her son across town to a less violent, racially diverse high school. As a freshman at Sky- line High in Dallas, Larry told basketball coach J. D. Mayo that he was ready for the varsity squad. Mayo allowed him to start the first game of the season, and by halftime Larry had amassed 17 points. He was well on his way to a stellar four-year varsity ca- reer. Larry’s Skyline High team did not lose a single home game as he matured into a 6-foot 5-inch, 200-pound player with a com- plete offensive game and a ferocious ability to rebound. After his senior year he earned high school player of the year honors and attracted attention from colleges across the country. He had initially decided to attend Southern Methodist University in Dallas but instead enrolled at Odessa Junior Col- Larry Johnson scoring on an emphatic slam dunk in 1991. lege in order to address his reading defi- (Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images) ciencies.

190 Basketball Larry Johnson

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGA FGM FG% FTA FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1991-92 82 1,258 616 .490 409 339 .829 899 292 1,576 19.2 1992-93 82 1,385 728 .526 438 336 .767 864 353 1,810 22.1 1993-94 51 672 346 .515 197 137 .695 448 184 834 16.4 1994-95 81 1,219 585 .480 354 274 .774 585 369 1,525 18.8 1995-96 81 1,225 583 .476 564 427 .757 683 355 1,660 20.5 1996-97 76 735 376 .512 274 190 .693 393 174 976 12.8 1997-98 70 884 429 .485 283 214 .756 401 150 1,087 15.5 1998-99 49 458 210 .459 164 134 .817 284 119 587 12.0 1999-00 70 652 282 .433 167 128 .766 380 175 750 10.7 2000-01 65 598 246 .411 128 102 .797 363 127 645 9.9 Totals 707 9,086 4,401 .484 2,978 2,281 .766 5,300 2,298 11,450 16.2 Notes: GP = games played; FGA = field goals attempted; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTA = free throws attempted; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

The Emerging Champion thrashing of Duke in the finals. He ended the sea- Larry was named junior college player of the year son as a national champion and consensus first both years at Odessa. In his second season he aver- team all-American after averaging 20.6 points and aged 28.3 points and 17.3 rebounds per game and 11.4 rebounds. led Odessa to a 33-2 record and a regional title. Larry returned for his senior season and guided More important, his reading skills improved to a UNLV to a 33-0 record before losing to Duke in the college level and he was ready to move on to a uni- NCAA tournament semifinals. He was once again versity. named a first team all-American and received the Larry had met University of Nevada at Las Vegas Award and John Wooden Award as (UNLV) players and Stacey Aug- the college player of the year. His senior averages of mon at the 1988 Olympic trials and built a friend- 22.7 points and 10.9 rebounds lifted him to the ship that led him to enroll at UNLV in 1989. Under head of the 1991 NBA draft, where he was chosen the leadership of coach the UNLV number one overall by the Charlotte Hornets. Runnin’ Rebels lost only three games during Larry’s first year. In the National Collegiate Ath- Continuing the Story letic Association (NCAA) tournament UNLV re- As an incoming NBA rookie many critics ques- ceived the top seed in the Western Region, and tioned whether Larry would be able to measure up Larry contributed to wins over Arkansas-Little Rock, against the league’s taller power forwards. Once he Ohio State, and Ball State before ringing up 20 took the court, size did not matter as he fought his points and 18 rebounds in a 131-101 victory over way to rookie of the year honors by averaging 19.2 Loyola Marymount. In the Final Four he scored 22 points and 11 rebounds. He quickly became known points against in the semifinals and for his smile and sense of humor—he dressed up in tallied 22 points and 11 rebounds in a 103-73 a wig and a dress to become the basketball-playing “Grandma-ma” in a series of popular Converse Honors and Awards sneaker commercials. In his second season, Larry earned a starting 1989-90 Junior College Player of the Year spot on the 1993-1994 Eastern Conference all-star 1990-91 First-Team College All-American team. He ended the season by leading the Hornets 1991 Naismith College Player of the Year Award to the franchise’s first-ever playoff appearance John R. Wooden College Player of the Year Award where they upset the favored Boston Celtics before NBA number-one draft pick bowing out in the second round against the New 1992 NBA Rookie of the Year York Knicks. 1994 NBA All-Star Team During the off-season the Hornets awarded his hard work with a then-record twelve-year, $84 mil-

191 Larry Johnson Great Athletes

lion contract extension. Not long after he had ball, he returned to UNLV where he received his signed the deal doctors discovered a herniated disc B.A. in social science in 2007. in his back. In 1994, he attempted to come back, only to succumb to a lower back strain that kept Summary him out of thirty-one games. The back injuries Larry Johnson was often identified by his record hampered him for the rest of his career. His re- $84 million dollar contract and the inherent ex- bounding average dipped to under 9 rebounds per pectations of such a rich deal. Many considered game the next three seasons, and his scoring aver- him a disappointment when he did not average 20 age also took a dive before rising to 20.5 points per points and 10 rebounds, but his most valuable asset game in 1995-1996. In 1996, he was traded to the was always his knack for winning. Throughout his New York Knicks, and, because of the presence of basketball career his teams consistently played in Patrick Ewing as the primary offensive weapon, postseason games. His career averages may not Larry’s scoring decreased. match up with the all-time great players, but he was Larry consistently provided leadership and the a team leader and scored more than 11,000 points occasional big play on a team that was a perennial in his abbreviated career. championship contender. In 1999, with Patrick Ew- Craig Causer ing on the sidelines because of an injury, Larry hit a 4-point play with 5.7 seconds remaining in game Additional Sources three of the conference finals against the Indiana Brenner, Richard J. Shaquille O’Neal and Larry John- Pacers. The Knicks went on to win the game 92-91 son. Syosset, N.Y.: East End Publishing, 1993. and the series four games to two. Despite the hero- Carp, Steve. Runnin’: UNLV Rebels, a Basketball Leg- ics, Larry did not get to add an NBA Championship acy. Las Vegas, Nev.: Stephens Press, 2005. ring to his trophy collection, as the San Antonio Gutman, Bill. Larry Johnson: King of the Court. Spurs defeated the upstart Knicks four games to Brookfield, Conn.: Millbrook Press, 1995. one in the finals. In 2001, Larry retired because of Porter, David L. Basketball: A Biographical Dictionary. his recurring back problems. After leaving basket- Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2005.

192 Magic Johnson

Born: August 14, 1959 6 feet 8 inches and weighed 200 pounds. At this size Lansing, Michigan in high school, Magic should have been playing the Also known as: Earvin Johnson, Jr. (birth name) center position, but he played as a guard. His size and ballhandling skills made him almost unstoppa- Early Life ble. He was named to the all-state team and se- Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Jr., was born on August lected United Press International prep player of 14, 1959, in Lansing, Michigan. He was the second the year in Michigan all three years of his high son of Earvin and Christine Johnson. His father school career. moved to Lansing from Brookhaven, Massachu- Although many colleges recruited Magic, he de- setts, so that he could work for Olds- mobile in one of that company’s plants. Earvin, Sr., had to take two jobs so that he could provide for his family. Magic learned early the value of hard work. His father taught him the fundamentals of basketball. Magic applied these skills on the lo- cal playgrounds of Lansing, where he improved his game by playing ev- ery position. Competition was tough on the playgrounds, and he found that if he passed the ball to team- mates, he was more valuable to his team. He was developing skills that would take him to the pinnacle of professional basketball.

The Road to Excellence Magic went to Everett High School in Lansing and made the varsity bas- ketball team in 1974. As a sopho- more, he helped the team to the state Class A quarterfinals. His high school coach, George Fox, was influ- ential in making him a more com- plete player. Fox encouraged him to work hard on his passing and drib- bling skills. During this time, Magic earned his nickname from a sports- writer because he was so adept at handling the ball. Everett advanced to the semifinals in Magic’s junior year and won the state Class A cham- Los Angeles Laker Magic Johnson, who reinvented the point guard posi- pionship in his senior year. By the tion and won five NBA Championships in the 1980’s. (Andrew D. Bern- time Magic was a senior, he stood stein, Courtesy of Los Angeles Lakers)

193 Magic Johnson Great Athletes cided to stay in Lansing and attend Michigan State draft, he was the first choice of the Los Angeles University. As a freshman in 1977, he led the Spar- Lakers. The Lakers had high expectations for tans to a 25-5 record, and the team won the Big Ten Magic, and he had never been one to shy away from Conference title. In the National Collegiate Ath- challenging situations. His enthusiasm for life and letic Association (NCAA) Basketball Tournament, the game he loved brought out the best in all of his Michigan State advanced to the Mideast Regional teammates. finals before losing to the University of Kentucky. Magic’s rookie season was more successful than Despite the loss, Magic had had a good year: He was even Magic could have supposed. The Lakers fin- named to the all-Big Ten Conference team and se- ished the regular season with a 60-22 record and lected as a second-team all-American. moved into the playoffs confidently. The team reached the NBA Finals and faced the Philadelphia The Emerging Champion 76ers. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the Lakers’ star cen- After only one year of college basketball, Magic was ter, had played magnificently throughout the play- approached by professional scouts. He was offered offs but was injured in the fifth game against the a large sum of money, but he decided to stay at 76ers. Magic assumed the role of center in the sixth Michigan State in the hopes of winning an NCAA game in Philadelphia. Leading the series 3-2, the title. He did not have to wait long for his dream to Lakers needed only one more victory to clinch the come true. The Spartans, under Magic’s floor lead- title. In the sixth game, Magic rose to new heights. ership, won the NCAA Basketball Tournament the He scored 42 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, next season by defeating Indiana State University helping the Lakers capture the NBA title. He was in the finals. Indiana State’s star player, Larry Bird, selected as MVP for the playoffs. The rookie of the was outplayed by Magic on this particular occasion. year award went to Bird of the Boston Celtics, but In the future, Magic and Bird competed against Magic had taken his team to the title. each other many times and always had the utmost respect for each other. Bird received most awards, Continuing the Story such as player of the year, but Magic was named Players and fans alike were in awe of Magic’s most valuable player (MVP) for the tournament playmaking ability. He electrified crowds with his and also had the NCAA title. spectacular passes. Many agreed that “Magic” was After accomplishing what he set out to do in the an appropriate name for one who could perform collegiate ranks, Magic decided to become a pro- such tricks on the basketball court. Throughout fessional. Because he was known as an unselfish the 1980’s, the Lakers always contended for the player, many NBA teams wanted him. In the 1979 NBA title.

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1979-80 77 503 .530 374 .810 596 563 1,387 18.0 1980-81 37 312 .532 171 .760 320 317 798 21.6 1981-82 78 556 .537 329 .760 751 743 1,447 18.6 1982-83 79 511 .548 304 .800 683 829 1,326 16.8 1983-84 67 441 .565 290 .810 491 875 1,178 17.6 1984-85 77 504 .561 391 .843 476 968 1,406 18.3 1985-86 72 483 .526 378 .871 426 907 1,354 18.8 1986-87 80 683 .522 535 .848 504 977 1,909 23.9 1987-88 72 490 .492 417 .853 449 858 1,408 19.6 1988-89 77 579 .509 513 .911 607 988 1,730 22.5 1989-90 79 546 .480 567 .890 522 907 1,765 22.3 1990-91 79 466 .477 519 .906 551 989 1,531 19.4 1995-96 32 137 .466 172 .856 183 220 468 14.6 Totals 906 6,211 .520 4,960 .848 6,559 10,141 17,707 19.5 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

194 Basketball Magic Johnson

In 1982, the Lakers beat the 76ers NBA Records again for the NBA Championship, with Magic picking up another MVP award. Most assists in an All-Star game, 22 (1984) Most assists in a playoff game, 24 (1984) (record shared) During the next two seasons, Los An- Most assists in a Finals game, 21 (1984) geles fell in the finals, first to Philadel- phia and then to Boston. The Lakers got Honors and Awards revenge on the Celtics in the 1985 NBA Finals. The championship was the first 1977 All-Big Ten Team 1979 NCAA Tournament most outstanding player ever for the Lakers over the Celtics. Magic NCAA All-Tournament Team was determined not to let his team lose. Consensus All-American He was also becoming a more mature Overall first choice in the NBA draft player. He made the game look easy, but 1980, 1982, 1987 NBA Finals most valuable player he relied on hard work and mental tough- 1980, 1982-91 NBA All-Star Team 1980 NBA All-Rookie Team ness to succeed. Citizen Savings Southern California Athlete of the Year Magic’s toughest season was 1986- 1982-89, 1991 All-NBA Team 1987. His sister, Mary, died at the age 1982 Seagram’s Seven Crowns of Sports Award of thirty-three. Magic was heartbroken, 1984 Schick Pivotal Player Award but his teammates helped him through 1987, 1989, 1990 NBA most valuable player 1987 Sporting News NBA Player of the Year his grief. Magic dedicated the season to Allstate Good Hands Award Mary. The Lakers went on to defeat the 1990, 1992 NBA All-Star Game most valuable player Celtics for the 1987 NBA title. Magic was 1991-92 J. Walter Kennedy Citzenship Award named NBA MVP and The Sporting News 1992 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball NBA player of the year. The Lakers also 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time 1999 Named one of the twenty greatest NBA players of all time captured the 1988 NBA title, becoming Uniform number 32 retired by Los Angeles Lakers the first team in nineteen years to win 2002 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame back-to-back championships. Friars Club Lifetime Achievement Award During the 1990-1991 season, Magic Howard University Messenger Award became the all-time assists leader, sur- Los Angeles Business Journal’s Community Leadership Award Crenshaw Chamber of Commerce’s entrepreneur of the year passing Oscar Robertson’s career total ROBIE Award of 9,887; later, John Stockton surpassed 2003 May 15 Declared Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Jr., Day in Michigan Magic. That same season, Magic helped 2004 City of Angels Corporate Award the Lakers to a 58-24 record and another 2007 National Civil Rights Museum Lifetime Achievement Award trip to the NBA Finals. Although the Lakers lost to the Chicago Bulls, the ap- pearance in the NBA Finals was the team’s ninth in Olympic Dream Team and won a gold medal in twelve seasons. Off the court, Magic married his Barcelona, Spain. high school sweetheart, Cookie Kelly, on Septem- After retirement, Magic wrote a book about safe ber 14, 1991. sex, ran several businesses, worked as a television At a nationally televised press conference on commentator for NBC, and explored the possibil- November 7, 1991, Magic shocked the sports world ity of buying an NBA team. With sixteen games left and the rest of the nation when he announced his during the 1993-1994 season, Johnson took over as retirement from basketball because he had ac- the head coach of the Lakers. The team started out quired the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). well then faltered. Magic decided to give up coach- Since HIV is the organism that causes acquired im- ing and concentrate on his business ventures. In munodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), Magic was ad- June, 1994, he became a part owner of the Lakers. vised by his physician that he should no longer play In 1995, Magic opened a chain of movie theaters professional basketball. However, in 1992, he made in Los Angeles and some other large cities in the a spectacular appearance at the NBA all-star game United States. He also organized a barnstorming and won the MVP award, leading the West to a 153- basketball team composed of former college and 113 victory. Later in 1992, he played on the U.S. NBA players that toured through Asia and Austra-

195 Magic Johnson Great Athletes

lia. Late in the 1995-1996 season, Johnson decided basketball and social causes. Believing strongly in to come out of retirement and play the final thirty- the need to revitalize minority communities, he two games of the season with the Lakers. After the started the Magic Johnson Theatres chain, which Houston Rockets eliminated the Lakers from the opened movie theaters in Los Angeles, Atlanta, NBA playoffs, Magic retired once again. For a short New York, and Largo, Maryland. Always hoping to period of time thereafter, he hosted a television serve as a positive force in the community, Magic talk show. was active in lending his support to political figures Playing thirteen NBA seasons, Johnson scored whom he believed shared his social vision. 17,707 points, an average of 19.5 per game; col- lected 6,559 rebounds, an average of 7.2 per game; Summary and made 10,141 assists, an average of 11.2 per Magic Johnson will go down in the annals of NBA game. In 1996, he was named one of the fifty great- basketball as one of the greatest players ever to est NBA players of all time. In 1999, he was named compete. His all-around game was a rarity. On the one of the twenty best NBA players of all time. court, he was a supreme player and entertainer: the Magic was inducted into the Naismith Memorial “Magic Man.” Off the court, he was generous and Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002. courageous and always attempted to make the Recognizing that his talent and charisma put world a happier place. him in a good position to help the youth of the Jeffry Jensen United States, Magic became a spokesperson for HIV prevention and safe sexual practices. He estab- Additional Sources lished the Magic Johnson Foundation to raise Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling funds for community-based organizations that deal Kindersley, 2003. with HIV/AIDS education and prevention pro- Jacobs, Timothy, and Russell Roberts. One Hundred grams. The foundation also offered grants for Athletes Who Shaped Sports History. San Mateo, American youth. For his efforts in promoting AIDS Calif.: Bluewood Books, 2004. awareness, Johnson received the J. Walter Kennedy Johnson, Earvin “Magic,” and William Novack. My Citizenship Award. Life. New York: Random House, 1993. In addition to his charitable activities revolving Labrecque, Ellen. Magic Johnson. Ann Arbor, Mich.: around HIV/AIDS, Magic ran several successful Cherry Lake, 2008. businesses, served as a basketball analyst on televi- Troupe, Quincy. Take It to the Hoop, Magic Johnson. sion, and traveled around the world promoting New York: Jump at the Sun, 2000.

196 K. C. Jones

Born: May 25, 1932 scoring average. He then decided to change his Taylor, Texas style of play and become the catalyst for the team. Although he would not score many points, he Early Life would make sure that his teammates did. He mas- K. C. Jones was born on May 25, 1932, in Taylor, tered defense and passing and hustled every min- Texas. His father worked as a restaurant cook and ute of the game. an oilfield worker. Eula Jones, K. C.’s mother, split her time between her five children and her work as The Emerging Champion a maid. Through the Great Depression, the Joneses In the fall of 1952, K. C. Jones met his new room- moved from town to town, wherever the parents mate, a 6-foot 9-inch freshman named Bill Russell, could find work. Because the family moved so fre- who was recognized twenty-eight years later as the quently, K. C.’s education suffered and he never greatest player in the history of the NBA. K. C. learned to read well. He was shy and ashamed in Jones and Bill Russell became inseparable friends. class; the only time he felt like himself was when he K. C. recalled in Rebound, “I guess by the time we sang in the church choir or played sports. K. C.’s graduated from USF, Bill Russell and I had talked, first experiences in sports were in tennis, softball, studied, worked, practiced, and played as much de- and football. “In McGregor, Texas,” Jones recalled fensive basketball as any two people ever had.” To- in his book, Rebound (1986), “the girls played bas- gether, the two friends led the USF basketball team ketball, so I was a little suspicious of it.” to undefeated seasons and two national champion- ships, in 1954-1955 and 1955-1956. K. C. also The Road to Excellence played on the U.S. Olympic basketball team that Jones did not remain a stranger to basketball for won a gold medal in 1956. long. After his father abandoned the family and his Jones’s and Russell’s inseparability carried over mother moved the clan to San Francisco, K. C. to their professional basketball careers, when the played nearly every day at a recreation center near two were chosen by the Boston Celtics in the 1956 his home. There he developed a deadly set shot. He NBA draft. Jones joined the team after first serving took his skills with him to Commerce High School, two years in the U.S. Army. where he broke the AAA Prep League scoring As a professional basketball player, Jones re- record and made the all-Northern California all- sumed his role as the scrapping defensive player. star team. There he was an all-star in football as Battling under the offensive and defensive back- well. boards, K. C. always seemed to be the first one to Because he was not a great student, Jones did come up with a loose ball. While in a Celtic uni- not have high expectations of finding a job after high school. He did not consider college, but Mil- dred Smith, K. C.’s high school history teacher, Honors and Awards made a telephone call to University of San Fran- 1955 NCAA All-Tournament Team cisco (USF) basketball coach . She 1956 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball told the coach that she saw something great in the young K. C. “Her caring changed my life,” Inducted into U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame wrote Jones in Rebound. Eventually, the coach of- Consensus All-American fered K. C. Jones a scholarship. 1986 Inducted into California’s Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame The summer before college, K. C. grew 4 inches 1989 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to 6 feet 1 inch. With his added height, however, he lost his shooting touch. In his freshman season at Uniform number 25 retired by Boston Celtics USF, he closed with a meager 5.6-points-per-game

197 K. C. Jones Great Athletes form, Jones played on eight consecutive NBA the Celtics’ fortunes changed. K. C. renewed the Championship teams. His coach, Red Auerbach, team’s spirit, and in 1984 they defeated the Los An- claimed that every time he put K. C. into the game, geles Lakers for the NBA Championship. In 1985, things would turn the Celtics’ way. the Celtics again appeared in the NBA Finals, but lost to the Lakers. In 1986, they were again world Continuing the Story champions, this time vanquishing the Houston When K. C. retired as a Celtic player, he became an Rockets in the finals. In 1987, an injury-riddled assistant coach at Harvard University for one year Celtics team managed to win the Eastern Confer- (1967-1968) and then head coach at Brandeis Uni- ence title and then fell to the Lakers in the finals. versity for four years (1968-1971). When K. C. re- At the conclusion of the 1987-1988 campaign, turned to the NBA as assistant coach to Bill Shar- K. C. was appointed vice president of the Celtics. In man of the Los Angeles Lakers, he earned his ninth 1989, he received the ultimate honor in basketball NBA Championship ring as the Lakers went on to when he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial win the finals in 1971-1972. Basketball Hall of Fame. In 1989, he took an assis- The next year, K. C. got his first job as a head tant coaching position with the Seattle SuperSonics; coach in the pros. He directed the San Diego Con- he soon became the head coach and stayed until quistadors of the American Basketball Association midway through the 1991-1992 season. K. C. served (ABA) to an unexpected playoff spot with a 30-54 as an assistant coach with the Detroit Pistons dur- record. The next season, 1973-1974, Jones was of- ing the 1994-1995 season. fered a three-year contract to coach the NBA Wash- For the 1995-1996 and 1996-1997 campaigns, ington Bullets (then called the Capital Bullets). He K. C. rejoined the Celtics as an assistant coach un- created a stunning team defense for the Bullets der M. L. Carr. As a head coach in the NBA, K. C. and coupled it with a fast-break offense. The Bul- won 522 regular season games and compiled a .674 lets had a 47-35 record in 1973-1974 and took the winning percentage, which is one of the best coach- Eastern Conference Championship the following ing marks of all time in the NBA. From 1997 to season. However, the Bullets lost four in a row to 1999, K. C. was the head coach of the New England the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. In the Blizzard in the Women’s American Basketball 1975-1976 season, K. C. was fired by the Bullets. League. K. C.’s quiet style of coaching always pro- K. C. rebounded from this setback, though. duced winning teams and earned him the deepest After coaching the Milwaukee Bucks as an assis- respect from all the athletes who played for him. tant for half of the 1976-1977 season, K. C. was hired as an assistant on his old team, the Boston Summary Celtics. From 1978 to 1982, the Celtics were a win- When K. C. Jones coached the Celtics to the 1986 ning team, but they often fell short in the play- NBA Championship, he won an unprecedented offs. In 1983, when K. C. was named head coach, twelfth world championship ring. For his lifetime

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1958-59 49 65 .339 41 .603 127 70 171 3.5 1959-60 74 169 .408 128 .752 199 189 466 6.3 1960-61 78 203 .337 186 .581 279 253 592 7.6 1961-62 79 289 .409 145 .628 291 339 723 9.1 1962-63 79 230 .389 112 .633 263 317 572 7.2 1963-64 80 283 .392 88 .524 372 407 654 8.2 1964-65 78 253 .396 143 .630 318 437 649 8.3 1965-66 80 240 .388 209 .690 304 503 689 8.6 1966-67 78 182 .397 110 .630 239 389 483 6.2 Totals 675 1,914 .384 1,162 .630 2,392 2,904 4,999 7.4 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

198 Basketball K. C. Jones achievements, he was elected to California’s Bay Celtics in Black and White. Charleston, S.C.: Arca- Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1986, and his number, dia, 2006. 25, was retired by the Celtics and now hangs with Jones, K. C., and Jack D. Warner. Rebound. Boston: the championship banners in . Quinlan Press, 1986. Rustin Larson Wallechinsky, David, and Jaime Loucky. The Com- plete Book of the Olympics: 2008 Edition. London: Additional Sources Aurum Press, 2008. Bjarkman, Peter C. Boston Celtics Encyclopedia. Cham- Whalen, Thomas J. Dynasty’s End: Bill Russell and the paign, Ill.: Sports, 2002. 1968-69 World Champion Boston Celtics. Boston: Johnson, Dick, and Robert Hamilton Johnson. The Northeastern University Press, 2004.

199 Sam Jones

Born: June 24, 1933 Despite attending such a small school, Sam at- Wilmington, North Carolina tracted notice from professional scouts. A local col- Also known as: Samuel Jones (full name); Mr. lege coach who was a friend of Boston Celtics coach Clutch Red Auerbach had told the Boston coach about Sam and urged him to draft the young, unknown Early Life player. Auerbach followed the advice. Sam knew he Samuel Jones was born June 24, 1933, in Wilming- might have a better chance with a lesser profes- ton, North Carolina, a medium-sized town on the sional team, but he liked the idea of playing with Atlantic coast, a couple of hours’ drive from the basketball hotbeds and big university towns of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. Sam spent most of his youth in the Durham area, and focused on basketball from an early age. Bas- ketball was an outlet for him. His fam- ily did not have much money, and life in North Carolina was hard. Sam tried to help out as much as he could; he worked as a waiter to bring in a little ex- tra money for the family.

The Road to Excellence Sam attended Laurinburg Institute in Laurinburg, North Carolina, a nearby preparatory school designed to pre- pare students for college. The school had an excellent basketball program, and having Sam there certainly helped during the early 1950’s. When it came time for young Sam to pick a college, he had a number of op- tions. Notre Dame and the City Col- lege of New York, both strong basket- ball schools, were interested in Sam but, oddly, he was not interested in them. He did not feel ready for life out- side of North Carolina, so he opted for North Carolina Central College in Dur- ham, close to home. Sam proved himself a dependable scorer in his first two varsity seasons, but then went into the service for two years. When he came out, he was still Sam Jones of the Boston Celtics taking a jump shot against the de- the same player, but much more ma- fense of the Los Angeles Lakers. (Walter Iooss, Jr./NBAE/Getty Im- ture from his travel and experiences. ages)

200 Basketball Sam Jones

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1957-58 56 100 .429 60 .714 160 37 260 4.6 1958-59 71 305 .434 151 .770 428 101 761 10.7 1959-60 74 355 .454 168 .764 375 125 878 11.9 1960-61 78 480 .449 211 .787 421 217 1,171 15.0 1961-62 78 596 .464 243 .818 458 232 1,435 18.4 1962-63 76 621 .476 257 .793 396 241 1,499 19.7 1963-64 76 612 .450 249 .783 349 202 1,473 19.4 1964-65 80 821 .452 428 .820 411 223 2,070 25.9 1965-66 67 626 .469 325 .799 347 216 1,577 23.2 1966-67 72 638 .454 318 .857 338 217 1,594 22.1 1967-68 73 621 .461 311 .827 357 216 1,553 21.3 1968-69 70 496 .450 148 .783 265 182 1,140 16.3 Totals 871 6,271 .454 2,869 .803 4,305 2,209 15,411 17.7 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game the league’s best, because by then, the Celtics had With the centers and forwards in the league get- already won the championship. ting bigger every year, Sam found that he could an- gle the ball off the board so it could not be blocked The Emerging Champion by bigger men, and found he could do so without Sam’s view of those early Celtics championship losing any accuracy. Within a few years, other play- teams was from the bench. When he joined the ers used the bank shot routinely during games. team in the fall of 1957, he found that two of the game’s all-time greats, Bob Cousy and Bill Shar- Continuing the Story man, were solidly entrenched in the guard posi- Once Sam became a Celtics regular, he proved that tions. However, Sam never complained and made he belonged in the lineup. He averaged at least 18 the most of the playing time he did get. He re- points per game for seven straight seasons and mained a valuable reserve for the first few seasons played on ten championship teams. He was fre- and showed that he was a reliable scorer. quently the player on whom the Celtics relied when Sharman retired in 1961, Cousy, two years later. an important late-game basket was needed. He won Gradually, Sam moved into a starting spot and was a key game of the 1969 championship series with a the leading scorer on several of the Celtics’ eight last-second shot, and the aging Celtics went on to de- straight championship teams. In those earlier days, feat the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games for the before he had established himself as a great scorer, team’s last title of the Bill Russell-Sam Jones era. Sam was primarily known for his speed. When In 1970, in recognition of his scoring abilities other teams had to rest starters for a few minutes and his other talents, the NBA named Sam to its during a game, Auerbach would bring in Sam and 25th Anniversary Team, and, in 1984, Sam joined teammate K. C. Jones (no relation), who would several of his former teammates in the Naismith continue to run the Celtics’ fast-break attack. The Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In 1962, he was two complemented each other well. K. C. Jones was inducted into the National Association of Intercol- not a strong offensive player, but Sam was. On de- legiate Athletics (NAIA) Hall of Fame. fense, K. C. was better, but gambled more for steals. Once he was finished playing, Sam decided to Sam, on the other hand, was known for his solid de- give something back to athletics. He became the di- fensive effort. rector of physical education and recreation for the On offense, Sam was responsible for one of the Washington, D.C., public school system. In that po- game’s revolutions. He was the first player to use sition, he encouraged students to participate in the bank shot—shooting the ball off the athletics, to remain in school, and to stay away from and through the hoop—on longer shots. Until his the perils of drug use. He also worked as the ath- time, players banked in layups but not jump shots. letic director and coach at Federal City College in

201 Sam Jones Great Athletes

Washington, D.C., which later became Honors and Awards the University of the District of Colum- bia. Later, he coached at North Carolina 1962 Inducted into NAIA Basketball Hall of Fame Central, his alma mater, and then served 1962, 1964-66, 1968 NBA All-Star Team as an assistant coach with the New Or- 1965-67 All-NBA Team leans Jazz. 1970 NBA 25th Anniversary All Time Team Sam was named to the NBA silver an- 1984 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame niversary all-time team in 1970. As part of Uniform number 24 retired by Boston Celtics the celebration of the golden anniversary 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team of the NBA during the 1996-1997 season, Sam was was named one of the fifty great- est NBA players of all time. He was the prototype age and an 18.9 points-per-game average in the big guard who could run the floor, rebound, and playoffs. He was voted to the league’s all-star team hit “clutch” shots. He had one of the most explo- five times in his career. sive first steps off of the dribble of anyone who ever John McNamara played the game. of The Boston Globe thought that Sam was probably the most under- Additional Sources rated guard in the history of basketball’s hall of Bjarkman, Peter C. Boston Celtics Encyclopedia. Cham- fame. paign, Ill.: Sports, 2002. Johnson, Dick, and Robert Hamilton Johnson. The Summary Celtics in Black and White. Charleston, S.C.: Arca- Throughout his career, Sam Jones showed the dia, 2006. value of hustle and ingenuity. Once he became a Whalen, Thomas J. Dynasty’s End: Bill Russell and the regular, he devised his patented bank shot in order 1968-69 World Champion Boston Celtics. Boston: to score under heavy defensive pressure. He fin- Northeastern University Press, 2004. ished his career with a 17.7 points-per-game aver-

202 Michael Jordan

Born: February 17, 1963 Brooklyn, New York Also known as: Michael Jeffrey Jordan (full name); ; His Airness; Rabbit

Early Life Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born on February 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York. He grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina. As a child, Michael was taught by his parents, James and Delores Jor- dan, to work with determination and always to focus on doing his best at whatever he attempted. Michael’s parents were not athletic, but they en- couraged their five children to excel in sports if they chose to participate. Back then, Michael’s older brother, Larry, was considered the athlete of the family. Michael and Larry played basket- ball against each other, and when Michael was thirteen, his father put in a backyard court. At that time, Michael was still shorter than Larry, but he made up for his lack of height by hustling.

The Road to Excellence Michael went to Laney High School in Wilming- ton. He tried out for the varsity basketball team as a freshman, but he was considered too small. He worked hard and was included on the team his sophomore year, but he was cut before the season began. Michael also participated in foot- ball, baseball, and track. He considered giving up on basketball to concentrate on baseball, but he had a growth spurt before his junior year and stood at 6 feet 3 inches. Michael decided to stick with basketball be- cause of his added height, broad shoulders, and amazing jumping ability. He not only made the varsity squad in his junior year but also im- pressed his coach, Clifton Herring, enough for him to persuade a prestigious basketball camp to allow Michael to attend. The Five Star Basket- ball Camp in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was run by Howie Garfinkel and had become known as the summer camp where prospects for major Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan, who ruled the NBA colleges were groomed. The camp bolstered during the 1990’s, leading his team to six championships in Michael’s confidence. He accepted a basket- eight seasons. (Courtesy of Chicago Bulls)

203 Michael Jordan Great Athletes

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1984-85 82 837 .515 630 .845 534 481 2,313 28.2 1985-86 18 150 .457 105 .840 64 53 408 22.7 1986-87 82 1,098 .482 833 .857 430 377 3,041 37.1 1987-88 82 1,069 .535 723 .841 449 485 2,868 35.0 1988-89 81 966 .538 674 .850 652 650 2,633 32.5 1989-90 82 1,034 .526 593 .848 565 519 2,753 33.6 1990-91 82 990 .539 571 .851 492 453 2,580 31.5 1991-92 80 943 .519 491 .832 511 489 2,404 30.1 1992-93 78 992 .495 476 .837 522 428 2,541 32.6 1994-95 17 166 .411 109 .801 117 90 457 26.9 1995-96 82 916 .495 548 .834 543 352 2,491 30.4 1996-97 82 920 .486 480 .833 482 352 2,431 29.6 1997-98 82 881 .465 565 .784 475 283 2,357 28.7 2001-02 60 551 .416 263 .790 339 310 1,375 22.9 2002-03 82 679 .445 266 .821 497 311 1,640 20.0 Totals 1,072 12,192 .497 7,327 .835 6,972 5,633 32,292 30.1 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game ball scholarship to the University of North Caro- Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) champi- lina before he began his senior year. With the onship game against Georgetown University. The help of Coach Herring, Michael intensified his North Carolina Tar Heels won the game by one training program to be ready for college competi- point and gave Coach Smith the first NCAA title tion. in his illustrious twenty-four-year career. Michael Michael went to North Carolina in 1981. He had was named the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) grown to 6 feet 6 inches and had left Laney High rookie of the year. School as an all-American. The North Carolina coach, Dean Smith, was known as a teaching coach The Emerging Champion who stressed basketball fundamentals and a team Although the Tar Heels did not win another NCAA concept that encouraged each player to sacrifice Championship during Michael’s years with the for the greater good. Michael was in the starting team, Michael emerged as the premier college lineup his freshman year. He did not have great sta- player in the country. He was named an all-Ameri- tistics, but he could be counted on if a game got can for his sophomore year, and The Sporting News tight. Michael’s most impressive moment of the selected him as college player of the year in the year was a jump shot that he made in the National spring of 1983. Fans and experts marveled at Mi- chael’s apparent ability to fly through air. His acro- NBA Records batic dunks and improved defensive play made his star quality shine in the eyes of professional scouts. Highest career scoring average, 30.12 In 1983, Michael helped the U.S. team win the gold Highest career scoring average in the playoffs, 33.4 medal at the Pan-American Games. The Tar Heels Highest scoring average in NBA Finals, 41.0 won the ACC title during the 1983-1984 season, Most NBA Scoring Titles, 10 (1987-93, 1996-98) and The Sporting News selected Michael as the player Most Consecutive NBA Scoring Titles, 7 (1987-93) Most points in a playoff game, 63 of the year again. Michael then starred on the U.S. Most Finals most valuable player, 6 (1991-93, 1996-98) team that took the gold medal at the 1984 Summer Most points, playoffs, career (5,987) Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Most field goals attempted, playoffs (4,497) Michael left college as one of the most sought- Most free throws made, playoffs (1,463) after players by the NBA. The Chicago Bulls chose Most consecutive games with 10 or more points, 866 Michael with the third pick in the draft and offered him a multiyear contract. Much was expected of

204 Basketball Michael Jordan

Michael in his rookie year; the Chicago Bulls had time in history that the season’s scoring champion not been in the playoffs since 1982. Michael did was also a member of the overall league champion not disappoint his new team or fans. He was an im- in the same year. mediate success. He was chosen as NBA rookie of Led by the phenomenal Michael, the Bulls won the year and was selected as a starter in the all-star the NBA title again in 1992 and 1993. In 1992, Mi- game. However, Michael was more than merely an chael played on the U.S. Olympic Dream Team and emerging great player. He was a hard worker and a won a gold medal in Barcelona, Spain. Distraught fierce competitor. over the murder of his father, James, and tired of the unceasing media intrusion into his private life, Continuing the Story Michael retired from the NBA in 1994. On Novem- The 1985-1986 season was tough for Michael. Be- ber 1, his number 23 Bulls jersey was retired at the cause of a broken bone in his foot, he was forced Chicago United Center. to miss all but eighteen games in the regular sea- Feeling that there were no more challenges re- son. The Bulls made the playoffs, how- ever, and Michael returned deter- Honors and Awards mined to make an impact. Against the Boston Celtics in the first round, he 1981 ACC Rookie of the Year averaged 43.7 points a game in the 1982 NCAA All-Tournament Team three-game series and set a playoff 1983 Gold medal, U.S. Pan-American Games record by scoring 63 points in a single 1983-84 Sporting News College Player of the Year game. Consensus All-American In the next season, Michael became 1984 Rupp Trophy only the second player, after legend- United Press International Division I Player of the Year ary center Wilt Chamberlain, to score U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division I Player of 3,000 points in a season. Even though the Year he was pleased with his individual rec- Eastman Award ords, he desired the Bulls to be a Naismith College Player of the Year Award better team. He was willing to change John R. Wooden Player of the Year Award his role as the team’s and the league’s 1984, 1992 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball leading scorer to make the team 1985 NBA Rookie of the Year stronger. NBA All-Rookie Team During the 1987-1988 season, the All-NBA Second Team Chicago Bulls won fifty games for the 1985-93, 1996-98, 2002-03 NBA All-Star Team first time in fourteen years. The Bulls 1985, 1989 Schick Pivotal Player Award had become a more complete team 1985, 1987-91 All-NBA Team but lost to the Detroit Pistons in the 1985, 1987 Seagram’s Seven Crowns of Sports Award playoffs. Michael was showered with 1987-93, 1996-98 All-NBA First Team a number of honors, including the 1988 NBA All-Star Game most valuable player NBA’s most valuable player (MVP) NBA Defensive Player of the Year and NBA defensive player of the year 1988, 1991 Sporting News Player of the Year awards. He had become an all-around player. He was the first player to win 1988, 1991-92, 1996, 1998 NBA most valuable player both the scoring title and the defen- 1988-91 NBA All-Defensive Team sive award in the same season. In 1991, 1988-93, 1996-98 All-Defensive First Team the Bulls finally captured an NBA ti- 1988, 1996, 1998 NBA All-Star Game most valuable player tle, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 1994, 1999 Uniform number 23 retired by Chicago Bulls in five games in the NBA Finals. Mi- 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team chael had previously won his fifth con- 1999 Named one of the twenty best NBA players of all time secutive scoring championship. The 2009 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Bulls’ finals victory was only the third

205 Michael Jordan Great Athletes

maining for him in basketball, Michael decided to all-star games, winning the game’s MVP award three pursue a career in baseball, the game he first loved times, and was voted into the Naismith Memorial as a boy. Signed by the Chicago White Sox, Michael Basketball Hall of Fame the moment he became el- was sent to the minor leagues to gain experience. igible in 2009. He ended his career with 32,292 After hitting only .202 with the Birmingham Barons points; only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and in 1994, he returned to the Bulls in March, 1995. scored more points over the course of a career. Mi- Though not in top basketball condition, he helped chael’s jersey was retired for the second time on Jan- the Bulls to a 13-4 record in the last seventeen uary 13, 1999. games of the season. The Bulls lost to the Orlando Magic in the playoffs, however. Summary Back in form for the 1995-1996 campaign, Mi- Michael Jordan was one of the great basketball chael led the Bulls to a record seventy-two regular- players of all time. The majority of basketball ex- season wins and another NBA Championship. He perts agree that he was the greatest player who ever won his fourth NBA MVP award. In 1996, he was lived. His fans treated him as if he were a movie or named one of the fifty greatest NBA players of all rock star, yet Michael remained as friendly and lev- time. elheaded as he was when he first stepped on the In 1997 and 1998, Michael again led the Bulls to court at the University of North Carolina. As a team the NBA Championship. After the 1998 season, he player, he brought out the best in his teammates retired from the NBA. He earned the NBA Finals and raised the Chicago Bulls to the top of the NBA. MVP award each of the six years in which the Bulls He endeared himself to basketball fans all over the won the championship. He later became part- world with his unassuming nature and his remark- owner and president of basketball operations for able skills as a player. the Washington Wizards. In 2001, he returned to Jeffry Jensen the court as a player for the Wizards. He played through the 2003 season before retiring again. At Additional Sources times during that season, he was frustrated by what Barkley, Charles, Julius Erving, and Jerry West. The he considered the lack of motivation of his fellow Definitive Word on Michael Jordan. Dallas, Tex.: teammates. Although he continued to be popular Beckett, 1998. with the fans all around the league, he felt he Condor, Bob. Michael Jordan’s Fifty Greatest Games. needed to move onto other challenges. New York: Carol, 1998. Michael was a special kind of player. Through- Jordan, Michael, with Mark Vancil. Driven from out his career, he remained charming and open. Within. New York: Atria Books, 2005. He was a natural spokesperson and promoted Krugel, Mitchell. Jordan: The Man, His Words, His Nike’s successful line of shoes known as “Air Jor- Life. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1998. dan.” He met Juanita Vanoy in 1985, and they were Ladewski, Paul, et al. Memories of Mike. Dallas: married in September, 1989. They had three chil- Beckett, 1999. dren. Michael and Juanita got divorced in 2006. Mi- Leahy, Michael. When Nothing Else Matters: Michael chael continued to earn many millions of dollars Jordan’s Last Comeback. New York: Simon and from his endorsements. In 2006, he became a man- Schuster, 2004. aging member of basketball operations and part- Lowe, Janet. Michael Jordan Speaks: Lessons from the owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. World’s Greatest Champion. New York: John Wiley A five-time NBA MVP, Michael made the all- & Sons, 1999. NBA first team ten times and the NBA all-defensive McCormick, Lisa Wade. Michael Jordan. New York: first team nine times. He played in fourteen NBA Children’s Press, 2007.

206 Jason Kidd

Born: March 23, 1973 The Road to Excellence San Francisco, California At nearby Alameda’s Saint Joseph of Notre Dame Also known as: Jason Frederick Kidd (full name) High School, Jason was a sensation on the basket- ball court. During his first season, he became a star Early Life at the point-guard position by relying on speed, Jason Frederick Kidd was born in San Francisco, quickness, concentration, and his ability to think California, but grew up across San Francisco Bay in quickly. His tenacious defensive play was also out- Oakland, which he always considered his home- standing. He eventually led his school to two Cali- town. He was reared in a close family in a pleasant fornia state championships and was named state middle-class neighborhood in the Oakland Hills. player of the year two years in a row. His statistics His parents, Steve and Anne Kidd, taught him and were amazing: During his senior year, he averaged his younger sisters to treat others the way they 25 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds, and 7 steals a wished to be treated. game. A master of the “no-look” pass, he often elec- With an African American father and a Cauca- trified crowds. Local interest in watching him play sian mother, Jason considered himself fortunate to was so great that his team played some of its home be a member of a multicultural family. He enjoyed games in the huge Oakland Coliseum Arena. competing in many sports, especially soccer, base- When Jason was fifteen, the father of Gary Pay- ball, and basketball, all of which he played in high ton noticed that Jason was something special. He school. He often competed against much older encouraged his son to take a personal interest in Ja- boys and was talented enough to beat them. He son. Five years older than Jason and then playing at knew he would get better only by playing with the Oregon State University, Payton became Jason’s best. By the time he reached junior high school, he mentor and frequent one-on-one opponent during was becoming widely known for his basketball skills. summers and vacations. He and his father thought that Jason needed to be tough- ened. Gary grew up in a poor part of Oakland where some of the most competitive basketball was found. Working with Gary proved a bittersweet experience for Jason. Then, as later, Gary was tough and unrelenting in their match-ups, but Jason ap- preciated his tutoring, and the two young men developed a last- ing friendship.

The Emerging Champion Jason traveled a short distance to college by entering the Uni- versity of California at Berkeley (Cal). During his freshman year he was again a sensation, thrill- ing big crowds with his precise New Jersey Nets point guard Jason Kidd moving around a in a 2007 execution as a point guard. His game against the New Orleans Hornets. (Ray Stubblebine/Reuters/Landov) no-look passing was especially

207 Jason Kidd Great Athletes

stunning. During his first season, he led the school’s Much happier with the Suns, Jason continued to Golden Bears to a 21-9 record and a berth in the excel and improve. During his first four full seasons National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) with the Suns, Jason made his teammates better. Tournament, where the team advanced to the third He made the NBA all-star team and led the league round by upsetting Duke University, the two-time in assists each year. By 2001, he ranked as the leader defending national champions. among the league’s active players in career triple- In only two seasons at Cal, Jason set school rec- doubles, double figures in three statistical catego- ords for steals and assists. During his sophomore ries in one game. Under Jason’s leadership, the year he led the nation in assists, with 9.1 per game, Suns made the playoffs every season. His one weak- and averaged 16.7 points and 7 rebounds. He ness was his outside-shooting percentage. However, made first-team all-American and received many after several years of intense work, he developed a other honors. good jump shot and became a three-point threat. At the end of the 2000-2001 season, Jason was Continuing the Story traded from the Suns to the New Jersey Nets. Greg After finishing his sophomore season at Cal, Jason Donaldsen, a New York magazine writer, had de- decided to join the NBA. In the first round of the scribed the Nets as a “moribund franchise sunk in a 1994 draft, he was selected second, by the Dallas polluted marshland.” All this changed during Ja- Mavericks. He took charge of the team in his first son’s first season as the Nets’ point guard. Jason’s season. His leadership, decision-making, passing, outstanding play, leadership, and mastery of the and intensity earned him co-rookie of the year hon- point-guard position turned around the franchise. ors; he shared the award with Detroit’s Grant Hill. The Nets had a record of 26-56 in the season pre- Jason played for Dallas a little more than two sea- ceding Jason’s arrival. In Jason’s first season with sons, distinguishing himself as an excellent point the team, the Nets finished 52-30. He played in all guard. eighty-two games and averaged 14.7 points, 7.3 re- Before Jason arrived, the Mavericks had been a bounds, 9.9 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. He was poor team. Even with Jason, Dallas struggled, and so good at distributing the ball that nine different there were problems with team chemistry and dif- teammates had games in which they led the team in fering attitudes among the team’s top players. scoring. Moreover, the Nets made the playoffs and Finally, Jason requested that he or a teammate be advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in traded. In December of 1996, he was sent to the franchise history. Meanwhile, Jason finished sec- Phoenix Suns. ond to the San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan for the

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGA FGM FG% FTA FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1994-95 79 857 330 .385 275 192 .698 430 607 922 11.7 1995-96 81 1,293 493 .381 331 229 .692 553 783 1,348 16.6 1996-97 55 529 213 .403 165 112 .679 249 496 599 10.9 1997-98 82 859 357 .416 209 167 .799 510 745 954 11.6 1998-99 50 698 310 .444 239 181 .757 339 539 846 16.9 1999-00 67 855 350 .409 245 203 .829 483 678 959 14.3 2000-01 77 1,097 451 .411 403 328 .814 494 753 1,299 16.9 2001-02 82 1,138 445 .391 247 117 .814 595 808 1,208 14.7 2002-03 80 1,244 515 .414 403 126 .841 504 711 1,495 18.7 2003-04 67 959 368 .384 249 94 .827 428 618 1,036 15.5 2004-05 66 855 340 .398 192 129 .740 488 545 951 14.4 2005-06 80 905 366 .404 244 139 .795 580 672 1,065 13.3 2006-07 80 908 369 .406 230 124 .778 655 736 1,041 13.0 2007-08 80 793 305 .385 165 135 .818 600 806 864 10.8 Totals 1,026 12,986 5,212 .401 3,595 2,808 .781 6,908 9,497 14,587 14.2 Notes: GP = games played; FGA = field goals attempted; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTA = free throws attempted; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

208 Basketball Jason Kidd league’s most valuable player award. Honors, Awards, and Milestones Many observers felt that Jason de- served the award because of his con- 1995 NBA Co-Rookie of the Year (with Grant Hill) tributions to the Nets’ historic turn- NBA All-Rookie First Team, unanimous selection around. Schick NBA Rookie of the Month (March) Jason led the Nets to the playoffs 1996 Set Mavericks single-game franchise record of 25 in each of the following five seasons, assists including a second trip to the NBA Set Mavericks single-season franchise record of Finals. In 2006-2007, both Jason and 783 assists teammate Vince Carter had triple- 1996, 1998, 2000-04, 2007-08 NBA All-Star Team doubles in the same game to become 1998 NBA Player of the Week ending March 15, April 19 the first pair of teammates to accom- 1998, 2000 NBA All-Star Game plish that feat since the Chicago Bulls’ 1998-2000 Led league in assists per game Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen 1999, 2000-02, 2004 All-NBA First Team in 1989. During that same season, Ja- 1999, 2001-02, 2006 NBA All-Defensive First Team son broke former Celtics star Larry 1999-2001, 2003-04 NBA regular-season assists per game leader Bird’s record by compiling his elev- 1999, 2001, 2003 NBA regular-season total assists leader enth postseason triple-double. 2000, 2008 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball In February, 2008, Jason was traded to the Mavericks. Toward the 2000, 2003-05, 2007 NBA All-Defensive Second Team end of the season, he recorded his one 2002 NBA regular-season total steals leader (175) hundredth career triple-double—a 2003 NBA All-Star Skills Challenge champion mark that placed him third in that cat- All-NBA Second Team egory behind Oscar Robertson and Johnson. The Mavericks lost in the first round of the playoffs. Nevertheless, Jason had thirty-five, his speed, focus, and intensity remained one of his best seasons. He made the all-star team strong. His ability to make those around him better for the ninth time and was selected for the U.S. players was perhaps his strongest asset. men’s Olympic basketball team that won the gold C. Mervyn Rasmussen medal in Beijing, China. Previously, he had won a gold medal as a member of the 2000 Olympic team. Additional Sources Jason and his wife Joumana were active in civic Donaldsen, Greg. “Comeback Kidd.” New York, Jan- and charitable affairs in the cities in which he uary 28, 2002. played, donating money to churches to build bas- Moore, David. The Jason Kidd Story. New York: Scho- ketball courts. They also bought large blocks of lastic, 1997. tickets for underprivileged children to attend NBA Rappoport, Ken. Jason Kidd: Leader on the Court. games, and Jason founded his own charitable foun- Berkeley Heights, N.J.: Enslow, 2004. dation and set up scholarship funds. Stewart, Mark, and Mike Kennedy. Kidd Rocks: Rolling with Jason Kidd and the New Jersey Nets. Chi- Summary cago: Triumph Books, 2002. Jason Kidd was perhaps the best “pure” point guard Torres, John A. Jason Kidd. Springfield, N.J.: in NBA history. Even after he reached the age of Enslow, 1998.

209 Toni Kukoc

Born: September 18, 1968 first of many nicknames was “Feet.” His long reach Split, Yugoslavia (now in Croatia) also helped make him an outstanding table-tennis Also known as: Euro-Magic; the Waiter player. By Toni’s fourteenth birthday, many scouts and coaches from several sports had taken a strong Early Life interest in him and his athletic future. Toni Kukoc was born to Ante, an engineer, and Radojka, a homemaker, in the Adriatic city of Split, The Road to Excellence then part of Yugoslavia, on September 18, 1968. Toni went through a major growth spurt when he Toni did not excel in school, but from an early age, was fourteen, growing 8 inches in a single year. Not he demonstrated the agility and coordination that unexpectedly, basketball recruiters from around later made him an outstanding athlete. the soon-to-be-fractured nation flocked to Split to Like most Eastern European children, Toni’s watch him play. His size, speed, and talent created primary sport was soccer, for which he demon- incredible problems for opposing coaches, who strated both affinity and ability. The gangly boy’s could find no one on their teams to stop Toni. He was generally far too fast for a center or other forwards to defend, and he could eas- ily post up and outmuscle any guard who tried to stop him. On offense, he possessed an accurate shot from the outside, forcing defenders to play on the perimeter. When they did that, however, Toni drove past them to the bas- ket. Some scouts questioned his mental toughness on defense. However, his physi- cal traits and skills—particularly dribbling, shooting, and passing—made him an out- standing prospect. By the age of sixteen, he was playing with the Yugoslav junior na- tional team and building an international reputation. The whole country took pride in the accomplishments of the team, which was composed of a mixture of Croats, Serbs, and ethnic Albanians. For four consecutive years, the Yugoslavians never lost in inter- national competition, and Toni, as a result of his prodigious talent and gregarious per- sonality, was not only the most dominating player but also the glue that held the team together.

The Emerging Champion At the 1987 junior World Championship, NBA scouts were present and many were Toni Kukoc of the Milwaukee Bucks taking a shot against the Los amazed at Toni’s poise and play. The NBA Angeles Clippers in 2003. (Allen Fredrickson/Reuters/Landov) scouts became even more impressed when

210 Basketball Toni Kukoc the Yugoslav team twice defeated a squad Honors and Awards composed of the best young players in the United States, including future NBA all- 1990 FIBA World Championship most valuable player stars Gary Payton and Larry Johnson. Toni 1990-91, 1993 Euroleague Final Four most valuable player 1990-91, 1994, 1996, 1998 Player of the Year demonstrated his ability to play under pres- 1990-92, 1996 Mister Europa Player of the Year sure by scoring eleven three-pointers in one 1991 European Championship most valuable player game against the U.S. team, despite a variety 1996 NBA Sixth Man Award of defenses designed to stop him. Yugoslavia featured a league of profes- sional teams, which were renowned for their com- Adriatic to Treviso, Italy. He then started playing paratively high salaries and fringe benefits. Playing for a team sponsored by the clothes-manufacturing on one of these teams was considered a personal corporation, Benetton. Meanwhile, Krause contin- honor. Toni was recruited to play for Jugoplastika ued to eagerly and openly pursue him, which did Split and quickly excelled. He led the local team to not sit well with the Bulls’ two best players, Michael the league championship for three consecutive Jordan and Scottie Pippen, both apparently in- years, each time earning the coveted player of the sulted by the attention paid and huge money of- year award. Just as Toni’s personal success was fered to Toni. After playing in the 1992 Olympics, reaching epic status, an overarching tragedy befell Toni bought out his contract with Benetton and fi- him and his fellow Yugoslavs: The nation fell into a nally signed with the Bulls in July, 1993. horrible civil war. Jordan abruptly retired shortly after Toni joined the team, a fact that substantially increased Toni’s Continuing the Story playing time during the 1993-1994 season. Toni re- The Chicago Bulls’ general manager sponded well, averaging 11.9 points per game, and had scouted Toni extensively against all levels of was named to the all-rookie second team. In the competition and was very impressed with the next year, Toni started half of the games, played player and confident of his ability to play in the well, and won the respect of his team. NBA. Accordingly, Krause made him the twenty- In 1995, Jordan came out of retirement, and the ninth pick in the 1990 draft. However, Toni was Bulls acquired Dennis Rodman, which pushed concerned about his family’s safety and chose to Toni back to reserve status but produced three stay in Croatia for another year. consecutive NBA Championships for the team. In early 1992, Toni finally succeeded in getting Toni obligingly accepted his lessened role and was his fiancé, Renata, and his family safely across the respected as the best sixth man in the league. In

NBA Statistics Season GP FGA FGM FG% FTA FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1993-94 75 726 313 .431 210 156 .743 297 252 814 10.9 1994-95 81 967 487 .504 314 235 .748 440 372 1,271 15.7 1995-96 81 787 386 .490 267 206 .772 323 287 1,065 13.1 1996-97 57 605 285 .471 174 134 .770 261 256 754 13.2 1997-98 74 841 383 .455 219 155 .708 327 314 984 13.3 1998-99 44 750 315 .420 215 159 .740 310 235 828 18.8 1999-00 56 728 297 .408 265 192 .725 273 265 830 14.8 2000-01 65 582 275 .473 160 101 .631 259 199 721 12.9 2001-02 59 504 211 .419 153 109 .712 218 210 584 9.9 2002-03 63 577 249 .432 194 137 .706 266 230 730 11.6 2003-04 73 506 211 .417 199 145 .729 271 200 616 8.4 2004-05 53 256 105 .410 61 44 .721 160 160 296 5.6 2005-06 65 298 116 .389 56 40 .714 150 139 317 4.9 Totals 846 8,127 3,633 .447 2,487 1,813 .729 3,555 3,119 9,810 11.6 Notes: GP = games played; FGA = field goals attempted; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTA = free throws attempted; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

211 Toni Kukoc Great Athletes

1998, Jordan retired again, and other key players, ity, and determination, however, helped him prove such as Pippen, were traded. Toni became the team that he belonged among the best players in the leader, but the Bulls plummeted in the standings. world. He excelled in three different leagues, won The Bulls’ management decided to go with a youth two Olympic medals, played on three NBA Champi- movement, making the older and more expensive onship teams, and won numerous individual Toni expendable. He was traded to the Philadel- awards. Overcoming personal challenges and a na- phia 76ers in February, 1999. The following season tional tragedy, Toni clearly proved himself in the he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. Toni then world of basketball. spent four years with the Milwaukee Bucks, for Thomas W. Buchanan, updated by Julie Elliott whom he became a popular player off of the bench. After the 2006 season, Toni retired. He had Additional Sources gotten offers to play from other teams, but he only Jordan, Michael. For the Love of the Game. New York: wanted to play for the Bulls or the Bucks because Crown, 1998. he did not want to be far from his family in Illinois. Levine, David. The Chicago Bulls: The Best Ever. New York: Time, 1997. Summary Wennington, Bill, and Kent McDill. Bill Wenning- Quiet and not flashy, Toni Kukoc was not a typical ton’s Tales from the Bulls Hardwood. Champaign, NBA player. His combination of talent, adaptabil- Ill.: Sports, 2004.

212 Bob Kurland

Born: December 23, 1924 Rubon had played college basketball at Oklahoma St. Louis, Missouri A&M University (now Oklahoma State University) Also known as: Robert Albert Kurland (full for basketball legend Henry Iba, and he persuaded name) his old coach to take Bob under his tutelage. Fol- lowing graduation from high school in 1942, Bob Early Life considered military service in World War II, but his Robert Albert Kurland was born on December 23, size exempted him from serving in the armed 1924, in St. Louis, Missouri. Bob grew up in a forces. In the fall of 1942, Bob enrolled at Okla- middle-class neighborhood but he did not enjoy a homa A&M, to Coach Iba’s delight. typical childhood with his playmates. By age seven, Bob began a period of rapid growth that left him The Emerging Champion tall and uncoordinated. By age thirteen, Bob was 6 At Oklahoma, Coach Iba worked patiently with feet 6 inches tall. Bob to develop his game. Bob had been predomi- Despite coordination problems, Bob enjoyed nantly a defensive and rebounding specialist in sports, especially basketball. His parents did not al- high school, but Coach Iba felt that by developing a low him to participate in organized sports until left-handed hook shot, Bob could become a real high school for fear his size and uncertain mobility scoring threat as well. would injure other boys. Consequently, the young The first day of practice, Bob shot six hundred redhead’s sporting ventures included fishing left-handed hook shots. None of the first two hun- along the banks of the Mississippi River and hunt- dred found the basket. In fact, the first one hun- ing and tramping through the countryside. Occa- dred hit neither the rim nor the backboard. After a sionally, Bob would shoot baskets with his father, few weeks of practice, however, Bob began hitting but that was the extent of his basketball experience the hook shot with some regularity. Coach Iba as a youth. attributed Bob’s success to his perseverance and intelligence. An A student in the classroom, Bob The Road to Excellence applied the same intellect and dedication to bas- Bob played on his first organized team as a sopho- ketball. more at Jennings High School in metropolitan St. In his first year, Bob played sparingly, averaging Louis. He was 6 feet 7 inches tall, and his high 2.5 points per game. In practice, he honed his re- school coach, Walter Rubon, worked with him on bounding and skills by batting the ball his coordination and basketball skills. Bob’s skills off the rim and away from the basket. improved and he continued to grow, reaching a By his sophomore year, Bob had grown to 7 feet height of 6 feet 10 inches as a senior. and had become Oklahoma A&M’s starting center. To improve Bob’s jumping skills for rebound- ing, Coach Rubon encouraged him to go out for Honors and Awards the school’s track and field team as a high jumper. Bob took the advice and worked hard on high 1944-46 Consensus All-American jumping and basketball. As a result, Bob led his 1945-46 NCAA Tournament most outstanding player high school basketball team to two state tourna- 1946 Helms Athletic Foundation Player of the Year ment finals as a junior and a senior and won the Citizens Savings College Basketball Player of the Year state Class B high jump championship as a senior 1948, 1952 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball in 1942. Bob’s basketball skills improved significantly 1948-53 National AAU All-American during his senior year, and his coach recognized 1961 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame his potential to be a great college player. Coach

213 Bob Kurland Great Athletes

His goaltending techniques contributed to a Na- homa. The company sponsored the , tional Collegiate Athletic Assocation (NCAA) rule a topnotch Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basket- change that prevented him from executing his pat- ball team. During six seasons with the 66ers, Bob ented defensive technique of batting the ball off averaged 12 points per game and led them to three the rim. The rule change forced Bob to develop AAU championships and an overall record of 369 more mobility and skill as an all-around player. wins and 26 losses. In his second collegiate season, Bob averaged Bob’s choice to retain his amateur basketball nearly 17 points per game and led his team to the status enabled him to become the first American to National Invitational Tournament (NIT) semifi- play on two Olympic basketball championship nals, where they lost to DePaul University and teams, in 1948 and 1952. At the end of the 1955 another 7-foot giant, George Mikan, 41-38. Bob AAU basketball season, Bob retired from competi- played well against Mikan, outscoring him 14-9. tion and assumed full time executive responsibili- The following season, 1945-1946, Bob led the ties with Phillips Petroleum Company. Bob went on A&M Aggies to the NCAA Championship, defeat- to manage special product sales in the company’s ing New York University 49-45. Bob scored a then marketing division. tournament record of 65 points in three games. In his senior year, 1946-1947, Bob set an NCAA Summary record of 643 points. This total included a 58-point After getting a late start in basketball, Bob Kurland performance against St. Louis University in his fi- successfully overcame numerous obstacles to be- nal regular season game. The game was a warm-up, come one of the game’s outstanding “Big Men.” Al- as Robert and the Aggies defended their NCAA though he did not pursue a professional basketball Championship by beating North Carolina 43-40. career, Bob contributed to the game’s amateur development as an AAU star and a member of two Continuing the Story U.S. Olympic teams. After graduating in 1947 with a degree in engineer- Jerry Jaye Wright ing, Bob rejected offers as high as $15,000 to play professional basketball in the new National Basket- Additional Sources ball League. Newly married to his college girl- Smith, Ron, Ira Winderman, and Mary Schmitt friend, Barbara, Bob felt he needed a more stable Boyer. The Complete Encyclopedia of Basketball. future. London: Carlton, 2002. Bob chose the unique executive training pro- Wallechinsky, David, and Jaime Loucky. The Com- gram for former athletes offered by Phillips Petro- plete Book of the Olympics: 2008 Edition. London: leum, a growing company in Bartlesville, Okla- Aurum Press, 2008.

214 Bob Lanier

Born: September 10, 1948 the time he was a college senior, it looked like noth- Buffalo, New York ing could stop Bob. Also known as: Robert Jerry Lanier, Jr. (full Fate, however, took away Bob’s chance to play name); the Dobber for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship. While leading St. Bona- Early Life venture to a win over Villanova for the NCAA’s East- Robert Jerry Lanier, Jr., was born on September 10, ern Regional championship, Bob was injured. 1948, in Buffalo, New York, to Robert Lanier, Sr., Villanova’s —who would later be Bob’s and Nanny Lanier. Oddly enough, the first break in teammate as a professional—could not get around Bob’s sports career came when he was cut from his Bob’s big feet, and he tripped over them. Bob suf- junior-high school basketball team at the age of fered torn ligaments and could not play in the twelve. Laurie Alexander, the director of the Masten Boys Club on Buffalo’s East Side, took Bob aside and told him he had to work hard. Bob did so, and he soon led the Bennett High School team in every sta- tistical category. Many thought him too heavy and slow to play college ball, but Bob proved them wrong. St. Bonaventure Uni- versity, then a rising basketball power close to his Buffalo home, offered Bob a scholar- ship.

The Road to Excellence In 1966, when Bob came to St. Bonaven- ture, freshmen were not allowed to play varsity sports. On the freshman team, how- ever, Bob averaged 30 points a game and gained control over his 6-foot 11-inch, 275- pound body. Still, many said that it was only his height that enabled him to score and that he would not be able to compete as well in varsity play. When he took the court in November of 1967, Bob had a new nickname. He was no longer just “the big man” on his team; the fans began calling him “The Big Cat.” The name implied not only size but also quick- ness and agility. In his first month on the varsity team, Bob had 27 rebounds in one game, a record at St. Bonaventure. Bob’s team finished the regular season unde- feated that year. The following season, he scored 51 points in a game against Seton Bob Lanier of the Detroit Pistons taking a hook shot. (Focus on Hall, another record at his alma mater. By Sport/Getty Images)

215 Bob Lanier Great Athletes

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1970-71 82 504 .455 273 .726 665 146 1,281 15.6 1971-72 80 834 .493 388 .768 1,132 248 2,056 25.7 1972-73 81 810 .490 307 .773 1,205 260 1,927 23.8 1973-74 81 748 .504 326 .797 1,074 343 1,822 22.5 1974-75 76 731 .510 361 .802 914 350 1,823 24.0 1975-76 64 541 .532 284 .768 746 217 1,366 21.3 1976-77 64 678 .534 260 .818 745 214 1,616 25.3 1977-78 63 622 .537 298 .772 715 216 1,542 24.5 1978-79 53 489 .515 275 .749 494 140 1,253 23.6 1979-80 63 466 .537 277 .782 552 184 1,210 19.2 1980-81 67 376 .525 208 .751 413 179 961 14.3 1981-82 74 407 .558 182 .752 388 219 996 13.5 1982-83 39 163 .491 91 .684 200 105 417 10.7 1983-84 72 392 .572 194 .708 455 186 978 13.6 Totals 959 7,761 .514 3,724 .767 9,698 3,007 19,248 20.0 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game semifinals. However, professional scouts knew that, As Bob improved, so did his team. In 1974, De- even without the championship, Bob was the best troit made the playoffs for the first time in six years. player of his graduating class, and he was the first The same year, Bob was named most valuable player selected in the 1970 NBA draft. player in the NBA all-star game; in another game that season, he scored a career-high 45 points. Bob The Emerging Champion would be in the playoffs each year for the rest of his Drafted by the Detroit Pistons, Bob once again career, but, as in college, he was not destined to win faced the struggle of a higher level of competition. a championship. Playing all eighty-two games of his first pro season, Bob did not score as much as he had in college, but Continuing the Story the league recognized his talents by naming him to In the 1979 all-star game, Bob turned in an in- the NBA all-rookie team for 1971. Under the guid- spired performance, not knowing that it was his ance of Bill Russell, one of the great centers of the last all-star appearance as a Detroit Piston. Thir- 1960’s, Bob proved he was NBA material. By his sec- teen years later, Bob recalled the standing ovation ond season, he was leading the Pistons in scoring, he received at that game as one of the high points and he finished the year as the eighth-highest of his career. Near the end of the 1979-1980 season, scorer in the NBA. Throughout the 1970’s, Bob re- the Pistons traded Bob to the Milwaukee Bucks. mained a top-ten player in many categories, includ- Milwaukee’s previous center, , ing scoring, shooting percentage, rebounds, and could score from near the basket, but he was not as blocked shots. versatile as Bob. What made Bob valuable, even as a veteran of nine seasons, was his ability to Honors and Awards score from outside the key, the rectan- gle-and-semicircle painted on the floor 1968-70 College All-American near the basket. Bob was one of the first 1971 NBA All-Rookie Team big men who could score from well out- 1972-75, 1977-79, 1982 NBA All-Star Team 1974 NBA All-Star Game most valuable player side the key. 1978 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award Though Bob began playing fewer min- 1981 YMCA Jackie Robinson Award utes per game, his shooting percentage 1992 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame remained high, and Milwaukee coach 1993 Uniform number 16 retired by Detroit Pistons Don Nelson knew that he could count on Bob to score. In his final season, Bob

216 Basketball Bob Lanier played almost twice as many playoff games—six- came the interim head coach of the Warriors and teen—as he had in any previous season, scoring posted a 12-25 record over the last thirty-seven 203 playoff points. games of the season. Bob then returned to his role Bob was also an NBA leader off the court. Active as an assistant coach with the Warriors. in the NBA Players Association, Bob served as In 1996, Bob was appointed the first TeamUp the organization’s president at the crucial time chairperson. This program was established by the when the American Basketball Association (ABA) NBA to help young people develop a positive self- merged with the NBA. Bob also helped his commu- image and reach their full potential. One of the nity, using his own success story to inspire young community projects targeted by the program was people to stay in school. Sportswriters recognized to increase reading and literacy among young peo- Bob’s efforts by giving him the 1978 J. Walter Ken- ple. To encourage more reading, Bob and other nedy Citizenship Award; in 1981, the YMCA pre- NBA players spent time reading books to school- sented him with the Jackie Robinson Award for ser- children during NBA Reading Month. vice to youth. When Bob retired from basketball in 1984, he Summary continued serving his community and devoted Bob Lanier became one of the premier big men himself to his business, Bob Lanier Enterprises. In of professional basketball in his fourteen-year the 1990’s, Bob headed the NBA’s Stay in School NBA career. His unstoppable left-handed hook, his program, encouraging young people to keep try- speed, and his sure shooting combined to make ing, as he did in his own career. On May 11, 1992, him a legendary center. he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Bas- John R. Holmes ketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. During his tenure as the chairperson of the Stay Additional Sources in School program, Bob also worked as a commen- Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- tary analyst for national radio broadcasts of NBA ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters Press, 2000. games. After the 1993-1994 season, Bob left the Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling Stay in School program to become an assistant Kindersley, 2003. coach with the Golden State Warriors. In 1993, his Smith, Ron, Ira Winderman, and Mary Schmitt number 16 jersey was retired by the Detroit Pistons. Boyer. The Complete Encyclopedia of Basketball. Midway through the 1994-1995 campaign, Bob be- London: Carlton, 2002.

217 Joe Lapchick

Born: April 12, 1900 Beckman. Because of his height, Joe immediately Yonkers, New York became a star. Big men such as Joe are not consid- Died: August 10, 1970 ered unusual today, but in the early days of profes- New York, New York sional basketball, few players were as tall as Joe. He Also known as: Joseph Bohomiel Lapchick (full soon became the first effective pivotman to play the name) game and was the most feared player on the court during the 1920’s and 1930’s. Early Life During the first two seasons, the Celtics played Joseph Bohomiel Lapchick was born on April 12, as an independent team. In 1926, they joined the 1900, in Yonkers, New York, to Joseph and Frances old American Basketball League—a forerunner of (Kassick) Lapchick, who were both immigrants. the National Basketball Association—which they Joe’s father was a police officer, and life for immi- dominated for the first two years. In the 1927-1928 grant families during this time was often difficult. season, they finished with a record of 80 wins and At the age of twelve, Joe began to play basketball for 20 losses. With Joe as center, the Celtics never lost a the Trinity City Midgets. At the age of fifteen, he series. dropped out of high school to earn money for his The Celtics were the best and most innovative of family, working as an apprentice machinist for fif- the early professional teams. The team revolution- teen dollars per week. During this time, he also be- ized basketball with a switching defense, a “give gan his professional career with the Yonkers Ban- and go” offense, and the inclusion of the pivotman. tams, earning five dollars a game. Joe’s height and jumping ability made the Celtics exceptionally successful. The rules at that time re- The Road to Excellence quired that a occur after each basket. By 1917, Joe had grown to be 6 feet 5 inches tall and Joe’s talent enabled the Celtics to control the ball weighed 185 pounds. With his height and speed, more than their opponents and, consequently, he was already considered a fine player at the age of they scored more. seventeen. He left the Bantams to play for a New The American Basketball League dissolved the York professional team known as the Whirlwinds, Celtics because of their dominance; they were far one of the many professional teams in New York. better than other professional teams. Joe and three Joe was one of the first big men to play basket- of his teammates joined the Cleveland Rosen- ball. He was agile for a center and played for several blums, who won two titles in the 1928-1929 and teams from 1917 to 1919, in the Western Massachu- 1929-1930 seasons and established an impressive setts League and the Metropolitan League. His 72-33 won-lost record. The Rosenblums team was earnings increased as well; he initially earned up to dissolved during the 1930-1931 season because of ten dollars per game and eventually commanded the Depression. seventy-five dollars per game. In 1919, Joe played Joe consequently became a free agent with a To- for Troy of the New York State League, and he re- ledo team, which ended during the same year be- mained with this semiprofessional team through the 1923 season. Honors and Awards

The Emerging Champion 1966 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame In 1923, Joe joined the New York Celtics, the best 1971 St. John’s University of New York established the Joe professional team in New York, and began his pro- Lapchick Award, presented annually to the nation’s best fessional basketball career in earnest. He teamed senior college basketball player with George “Horse” Haggarty, Pete Barry, Davey (Accurate statistics are not available for Lapchick’s playing career.) Banks, , , and Johnny

218 Basketball Joe Lapchick cause the American Basketball League folded. For York Celtics during the 1920’s, considered by many the next six years, he continued his professional ca- as the “golden age” of sport. The Celtics domi- reer, touring on the exhibition circuit with Kate nated professional basketball and revolutionized Smith’s Celtics. He retired as a player in 1937. the game, adding changes in both offensive and defensive play and popularizing professional bas- Continuing the Story ketball. During the nineteen years of his playing career, Joe Joe was equally as successful as a coach, in both was considered the best center in basketball. After amateur and professional basketball. His career his career ended, big men took over basketball as was an unusual one. He entered basketball as a pro- the popularity of both the professional and inter- fessional; he never played amateur high school or collegiate game increased. college basketball. After twenty years as a profes- After his retirement, Joe was named head bas- sional player, he became a coach of amateur, inter- ketball coach at St. John’s University, even though collegiate players and later returned to the profes- he had no formal high school or college education. sional game as a coach. During the years from 1937 to 1947, he coached the Redmen of St. John’s to 181 victories and two Summary National Invitational Tournament (NIT) Champi- As a player, Joe Lapchick led the New York Celtics onships in 1943 and 1944. In 1948, he was lured to two successful, victorious seasons and the Cleve- away from St. John’s to coach the professional New land Rosenblums to two world titles. As a coach, he York Knicks. During the following nine seasons, led St. John’s to four national intercollegiate cham- he developed the team into national contenders. pionships and the New York Knicks to three NBA He led the Knicks to a 326-247 record and three Finals. He helped bring basketball into the mod- straight NBA Finals in 1951, 1952, and 1953, losing ern era. all three playoff series. Joe left basketball and spent his retirement as Joe was an emotional coach, and the stress of los- sports coordinator for Kutsher’s Country Club in ing three NBA titles in a row was difficult for him. New York, playing golf until his death in 1970. He He was forced to quit the Knicks, retiring from was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball coaching in 1956. One month after his retirement, Hall of Fame in 1966. he returned to St. John’s, where he had four Susan J. Bandy twenty-victory seasons, and produced two more NIT Championship teams in 1959 and 1965. In Additional Sources 1965, his last year as a coach, Joe had several heart Alfieri, Gus. Lapchick: The Life of a Legendary Player attacks and retired after winning a fourth NIT and Coach in the Glory Days of Basketball. Guilford, Championship, a record that long remained un- Conn.: Press, 2006. broken. Hubbard, Jan, and David J. Stern. The Official NBA Joe is regarded as the first big coordinated man Encyclopedia. New York: Doubleday, 2000. in basketball. He could jump and shoot and was un- Lapchick, Richard. “A Legacy of Tolerance.” The usually good at playing defense. He joined the New Sporting News 223, no. 16 (April 19, 1999): 11.

219 Meadowlark Lemon

Born: April 25, 1932 During this time, he averaged more than 325 games Wilmington, North Carolina per year, traveled more than 4 million miles, and Also known as: Meadow George Lemon III (full played in 9,925 consecutive games. name); Clown Prince of Basketball; King of the Court; Clown Prince of the Court The Emerging Champion In 1980, Meadowlark left the Globetrotters. He Early Life pursued another of his dreams: the creation of George “Meadowlark” Lemon was born to a poor his own team. He began his own bas- Southern family. His family had little. In fact, ketball team called the Bucketeers. He and the Meadowlark had to make his own basketball goal in the backyard using a coat hanger and an onion sack; he used an empty milk can for a ball. His desire to become a Har- lem Globetrotter began at the age of eleven when he saw a newsreel about the team while at the neighborhood theater. He told his family that he would become a Harlem Globetrotter one day. At the time, African Americans were not allowed in the NBA. During Meadowlark’s senior year in high school, the Globetrotters contacted him. He had to wait, though. He spent two years at Florida A&M University and then two years in the U.S. Army. While he was sta- tioned in Germany, he tried out for the Har- lem Globetrotters officially.

The Road to Excellence Meadowlark was given a spot on the devel- opmental team, the Kansas City Stars, for the 1954 season. By the time the year ended, he was a full-fledged member of the world- famous Globetrotters. Over the next twenty- five years, he played in ninety-four countries and more than sixteen thousand games. He became a household name. He was famous for his “confetti in the water bucket” routine and his behind-the-back no-look passes. Meadowlark played in the evening and traveled with the team by bus, train, or car to the next town the following day for another show. During the 1950’s and 1960’s, even in the racially torn South, he and the Harlem Globetrotters brought smiles, thrills, and Harlem Globetrotter Meadowlark Lemon exhibiting his unique excitement to people of all ages and races. balancing skills. (Hulton Archives/Getty Images)

220 Basketball Meadowlark Lemon

Continuing the Story Honors and Awards In 1986, Meadowlark made a major life change 1974 Presidential Citation when he became a born-again Christian. He went 1975 Inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame on to become an ordained minister and then achieve his doctorate of divinity from Vision Inter- 2000 Lifetime Achievement Award national University. He founded Meadowlark Lemon International Clown Hall of Fame’s lifetime of laughter award Ministries, which became an outreach program fo- cused on troubled youth in the Scottsdale, Arizona, 2001 Uniform number 36 retired by Harlem Globetrotters area where he resided. Through his ministry he 2003 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame also sponsored coed basketball camps around the country and an online distance-learning program titled the Meadowlark Lemon Online Academy, a team traveled around the country for three years. fully accredited program to help children of all In 1984, Meadowlark created a second Globetrot- ages with their education. ters-styled team called the Shooting Stars. From Though allegations surfaced of financial impro- 1984 through 1987, the team continued his fa- priety surrounding Meadowlark Lemon Ministries, mous basketball tricks and jokes for thousands of the work that Meadowlark did for young people fans. In 1988, Meadowlark created his third team, around the world was undeniable. His activities, called Meadowlark Lemon’s Harlem All-Stars. He both on and off the basketball court, made him a continued to play for this team even in his seven- household name. ties. Meadowlark became a well-known celebrity and Summary was dubbed both the “Clown Prince of Basketball” Meadowlark Lemon received many honors and and the “Clown Prince of the Court.” He took his awards. In 2000, he was awarded the John Bunn fame to Hollywood and had roles in many televi- Lifetime Achievement Award. This is the highest sion shows and movies. He appeared in the movies honor a person can receive, other than induction, Modern Romance (1981) and The Fish That Saved from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Pittsburgh (1979). He also was a guest on variety and Fame. In 2001, the Globetrotters presented Mead- talk shows such as The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight owlark with a “Legends” ring and officially retired Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Today Show, Good his number 36 jersey. In 2003, Meadowlark was in- Morning America, and the Barbara Mandrell Show. ducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Furthermore, he appeared many times with Bill of Fame for his “dedication to his craft.” Los Angeles Cosby on his various shows. He also had guest ap- Times sports columnist Jim Murray described him pearances on hit television shows such as Alice and as an “American institution” for his talents as an Diff’rent Strokes. athlete and his comic action on the basketball Meadowlark also lent his voice to Scooby-Doo car- court. toons. He appeared many times on ABC’s Wide Karen Hayslett-McCall World of Sports with the Harlem Globetrotters, in- cluding four episodes that ranked among the most Additional Sources highly rated broadcasts in the show’s history. Butler, Robbie, and Timothy V. Rasinski. The Har- To cash in on his fame, Meadowlark endorsed lem Globetrotters: Clown Princes of Basketball. New many products by numerous companies, including York: Couglan, 2001. Burger King, Pepsi, Nike, Rawlings, and Foot Lemon, Meadowlark, and Jerry B. Jenkins. Mead- Locker. Along the way, he became one of the most owlark. New York: Thomas Nelson, 1987. famous people in the United States. He even re- Wilker, Josh. The Harlem Globetrotters. New York: corded an album for the RCA label. Chelsea House, 1996.

221 Lisa Leslie

Born: July 7, 1972 was a truck driver who spent a significant amount Gardena, California of time on the road. Lisa moved from Compton, Also known as: Lisa Deshaun Leslie (full name); where she spent her early childhood, to live with Smooth her aunt in Carson. At twelve years old, she stood 6 feet 1 inch, much taller than her junior high school Early Life classmates, who often teased and ostracized her. Lisa Deshaun Leslie was born on July 7, 1972, in Lisa’s interest in basketball did not peak until she Gardena, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. Her entered Compton’s Waley Junior High School in father left before her birth. Her mother, Christine, 1984. At her first scrimmage for the school team, she was the only person to line up to shoot left- handed. Because she was embarrassed, she vowed to learn to shoot right-handed. Thus, her early basketball insecurity devel- oped her ability to use both hands equally. In junior high, she played in a boys’ bas- ketball league. Ignored because of her gender, she once stole the ball from her own teammates and subsequently scored, establishing herself as equal in skill to the boys. In 1986, she played in the Olympics Girls’ Development League, dominating girls her own age and older. Even during the early stages of her basketball career, Lisa established her transcendency.

The Road to Excellence After junior high, Lisa moved to Ingle- wood to live with her disciplinarian grand- mother. At this stage, Lisa, only fourteen years old, had already received more than one hundred letters of recruitment from colleges. She entered Morningside High School as a self-described “loner”; she had been unable to cultivate “close, long- term” relationships because of her size and somewhat transitory, essentially par- entless lifestyle. Morningside girls’ bas- ketball coach Frank Scott befriended her, recognized her exceptional athletic abil- ity, and mentored her in the fundamen- tals of the sport. He often guarded her with a broom, blocking her vision, forc- center Lisa Leslie driving past the defense of ing her to shoot with a higher arc. the San Antonio Stars in 2008. (Noah Graham/NBAE/Getty Im- Lisa was the only ninth-grader on the ages) varsity team, which finished the season

222 Basketball Lisa Leslie with a 27-3 record, and was selected the California The Emerging Champion freshman player of the year. As a sophomore, she Lisa chose to attend the University of Southern Cal- led her team to a California Interscholastic Federa- ifornia (USC), a school that had an established tra- tion championship and a berth in the California dition in women’s basketball. Over four seasons, state championship game. As time expired in the fi- she became the Pac-10 Conference’s all-time lead- nal contest, Lisa missed a bank shot that could have ing scorer. At the conclusion of her initial season, won the game for Morningside. she became the first Pac-10 Conference freshman In her junior year, Lisa grew to her adult height to be chosen as first-team all-conference and the of 6 feet 5 inches and had a stellar season. Aver- NCAA freshman of the year. aging 25 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 blocked shots, In her sophomore campaign, Lisa guided USC she was named both a USA Today and a Parade mag- to the regional finals of the NCAA tournament and azine all-American. Morningside returned to the was again named to the all-conference team. The California state championship in a rematch with following season, the team improved to fifteenth in Fremont High School. Lisa helped the team to a the national rankings; Lisa averaged 19 points and 60-50 victory. In 1990, Morningside repeated as 9 rebounds per game, shot 56 percent from the champions in a season in which Lisa averaged 27 field, and was included on the all-conference team points and was named the Naismith prep player of for the third consecutive season. Additionally, she the year as the foremost high school girls’ player in was honored as USA Basketball female athlete of the country. In the state championship game the year. Though the team stumbled in Lisa’s se- against Berkeley High School, Lisa competed with nior season, she finished strong. She was named to a 102-degree fever but scored 35 points. the 1994 Kodak All-American team and became Though Lisa had a superior overall high school the first player to be chosen to the all-Pac-10 Con- basketball career, a singular moment in her senior ference team on four occasions. Her uniform num- season established her indelible greatness. In a ber, 33, was retired two years later. After such an ex- game against South Torrance High School, she ceptional college tenure, a men’s player of Lisa’s scored 49 points in the first quarter and 52 points caliber would move directly to the NBA. However, in the second quarter for a total of 101 points. during the mid-1990’s a female basketball player Trailing 102-24 at halftime, South Torrance for- had few professional options. feited, prohibiting Lisa from breaking Cheryl Miller’s record of 105 points. Lisa described the Continuing the Story performance as “mystical,” and she became an In 1994, Lisa signed a $100,000 contract with instant celebrity in Los Angeles and across the Sicilgesso, a women’s basketball team in Italy. At country. the time, her only professional opportunities were

WNBA Statistics

Season GP FGA FGM FG% FTA FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1997 28 371 160 .431 113 189 .598 266 74 455 15.9 1998 28 423 202 .478 136 177 .768 285 70 549 19.6 1999 32 389 182 .468 114 156 .731 248 56 500 15.6 2000 32 430 197 .458 169 205 .824 306 60 570 17.8 2001 31 467 221 .473 142 193 .736 298 73 606 19.5 2002 31 406 189 .466 133 183 .727 322 83 523 16.9 2003 23 373 165 .442 82 133 .617 231 46 424 18.4 2004 34 451 223 .494 146 205 .712 336 88 598 17.6 2005 34 464 204 .440 102 174 .586 248 87 517 15.2 2006 34 503 257 .511 158 243 .650 323 108 680 20.0 2008 33 406 188 .463 117 177 .661 293 80 497 15.1 Totals 340 4,683 2,188 .467 2,035 1,412 .694 3,156 825 5,909 17.4 Notes: GP = games played; FGA = field goals attempted; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTA = free throws attempted; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

223 Lisa Leslie Great Athletes

abroad. However, she was eventually forced Milestones to return home because of knee problems. Next, she prepared for the 1996 Olympics First player to slam-dunk in a WNBA game in Atlanta, Georgia. After a year of exhibi- First WNBA player to win most valuable player awards for league, all-star tion games around the world, the U.S. team game, and finals in same season reached the Olympic gold-medal game ver- Honors and Awards sus Brazil. In front of 33,000 partisan fans, Team USA won the game 111-87. Lisa con- 1989 Dial Award tributed 29 points. 1990 Gatorade girls basketball national player of the year After the Olympics, Lisa began a brief 1991-94 All-Pacific Ten Conference first team modeling career. She was featured in numer- 1993, 1998, 2002 USA Basketball female athlete of the year ous magazines and had decided to pursue 1994 Naismith women’s college player of the year modeling in the long term when she learned 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball the NBA, with its corporate sponsorship and 1999, 2001 WNBA all-star game most valuable player cable television rights, had decided to begin a women’s professional basketball league in 2001 WNBA most valuable player the United States. Buoyed by innovative mar- Flo Hyman Memorial Award keting strategies, including a series of com- WNBA Finals most valuable player mercials featuring Lisa and centered around 2006 WNBA’s all-decade team the motto “we got next,” the Women’s Na- tional Basketball Association (WNBA) held its first game on June 21, 1997, between Lisa’s team, game in Connecticut, she dunked again, further the Los Angeles Sparks, and the New York Liberty. establishing her legacy as one the most illustrious The success of the game signaled a new era in players in women’s basketball history. women’s sports in the United States. In 2003, Lisa suffered a knee injury, forcing her After initial struggles, the Sparks emerged as to rehabilitate for a month. Though the Sparks ap- one of the WNBA’s elite franchises, and Lisa was peared in a third consecutive WNBA Finals, the De- the team’s catalyst. After winning the all-star game troit Shock defeated Los Angeles in three games. most valuable player award (MVP) in 1999 and The Sparks struggled in the following seasons, but 2001, Lisa captained the Sparks to WNBA Champi- Lisa remained a consistent contributor and an- onships in 2001 and 2002. She played a finesse chored the U.S. women’s basketball team that won game and was often accused of lacking a physically a third consecutive Olympic gold medal in 2004. intimidating presence. Nonetheless, in 2001, she After the 2005 WNBA season, Lisa, desirous of im- was presented her first WNBA regular-season MVP proving aspects of her basketball abilities, joined award before the second game of the Western Con- Spartak Moscow of the Russian Basketball Federa- ference Finals, in which she compiled a career- tion and directed the team to the European Cham- high 35 points. That season, she garnered the pionship against French team Pays d’Aix. In the WNBA Finals MVP award, becoming the first final game, Lisa scored 20 points and had 19 re- player in league history to win the award for the all- bounds. star game, the regular season, and the finals. In 2006, when Lisa returned to the United In July, 2002, Lisa scored her 3,000th career States, she was included on the WNBA’s all-decade point, becoming the first WNBA player to reach team, one of only three original league members the milestone. Later in the month, playing at the bestowed with the honor. During the season, she before a supportive home audi- became the first player to score 5,000 points in a ca- ence, on an open-court , she made reer, played in her sixth all-star game, and was pre- WNBA history as the first player to slam-dunk dur- sented with her third league MVP award. On Lisa’s ing a game. Fans voted Lisa’s dunk the “greatest thirty-fourth birthday, the Sparks’ home floor was milestone” in the WNBA’s first ten years. In the christened “Lisa Leslie Court,” a tribute to her con- same year, USA Basketball designated Lisa the fe- tributions to the league, her team, and Los An- male athlete of the year. In the 2005 WNBA all-star geles. Having married in 2005, Lisa took a sabbati-

224 Basketball Lisa Leslie cal from the WNBA in 2007 to give birth to her first her adolescence, Lisa combined a glamorous pub- child. She returned to the Sparks for the 2008 sea- lic persona with exceptional basketball skills and son, reenergized by the franchise’s addition of Uni- an on-court ambition, making her perhaps the pre- versity of Tennessee star Candace Parker. In the eminent women’s basketball player in the history summer of 2008, Lisa helped Team USA to a fourth of the sport. consecutive Olympic gold medal. Christopher Rager

Summary Additional Sources Lisa Leslie heightened the profile of women’s bas- Christopher, Matt. On the Court with Lisa Leslie.2d ketball and shifted the perception of women ath- ed. Boston: Little, Brown, 2001. letes as inferior to their male counterparts. She Leslie, Lisa, with Larry Burnett. Don’t Let the Lipstick won four Olympic gold medals, led her team to Fool You. New York: Kensington, 2008. championships at the high school and professional Savage, Jeff. Lisa Leslie: Slam Dunk Queen. Berkeley levels, acquired numerous accolades for her grace- Heights, N.J.: Enslow, 2005. ful and fluid playing style, and symbolized the Wimmer, Dick, ed. The Women’s Game. Short Hills, WNBA’s success. Abandoning the insecurities of N.J.: Burford Books, 2000.

225 Nancy Lieberman-Cline

Born: July 1, 1958 by many to be the best female basketball player Brooklyn, New York ever, perfected her game early by playing basket- Also known as: Nancy Elizabeth Lieberman (full ball with the boys of her neighborhood. Nancy put name); Nancy Lieberman much of her free time into playing sports, primarily basketball. She also played softball and even foot- Early Life ball with the boys on occasion. Nancy Elizabeth Lieberman was born on July 1, 1958, in Brooklyn, New York. The daughter of The Road to Excellence Jerome and Renee Lieberman, Nancy felt most at Nancy played her first year of organized basketball home on the playgrounds of New York, shooting as a sophomore at Far Rockaway High School; that jump shots and sinking layups. Nancy, considered year the team reached the city championship only to lose by one point. She also got involved in Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and Catho- lic Youth Organization (CYO) competition in New York. The mix of the school-yard pickup games and the organized competi- tion helped Nancy develop into one of the top female players in the state of New York. Nancy started receiving national recogni- tion when she was picked for the 1975 Pan- American Games team; soon afterward she became the youngest member of the 1976 U.S. Women’s Olympic team. As the team’s top reserve, she helped the U.S. team collect the silver medal at the Montreal Olympics. After playing on a medal-winning Olym- pic team, Nancy was faced with choosing a college. Nancy was heavily recruited by col- lege coaches, and she decided to attend Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Nancy had an immediate impact on the women’s team at Old Dominion. As a fresh- man, she scored an average of 20.9 points per game while leading the Lady Monarchs to a berth in the National Women’s Invita- tional Tournament (NWIT). During summer vacations, Nancy dedi- cated her time to playing basketball. In the summer after her freshman year, she played for the U.S. junior team and helped guide the squad to an undefeated summer while winning two tournament titles. Nancy was al- ready proving to be a “clutch” player capable Nancy Lieberman-Cline passing the ball in a 1997 WNBA game. of playing under big-time game pressure. (Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty Images) The competition with the boys on the play-

226 Basketball Nancy Lieberman-Cline

College Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1976-77 27 240 .473 83 .709 272 212 563 20.9 1977-78 34 281 .432 119 .730 325 200 681 20.0 1978-79 36 243 .478 139 .790 276 254 625 17.4 1979-80 37 208 .533 145 .779 294 295 561 15.2 Totals 134 972 .472 486 .757 1,167 961 2,430 18.1 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game grounds of New York helped her deal with playing legiate career, “Lady Magic” scored, rebounded, against difficult odds. and played defense like no one else.

The Emerging Champion Continuing the Story For the next three seasons, Nancy dominated After college, Nancy played in the Women’s Profes- women’s college basketball; she was named an all- sional Basketball League (WPBL) and signed with American three consecutive years. In her sopho- the Dallas Diamonds for more than $100,000. She more season, the Lady Monarchs rolled to a 30-4 averaged 26.3 points per game and led the Dia- record and won the NWIT. Between 1978 and 1980, monds to a Coastal Division title in her first season. Nancy guided Old Dominion to two consecutive She also led the league in steals to earn all-pro and Association of Intercollegiate Athlet- ics for Women (AIAW) national colle- Honors and Awards giate tournament titles as the Lady Monarchs posted 35-1 and 37-1 rec- 1976 Silver medal, Olympic Basketball ords, respectively. 1977-78 NWIT All-American 1978 NWIT most valuable player In 134 college contests for the Lady Underalls All-American Classic most valuable player Monarchs, Nancy averaged 18.1 points Basketball Weekly All-American and 9 rebounds per game. Her 561 First Annual All-American Basketball Classic most valuable player steals and 961 assists were collegiate 1978-80 Virginia Player of the Year records at that time. In 1979 and 1980, Virginia State Tournament most valuable player First-Team All-State she won the Wade Trophy as the top Kodak All-American Team women’s player in the country. In 1979 Detroit Coca-Cola Classic most valuable player 1979, she was designated as the top Detroit Coca-Cola Classic Best Defensive Player female college athlete when she won National Scouting Association All-American the Honda Broderick Cup. In 1980, 1979-80 Wade Trophy AIAW National Championship Team Nancy was given the Jewish athlete of Honda Broderick Cup the year award. 1980 Jewish Athlete of the Year In 1980, Nancy competed on the Broderick Cup U.S. national team and helped the Optimist Classic All-Tournament Team squad capture the eighth World World Women’s Basketball Championship Team Women’s U.S. Olympic Basketball Team (United States boycotted Olympics) Women’s Basketball Championship in AIAW All-Media Team Seoul, South Korea. Her amateur ca- Boy Scouts of America Young American of the Year reer concluded that same year; after 1981 WPBL All-Pro Team making the U.S. Olympic team, Nancy WPBL Rookie of the Year quit because of the U.S. boycott of the Uniform number 10 retired by Old Dominion University Athletic Department 1984 WABA All-Star Game most valuable player Moscow Games. Nancy’s college uni- 1989 U.S. Women’s National Team form number 10 was retired and now 1996 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame hangs in the Naismith Memorial Bas- 1999 Inducted into Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame ketball Hall of Fame. During her col-

227 Nancy Lieberman-Cline Great Athletes rookie of the year honors. The league had financial Nancy became the president of the Women’s hardships and folded after the first season, though. Sports Foundation and has done commentary on Nancy moved on, working as a television com- college basketball games for the Entertainment mentator, trainer, and motivational speaker. She and Sports Programming Network (ESPN), Fox worked with tennis pro Martina Navratilova and Sports, and the National Broadcasting Corpora- helped her become one of the top players of the tion (NBC). During the WNBA season, she also 1980’s. She played briefly in another now-defunct analyzed the WNBA teams and players in a weekly women’s league, after signing a three-year contract column titled “Nuts & Bolts with Nancy” on the In- for $250,000, and even spent a year touring with ternet. Nancy heads up her own sports marketing the Harlem Globetrotters. Nancy later became the company, Events Marketing. She is also involved in first woman player to compete in a men’s pro numerous charitable causes for the Special Olym- league when she joined the Springfield Flame of pics, Juvenile Diabetes, and the Girl Scouts. the United States Basketball League (USBL). She also played one season for the Long Island Knights Summary in the USBL. Thereafter, she played for the Wash- Nancy Lieberman-Cline is considered by many to ington Generals, a team that is often referred to as be the greatest woman ever to play basketball. She the supporting cast for the Harlem Globetrotters. succeeded on every level of play, from the high In the USBL, she met her husband, Tim Cline, who school ranks to the men’s professional ranks. Not played for the New Haven Skyhawks. She also dis- only was she a great basketball player, she also was played her athletic ability by competing in ABC a competitor. Furthermore, she helped women’s television’s Superstars, winning the title in 1984. sports gain greater recognition and respect from After leaving the Generals, Nancy became a the public. Nancy was one of the first women to be- broadcaster for college games, owned her own come nationally recognized by the public for play- sports marketing firm, and wrote sports columns ing a game that was otherwise considered a man’s for USA Today and the Dallas Morning News. She was sport. the first female ever inducted into the New York Don Emmons City Basketball Hall of Fame and the eleventh woman inducted into the Naismith Memorial Bas- Additional Sources ketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. Betancourt, Marian. Playing Like a Girl: Trans- In 1996, Nancy played a sixteen-game exhibi- forming Our Lives Through Team Sports. Chicago: tion season with Athletes in Action, averaging 15.7 Contemporary Books, 2001. points, 6.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.8 steals per Branon, Dave. Competitor’s Edge: Women Athletes Talk game. In 1997, at the age of thirty-nine, she joined About Sports and Their Faith. Chicago: Moody the Phoenix Mercury in the newly established Press, 1998. Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Greenberg, Doreen, Michael Greenberg, and Phil After playing one season for the Mercury, Nancy Velikan. A Drive to Win: The Story of Nancy Lieb- took over as the general manager and head coach erman-Cline. Terre Haute, Ind.: Wish, 2000. of the in the WNBA for the 1998 sea- Lapchick, Richard Edward. One Hundred Heroes: son. She coached the Shock into the playoffs in People in Sports Who Make This a Better World.Or- 1999 and again in 2000. In 2004, she coached the lando, Fla.: National Consortium for Academics Dallas Fury of the National Women’s Basketball and Sports, 2006. League (NWBL) to a league championship. In Porter, Karra. Mad Seasons: The Story of the First 2008, at fifty years old, she signed a seven-day con- Women’s Professional Basketball League, 1978-1981. tract with the Detroit Shock. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2006.

228 Rebecca Lobo

Born: October 6, 1973 kies had a 106-25 record, including 102 consecu- Southwick, Massachusetts tive wins, and played in four National Collegiate Also known as: Rebecca Rose Lobo (full name) Athletic Association championships. In both 1994 and 1995, Rebecca was named the Big East Confer- Early Life ence player of the year; in 1994, she was named to Born in Southwick, Massachusetts, on October 6, the Kodak All-American first team. Her best sea- 1973, Rebecca Lobo grew up with an older brother, son, however, came during her senior year. After Jason, and sister, Rachel. Her parents, RuthAnn compiling a 35-0 record during the 1994-1995 sea- and Dennis, were both educators and instilled in son, the Huskies won the national championship. their children the importance of schooling. When Rebecca was voted the most valuable player in the Rebecca went to high school and college she took this lesson with her and made the dean’s list every semester. She has talked about the need for all student athletes to not neglect their education in favor of the game. For Rebecca, education and athletics went hand in hand, and her education made her a better player on the court. While she was growing up, Rebecca devel- oped a special love for basketball because it gave her an opportunity to daydream and think, a time to be alone. Her height gave her an advantage, and she loved to play the game—by herself, with members of her fam- ily, and, later, with her friends.

The Road to Excellence At Southwick Tolland Regional High School, Rebecca did not spend all her time on the basketball court; she also played the saxo- phone in the school band. Moreover, in ad- dition to starring in basketball, she played and softball and ran track. By the time her high school days were over, however, Rebecca had become the all-time leading scorer—male or female—in Massa- chusetts high school history with 2,710 points. Many of her summers had been spent work- ing at basketball camps preparing for the next season, and all that hard work paid off.

The Emerging Champion After high school, Rebecca went on to star at the University of Connecticut from 1991 to 1995. During these four years the Lady Hus- Rebecca Lobo in 1997. (Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

229 Rebecca Lobo Great Athletes

WNBA Statistics

Season GP FGA FGM FG% FTA FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1997 28 354 133 .376 105 64 .610 203 53 348 12.4 1998 30 281 136 .484 93 66 .710 207 44 350 11.7 1999 1 0 0 — 0 0 —1000.0 2001 16 22 7 .318 4 2 .500 14 1 17 1.1 2002 21 32 15 .469 4 1 .250 23 12 34 1.6 2003 25 88 25 .284 9 2 .222 52 5 59 2.4 Totals 121 777 316 .407 215 135 .628 500 115 808 6.7 Notes: GP = games played; FGA = field goals attempted; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTA = free throws attempted; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

Final Four and won the Naismith Award and the work with Yoplait and other companies earned her college player of the year award. recognition as the Women’s Sports Foundation Then, Rebecca graduated with a degree in politi- sportswoman of the year. In 1998, she won the His- cal science. When she left the University of Connect- panic Heritage Sports Award. icut, her name was on the record book for women’s Rebecca’s basketball career resumed when she basketball as the school’s all-time leader in rebounds played for the gold-medal-winning U.S. team at the with 1,286 and in blocked shots with 396. 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. She was drafted to play for the New Jersey Turnpikes in the Continuing the Story United States Basketball League (USBL) but was Rebecca graduated from college at a moment reassigned to the New England Blizzard in the when few opportunities for women to play basket- young American Basketball League (ABL). In- ball professionally existed, and she occupied her stead, she chose to join the Women’s National Bas- time with other pursuits. In 1996, her mother was ketball Association (WNBA), which played its first diagnosed with breast cancer; Rebecca helped her games during the summer of 1997. mother fight and triumph over the disease. She Rebecca spent her first four WNBA seasons with and her mother wrote a book about the experi- the New York Liberty. During her rookie season, ence, entitled The Home Team (1997). As a result of she averaged more than 12 points and 7 rebounds her mother’s battle Rebecca made breast cancer per game and was named to the all-WNBA second research and awareness an important cause. Her team. Meanwhile, she proved that she was a team player, unselfish and able to work to make Honors and Awards her team better through her own play. Dur- ing her second season in the new league, 1991 Junior Select Team she put up similar numbers to her first sea- U.S. Olympic Festival East Team son and started in every game. Her career 1992 Big East Rookie of the Year Junior World Championship Qualifying Team was off to a promising start, but disaster 1993-95 All-Big East First Team struck quickly during her third season, 1994 Kodak All-American First Team Only one minute into that season’s first 1994-95 Big East Conference Player of the Year game, Rebecca tore a ligament in her left Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player knee. She missed the remainder of the Academic All-American 1999 season and all of the 2000 season. She Big East Conference Women’s Basketball Scholar Athlete of the Year never fully recovered from her injury. 1995 Final Four most valuable player Consensus National Player of the Year In 2001, Rebecca returned to limited Wade Trophy action on the court and put up modest 1996 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball numbers in a reserve role. Afterward, she 1997 All-WNBA Second Team was traded to the Houston Comets. Her 1998 Hispanic Heritage Sports Award playing time there increased slightly. In 2003, she returned to Connecticut to play

230 Basketball Rebecca Lobo for the WNBA’s Sun. Both her playing time and her Additional Sources productivity increased significantly, but she was no Duffy, Mary, et al. “Center of Attention.” Women’s longer the dominant force on the court that she Sports and Fitness 18 (March, 1996): 68-71. had been earlier. After the season ended, she re- Jenkins, Sally. “She’s Got Fame.” Women’s Sports and tired. She later became a basketball analyst for Fitness 2 (July, 1999): 68. ESPN’s coverage of college and WNBA games. Lobo, RuthAnn, and Rebecca Lobo. The Home Team: Of Mothers, Daughters and American Cham- Summary pions. New York: Kodansha International, 1996. Rebecca Lobo’s professional career was cut short Marks, Robyn. “Supermodels.” Sport 8 (July, 1997): by injury, but while she was playing, she was one of 46-49. the WNBA’s most popular players. She was a pio- O’Reilly, Jean, and Susan K. Cahn, eds. Women and neer of women’s professional basketball and re- Sports in the United States: A Documentary Reader. mained an inspiration to young female athletes. A Boston: Northeastern University Press, 2007. role model who took both school and sports seri- Savage, Jeff. Rebecca Lobo. Springfield, N.J.: Enslow, ously, she succeeded in both areas. Along with such 2001. stars as Lisa Leslie and Sheryl Swoopes, Rebecca ______. Sports Great Rebecca Lobo. Berkeley Heights, helped bring a new image to women’s basketball N.J.: Enslow, 2001. both on and off the court. Terzieff, Juliette. Women of the Court: Inside the Leslie Heaphy, updated by the Editors WNBA. New York: Alyson Books, 2008.

231 Clyde Lovellette

Born: September 7, 1929 rience. He was a two-time all-American, and he Petersburg, Indiana scored what was then a collegiate record of 1,888 Also known as: Clyde Edward Lovellette (full points in his career with an average of 24.5 points name); Cloudburst Clyde; Prolific Pachyderm per game. Sportswriters dubbed him “The Great White Whale” and “Colossal Clyde.” Early Life Clyde Edward Lovellette was born on September 7, The Emerging Champion 1929, in Petersburg, Indiana. He was the son of Along with six of his Kansas teammates and Coach John and Myrtle Lovellette. His father was a rail- Allen, Clyde was a part of the 1952 Olympic team road engineer. Clyde attended Garfield High that won a gold medal in , Finland, defeat- School, where he was a two-time all-state basketball ing the Soviet Union, 36-25, in the final game. He player. He led his team to the 1947 Indiana state spent a year playing Amateur Athletic Union tournament championship game, which Garfield (AAU) basketball and then went on to the NBA, lost to Shelbyville High School 68-58. Clyde was playing eleven years with the Minneapolis Lakers, known for his pleasant disposition and sharp el- bows, a combination that served him well in col- lege and professional basketball. He was recruited by the colorful Coach Forrest C. “Phog” Allen to play at the University of Kansas from 1949 to 1952. A master of the game, Allen taught Clyde all the in- ner workings of the sport, including the psycholog- ical aspects of getting motivated for games.

The Road to Excellence As a sophomore in 1949, Clyde made his University of Kansas debut against Rockhurst College in Kan- sas City, Missouri. Kansas won, 55-34, and Clyde scored 21 points, thus beginning his sensational collegiate basketball career. He later became the only player in college basketball history to lead the nation in scoring in the same year that his team won the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship. At 6 feet 9 inches and 235 pounds, he became one of the first great scoring centers. He led the Big Eight Conference in scor- ing as a sophomore, averaging 21.8 points per game. As a junior averaging 22.8 points per game, Clyde again won the scoring title. In his final sea- son, he averaged 28.4 points per game and led the Jayhawks to an 80-60 victory over St. John’s in Seat- tle for the NCAA Championship. He was the most valuable player in the title game and averaged 35 Clyde Lovellette, who won championships in college points per game in the tournament, including 44 and in the NBA and earned a gold medal with the U.S. points against St. Louis University. His perfor- basketball team in 1952. (Courtesy of Amateur Athletic mance capped a season that few players ever expe- Foundation of Los Angeles)

232 Basketball Clyde Lovellette

Honors and Awards Michigan; he was an assistant coach for the high school’s varsity basketball team and 1951-52 Consensus All-American served on the Munising city council. 1952 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball Helms Division I Player of the Year Summary Citizens Savings College Basketball Player of the Year During his hall of fame induction speech, NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player Clyde noted that he was proud of what he had NCAA All-Tournament Team accomplished and what he was part of: 1956, 1960-61 NBA All-Star Team 1956 All-NBA Team The days I spent in Lawrence were just super. I 1988 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will love Kansas and Lawrence for the rest of my life. But I’ve had my time in the limelight. It was a long, long time ago. There are more Cincinnati Royals, St. Louis Hawks, and Boston important things now. Celtics. Clyde was part of the Lakers team that won the He also remarked that his work with troubled teen- NBA Championship in 1954 and the Celtics teams agers gave him the chance to “give these kids as that won titles in 1963 and 1964. He became the much love and direction as I can. They’ve helped first player to play on NCAA, Olympic, and NBA me find myself.” These were youngsters who Championship teams. needed more help than others, and Clyde’s life work was elevated to that calling. Continuing the Story Arthur F. McClure When he entered the Naismith Memorial Basket- ball Hall of Fame in 1988, Clyde recalled that bas- Additional Sources ketball had given him an identity and a purpose in Hubbard, Jan, and David J. Stern. The Official NBA life. After his remarkable career ended, he spent a Encyclopedia. New York: Doubleday, 2000. number of years trying to refocus that life. He had Stallard, Mark. Tales from the Jayhawks’ Hardwood: A retired from the NBA after the 1964 season at the Collection of the Greatest Kansas Basketball Stories age of thirty-five. Over the next sixteen years, he Ever Told. Champaign, Ill.: Sports, 2005. sought his niche by serving as a sheriff in Indiana, Vance, Doug, and Jeff Bollig. Beware of the Phog: Fifty television sportscaster, advertising salesman, auto Years of Allen Fieldhouse. Champaign, Ill.: Sports, salesman, cattleman, operator of an ice cream par- 2005. lor, and antique store owner in Cape Cod, among other pursuits. NBA Statistics His first marriage ended in di- vorce during this period. After Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG all the accolades he had received 1953-54 72 237 .423 114 .695 419 51 588 8.2 during his basketball playing 1954-55 70 519 .435 273 .686 802 100 1,311 18.7 days, he felt unfulfilled. 1955-56 71 594 .434 338 .721 992 164 1,526 21.5 1956-57 69 574 .426 286 .717 932 139 1,434 20.8 In 1980, Clyde was lifted from 1957-58 71 679 .441 301 .743 862 134 1,659 23.4 depression by a religious experi- 1958-59 70 402 .454 205 .820 605 91 1,009 14.4 ence. At about that time, he re- 1959-60 68 550 .468 316 .821 721 127 1,416 20.8 ceived an offer to become a bas- 1960-61 67 599 .453 273 .856 687 172 1,471 22.0 1961-62 40 341 .471 155 .829 350 68 837 20.9 ketball coach and teacher at 1962-63 61 161 .440 73 .745 177 29 395 6.5 White’s Institute in Treaty, Indi- 1963-64 45 128 .420 45 .789 126 24 301 6.7 ana. White’s is the largest residen- Totals 704 4,784 .444 2,379 .760 6,673 1,099 11,947 17.0 tial child-care facility in the state. Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free Clyde became the director of the throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; Vocational Education program. PPG = points per game He later moved to Munising,

233 Jerry Lucas

Born: March 30, 1940 The Road to Excellence Middletown, Ohio Jerry began playing competitive basketball in the Also known as: Jerry Ray Lucas (full name) fourth grade, and he was recruited by colleges when he was only in the eighth grade. Playing with Early Life a star of Jerry’s caliber was difficult for his team- Jerry Ray Lucas was born on March 30, 1940, in mates, however. In his sophomore year of high Middletown, Ohio, a steel and paper mill city lo- school, other team members, resentful that a first- cated in the southwestern corner of the state. year player should dominate, refused to pass the Jerry’s parents worked in the local factories. Many ball to Jerry and set him up for shots. The team’s considered Middletown the basketball capital of coach was sensitive to this and in one game Ohio. The city’s parks contained many basketball benched Jerry so that he would not break a scoring courts, and its high school won state basketball record as a sophomore. championships regularly. Instead of complaining, Jerry waited to rebound and tap in shots. He also developed the pass- ing skills that became a trademark throughout his career. In his senior year, he was elected team captain. During his three years as a high school player, Jerry made 2,460 points and beat the record held by Wilt Chamberlain. Re- cruiters from more than 150 colleges scouted his games. Jerry had to cope with recruiters at all hours of the day. Many illegal offers that included homes, jobs for his parents, unlimited spend- ing money, and cars were made. Jerry was aware of the recruiting regulations of the Na- tional Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). He also sensed that any school he attended would be closely investigated. He declined all such offers. Jerry, who was never a hero worshiper, was not awed by the famous coaches and other per- sonalities who contacted him. Adolph Rupp, the renowned coach from the University of Kentucky, was given ten seconds with Jerry be- tween classes. Jerry’s family turned down an invitation to a luncheon at the governor’s mansion because they knew it would make no difference to Jerry when he made his choice. Amid some controversy over the appoint- ment of a new coach from a field of candidates that included Jerry’s coach from Middletown, Center Jerry Lucas, who would later grab 40 rebounds in one Jerry chose to attend Ohio State University game, during his rookie season. (Courtesy of New York Knick- (OSU). Jerry, a high school honors student, erbockers) stated that his studies came first and basket-

234 Basketball Jerry Lucas

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1963-64 79 545 .527 310 .779 1,375 204 1,400 17.7 1964-65 66 558 .498 298 .814 1,321 157 1,414 21.4 1965-66 79 690 .453 317 .787 1,668 213 1,697 21.5 1966-67 81 577 .459 284 .791 1,547 268 1,438 17.8 1967-68 82 707 .519 346 .778 1,560 251 1,760 21.5 1968-69 74 555 .551 247 .755 1,360 306 1,357 18.3 1969-70 67 405 .507 200 .784 951 173 1,010 15.1 1970-71 80 623 .498 289 .787 1,265 293 1,535 19.2 1971-72 77 543 .512 197 .791 1,011 318 1,283 16.7 1972-73 71 312 .513 80 .800 510 317 704 9.9 1973-74 73 194 .462 67 .698 374 230 455 6.2 Totals 829 5,709 .499 2,635 .783 12,942 2,730 14,053 17.0 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game ball second, and he accepted a full academic schol- 1960 U.S. Olympic team, which went on to win the arship. gold medal. In his junior year, Jerry averaged 25 points and The Emerging Champion 17 rebounds per game. The team won 17 straight At the time, NCAA regulations did not permit games and was called the best college team in his- freshmen to play on varsity teams. In two scrim- tory. Jerry had always maintained that he did not mage games with the varsity squad, Jerry scored an want to play professional basketball. He had aspira- unbelievable 92 points. The coach developed an tions to go to graduate school or into business. In offense around “Big Luke,” his star of the future. his senior year, he earned a Phi Beta Kappa key for Always poised and showing little emotion on or his academic performance and was drafted by both off the court, Jerry admitted that he was scared be- Cleveland in the American Basketball League fore his first game. Although the team won, he did (ABL) and Cincinnati in the NBA. nothing in the first half and had a mediocre perfor- When Cleveland offered him a contract that mance in the second half. Observers wondered if considered some of his concerns about season the former high school center had what it took to length, contract length, and investments, he signed. make it in college basketball. Jerry was convinced Jerry believed that he could have more influence as that he “was going to be the biggest disappoint- a role model if he continued in basketball and in ment in the history of college basketball.” the limelight. The ABL folded in the middle of the In the second game, however, he scored 34 1962-1963 season, though, and Jerry began his pro points and proved that he could meet expecta- career with the NBA’s Cincinnati Royals in 1963. tions. OSU went on to win the NCAA Champion- ship and lead the nation in scoring, and Jerry had a Continuing the Story phenomenal .637 shooting percentage. Using the Considered one of the all-time great college play- ball-handling skills he had developed in high ers, Jerry was a boost to the NBA. He played in school, he often passed off to a teammate rather Cincinnati for six years, averaging 20 points a game than take a shot. No one was surprised when he was in his new position as forward. He also developed a named all-American. chain of restaurants and established himself in Jerry married after his sophomore year and con- business. tinued to maintain high scholastic standards. He In 1969, Jerry asked to be traded to San Fran- was a consistently strong player with a large reper- cisco. He received a rousing welcome and played toire of shots. His sense of timing when rebound- with the Warriors until he was traded to the New ing, his genius for getting the ball on defense, and York Knicks in 1971. In New York, he was given his passing skills assured him of a position on the back his position as center. Because of his size, how-

235 Jerry Lucas Great Athletes

Honors, Awards, and Milestones tricks. Later, a religious conversion led him to write Remember the Word (1975) and to form Memory One of only seven NCAA players to average more than 20 points Ministries, Inc., to help others memorize the Bible. and 20 rebounds During the late 1980’s, Jerry established Lucas 1960 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball Learning, an educational company that published Inducted into U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame learning and memory materials for children. The 1960-61 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player company later became Lucas Educational Systems. 1960-62 NCAA All-Tournament Team Jerry has authored dozens of books in the field of Consensus All-American memory training and learning systems. His ideas 1961 Citizens Savings College Basketball Player of for fun and easy memory retention have resulted in the Year the “The Lucas Learning System” and have earned Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year him the title of “Doctor Memory.” 1961-62 Rupp Trophy Jerry’s induction into the Basketball Hall of United Press International Division I Player of the Fame in 1980 was his crowning athletic honor. He Year was also named one of the fifty greatest NBA play- U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division I ers of all time during the 1996-1997 season. Jerry Player of the Year was an NBA all-star seven times and a member of Sporting News College Player of the Year the all-NBA first team three times. In 1999, he was 1964 NBA Rookie of the Year chosen by Sports Illustrated as one of the five most NBA All-Rookie Team outstanding college basketball players of the twen- 1964-68 All-NBA Team tieth century. 1964-69, 1971 NBA All-Star Team 1965 NBA All-Star Game most valuable player Summary 1980 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Jerry Lucas grew up as one of the most sought-after of Fame basketball players of his time. A talented athlete as 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team well as a scholar, he was idolized by children and 1999 One of Sports Illustrated ’s five most outstanding took his position as a role model seriously. As a college basketball players of the 20th century player, he avoided the theatrics of many of his col- leagues. It seems ironic, therefore, that he became a showman once he left basketball. ever, Jerry lost his starting position and became the Cathy M. Buell league’s best backup center. He was a success in his new role, and he helped the Knicks to the 1973 Additional Sources NBA title before his retirement from basketball in Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- 1974. ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters Press, 2000. Jerry had always possessed a remarkable mem- Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling ory, and after his retirement he began to use his ex- Kindersley, 2003. traordinary talent of memorizing and manipulat- Hubbard, Jan, and David J. Stern. The Official NBA ing letters, words, and numbers as the basis of a Encyclopedia. New York: Doubleday, 2000. new career. He gave lectures at colleges and to busi- Sachare, Alex. One Hundred Greatest Basketball Play- nesses and cowrote The Memory Book (1974), which ers of All Time. New York: Simon & Schuster, sold more than two million copies. He developed 1997. his hobby of performing magic and used his bas- Shouler, Kenneth A. The Experts Pick Basketball’s Best ketball fame to break into entertainment. Per- Fifty Players in the Last Fifty Years. Lenexa, Kans.: forming as “Luke the Magician,” Jerry created and Addax, 1998. hosted the television special The Jerry Lucas Super Smith, Ron, Ira Winderman, and Mary Schmitt Kids Day Magic Jamboree, which featured educa- Boyer. The Complete Encyclopedia of Basketball. tional word games, number puzzles, and magic London: Carlton, 2002.

236 Hank Luisetti

Born: June 16, 1916 family. As a child, Angelo suffered from severely San Francisco, California bowed legs and wore braces until age ten. The Died: December 17, 2002 braces limited his activity, but Angelo developed an San Mateo, California interest in basketball and began playing the game Also known as: Angelo Joseph Luisetti (full name) at a playground near his home. Angelo frequently played with older and taller Early Life youngsters. Because of his small size, he was forced Angelo Joseph Luisetti was born June 16, 1916, in to shoot the ball a distance from the basket. Conse- an Italian neighborhood in San Francisco, Califor- quently, Angelo developed a one-handed shoot- nia. His father, Steven, worked as a chef at a local ing style quite different from the traditional two- restaurant. His mother, Amalia, took care of the handed set-shot style of that era. Other youths criti- cized and laughed at Angelo’s shoot- ing technique, but, with continued practice, Angelo became an accurate shooter.

The Road to Excellence Angelo, called “Hank” by his friends, played on his first organized team as a freshman at Galileo High School in San Francisco. Despite his shooting ability, Hank’s playing time was lim- ited because of his small size. Not to be discouraged, he developed a run- ning one-handed shot and began to experiment with dribbling and pass- ing behind his back. Hank also began to grow, reaching a height of 6 feet 21⁄2 inches and 165 pounds by his se- nior year. During his junior and senior years, Hank made his team’s starting lineup, but again, his size hindered his game. He was one of the tallest players on the team, so his coach moved him un- der the basket to rebound, thus reduc- ing his scoring effectiveness. Hank was a competitive player and soon be- came an effective rebounder. College coaches, however, felt he was not big enough to play center in college. Only John Bunn, Stanford University’s bas- ketball coach, recognized Hank’s of- fensive potential and offered him a Hank Luisetti of Stanford University in 1940. (AP/Wide World Photos) scholarship.

237 Hank Luisetti Great Athletes

The Emerging Champion points in one game. For the second time, Hank was Hank entered Stanford University in the fall of named college player of the year, and his 1,596 ca- 1934. Concerned about his unusual shooting style, reer point total set a new four-year college scoring he asked Coach Bunn if he could continue his one- record. handed technique. Following Hank’s impressive shooting demonstration, Bunn grinned and said, Continuing the Story “Stick with it boy.” After completing his college career and graduating Hank took Bunn’s advice. He continued to de- with a business degree in 1938, Hank opted to play velop physically, improving his coordination, Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball with jumping ability, speed, and quick reactions. These Stewart Chevrolet Company in San Francisco. Be- attributes, along with his offensive skills and fierce fore the season began, however, Hank accepted ten competitiveness, helped Hank lead the Stanford thousand dollars to play the role of a basketball freshman team to an undefeated 18-0 season. player in the film Campus Confessions (1938) with In 1935-1936, his sophomore season, Hank led Betty Grable. The AAU suspended Hank for one Stanford to the first of three consecutive Pacific year because his basketball playing performance in Coast Conference Championships. He scored a to- the film made him a professional player. tal of 416 points for an 18-point-per-game average After his suspension, Hank returned to AAU and received all-American honors. Following the competition for the 1939-1940 season. He aver- 1935-1936 season, Hank joined the Stanford Uni- aged 19 points per game and led his Stewart Chev- versity track and field team as a high jumper. rolet team to the AAU national tournament, where As a junior, Hank added a running one-handed he set a tournament record with 72 points in four jump shot to his offensive arsenal and was moved to games and was named the tournament’s outstand- the forward position. With his new shot and new ing player. playing position, Hank led Stanford to a 25-2 rec- Hank joined the AAU Oilers for the ord and the school’s second conference champi- 1940-1941 season, but he played sparingly after sus- onship in two years. taining a knee injury early in the season. On April On December 30, 1936, at Madison Square Gar- 18, 1941, Hank married Jane Rossiter, with whom den in New York, Hank played one of the best he had two children, a daughter, Nancy, and a son, games of his career. Although he scored only 15 Steven. points, he rebounded, shot, dribbled, and passed Hank enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World Stanford to a 45-31 win over Long Island Univer- War II, and averaged 30 points per game while play- sity, ending the Blackbirds’ forty-three-game win- ing basketball for the St. Mary’s Preflight School. ning streak. As Hank left the court, the crowd gave In 1944, Hank was hospitalized with spinal menin- him a standing ovation. Long Island University gitis and lost 40 pounds. He recovered, but doctors coach praised Hank: “I can’t remember advised him that playing basketball would endan- anybody who could do more things.” ger his health. Hank completed the 1936-1937 season with 410 points for a 15.2-points-per-game average. He received all-American honors for the second Honors and Awards time and was named college player of the year. 1936-38 College All-American By 1937-1938, his senior year, Hank’s weight in- 1937 Helms Foundation Outstanding College Player creased to 184 pounds, but it did not slow him 1937-38 College Player of the Year down. His teammates elected him team captain, and Hank responded by leading Stanford to a 1938 Citizens Savings World Trophy 21-3 record and the school’s third straight con- Citizens Savings Northern California Co-Athlete of the Year ference title. Hank’s most outstanding game as 1957 Inducted into Stanford University Sports Hall of Fame a senior was a 50-point performance on January 1959 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 1, 1938, as Stanford defeated Duquesne Univer- sity 92-27. Hank’s performance was the first (Accurate statistics are not available for Luisetti’s playing career.) time a collegiate player had scored that many

238 Basketball Hank Luisetti

Following his discharge from the Navy, Hank re- style was showcased during one game at Madison turned to Stewart Chevrolet Company and coached Square Garden, he became the most heralded its team for five seasons, guiding it to the AAU player of his era. His one-handed, jump-shooting Championship in 1950-1951. Hank left coaching style revolutionized basketball and helped to make after his title season and served as sales manager the game it is played today. for Stewart Chevrolet Company and conducted Jerry Jaye Wright basketball clinics in the San Francisco area. In 1958, Hank joined E. F. McDonald Travel Com- Additional Sources pany as president of its West Coast region until re- Pallette, Philip. The Game Changer: How Hank Lui- tiring in 1984. setti Revolutionized America’s Great Indoor Game. Bloomington, Ind.: AuthorHouse, 2005. Summary Smith, Ron, Ira Winderman, and Mary Schmitt Hank Luisetti never played in a postseason college Boyer. The Complete Encyclopedia of Basketball. basketball tournament, but because his playing London: Carlton, 2002.

239 Bob McAdoo

Born: September 25, 1951 ger sister, Pamela. Bob’s mother was a school- Greensboro, North Carolina teacher, his father a painter and carpenter. A gifted Also known as: Robert Allen McAdoo, Jr. (full musician, Bob began with the piano and had pro- name) gressed to the saxophone by the time he joined the school band. Early Life When his family lived in an apartment building, Robert Allen McAdoo, Jr., was born September 25, Bob played basketball on the apartment’s play- 1951, in Greensboro, North Carolina, the son of ground. After buying a house of their own, the Vandalia and Robert McAdoo, Sr. He had a youn- McAdoos installed a basket in their driveway so Bob could practice. His mother, who had played basketball in college, jokingly took credit for his interest and abil- ity in the sport.

The Road to Excellence As an eighth-grader in 1964, Bob tried out for the school basketball team. He stood 6 feet 4 inches, and there was not a uniform that would fit him. Bob did not make the team until the next season, however. He decided to attend Ben L. Smith High School in Greensboro, a pre- dominantly white school. He be- lieved his basketball career would receive more publicity at the white school. During the summer, he played on the playground until well past dark. The practice paid off; by the time he was a senior, Bob, by then 6 feet 8 inches tall, was consid- ered one of the top high school players in North Carolina. When he graduated, the school retired his number 24—quite an honor for a high school player. In 1969, Bob went to Vincennes Junior College in Vincennes, Indi- ana. In his freshman year he aver- aged 19.3 points per game, and his team won the National Junior Col- lege Championship. Bob starred in the semifinal game, despite having Bob McAdoo of the Los Angeles Lakers taking a jump shot. (Courtesy of the flu. In the next season he was Los Angeles Lakers) named a junior-college all-Ameri-

240 Basketball Bob McAdoo can. The summer before transferring to the Honors and Awards University of North Carolina, he played for the U.S. team in the Pan-American Games and 1971 Consensus All-American made the winning shot against Brazil in the 1972 ACC Tournament most valuable player semifinals. NCAA All-Tournament Team Sporting News All-American In 1972, Bob had a successful season at North 1973 NBA Rookie of the Year Carolina. He led coach Dean Smith’s team in NBA All-Rookie Team scoring and rebounding and was named the At- 1974-75 All-NBA Team lantic Coast Conference (ACC) tournament’s 1974-78 NBA All-Star Team 1975 NBA most valuable player most valuable player. The team also fared well: Seagram’s Seven Crowns of Sports Award The Tar Heels reached the Final Four in the Na- 1988 Euroleague Final tional Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 2000 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Championship Tournament. Never doubting his own abilities, Bob made himself eligible for the NBA draft that spring and was selected in the The next season, Bob was moved to his natural first round by the Buffalo Braves (now Los Angeles center position. Said Bob of the position change: “I Clippers). was convinced last year I could play center in this league. It’s where I’ve always played and I feel more The Emerging Champion at home there.” The move helped the Braves, who Adjusting to life in the NBA is tough for first-year won nearly twice as many games as they had the sea- players, and Bob, only twenty-one, had some diffi- son before. culties early in his rookie season. Although he had Bob, with his knack for scoring and his natural played at the center position all his life, Buffalo shooting touch, became the youngest player ever made Bob a forward, and he had trouble guarding to win an NBA scoring title. In 1975, he continued smaller, faster players. He also shot poorly, a - to improve. He led the league in scoring and re- lem he had never had before, and was relegated to bounding and was named the NBA’s most valuable the bench. Midway through the season, however, player. The Braves were improving also, and they Bob began to play more. His shooting improved, reached the second round of the playoffs. and he averaged 18 points per game. After the sea- Bob’s shooting prowess continued in the 1975- son was over, Bob was named 1973 NBA rookie of 1976 season, and he won his third straight scoring the year, an award that he knew he deserved to win. title with 31.1 points per game. He had trouble re-

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1972-73 80 585 .452 271 .774 728 139 1,441 18.0 1973-74 74 901 .547 459 .793 1,117 170 2,261 30.6 1974-75 82 1,095 .512 641 .805 1,155 179 2,831 34.5 1975-76 78 934 .487 559 .762 965 315 2,427 31.1 1976-77 72 740 .512 381 .738 926 205 1,861 25.8 1977-78 79 814 .520 469 .727 1,010 298 2,097 26.5 1978-79 60 596 .529 295 .656 520 168 1,487 24.8 1979-80 58 492 .480 235 .730 467 200 1,222 21.1 1980-81 16 68 .433 29 .707 67 30 165 10.3 1981-82 41 151 .458 90 .714 159 32 392 9.6 1982-83 47 292 .520 119 .730 247 39 703 15.0 1983-84 70 352 .471 212 .803 289 74 916 13.1 1984-85 66 284 .520 122 .753 295 67 690 10.5 1985-86 29 116 .462 62 .765 103 35 294 10.1 Totals 852 7,420 .503 3,944 .754 8,048 1,951 18,787 22.1 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

241 Bob McAdoo Great Athletes negotiating his contract with Buffalo, however, and ian and European Championship. During his was traded to the New York Knicks. A once-proud seven seasons in the Italian League, Bob averaged franchise, the Knicks then were a shell of the team 26.6 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. Although that had won two NBA Championships in the early the competition was not NBA-caliber, the fact that 1970’s. In his new environment, Bob was never able Bob excelled against players ten and fifteen years to perform up to his capabilities. He was still a his younger was a testament to his physical condi- star, however, and finished as the league’s fourth- tioning and his dedication to the game. leading scorer in 1978. Bob was the first big man in NBA history to Because of his sensitivity to criticism of defensive shoot regularly from the outside. He was a phe- skills and his withdrawn manner, Bob had a rather nomenal jump shooter who could get his shot off difficult time adjusting to life in the NBA. He with great accuracy with only a minimal amount of thought that the teams he played for wanted him to space from the defender. In 2000, he received the be their leading scorer and rebounder; therefore, ultimate honor for a basketball player when he was he was never really happy playing for Buffalo, the inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Knicks, the Boston Celtics, the Detroit Pistons, or Hall of Fame. In 1995, he became an assistant the New Jersey Nets. Midway through the 1981- coach with the Miami Heat, and he was the head 1982 season, Bob was acquired from the Nets by coach of the Heat’s Summer-League team in 2004. the Los Angeles Lakers. In a reserve role for the Lakers, Bob felt less pressure and discovered that Summary he could perform optimally. Bob McAdoo’s scoring ability separated him from other NBA players and made him one of the top Continuing the Story NBA players of the 1970’s. When his teammates got As a veteran scorer, Bob filled a gap in the Lakers’ the ball to the ever-confident Bob, they knew that frontcourt. Finally, he was a member of a team that they were never out of the game. had a chance to win the NBA Championship, the Stephen T. Bell one thing that had eluded him throughout his pro- fessional career. In 1982, Los Angeles won the NBA Additional Sources crown, fulfilling Bob’s dream of playing for a cham- Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- pionship team. ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters Press, 2000. In Bob’s four seasons with the team, the Lakers Bortstein, Larry. The Big Men: McAdoo, McGinnis, made it to the NBA Finals four times, winning the Unseld, Tomjanovich. New York: Grosset & Dun- championship twice. As the Lakers added younger lap, 1975. players to its bench, Bob left the team. He played Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling the 1985-1986 season with the Philadelphia 76ers. Kindersley, 2003. After the 1985-1986 season, Bob left the NBA for Lazenby, Roland. The Show: The Inside Story of the the Italian League, where he was annually among Spectacular Los Angeles Lakers in the Words of Those the top scorers. In 1987, Bob led to the Ital- Who Lived It. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006.

242 Tracy McGrady

Born: May 24, 1979 Tracy continued his brilliant play at Mount Zion Bartow, Florida Christian Academy, leading the team to a number- Also known as: Tracy Lamar McGrady, Jr. (full two ranking in the country. For the 1996-1997 sea- name); T-Mac son he averaged 27.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, 7.7 as- sists, and 2.8 steals per game, and he was at his best Early Life in the most important games. Tracy’s sensational Tracy Lamar McGrady, Jr., was raised in Auburn- season resulted in his selection as a McDonald’s all- dale, Florida, by his mother and maternal grand- American, the Associated Press North Carolina mother, both of whom he called “Mom.” His father player of the year, and the USA Today player of the maintained an interest in Tracy’s life but did not year. participate in the day-to-day job of raising him. Tracy was a natural athlete whose first love was base- The Emerging Champion ball. When Tracy was fourteen, Anfernee “Penny” Tracy was recruited by nearly every major colle- Hardaway joined the Orlando Magic. Watching giate basketball program in the country. However, him play kindled Tracy’s love of basketball. Since as there were not many top college prospects in the he was new to the game, Tracy did not play much his freshman and sophomore years at Auburndale High School.

The Road to Excellence Tracy blossomed in his junior year at Auburndale, averaging 23.1 points, 12.2 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 4 assists. How- ever, he did not take academics seri- ously; he was kicked off the Auburndale team for problems and conflicts with teachers. For his senior year he trans- ferred to Mount Zion Christian Academy in Durham, North Carolina, perennially one of the top high school basketball teams in the country. In the summer between his junior and senior years, Tracy showed that he was more than just another good high school prospect. In the summer of 1996, he got an opportunity to compete against the top high school players in the country when invited to participate in the Adidas ABCD Camp. While he was not one of the more heralded players at the begin- ning, Tracy was the dominant player at the camp. Going up against and besting , the most talked about Tracy McGrady of the Houston Rockets taking a jump shot in a 2008 player at the time, established Tracy as playoff game against the Utah Jazz. (Ramin Rahimian/Reuters/ one of the top players in the nation. Landov)

243 Tracy McGrady Great Athletes

upcoming NBA draft, several pro teams indi- Honors and Awards cated they would take Tracy in the first round. Thus, he decided to turn professional out of 1997 USA Today player of the year Associated Press North Carolina player of the year high school. In the 1997 NBA draft, he was McDonald’s All-American Team drafted ninth overall in the first round by the 2001-07 NBA All-Star Team Toronto Raptors. 2001, 2004, 2007 All-NBA Second Team 2002-03 All-NBA First Team Tracy was not an immediate star in the NBA, 2003-04 NBA scoring champion averaging about 20 minutes and less than 10 2005, 2008 All-NBA Third Team points per game in his first two seasons. In the 1999–2000 season, he started about half of the Raptors’ games and increased his scoring to 15.4 teaming Tracy with an emerging superstar, 7-foot points per game. Prior to the 2000-2001 season, 6-inch Yao Ming, would elevate the team to a cham- Tracy was traded to the Orlando Magic. Having pionship. In the duo’s first season together, the been overshadowed in Toronto by his cousin Vince Houston Rockets finished fifth and took the Dallas Carter, in Orlando, Tracy emerged as one of the Mavericks to a seventh game in the first round of top players in the league. As a full-time starter, he the playoffs. On December 9, 2004, Tracy had the put up terrific numbers—26.8 points, 7.5 re- greatest finish in the history of the NBA, scoring 13 bounds, 4.6 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks—and points in the last 33 seconds of a game to beat the was named second team all-NBA. He continued to San Antonio Spurs 81-80. put up similar numbers throughout his career: He Early in the 2005-2006 season, Tracy suffered led the NBA in scoring in both 2002-2003 and severe back spasms, a problem that continued to 2003-2004. plague him periodically in the following seasons. The Magic had hoped to build a championship With Tracy missing thirty-five games and Yao miss- team around Tracy and Grant Hill. However, Hill ing thirty-four, Houston struggled to a 34-48 record. was limited by injuries from 2000 through 2004. In the following season, Yao had a season-ending Nonetheless, Tracy managed to lead Orlando into injury, but Tracy carried the team to a fifth-place the playoffs each season. The Magic were never finish in the tough Western Conference. However, able to survive the first round, losing to Detroit in the Rockets were again eliminated in the first round 2003 after leading three games to one. of the playoffs, losing to the Utah Jazz in a closely contested seven-game series. Continuing the Story Misfortune continued into the 2007-2008 sea- Prior to the 2004-2005 season, Tracy was traded to son, as Tracy missed sixteen games because of in- the Houston Rockets. The Rockets hoped that jury, and Yao suffered another season-ending in-

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1997-98 64 179 .450 79 .712 269 98 451 7.0 1998-99 49 168 .436 114 .726 278 113 458 9.3 1999-00 79 459 .451 277 .707 501 263 1,213 15.4 2000-01 77 788 .457 430 .733 580 352 2,065 26.8 2001-02 76 715 .451 415 .748 597 400 1,948 25.6 2002-03 75 829 .457 576 .793 488 411 2,407 32.1 2003-04 67 653 .417 398 .796 402 370 1,878 28.0 2004-05 78 715 .431 431 .774 484 448 2,003 25.7 2005-06 47 410 .406 254 .747 307 225 1,147 24.4 2006-07 71 638 .431 345 .707 378 458 1,747 24.6 2007-08 66 548 .419 245 .684 339 387 1,427 21.6 Totals 749 6,102 .437 3,564 .474 4,623 3,525 16,744 22.4 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

244 Basketball Tracy McGrady jury on February 26, 2008. With Yao out, Tracy playoffs. However, he always handled himself with picked up his game and again led Houston to a dignity and took more responsibility for his teams’ fifth-place finish. Houston lost in six games to the failures than was warranted. In the 2008-2009 sea- Jazz in the first round of the playoffs, despite a tre- son, Tracy was still relatively young, talented, and mendous sixth-game performance of 40 points, 10 determined. With Tracy and Yao, the Rockets pos- rebounds, and 4 assists from Tracy. His value to the sessed a bright future. Houston team has been tremendous. From 2005 to Jerome L. Neapolitan 2008, the Rockets won fewer than fifteen percent of its games when Tracy was out and won more than Additional Sources 60 percent when he played. Hareas, John. Tracy McGrady. New York: Scholastic, 2006. Summary Simpson, Fiona. NBA Reader: Tracy McGrady. New Bad breaks, injuries, and close calls have contrib- York: Scholastic, 2006. uted to the perception that Tracy McGrady never Warner, Neil K. Off Court: Now the Other Side of the reached his potential. He is one of the best players NBA. Lindon, Utah: Neil K. Warner Books, who has never reached the second round of the 2004.

245 Kevin McHale

Born: December 19, 1957 duced NBA star Dick Garmaker and pop-music Hibbing, Minnesota icon Bob Dylan—he gravitated to basketball, as he Also known as: Kevin Edward McHale (full grew to 6 feet 10 inches. In Kevin’s senior year, the name) Hibbing High Bluejackets, led by Kevin’s superior play at the high post, reached the state finals. Al- Early Life though courted by a number of collegiate basket- Kevin Edward McHale was born in Hibbing, Min- ball powers, Kevin opted to stay in state to attend nesota, on December 19, 1957, to Josephine and the University of Minnesota. Paul McHale, an “iron ranger” who loaded ore from Minnesota’s Mesabi Iron Range for the U.S. The Road to Excellence Steel Corporation. From 1976 to 1980, Kevin helped to make Minne- Kevin grew up playing hockey. However, once sota a force in college basketball. Playing as a power he got to Hibbing High School—which also pro- forward, Kevin led Minnesota into the National In- vitational Tournament finals in his senior year. In 1979 and 1980, Kevin was named Minne- sota’s most valuable player; he was also elected to the all-Big Ten Conference team. In 1980, the Boston Celtics of the NBA made Kevin, the highly touted Minnesotan, the third choice overall in the NBA draft. When queried about Boston’s decision, he re- plied with typical drollery, “Where else would a six-ten, white, Irish Catholic kid want to play?”

The Emerging Champion Kevin had an immediate impact on the Celtics. Boston head coach, Bill Fitch, made the rookie the team’s “sixth man.” In Boston, the sixth man had become a venerated position previ- ously filled by such stalwarts as Frank Ramsey, John Havlicek, and Paul Silas. Kevin’s main job was to enter each game, usually late in the first quarter, to relieve a starter who was in foul trouble or in need of a break. Opponents soon found Kevin a worthy ad- versary. His virtually unstoppable fade-away jumper, intimidating shot-blocking, and ag- gressive rebounding at both ends of the court made him equally effective on defense and of- fense. In 1980-1981, his first year, Kevin played in all eighty-two regular-season contests and averaged 10 points a game, a performance Kevin McHale posting up his defender in a game against the that earned him selection to the NBA’s all- San Antonio Spurs. (Courtesy of NBA) rookie team. Kevin also played a key role in

246 Basketball Kevin McHale

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1980-81 82 335 .533 108 .679 359 55 818 10.0 1981-82 82 465 .531 187 .754 556 91 1,117 13.6 1982-83 82 483 .541 193 .717 553 104 1,159 14.1 1983-84 82 587 .556 336 .765 610 104 1,511 18.4 1984-85 79 605 .570 355 .760 712 141 1,565 19.8 1985-86 68 561 .574 326 .776 551 181 1,448 21.3 1986-87 77 790 .604 428 .836 763 198 2,008 26.1 1987-88 64 550 .604 346 .797 536 171 1,446 22.6 1988-89 78 661 .546 436 .818 637 172 1,758 22.5 1989-90 82 648 .549 393 .893 677 172 1,712 20.9 1990-91 68 504 .553 228 .829 480 126 1,251 18.4 1991-92 56 323 .509 134 .822 330 82 780 13.9 1992-93 71 298 .459 164 .841 358 73 762 10.7 Totals 971 6,810 .554 3,634 .798 7,122 1,670 17,335 17.0 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

Boston’s six-game defeat of the Houston Rockets heroics of Bird, Parish, Kevin, and company. In for the 1981 NBA Championship. 1984, the Celtics topped West Coast rivals the Los During the early and mid-1980’s, Boston—bol- Angeles Lakers to take another NBA Champion- stered by superstar forward Larry Bird and solid ship. Though the Lakers returned the favor by performers such as center Robert Parish, power besting Boston for the 1985 NBA crown, the Celtics forward , and guard Dennis John- again ascended to the top spot by defeating the son—was one of the NBA’s dominant franchises. Houston Rockets in 1986. Once more in 1986- Kevin became an increasingly vital part of the 1987, Jones led his troops to the NBA’s Eastern Celtics’ success story. During his first four years, he Conference summit, qualifying them for another appeared in all eighty-two games of each regular joust for the championship; again the Celtics were season. During the same span, his scoring average up against the Lakers. In another hard-fought cam- rose from 10 points per game in 1980-1981 to 13.6 paign, Los Angeles beat Boston in six games to take in 1981-1982, 14.1 in 1982-1983, and 18.4 in 1984- the 1987 NBA title. 1985. Kevin’s status as one of the NBA’s elite play- During the Celtics’ glory days of the 1980’s, ers was confirmed after the 1983-1984 and 1984- Kevin continued to amass impressive numbers and 1985 seasons, when he was selected as the NBA’s honors. A respected shot-blocker and rebounder, best sixth man. Kevin was selected for the NBA’s all-defensive first Kevin also enjoyed successful stints as a starter team in 1986-1987, 1987-1988, and 1988-1989. In during periods when Larry Bird or Robert Parish 1987-1988, his .604 field-goal percentage led the was sidelined with injuries. In 1985-1986, fi- nally a regular starter, he broke the 20-points- Honors and Awards per-game barrier with a 21.3 scoring average. His career personal best came during the 1986- 1979 Gold medal, Pan-American Games 1987 season, when his per-game scoring aver- Gold medal, World University Games 1981 NBA All-Rookie Team age zoomed to 26.1, while he scored 2,008 1983, 1989-90 NBA All-Defensive Second Team points. 1984, 1986-91 NBA All-Star Team 1984-85 NBA Sixth Man Award Continuing the Story 1986-89 NBA All-Defensive First Team Under coach K. C. Jones, who had replaced 1987 All-NBA First Team 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team Bill Fitch at the onset of the 1983-1984 season, 1999 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame the Celtics continued to thrill Boston fans, who Uniform number 32 retired by Boston Celtics thronged to the Boston Garden to witness the

247 Kevin McHale Great Athletes

NBA. One of pro basketball’s most accurate shoot- In 2004, the Timberwolves advanced to the ers, Kevin, in 1986-1987, became the first NBA Western Conference Finals but lost to the Lakers. player to shoot better than 60 percent from the In 2005, Saunders was fired, and Kevin assumed field and 80 percent from the foul line. In 1989- head-coaching duties, posting a respectable 19-12 1990, Kevin, Bird, and Magic Johnson were the record. However, he returned to management at only NBA players to shoot better than 50 percent the end of the season. In 2007, Kevin traded from the floor and 89 percent from the free-throw Garnett to the Boston Celtics. Having failed to line. Kevin also was chosen to play in seven NBA all- build the Timberwolves around Garnett in twelve star games. seasons, Minnesota received five players and two Playing thirteen seasons for the Celtics, Kevin draft picks for its superstar. Sportswriters joked scored 17,335 points, collected 7,122 rebounds, that Kevin was still rooting for Boston, which won blocked 1,690 shots, and had a .554 completion the 2008 NBA Championship with Garnett as its percentage from the field. Players and coaches leader. agree that he was probably the most difficult low- post player to defend in the history of the NBA. His Summary variety of drop steps, head fakes, pump fakes, hook As part of the celebration of the golden anniver- shots, shovel shots, and fade-away jumpers always sary of the NBA in 1996, Kevin McHale was named kept the best defenders guessing. one of the fifty greatest NBA players of all time. As After retiring as a player, Kevin joined the Min- further recognition of his achievements in basket- nesota Timberwolves as a television analyst and ball, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial special assistant during the 1993-1994 season. He Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999. became assistant general manager of the Timber- Kevin finished his thirteen-year career with Bos- wolves in August, 1994, and continued as one of ton at the end of the 1992-1993 season. He had be- the team’s broadcasters. In May, 1995, he was pro- come the fourth-leading scorer in Boston’s distin- moted to vice president of basketball operations guished history, behind only Havlicek, Bird, and for the organization. One of his first actions was Parish. His 32 hangs from the raf- to hire college teammate as head ters of Boston’s Fleet Center, a tribute to his unique coach. The Timberwolves struggled in a tough abilities as a low-post scoring machine and to his conference, but Kevin was instrumental in adding exuberant personality. young stars, such as Kevin Garnett, to the roster. Chuck Berg, updated by Jan Hall Kevin’s transactions quickly paid dividends as the Timberwolves reached the NBA playoffs for the Additional Sources first time in franchise history in 1997. Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- Overall, the Timberwolves improved under ketball. Chicago: Masters Press, 1998. Kevin’s management, but there were missteps. In ______. The Boston Celtics Encyclopedia. Champaign, 1998, the team secretly agreed to a scheme with Ill.: Sports, 1999. player to evade the league’s salary cap. May, Peter. The Big Three: Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Commissioner David Stern punished the Timber- and Robert Parish—The Best Frontcourt in the His- wolves by voiding Smith’s contract, withholding tory of Basketball. New York: Simon & Schuster, three of the Timberwolves’ next five first-round 1994. draft picks, and levying a large fine. The penalty Ryan, Bob. The Boston Celtics: The History, Legends, hampered the team’s development, and Kevin and Images of America’s Most Celebrated Team. New sought to make trades and draft deals. York: Gallery Books, 1989.

248 Karl Malone

Born: July 24, 1963 port her children. Karl learned to play basket- Bernice, Louisiana ball on a makeshift clay court behind the family Also known as: Karl Anthony Malone (full home. Karl’s older brother Danny toughened him name); Mailman up with rough play. Karl soon became a star player at Summerfield High School, setting scoring rec- Early Life ords and leading the team to three state champion- Karl Anthony Malone, one of eight children of J. B. ships. and Shirley Malone, was born on July 24, 1963, in Bernice, Louisiana. When Karl was five years old, The Road to Excellence his father abandoned the family, and his mother Karl’s impressive high-school performance drew went to work in sawmills and poultry houses to sup- the attention of college recruiters, and, in 1981, he accepted a scholarship to Louisiana Tech University in nearby Ruston. Buoyed by his success, however, Karl became arrogant and overconfident, and he neglected his school- work. His grades plummeted, and his schol- arship was suspended; he had to take out a student loan to finish his freshman year. Chastened, Karl applied himself both on the court and in the classroom, and the ef- fort was rewarded. In three years at Louisiana Tech, Karl, a powerfully built, 6-foot 9-inch forward, averaged 18.7 points and 9.3 re- bounds per game and twice led the school’s team into the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament. Fans of the school nicknamed Karl “The Mailman”— because, they said, he always delivered. After his junior season, Karl decided to turn pro- fessional, and he was selected by the Utah Jazz of the NBA with the thirteenth pick of the 1985 NBA draft.

The Emerging Champion Karl had expected to be chosen much higher. Soon, teams regretted not drafting Karl. In his first season with the Jazz, Karl averaged 14.9 points and 8.9 rebounds a game, earned selection to the NBA’s all-rookie team, and finished third in the league’s rookie of the year voting. However, he drew occasional criticism for a lack of intensity and for a re- luctance to play near the basket. Though Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone taking a jump shot against the he was tall and powerful, he was also some- Portland Trail Blazers in 2003. (Steve Dipaola/Reuters/Landov) what soft.

249 Karl Malone Great Athletes

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1985-86 81 504 .496 195 .481 718 236 1,203 14.9 1986-87 82 728 .512 323 .598 855 158 1,779 21.7 1987-88 82 858 .520 552 .700 986 199 2,268 27.7 1988-89 80 809 .519 703 .766 853 219 2,326 29.1 1989-90 82 914 .562 696 .762 911 226 2,540 31.0 1990-91 82 847 .527 684 .770 967 270 2,382 29.0 1991-92 81 798 .526 673 .778 909 241 2,272 28.0 1992-93 82 797 .552 519 .740 919 308 2,217 27.0 1993-94 82 772 .497 611 .694 940 328 2,063 25.2 1994-95 82 830 .536 516 .742 871 285 2,187 26.7 1995-96 82 789 .519 512 .723 804 345 2,106 25.7 1996-97 82 864 .550 521 .755 809 368 2,249 27.4 1997-98 81 780 .530 628 .761 834 316 2,190 27.0 1998-99 49 393 .493 378 .788 463 201 1,164 23.8 1999-00 82 752 .509 589 .797 779 304 2,095 25.5 2000-01 81 670 .498 536 .793 669 361 1,878 23.2 2001-02 80 635 .454 509 .797 686 341 1,788 22.4 2002-03 81 595 .462 474 .763 628 379 1,667 20.6 2003-04 42 193 .483 168 .747 367 163 554 13.2 Totals 1,476 13,528 .516 9,787 .742 14,968 5,248 36,928 25.0 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

Frank Layden, Utah’s head coach, prodded Karl raised his scoring average still further, to 31.0 points to play more seriously, and Karl began an intensive per game, but again finished second to Jordan in regimen of weightlifting. He bulked up to more the race for the league scoring title. On January 27, than 250 pounds and acquired the physique of a 1990, Karl scored a career-high 61 points against bodybuilder. His hard work paid off, and he raised the Milwaukee Bucks, making 21 of 26 field-goal at- his averages to 21.7 points and 10.4 rebounds per tempts and 19 of 23 free throws. In 1992, Karl’s sta- game in his second NBA season. The next year, av- tus as one of the world’s best players was confirmed eraging 27.7 points and 12.0 rebounds per game, by his selection to the U.S. Dream Team, which Karl was chosen to play in his first NBA all-star romped to the gold medal in basketball at the Bar- game. celona Olympics. In 1996, Karl won another gold medal as part of the U.S. Olympic team. Continuing the Story Karl was one of the best power forwards to ever At Utah, Karl teamed with star point guard John play in the NBA. He ran the floor, filled the lane on Stockton to give the Jazz one of the most effective fast breaks, rebounded, hit the medium-range player combinations in basketball. NBA fans soon jumper, defended, became a very good free-throw grew accustomed to the sight of Stockton, a bril- shooter, and made a variety of powerful moves to liant passer, feeding the ball to Karl, whose enor- score on the inside. He was extremely durable, mous strength made him almost unstoppable near missing only five games in his first thirteen seasons the basket. During the 1988-1989 season, Karl fin- with the Jazz. ished second in the NBA in scoring with a 29.1 In 1996, Karl was named one of the fifty greatest points-per-game average, second only to perennial NBA players of all time. Karl and Stockton led the scoring champion Michael Jordan. Karl also used Jazz to the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998, but the his size and strength to make himself one of the Jazz lost both seasons to Jordan’s Chicago Bulls. In league’s premier rebounders. 1999, Karl was selected as one of the twenty best During the 1989 NBA all-star game, Karl outper- NBA players of all time. He was named to the all- formed the game’s brightest stars to earn most NBA first team eleven times, which set an NBA rec- valuable player honors. The following year, he ord. He was also named twice to the second team

250 Basketball Karl Malone and once to the third team. He played in twelve all- sas and a home in Louisiana. They have three star games and was named the most valuable player daughters and one son. Prior to the 2007-2008 bas- (MVP) twice, the second time as the co-MVP with ketball season, Karl was named as an assistant bas- Stockton in 1993. Karl was selected to the NBA all- ketball coach at Louisiana Tech University. defensive first team three times. Karl was the NBA most valuable player for the Summary 1996-1997 season and again for the 1999-2000 cam- Karl Malone augmented his enormous natural paign. On December 5, 2000, he passed Wilt Cham- ability with a training regimen that made him one berlain to become the second-highest scorer in of the most imposing athletes in any sport. Many NBA history, with 31,443 points. Karl credited much basketball experts recognize Karl as the greatest of his scoring success to the numerous assists he re- power forward ever to play basketball. His success ceived from Stockton. is a striking example of the results that can be After starring for the Jazz for eighteen seasons, achieved when talent is supplemented by hard Karl played his final campaign with the Los Angeles work. Lakers in 2003-2004. On April 25, 2004, against the Robert McClenaghan, updated by Alvin K. Benson Houston Rockets, he became the oldest player to score thirty points or more in an NBA playoff Additional Sources game. Over his career, Karl averaged a “double- Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- double,” 25.0 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. ketball. Chicago: Masters Press, 1998. In 2004, he retired with 36,928 career points. Only Deseret News Firm. The Jazz: Utah’s Dream Team. Salt Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored more points in an Lake City, Utah: Deseret News, 1997. NBA career. At the time of his retirement, Karl held Doling, Nick, Chris Doling, and David Check. Bas- the NBA records for most free throws attempted ketball Stars: The Greatest Players in the History of the and made and was first in career defensive re- Game. New York: Black Dog and Leventhal, 1997. bounds. Kalb, Elliott. Who’s Better, Who’s Best in Basketball? Karl purchased car dealerships in , New York: McGraw-Hill, 2003. Utah, and Albuquerque, New Mexico; a bed and Lazenby, Roland. Stockton to Malone: The Rise of the breakfast in Salt Lake City; and Malone Enter- Utah Jazz. Lenexa, Kans.: Addax, 2002. prises, a trucking company. He appeared in the Lewis, Michael C. To the Brink: Stockton, Malone, and motion picture Rockwell and became an honorary the Utah Jazz’s Climb to the Edge of Glory. New York: member of the Avikan Witanuche Ute Indian Tribe Simon & Schuster, 1998. in 1997. That same year, he was the first person to Schnakenberg, Robert. Teammates: Karl Malone be named “Utahan of the Year” by the Salt Lake Tri- and John Stockton. Brookfield, Conn.: Millbrook bune. In 1998, he received the Henry B. Iba Award Press, 1998. for athletes who go out of their way to help others. In 2000, he made an exer- Honors and Awards cise video that demonstrates his ap- proach to maintaining physical fitness. 1986 NBA All-Rookie Team Karl’s jersey, number 32, was retired 1988 All-NBA Second Team by the Jazz in 2006. A bronze statue of NBA All-Defensive Second Team 1988-98, 2000 NBA All-Star Team Karl was placed in front of the Energy So- 1989-99 All-NBA First Team lutions Arena, the Jazz home court, to 1989, 1993 NBA All-Star Game most valuable player honor his contributions to the Jazz and 1992, 1996 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball the NBA. A bronze statue of Stockton is 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team nearby, and a bronze plaque beneath 1996-97, 1999-2000 NBA most valuable player 1997-99 NBA All-Defensive First Team the statues recognizes the success and 1999 Named one of twenty best NBA players of all time accomplishments of Karl and Stockton 2001, 2002 NBA All-Star Team while playing together for the Jazz. 2006 Uniform number 32 retired by the Utah Jazz Karl and his wife Kay, a former Miss Statue of Malone outside Utah Jazz’s home arena dedicated Idaho, maintain a cattle ranch in Arkan-

251 Moses Malone

Born: March 23, 1955 records included the most field goals and free Petersburg, Virginia throws in one game, during one season, and for a Also known as: Moses Eugene Malone (full high school career at Petersburg. name) By his senior year, he had grown to 6 feet 11 inches and had become known as the best high Early Life school basketball player in the United States. More Moses Eugene Malone was born on March 23, than three hundred colleges offered him scholar- 1955, in Petersburg, Virginia, a city that was the site ships. “Sweet Moses,” as he signed his autograph, of important military conflicts during the Ameri- had a difficult time deciding which offer to accept. can Civil War. Life was not easy for Moses growing up as a young boy in the late 1950’s and the 1960’s. The Emerging Champion Moses was bigger than the other boys and girls in Moses’s determination caught the attention not the neighborhood. At times, they would choose only of college coaches but also of the profession- him first to be on their team because they knew he als. After sorting through all the college offers, he could help them win. On other occasions, how- decided to accept the scholarship from the Univer- ever, they would make fun of him because of his size. Moses did not have any brothers or sis- ters, so when neighborhood playmates were not around, he played games—usually basketball— by himself. His mother, Mary, was a nurse’s aide who did not make enough money to pro- vide Moses with everything he wanted, but she was always there to provide him with the en- couragement he needed.

The Road to Excellence Moses began his life in sports during his grade school years. He was always taller than the rest of the boys on his team, and, even in those early years when he was learning to play basket- ball, people noticed that Moses was a special player. During grade school and on through high school, Moses continued to improve as a basketball player. He spent many hours on the playground by himself practicing his shooting skills. During team practice sessions and in games against other schools, however, his trade- mark as a player began to appear—his re- bounding. While playing on the varsity basketball team at Petersburg High School for four years, he set nine school records. During his senior year, he scored 52 points in one game and 895 points for the entire season. For his four-year Moses Malone drives to the basket for a layup against the New varsity career, he scored 2,124 points. His other York Nets in 1970. (NBAE/Getty Images)

252 Basketball Moses Malone

Professional Statistics

Season GP FG FG% FT FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1974-75 83 591 .571 375 .635 1,209 82 1,557 18.8 1975-76 43 251 .512 112 .612 413 58 614 14.3 ABA Totals 126 842 .552 487 .629 1,622 140 2,171 17.2 1976-77 82 389 .480 305 .693 1,072 89 1,083 13.2 1977-78 59 413 .499 318 .718 886 31 1,144 19.4 1978-79 82 716 .540 599 .739 1,444 147 2,031 24.8 1979-80 82 778 .502 563 .719 1,190 147 2,119 25.8 1980-81 80 806 .522 609 .757 1,180 141 2,222 27.8 1981-82 81 945 .519 630 .762 1,188 142 2,520 31.1 1982-83 78 654 .501 600 .761 1,194 101 1,908 24.5 1983-84 71 532 .483 545 .750 950 96 1,609 22.7 1984-85 79 602 .469 737 .815 1,031 130 1,941 24.6 1985-86 74 571 .458 617 .787 872 90 1,759 23.8 1986-87 73 595 .454 570 .824 824 120 1,760 24.1 1987-88 79 531 .487 543 .788 884 112 1,607 20.3 1988-89 81 538 .491 561 .789 956 112 1,637 20.2 1989-90 81 517 .480 493 .781 812 130 1,528 18.9 1990-91 82 280 .468 309 .831 667 68 869 10.6 1991-92 82 440 .474 396 .786 744 93 1,279 15.6 1992-93 11 13 .310 24 .774 46 7 50 4.5 1993-94 55 102 .440 90 .769 226 34 294 5.3 1994-95 17 13 .371 22 .688 46 6 49 2.9 NBA Totals 1,329 9,435 .491 8,531 .769 16,212 1,796 27,409 20.6 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game sity of Maryland, where was the Continuing the Story coach. About the same time he chose Maryland, In his two years with the of the ABA, Mo- the Utah Stars of the American Basketball Associa- ses gained the praise of his coach for how quickly tion (ABA) drafted him and offered him a large he learned the professional game of basketball. sum of money to play professional basketball. Moses’s shooting was consistent, and his rebound- No player had ever gone directly from high ing continued to amaze both teammates and op- school to professional basketball. Moses’s mother, posing players. who was his constant encouragement and the most When the ABA merged with the NBA in 1976, important person in his life, allowed him to make Moses was challenged again to raise the quality of this difficult decision. Much to the disappointment his play. In his first five seasons in the NBA, while of Coach Driesell and to the surprise of the sports playing for the Houston Rockets, he won the NBA world, Moses chose to sign the contract with the rebounding title twice, finished second twice, and Utah Stars. It made him the highest salaried teen- third, once. His scoring average rose steadily with age athlete in the United States. He was also of- each season, reaching a personal high of 31.1 fered a large scholarship by the Utah Stars to at- points per game in the 1981-1982 season. He was tend any college of his choice in the off-season. named the NBA’s most valuable player in the 1978- Many people believed the Stars had selected 1979 and 1981-1982 seasons. During his first year Moses as a publicity stunt because no high school with the Philadelphia 76ers, in 1982-1983, he player had ever made the move directly to the pro- gained his third most valuable player award. Dur- fessional ranks. Many others did not believe Moses ing his career in the NBA, Moses did for the offen- could be successful as a professional at only nine- sive rebound what Boston Celtic Bill Russell did for teen years of age. The same determination that the blocked shot: He made it into an art that other made him a champion in high school, however, players could only envy. Moses was selected to the made him a champion as a professional. NBA all-star team twelve times.

253 Moses Malone Great Athletes

Honors and Awards the fifty greatest NBA players of all time. In 2001, he was elected to the Naismith Memorial 1975 ABA All-Star Team Basketball Hall of Fame. After retiring from ABA All-Rookie Team basketball, Moses took some college courses 1978-89 NBA All-Star Team but had no regrets about bypassing college for 1979, 1982-83 NBA most valuable player his pro basketball career. He provided counsel 1979-85, 1987 All-NBA Team and guidance for young players who were con- 1979, 1983 NBA All-Defensive Team 1983 NBA Finals most valuable player sidering an NBA career. 1987 All-NBA Second Team 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team Summary Uniform number 24 retired by Houston Rockets Determination and hard work made Moses Ma- 2001 Elected to Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame lone one of the best NBA players ever. In over- coming the limitations of his boyhood and the doubts of many who said he would never be- After his stint in Philadelphia, he played for the come a successful professional player, Moses made Washington Bullets, the Atlanta Hawks, and the a place for himself in NBA history. Milwaukee Bucks. He returned to the 76ers in 1993 Robert R. Mathisen and finished his career with the San Antonio Spurs in 1995. Additional Sources Moses will be remembered not only for his Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- greatness as an all-around player but also for his ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters Press, 2000. longevity. He played for twenty-one years and was a Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling member of three ABA teams and six NBA teams. A Kindersley, 2003. ferocious rebounder, he was the first player in NBA Macnow, Glen, and Big Daddy Graham. The Great history to lead the league in rebounding for five Book of Philadelphia Sports Lists. Philadelphia: consecutive seasons. His combined ABA and NBA Running Press, 2006. totals were 29,580 points and 17,834 rebounds. O’Keefe, John. “Moses Malone, NBA All-Star Cen- Former NBA player and coach John Lucas noted ter.” Sports Illustrated 90, no. 15 (April 12, 1999): that Moses was the greatest “blue-collar worker” in 14. the history of basketball. Shouler, Kenneth A. The Experts Pick Basketball’s Best In 1996, as part of the celebration of the golden Fifty Players in the Last Fifty Years. Lenexa, Kans.: anniversary of the NBA, Moses was named one of Addax, 1998.

254 Pete Maravich

Born: June 22, 1947 given the opportunity to contribute he did so with Aliquippa, Pennsylvania great success. Died: January 5, 1988 In 1963, the Maravich family moved to Raleigh, Pasadena, California North Carolina; Pete’s father became the assistant Also known as: Peter Press Maravich (full name); coach at North Carolina State University. Pete at- Pistol Pete tended Needham-Broughton High School. At this point, he had grown to almost 6 feet in height. Still Early Life very skinny, young Pete was eager to display his rap- Peter Press “Pistol Pete” Maravich was born June 22, idly developing talents to his new coach. 1947, in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. Pete was the first When Pete graduated from high school, he was of two children born to Peter “Press” and Helen still rather slight in build. He and his father de- Maravich. Pete’s father was a basketball coach, so cided that another year would be helpful before Pete’s involvement in the game was al- most a requirement. Press developed his son’s interest for the game and did a masterful job of creating a youngster hungry for basketball. With his father a coach, the opportunities were present for Pete to become one of the top scor- ers in basketball history.

The Road to Excellence From an early age, Pete was developed by his father for a life in basketball. When Pete was too young to play the game, he watched his father shoot bas- kets in the backyard. Pete itched to try it himself. His father would not allow it, trying to instill a desire for the sport that would be unparalleled. Pete received a basketball as a Christ- mas present one year, and the time had arrived for him to learn of his father’s extensive plan for his future. Pete’s bas- ketball debut took place at Daniel High School in Clemson, North Carolina, where his father was the coach of the Clemson Tigers of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Pete was a 90-pound eighth-grader and was constantly jeered and teased by other children, as he was considerably smaller than his teammates. Although at first he was ignored on the basketball court because of his size, when Pete was Utah Jazz guard Pete Maravich. (Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

255 Pete Maravich Great Athletes

NCAA Division I Records 1,148 points that season was the second-highest in NCAA history up to that time. Most points, 3,667 In his final season at LSU, he set still more rec- Highest scoring average, 44.2 ords. Pete broke Oscar Robertson’s NCAA career Most games with at least 50 points, 28 scoring record, Elvin Hayes’s NCAA single-season Most points in a season, 1,381 (1969-70) scoring record, and ’s NCAA single- Highest scoring average in a season, 44.5 (1969-70) game record all in the same year. He finished his Most games with at least 50 points, one season, 10 (1969-70) college career with 3,667 points and a 44.2-points- Most free throws made in a game, 30 (1969) per-game average, both records. Pete signed a million-dollar contract with the At- lanta Hawks of the NBA. At the time, the contract Pete tried college basketball. Pete left Needham- was the largest in professional sports. Although all Broughton with a 32-points-per-game average to seemed to be going well, the anger of some veteran attend Edwards Military Academy in Salemburg, players over Pete’s large salary made his accep- North Carolina. tance into the NBA difficult. “Pistol Pete” was 6 feet 4 inches tall and prepar- After four years with the Hawks and no positive ing for his college career. When his father accepted changes regarding his acceptance on the team, the head coaching position at Louisiana State Uni- Pete was traded to the New Orleans Jazz for the versity (LSU), Pete signed to play under his father. 1974-1975 season. Pete’s desire to be on a champi- However, Pete was not happy with the move be- onship team seemed less likely to be fulfilled, but cause LSU was primarily a football school at the his free-flowing, aggressive, and creative style of time. play blended much better with the young team. Pete played with New Orleans through the middle The Emerging Champion of the 1979-1980 season, when he was traded to the Averaging 43 points per game on the freshman Boston Celtics. team his first year at LSU, Pete was eager to begin his varsity experience. He did so with a bang, aver- Continuing the Story aging 43.8 points per game and setting a collegiate Pete had difficultly finding a place on the Celtics record. with stars such as Larry Bird, Robert Parish, Dave Pete’s junior year at LSU was another success. Cowens, and Nate Archibald. During the remain- His two-year total of 2,097 points broke both Bob der of the 1979-1980 season with Boston, his ailing Pettit’s LSU career scoring record and the Na- knees bothering him, Pete was used primarily as a tional Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rec- substitute. The Celtics were defeated by the Phila- ord for the most points in two seasons. His total of delphia 76ers in the playoffs.

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1970-71 81 738 .458 404 .800 298 355 1,880 23.2 1971-72 66 460 .427 355 .811 256 393 1,275 19.3 1972-73 79 789 .441 485 .800 346 546 2,063 26.1 1973-74 76 819 .457 469 .826 374 396 2,107 27.7 1974-75 79 655 .419 390 .811 422 488 1,700 21.5 1975-76 62 604 .459 396 .811 300 332 1,604 25.9 1976-77 73 886 .433 501 .835 374 392 2,273 31.1 1977-78 50 556 .444 240 .870 178 335 1,352 27.0 1978-79 49 436 .421 233 .841 121 243 1,105 22.6 1979-80 43 244 .449 91 .867 78 83 589 13.7 Totals 658 6,187 .441 3,564 .820 2,747 3,563 15,948 24.2 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

256 Basketball Pete Maravich

At the beginning of the 1980-1981 Honors and Awards season, Pete lost his desire to play the game and decided to retire. He worked 1968-70 Consensus All-American hard at maintaining his interests with 1970 Rupp Trophy business ventures and his family: his wife United Press International Division I Player of the Year Jackie and their two boys, Jaeson and U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division I Player of the Year Joshua. Naismith Award The final years of Pete’s life were Sporting News College Player of the Year made difficult by the death of his father, Helms Athletic Foundation Division I Player of the Year Press, in 1987, and the memories of his Citizens Savings College Basketball Co-Player of the Year life’s incomplete goals and dreams. Pete 1971 NBA All-Rookie Team found peace and happiness as a born- 1973-74, 1977-79 NBA All-Star Team again Christian and in travel, speaking 1973, 1976-78 All-NBA Team engagements, clinics, and television 1987 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame commentary. On January 5, 1988, Pistol Uniform number 7 retired by Utah Jazz Pete died of a heart attack shortly after a pickup basketball game. Additional Sources Summary Berger, Phil. Forever Showtime: The Checkered Life of Pete Maravich became a crusader for youngsters, Pistol Pete Maravich. Dallas, Tex.: Taylor, 1999. attempting to enrich their lives and give back some Federman, Wayne, and Marshall Terrill. Maravich. of what he believed he had been blessed with in his Wilmington, Del.: Sport Classic Books, 2006. life. His accomplishments during that last phase of Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling his life will not soon be forgotten. Meanwhile, Pete Kindersley, 2003. as court magician—his baggy socks, long hair, Kriegel, Mark. Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich. New fancy dribbling, pinpoint passes through his legs York: Free Press, 2007. and behind his back, and numerous records—will Towle, Mike. I Remember Pete Maravich: Personal Rec- survive in NCAA and NBA lore. His induction into ollections of Basketball’s Pistol Pete by the People and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Players Who Knew Him. Nashville, Tenn.: Cum- 1987 marked his farewell to the basketball world. berland House, 2000. “The Pistol,” however, will never be forgotten. ______. Pete Maravich: Magician of the Hardwood. Hal J. Walker Nashville, Tenn.: Cumberland House, 2003.

257 Hortåncia Marcari

Born: September 23, 1959 with basketball after she first learned the game as a Potirendaba, São Paulo, Brazil thirteen-year-old schoolgirl. Within two years of Also known as: Hortåncia Maria de Fa’tima taking up the game, the lanky teenager had be- Marcari (full name); Hortåncia Maria de come good enough to compete for a spot on Fátima Marcari Oliva Brazil’s national women’s team.

Early Life The Road to Excellence In 1959, Hortåncia de Fa’tima Marcari was born to Hortåncia became a member of the Brazilian na- a poor family in São Paulo, a sprawling metropolis tional team in 1979, and she soon became a star in southeastern Brazil that is one of the world’s both in international competition and on the club largest cities. Although soccer is South America’s level in Brazil, where professional women’s basket- most popular sport, Hortåncia became fascinated ball is popular. A slender 5-foot 8-inch shooting guard, she earned respect for her ac- curate outside shooting, her quick, acrobatic drives to the basket, and her fiery competitive nature. By 1983, Hortåncia was known to fans around the world by her first name alone. American colleges, including the pow- erful University of Tennessee, tried to lure her to the United States to play basketball, but all of them were un- successful. “I always wanted to come to the United States—not to earn money but because they have the best bas- ketball,” she told a reporter. “Tennes- see offered me an education, but I needed money to support my family. I couldn’t leave Brazil.” By the mid- 1980’s, she was earning the equiva- lent of $5,000 per month playing Bra- zilian club basketball.

The Emerging Champion By the mid-1980’s, Hortåncia had es- tablished herself as perhaps the big- gest female star in the sport. In a game for the São Paulo city champi- onship, she scored 120 points to lead her team to a landslide victory. She was also a major celebrity in South America; at one point, she drew con- siderable publicity for her decision to pose for the Brazilian edition of Play- Hortência Marcari at the 1996 Olympics. (AP/Wide World Photos) boy magazine. However, she remained

258 Basketball Hortåncia Marcari

Honors and Awards press table as she ran down the court. However, her energetic play was again not enough; de- 1983 Bronze medal, Pan-American Games spite her 30 points, the U.S. team prevailed 1987 Silver medal, Pan-American Games 111-87. 1991 Gold medal, Pan-American Games 1994 Gold medal, World Basketball Championships In the 1991 Pan-American Games in Ha- 1996 Silver medal, Olympic Basketball vana, Cuba, Brazil fielded a more balanced 2002 Inducted into Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame team. Rather than relying entirely on Hor- 2005 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame tåncia and Da Silva, the Brazilians diversified 2007 Inducted into FIBA Hall of Fame their attack to feature the inside play of center (Accurate statistics are not available for Marcari’s playing career.) Marta Souza and forward Janeth Dos Santos. In the critical semifinal game, the Brazilian and U.S. squads squared off again. With sec- almost unknown to North American fans. In part, onds remaining and the pro-Brazil Cuban crowd this was because the Brazilian women’s team had cheering wildly, Hortåncia drove around U.S. de- never qualified to play in the Olympics, the show- fender and scored on a baseline case of international women’s basketball. More- jump shot to put the game away. Brazil held on to over, the Brazilian women had not managed to de- win 87-84, ending the U.S. team’s nine-year, forty- feat the perennially powerful U.S. team since the two-game winning streak in international competi- 1971 Pan-American Games. tion; after the buzzer, Da Silva did cartwheels across At the first Goodwill Games, held in Moscow in the court. In the finals, Brazil downed Cuba to take July of 1986, Hortåncia and backcourt partner the gold medal, putting an end to years of national Maria Da Silva united to propel the Brazilian team. frustration. In Brazil, the two guards had become so dominant By then, Hortåncia had begun playing for teams that they were not allowed to play on the same club in Europe at salaries that approached $200,000 a team; in one eleven-year span, their teams met for year. She had also married José Victor Oliva, a the league championship ten times. However, even wealthy Brazilian nightclub owner, and the couple the duo’s combined performance was not good had become renowned for their jet-set lifestyle. In enough to stop the U.S. team, which won the gold the late 1980’s, Hortåncia appeared in a ten-page medal. layout in the Brazilian Playboy magazine, with the The following year, Hortåncia and her team- front cover reading “Our Queen, Hortåncia,” which mates got a measure of revenge by routing Tennes- referred to her status as possibly the best woman see, the National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball player in the world. (NCAA) champions, by the score of 105-68. Hor- In 1994, Hortåncia’s career reached its apex. In tåncia scored 34 points on 10 of 14 shooting oppor- the semifinals of the FIBA World Championship, tunities and dominated the court, causing Tennes- she scored 32 points as the Brazilian team again up- see coach Pat Summitt to compare her to NBA set the U.S. team by a score of 110-107. In the finals great Larry Bird. against China, she scored 27 points to lead the Bra- zilians to their first world title. Having reached the Continuing the Story summit of women’s basketball at last, after the The 1987 Pan-American Games at Indianapolis, In- game, she retired from international competition. diana, were eagerly anticipated by fans in both Bra- Because of her exploits on the basketball floor, zil and the United States. During an early-round Hortåncia was regarded in Brazil as the female game, the U.S. team narrowly beat Brazil 84-81, as equivalent of Pelé. The heart and soul of Brazilian Hortåncia struggled with fouls, shots that missed basketball, she was known by only her first name the mark, and frustrating offensive plays. In a final- and was often referred to as the queen of sports in round rematch between the U.S. and Brazilian Brazil. With the advent of the 1996 Olympic Games teams, Hortåncia had control of the court at the be- in Atlanta, Georgia, Hortåncia came out of retire- ginning of the game. She scored many three-point ment to participate at the age of thirty-six. In Brazil’s shots and banked in underhand shots off the glass. win over in a semifinal game, Hortåncia At one point, she even slapped her hand on the scored 20 points on 8 out of 13 shooting opportuni-

259 Hortåncia Marcari Great Athletes

ties from the field. Although she slipped to 11 Summary points in the gold-medal game against the United Hortåncia Marcari enjoyed unprecedented success States, the play of Hortåncia and Paula da Silva gar- on both the national and international levels of nered the silver medal for the Brazilian team. Hor- women’s basketball. Her outstanding perfor- tåncia played in five Olympics, leading the run- mances on the court and her colorful lifestyle off it and-gun Brazilian team. Most Brazilians still regard made her one of the few celebrities known around her as the biggest star ever to play women’s basket- the world by first name alone. ball. Marcia J. Mackey Hortåncia became the general manager and di- rector of the Paran basketball team in the Confed- Additional Sources eration of Brazilian Basketball, which represents Corbett, Sara. Venus to the Hoop: A Gold-Medal Year in the national and international basketball organiza- Women’s Basketball. New York: Doubleday, 1998. tion in Brazil. She was inducted into the Women’s Wallechinsky, David, and Jaime Loucky. The Com- Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002, the Naismith Me- plete Book of the Olympics: 2008 Edition. London: morial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005, and the Aurum Press, 2008. FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007.

260 Slater Martin

Born: October 22, 1925 Slater was small in physical stature as a child, but he El Mina, Texas quickly developed fiery competitive instincts be- Also known as: Slater Nelson Martin, Jr. (full cause he always played with much bigger children. name); Dugie He played unorganized football and baseball at an early age in the dusty, grassless fields near his Early Life home. In football, Slater developed exceptional Slater Nelson Martin, Jr., was born on October 22, speed and quickness, a necessity to escape injury. 1925, in the rural community of El Mina, Texas, At the age of eleven, Slater and his family moved outside the city of Houston. A descendant of a to Houston, Texas. Here, Slater’s new neighbor Scotch-Irish father and a Native American mother, and close friend, Jamie Owens, introduced him to basketball. On the playground near their home, the two boys shot baskets for hours each day. Slater loved his newfound game. In addition to his speed and quickness, Slater soon became an excellent set shooter and a pesky defensive player.

The Road to Excellence The first team on which Slater played was in junior high school; however, during those two years he played little. At Jefferson Davis High School in Houston, Slater failed to make the freshman team. Somewhat dis- couraged, he turned to baseball, a sport in which he was highly skilled. He soon re- turned to basketball, however, and worked even harder on his skills. As a sophomore, Slater made the varsity team and became a starter in the last twelve games of the 1941- 1942 season. By his junior year, Slater had grown to 5 feet 8 inches and 140 pounds, small for a basketball player. Nevertheless, Slater was emerging into a fine ball handler and ex- cellent passer. Also, he could score when- ever the situation required. With these skills, Slater led his high school team to two Texas State Basketball titles, as a junior in 1942 and as a senior in 1943. Following high school graduation, in the midst of World War II, Slater joined the United States Navy. During his thirty-three months of service, Slater had limited oppor- Slater Martin. (Courtesy of Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los tunity to play basketball. He grew to a height Angeles) of 5 feet 10 inches and weighed 155 pounds.

261 Slater Martin Great Athletes

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1949-50 67 106 .351 59 .634 — 148 271 4.0 1950-51 68 227 .362 121 .684 246 235 575 8.5 1951-52 66 237 .375 142 .747 228 249 616 9.3 1952-53 70 260 .410 224 .780 186 250 744 10.6 1953-54 69 254 .388 176 .724 166 253 684 9.9 1954-55 72 350 .381 276 .769 260 427 976 13.6 1955-56 72 309 .358 329 .833 260 445 947 13.2 1956-57 66 244 .332 230 .790 288 269 718 10.9 1957-58 60 258 .336 206 .746 228 218 722 12.0 1958-59 71 245 .347 197 .776 253 336 687 9.4 1959-60 64 142 .371 113 .729 187 330 397 6.2 Totals 745 2,632 .364 2,073 .762 — 3,160 7,337 9.8 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

Having completed his military service in 1945, In his rookie season, Slater scored 271 points in Slater enrolled at the University of Texas, where he sixty-seven games for a four-points-per-game aver- quickly rejuvenated his dormant basketball skills. age and led the Lakers to the NBA Champion- Under the tutelage of Texas head coach Jack Gray, ship—the first of four NBA titles for Slater and the Slater became a stellar all-around player at the Lakers. He set up many baskets for George Mikan guard position. Along with his playmaking talent, and during the Lakers’ championship Slater was called upon to be more of a scorer. He re- years. In 1955, Slater led the league with 427 assists sponded by averaging 10 and 12 points per game as for an average of nearly six per game. a sophomore and junior, respectively. As a senior, During his career with the Lakers, Slater earned Slater averaged 16 points per game and led the the reputation as the best small defensive player in Longhorns in scoring. the league and the nickname “Dugie” for his persis- In his sophomore and junior years, 1946-1947 tence and drive. These attributes contributed to and 1947-1948, Slater led the University of Texas Slater’s selection to the all-NBA second team from into the National Collegiate Athletic Association 1954-1955 through 1958-1959. (NCAA) tournament, but the team lost in the first Following a contract dispute with the Lakers, round each time. Slater’s senior season, 1948-1949, Slater was traded to the New York Knickerbockers was his most outstanding. Although the Long- for the 1956-1957 season. He played only thirteen horns did not make the NCAA tournament, Slat- games before a trade sent him to the St. Louis er’s 16-points-per-game scoring average included a Hawks. Slater played with St. Louis from 1956 to 49-point performance against Texas Christian Uni- 1960, during which time he won his fifth NBA title versity; he was also named Southwest Conference as he led the Hawks to the championship in the (SWC) most valuable player. In 1949, Slater gradu- ated from the University of Texas with a B.A. in Honors and Awards physical education and married his college sweet- heart, Faye. 1949 SWC most valuable player Sporting News All-American The Emerging Champion 1953-59 NBA All-Star Team In the spring of 1949, the Minneapolis Lakers of the NBA were building a dynasty. The Lakers had 1955-59 All-NBA Second Team legendary players George Mikan and Jim Pollard, 1966 Inducted into Texas Sports Hall of Fame but the team needed a playmaking guard. Slater 1981 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of joined the Lakers for the 1949-1950 season and di- Fame rected the team from the guard position.

262 Basketball Slater Martin

1957-1958 campaign. He was named to the all-NBA Summary second team for the fifth time in his career. During Slater Martin’s physical size was never a deterrent eleven NBA seasons, Slater played in 745 games, to his athletic success. He was a gifted athlete whose scored 2,632 field goals and 2,073 free throws for drive, determination, and enthusiasm for a physi- 7,337 points and a 9.8-points-per-game average. cal challenge made basketball fun. An outstanding playmaker, Slater was the original mold from which Continuing the Story the modern-day basketball point guard is cast. During his early years in the NBA, Slater played Jerry Jaye Wright semiprofessional baseball in Texas in the summer months. He also took up golf, which he continued Additional Sources to play to nearly a scratch handicap. Upon retire- Hubbard, Jan, and David J. Stern. The Official NBA ment from professional basketball, Slater worked Encyclopedia. New York: Doubleday, 2000. in the construction business in Houston, Texas. He Smith, Ron, Ira Winderman, and Mary Schmitt also owned and operated a restaurant, but he spent Boyer. The Complete Encyclopedia of Basketball. much of his time on the golf course. London: Carlton, 2002.

263 Ann Meyers

Born: March 26, 1955 team to a silver medal in the Montreal Olympics. San Diego, California Ann became the first four-time women’s all- Also known as: Ann Elizabeth Meyers (full American basketball guard during her career at name); Ann Meyers Drysdale UCLA (1975-1978). In 1978, Ann’s play led the UCLA Bruins to the Association of Intercollegiate Early Life Athletics for Women (AIAW) National Collegiate Ann Elizabeth Meyers was born on March 26, 1955, Women’s Basketball Championship. The Bruins in San Diego, California. Ann came from a family defeated the University of Maryland 90-74 before a of eleven children, and she was shy and insecure. crowd of 9,351. During that game Ann scored 20 As in many large families, there was a lot of sibling points, grabbed 10 rebounds, handed out 9 assists, rivalry and hand-me-downs. Basketball was the and had 8 steals. main sport in the Meyers family, but Ann also let- Ann completed her four-year career with 1,685 tered in track, volleyball, badminton, tennis, field points, averaging 17.4 points per game and 8.4 re- hockey, and softball at Sonora High School in La bounds. In 1978, she was named the AIAW basket- Habra, California. Because of her success in track, Ann had aspirations of participating in the Olym- pics and competing in the high jump. Basketball, however, became a real love for Ann. She found that basketball was a sport she could play by herself. Despite lettering in seven sports in high school, Ann had the same dream as her older brother David—to be able to play basketball for a living. Ann spent many hours on the courts drib- bling and shooting to work toward that dream. Bas- ketball became her release.

The Road to Excellence Because of her great success in basketball, the Uni- versity of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) of- fered Ann its first women’s athletic scholarship. UCLA seemed to be a natural choice for Ann, be- cause it was close to home and her brother Dave was playing basketball there, too. Friends and fam- ily could travel to UCLA and watch Ann reach for her dream and also see her brother Dave play. The full athletic scholarship also assisted the Meyers family, and the fact that big brother Dave was on campus provided a sense of security. During her senior year in high school, Ann par- ticipated in the 1975 Pan-American Games and FIBA World Championship. Ann’s senior year was filled with travel and excitement. From 1975 to 1977, Ann had the opportunity to participate in Ann Meyers, who played collegiately for the UCLA the World University Games. Furthermore, in Bruins. (Courtesy of Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los 1976, Ann guided the U.S. women’s basketball Angeles)

264 Basketball Ann Meyers ball player of the year and was the recipient of Honors, Awards, and Milestones the Honda Broderick Cup as the outstanding female collegiate athlete of the year. 1975 Women’s U.S. Pan-American Games Gold medalist During the time Ann played for the Bruins, 1975-77 World University Games, Women’s U.S. Team women’s sports were not supported well. While 1975-78 Kodak All-American the men’s basketball team traveled to away 1975, 1979 World Championships, Women’s U.S. Team games by bus or plane, the women’s team 1976 Gold medal, Jones Cup would travel by vans or station wagons. Prac- Silver medal, Olympic Basketball ticing in the women’s gym was quite different 1978 AIAW Basketball Player of the Year Honda Broderick Cup from practicing in the men’s gym. Still, many AIAW Championship Team times the men’s basketball coaches assisted UCLA Athlete of the Year Ann in getting the classes she wanted, and de- All-Western Collegiate Athletic Association Team spite the lack of program equality, Ann made a All-Region 8 Team name for herself at UCLA. Even with her aston- 1980 WPBL co-most valuable player ishing four-year basketball career, Ann found 1981 WPBL most valuable player time to run track, play volleyball, and try out 1985 Inducted into International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame for the tennis team. 1990 Uniform number 15 retired by UCLA Athletic Department 1993 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame The Emerging Champion 2001 Named a John R. Wooden all-time All-American Ann finished her four-year basketball career 2007 Inducted into FIBA Hall of Fame with all-American distinction. The future for Ann was not as clear as it was for her brother Dave, who became a professional basketball player had had the opportunity to sign with a women’s for the Milwaukee Bucks. Ann was glad she had professional league, but she decided to wait in or- pursued a college degree; because there was not a der to participate in the 1980 Olympics. By turning major professional women’s league for basketball, pro and signing with the Pacers, Ann turned down she could not use her four years of college as a the opportunity to play in the 1980 Olympics in stepping-stone for a professional basketball career, Moscow, but Ann felt that the Pacers’ offer was a as many males had done. Ann was grateful just to be chance of a lifetime. given the opportunity to play a sport she loved and Many people worried about Ann’s signing with to obtain a degree. the Pacers. Even her brother Dave showed concern On September 6, 1979, Ann became the first because of the talent his sister had and the possibil- woman to be signed by an NBA team. The Indiana ity of her getting hurt physically and emotionally. Pacers signed Ann to a one-year, $50,000, no-cut Dave knew how brutal the media could be and was contract. The contract guaranteed her a paid sal- worried about situations where Ann could be made ary but not a spot on the team. The Pacers pro- fun of or mocked. moted Ann as a three-point threat. Many people On September 12, 1979, two days after tryouts felt the Pacers used the contract as a publicity stunt began for the Pacers, Ann was cut from the team. to attract more spectators. Earlier in the year, Ann Ann knew the game and had the fundamentals, but

College Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1974-75 23 183 .528 56 .767 191 125 422 18.3 1975-76 23 129 .426 65 .730 189 128 323 14.0 1976-77 22 160 .505 82 .828 161 109 402 18.3 1977-78 29 221 .526 96 .800 278 182 538 18.6 Totals 97 693 .500 299 .785 819 544 1,685 17.4 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

265 Ann Meyers Great Athletes

her 5-foot 9-inch frame was too small for the NBA. for the Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. She She was retained as a radio color commentator for worked for the National Broadcasting Corporation the Pacers’ games. Ann was also the color commen- (NBC) as a commentator for the NBA and for the tator for the 1979 UCLA men’s basketball team. Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was later named the vice president of the NBA’s Continuing the Story Phoenix Suns and the general manager of the After Ann was cut, two professional women’s bas- WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury. ketball teams, the New Jersey Gems and the Hous- In 1985, Ann became the first basketball player ton Angels, sought her talent. At that time the inducted into the Women’s Sports Hall of Fame. In Women’s Professional Basketball League (WPBL) 1993, she was inducted into the Naismith Memo- could pay its players only $7,000 to $20,000 a sea- rial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massa- son. The salary offered to play on the women’s pro- chusetts. She said that her greatest mentor was her fessional team was much lower than the $50,000 late husband, Don Drysdale. They were the first Ann was receiving as color commentator for the In- married couple ever to be inducted into the halls diana Pacers. On November 15, 1979, after a series of fame in their respective sports. Ann has won nu- of salary negotiations, Ann signed a three-year con- merous other awards and honors: She was named a tract with the New Jersey Gems for $130,000. Ann John Wooden all-time all-American player and was competed as a New Jersey Gem for two years, sitting inducted into the International Basketball Federa- out in protest part of the last year as a result of con- tion (FIBA) Hall of Fame. tract disagreements. Meyers won both most valu- able player trophies of the short-lived WPBL. Summary In 1986, Ann married retired Los Angeles Ann Meyers was truly a pioneer of women’s basket- Dodgers pitcher Don Drysdale and had three chil- ball—she is often considered the greatest women’s dren. She also worked as a sports broadcaster. On basketball player ever. Her fortitude was an inspira- February 3, 1990, Ann was among the first UCLA tion to women in basketball and other professions. basketball players to officially have her UCLA Carol L. Higy Bruins jersey, number 15, retired, along with Bill Walton’s and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s. Additional Sources Ann has served as a color analyst on broadcasts Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- of many different Olympic events, including soft- ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters Press, 2000. ball, tennis, volleyball, soccer, and women’s basket- Gutman, Bill. Shooting Stars: The Women of Pro Basket- ball. She covered several women’s National Colle- ball. New York: Random House, 1998. giate Athletic Association (NCAA) basketball Porter, Karra. Mad Seasons: The Story of the First tournaments during the 1990’s. In 2000, Ann was a Women’s Professional Basketball League, 1978-1981. broadcaster for the NCAA Women’s Final Four and Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2006.

266 George Mikan

Born: June 18, 1924 and a weight of 245 pounds. George and his broth- Joliet, Illinois ers, Joe and Ed, worked in the family restaurant af- Died: June 1, 2005 ter school. George aspired to be a concert pianist; Scottsdale, Arizona he enjoyed the musical skills he developed as a Also known as: George Lawrence Mikan, Jr. (full youngster throughout his life. name); Mr. Basketball George had few basketball skills as a boy. At the age of thirteen, he broke his leg in a game. He left Early Life Joliet Catholic High School to pursue the Catholic George Lawrence Mikan, Jr., was born on June 18, priesthood at Quigley Seminary in downtown Chi- 1924, in Joliet, Illinois. The first child of George cago. The Joliet coach had already discouraged Mikan, a Croatian, and his wife Minnie, a Lithua- him from basketball because of George’s poor eye- nian, George grew to a height of 6 feet 10 inches sight. His thirty-five-mile commute to Quigley left no time for basketball. His height had done little but make George awkward, shy, and self-conscious.

The Road to Excellence George tried out for basketball at Notre Dame University. Coach said he would never succeed with his quarter-inch-thick glasses. Notre Dame assistant coach had just be- come head coach at Chicago’s DePaul University and decided to work with George. Skipping rope, shadowboxing, and scrimmaging one-on-one with more agile teammates improved George’s tim- ing. George played four years of varsity basketball for DePaul. In 1942-1943, George’s first season, DePaul won nineteen games and lost five. George’s ability to block shots on their way downward into the basket con- tributed to a National Collegiate Ath- letic Association (NCAA) rule against goaltending. In 1944, DePaul lost in the finals of the National Invitational Tour- nament (NIT) but won the next year. George scored 120 points in the final three games, with a high of 53. He was a three-time all-American, from 1944 to 1946. In all, he scored 1,870 points, a col- legiate record at that time, and DePaul’s Minneapolis Lakers center George Mikan in 1946. (NBAE/Getty Im- record was 83-18. ages) In the off-season, George was a base-

267 George Mikan Great Athletes

ball pitcher, attracting offers from major-league George, Vern Mikkelson, Jim Pollard, Arnie scouts. At 6 feet 10 inches tall, it was inevitable that Ferrin, and Slater Martin—one of the greatest George would choose basketball. teams ever assembled—won a third consecutive championship in 1949-1950. Again the league’s The Emerging Champion leading scorer, George averaged 27.4 points per The National Basketball League (NBL) had begun game. In 1950-1951, George led the NBA in scor- in 1937, but with teams in Anderson, Indiana, and ing with 28.4 points per game. With George out be- Sheboygan, Wisconsin, it was a small-time opera- cause of a broken ankle, the Lakers lost in the play- tion until World War II. George’s team, the Chi- off semifinals to the Rochester Royals. cago American Gears, was sponsored by a business. On November 22, 1950, one of the strangest George earned $12,000 per season. The year games ever in professional basketball took place. George became a professional, 1946, he married Fort Wayne defeated the Lakers 19-18 despite Patricia Lu Deveny. They had four sons and two George’s 15 points. Games like this led to the 24- daughters. second rule in 1954-1955, which forced a team to When the Gears disbanded after twenty-five shoot within 24 seconds. No longer could profes- games, George joined the Minneapolis Lakers. In sional teams stall to keep the ball from superstars 1947-1948, he scored an average of 21.3 points per like George. game and was chosen unanimously as most valu- In the 1951-1952 season, the three-second able player in the NBL. That year, the Lakers won lane—the corridor from the free throw line to the the title and established a dynasty. basket—was enlarged from 6 to 12 feet across. In 1948-1949, the Lakers were one of four NBL Great centers like George had to get out from un- teams to join a new league, the NBA. Commis- der the basket sooner. George commented: “They sioner added eleven teams from made the game better . . . more wide-open play and his Basketball Association of America (BAA). outside shooting.” The change did not slow him George, wearing his familiar number 99, was the down; in an early-season game he scored 61 points. drawing card that professional basketball needed. The Lakers won a fourth title. Everywhere crowds came to see him. In the NBA’s first year, the Lakers won another Continuing the Story title. The league’s leading scorer was George After the 1953-1954 season and the Lakers’ fifth ti- Mikan, averaging 28.3 points. A dramatic moment tle in seven years, George shocked coach Larry in that season came when George’s wrist was bro- Kundla by announcing his retirement. He was not ken in the playoffs. George played the last two quite thirty years old. Nicknamed “Mr. Basketball,” games with one hand dangling in a cast and aver- George had dominated the game from 1946 to aged 30 points. 1954. Whenever the Lakers visited New York City,

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1946-47 25 147 — 119 .726 — — 413 16.5 1947-48 56 406 — 383 .752 — — 1,195 21.3 1948-49 60 583 .416 532 .772 — 218 1,698 28.3 1949-50 68 649 .407 567 .779 — 197 1,865 27.4 1950-51 68 678 .428 576 .803 958 208 1,932 28.4 1951-52 64 545 .385 433 .780 866 194 1,523 23.8 1952-53 70 500 .399 442 .780 1,007 201 1,442 20.6 1953-54 72 441 .380 424 .777 1,028 174 1,306 18.1 1955-56 37 148 .395 94 .770 308 53 390 10.5 Totals 520 4,097 — 3,570 .778 — — 11,764 22.6 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

268 Basketball George Mikan

Honors and Awards legend, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. George died in 2005. 1944-45 Helms Athletic Foundation Division I Player of the Year Citizens Savings College Basketball Player of the Year 1944-46 Consensus All-American Summary 1948 NBL most valuable player Without the 24-second rule, basketball was a 1949-54 All-NBA Team game of low scores. Under these conditions, 1950 Associated Press Player of the Half Century 1951-54 NBA All-Star Team George Mikan’s scoring averages were incredi- 1953 NBA All-Star Game most valuable player ble. Although slow getting downcourt, George 1959 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame was a deadly shooter and a fine playmaker, great 1970 NBA 25th Anniversary All-Time Team 1980 NBA 35th Anniversary All-Time Team on defense, and rugged. Much injured, he 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team gave as well as he got. He made weapons out of his elbows to survive. Usually double- or triple- teamed, he often fouled but seldom fouled out. the Madison Square Garden marquee always read: Over the span of six professional seasons, “Tonite George Mikan vs. Knicks.” George led the league in scoring three times, was George then became the Lakers’ general man- second twice, and was fourth once. He made the ager. Without him on the team, the Lakers slumped. all-NBA first team six consecutive years. In 1950, he Absent a year and a half, George returned to the was named the Associated Press player of the half lineup, but weighing 265 pounds and out of shape, century. He revolutionized basketball, making it he averaged only 10.5 points. In 1956, George re- more offense-oriented. George Mikan, profes- tired for good. With attendance down, the team sional basketball’s first superstar, was inducted into later moved to Los Angeles. the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in In 1949, George became a lawyer through off- 1959. season study, and his business career proved suc- Daniel C. Scavone cessful. In 1967, he became the first commissioner of the new American Basketball Association (ABA). Additional Sources The red, white, and blue ball, the ABA trademark, Lazenby, Roland. The Show: The Inside Story of the was George’s conception. In 1969, he resigned to Spectacular Los Angeles Lakers in the Words of Those continue his law practice in Minneapolis. George Who Lived It. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006. was instrumental in professional basketball’s re- McCallum, Jack. “The Original Big Man.” Sports Il- turn to Minneapolis, heading a task force that lustrated 102, no. 24 (June 13, 2005): 52-53. eventually resulted in the formation of the Minne- Mikan, George, and Joseph Oberle. Unstoppable: sota Timberwolves. Though he maintained a low The Story of George Mikan, the First NBA Superstar. profile, he was proud of his Lakers heritage and Indianapolis, Ind.: Masters Press, 1997. became a close friend of former Lakers center Schumacher, Michael. Mr. Basketball: George Mikan, Shaquille O’Neal—in 1996, the two appeared on the Minneapolis Lakers, and the Birth of the NBA. the cover of Sports Illustrated with another Lakers New York: Bloomsbury, 2007.

269 Cheryl Miller

Born: January 3, 1964 been a prep all-American basketball player and Riverside, California college all-conference player. A registered nurse, Also known as: Cheryl DeAnne Miller (full Cheryl’s mother considered her first daughter her name) “little nurse.” Cheryl was the middle of five children. Her old- Early Life est brother, a talented athlete with little patience, Cheryl DeAnne Miller was born on January 3, became a musician. The other children all became 1964, in Riverside, California. Cheryl’s father, a ca- athletes. The second brother was a professional reer Air Force man and professional musician, had baseball player; a younger brother, Reggie, became a professional basketball player; and the youn- gest daughter chose volleyball as her sport.

The Road to Excellence At the age of five, Cheryl began playing bas- ketball with her older brothers. Throughout elementary school, she played with boys. She learned to be aggressive and hold her own against players who were bigger and stronger. In her first game, when she was only in third grade, she scored 40 points. Cheryl’s father schooled Cheryl and Reggie in basketball basics. He built a practice court in the family’s yard and coached and prac- ticed with his children daily. Throughout her career, Cheryl continued to call her father her coach, her trainer, and her best friend. Cheryl and Reggie were like twins, as well as each other’s greatest fan. During their early teen years, Reggie challenged other players to games with him and his sister while Cheryl hid. Then Cheryl would come out from hid- ing and surprise their prey. During her four years as a high school bas- ketball star, Riverside Poly won eighty-nine straight games. Cheryl scored 3,026 total points. On January 27, 1982, Cheryl scored a record 105 points and made history by be- coming the first girl to slam-dunk in a high school game. The first male or female four-time prep all- American and four-time member of the all- American junior national team, Cheryl re- Cheryl Miller gives the number one sign after leading the U.S ceived playing offers from more than two team to victory and a gold medal in the 1984 Summer Olym- hundred colleges and universities. Cheryl, a pics. (AP/Wide World Photos) B-average student who enjoyed drawing and

270 Basketball Cheryl Miller

College Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1983 33 268 .551 137 .737 320 115 673 20.4 1984 33 281 .570 164 .752 350 120 726 22.0 1985 30 302 .528 201 .696 474 86 805 26.8 1986 32 308 .609 198 .753 390 93 814 25.4 Totals 128 1,159 .563 700 .734 1,534 414 3,018 23.6 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game often read before a game to calm herself, looked tally and physically, but the work paid off as she led for a school with a strong communications pro- the team—considered the greatest ever to play gram. She chose to attend the University of South- women’s basketball—to a gold medal. Cheryl was ern California (USC) and to play basketball for the flattered by the comparisons to the Soviet star Trojans. Ulyana Semenova and to male players like Magic Johnson, but she resented the expectation that she The Emerging Champion improve each time she stepped onto the court. In 1983, as a 6-foot 3-inch first-year student at USC, Cheryl played basketball because she loved it. Cheryl distinguished herself with an aggressive During her last two years as a player at USC, style of play formerly attributed to male basketball Cheryl was sometimes discouraged by seasons that stars. She demonstrated high-flying tip-ins, full- did not result in national championships. Even court passes, and a jumping ability unusual for a though her game continued to improve, she was woman. Setting freshman records in scoring aver- getting burned out and even considered retiring age, rebounds, free throws, steals, blocked shots, after her junior year. She did not quit, but her im- and points per game, Cheryl led the already strong Trojan team to its first national champi- USC Records onship. For Cheryl, this was the biggest thrill of her life. Most points, 3,018 Highest scoring average, 23.6 In 1984, the team won a second champion- Most field goals, 1,159 ship. With her intense, high-caliber play, Most free throws made, 700 Cheryl continued to demonstrate that wom- Most rebounds, 1,534 Highest average in rebounds per game, 12.0 en’s basketball had begun a new era. Her exu- Most steals, 462 berant antics, such as her “hotdog wrist”—a Most games played, 128 showy modification of a follow-through train- ing technique used by Cheryl’s father—and Honors and Awards cartwheels on the court, raised the eyebrows 1983 Gold medal, Pan-American Games, Women’s U.S. Team of conservative coaches and fans. Although 1983-84 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player Cheryl was called a “hotdog,” she argued that 1983-86 College All-American her conduct was not an act but a spontaneous All-Conference Team 1984 Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year reaction to the emotion and stress of the game. Gold medal, Olympic Basketball Some people, including several well-known 1984-85 Honda Broderick Cup former women basketball players, said that 1984-86 Naismith Trophy 1985 Wade Trophy Cheryl was a star only because women’s sports 1985-86 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Year were finally acknowledged and supported. Oth- 1986 Gold medal, Goodwill Games, Women’s U.S. Team ers, however, recognized her hard work to ex- NCAA Today’s Top Six Award Uniform number 31 retired by USC cel in all phases of the sport and the 100 per- 1991 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Decade cent effort she gave in every game. 1995 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Training for the 1984 Olympics was the 1999 Inducted into Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame most challenging time in Cheryl’s career, men-

271 Cheryl Miller Great Athletes

pulsive style of play was somewhat tempered by the sioner of the 1985 Los Angeles Olympic Commit- circumstances. tee Summer Youth Games. She has also been a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Literacy Cam- Continuing the Story paign; the Muscular Dystrophy Association; and Although Cheryl was already a four-time all-Ameri- the American Lung, Diabetes, and Cancer Associa- can, three-time winner of the Naismith Trophy, tions. In 1997, Cheryl became the head coach and winner of the Wade Trophy, and player of the de- general manager of the Phoenix Mercury in the cade for the 1980’s, her basketball legacy did not Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). end with her final USC game in 1986. She was During four seasons at Phoenix, Cheryl led the drafted by the United States Basketball League, a team to the playoffs three times. At the end of 2000, men’s league, as well some other professional she resigned and turned her attention to full-time leagues. Though injuries kept her from playing broadcasting work. pro ball or on the 1988 Olympic team, she contin- ued to be involved with basketball as a Trojans assis- Summary tant coach from 1986 to 1991. In addition, Cheryl Cheryl Miller finished her college career with vir- pursued a career in telecommunications by work- tually every USC record as well as with a National ing as a color commentator for ABC Sports college Collegiate Athletic Association academic award. basketball telecasts. Cheryl’s influence extended beyond the bound- In 1993, Cheryl was appointed the head coach aries of the basketball court. She revolutionized of the women’s basketball team at USC. During her basketball by demonstrating that it was possible two seasons there, Cheryl coached the team to a 44- and acceptable for girls and women to play hard, 14 record. In 1994, her team won the Pac-10 Con- be physical, be competitive, and still have fun. Lit- ference title. Cheryl was the first basketball player tle girls sported the Cheryl haircut, and no longer to have her uniform number retired by USC. were playground hoops only for their brothers. Cheryl gave up her coaching position at USC so Cathy M. Buell she could resume her broadcasting career. Initially she worked for the American Broadcasting Corpo- Additional Sources ration (ABC), handling a variety of assignments for Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- Wide World of Sports. In 1995, she joined Turner ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters Press, 2000. Sports as an analyst and an NBA reporter on Hubbard, Jan, and David J. Stern. The Official NBA Turner Network Television (TNT). The same year, Encyclopedia. New York: Doubleday, 2000. she was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Bas- Smith, Ron, Ira Winderman, and Mary Schmitt ketball Hall of Fame. Boyer. The Complete Encyclopedia of Basketball. Lon- Off of the court, Cheryl served as the commis- don: Carlton, 2002.

272 Reggie Miller

Born: August 24, 1965 omore year and scored 35 and 45 points in his first Riverside, California two games, respectively. Also known as: Reginald Wayne Miller (full Not wanting to leave his family, Reggie desired name) to attend the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The Bruins, however, had questions Early Life about his endurance, and the school did not offer Born into a large middle-class family of ambitious him a scholarship until three other players de- achievers, Reggie Miller was the fourth of five chil- clined the invitation. At UCLA, Reggie became an dren of Saul and Carrie Miller. From the time of outstanding player. Despite a sometimes strained Reggie’s birth, August 24, 1965, in Riverside, Cali- relationship with coach Walt Hazzard and having fornia, his family was concerned about his health. to work himself into a starting position, Reggie av- The immediate problem was his legs and pelvis, which were severely twisted and con- torted, leaving doctors to believe he might not ever be able to walk. The medical team decided braces were required to straighten and strengthen Reggie’s legs. Accordingly, while still a baby, he was fitted with the heavy braces he had to wear for the first four years of his life. As an adult, Reggie remembered clearly the sadness and frustration he felt, forced into nearly total immobility. He also suffered from an inability to gain or maintain adequate weight, causing him to appear gaunt. These health concerns did not signal a promising beginning for a future professional athlete.

The Road to Excellence Reggie’s father, a chief master sergeant in the Air Force, and his mother, a nurse, were lov- ing parents and strict disciplinarians, and they never allowed their son a moment of self-pity. The braces worked, and Reggie’s legs devel- oped normally. His parents built a basketball court, and all the Miller children, especially Reggie and his sister Cheryl, played and prac- ticed as often as possible. Reggie liked other sports too, such as baseball, but only basket- ball offered the nonstop action he craved. With the help of his father and Cheryl, Reggie developed a skilled jump shot, per- fecting it by taking approximately 700 shots Indiana Pacers guard Reggie Miller shooting a layup over New daily. Playing for Riverside Polytechnic High Jersey Nets guard Jason Kidd in the 2002 playoffs. (Brent Smith/ School, he became a starter during his soph- Reuters/Landov)

273 Reggie Miller Great Athletes

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGA FGM FG% FTA FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1987-88 82 627 306 .488 186 149 .801 190 132 822 10.0 1988-89 74 831 398 .479 340 287 .844 292 227 1,181 16.0 1989-90 82 1,287 661 .514 627 544 .868 295 311 2,016 24.6 1990-91 82 1,164 596 .512 600 551 .918 281 331 1,855 22.6 1991-92 82 1,121 562 .501 515 442 .858 318 314 1,695 20.7 1992-93 82 1,193 571 .479 485 427 .880 258 262 1,736 21.2 1993-94 79 1,042 524 .503 444 403 .908 212 248 1,574 19.9 1994-95 81 1,092 505 .462 427 383 .897 210 242 1,588 19.6 1995-96 76 1,066 504 .473 498 430 .863 214 253 1,606 21.1 1996-97 81 1,244 552 .444 475 418 .880 286 273 1,751 21.6 1997-98 81 1,081 516 .477 440 382 .868 232 171 1,578 19.5 1998-99 50 671 294 .438 247 226 .915 135 112 920 18.4 1999-00 81 1,041 466 .448 406 373 .919 239 187 1,470 18.1 2000-01 81 1,176 517 .440 348 323 .928 285 260 1,527 18.9 2001-02 79 913 414 .453 325 296 .911 219 219 1,304 16.5 2002-03 70 637 281 .441 230 207 .900 172 172 882 12.6 2003-04 80 594 260 .438 165 146 .885 188 188 800 10.0 2004-05 66 719 314 .437 268 250 .933 156 156 974 14.8 Totals 1,389 17,499 8,241 .471 7,026 6,237 .888 4,182 4,182 25,279 18.2 Notes: GP = games played; FGA = field goals attempted; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTA = free throws attempted; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game eraged more than 17 points a game over the course However, the selection was controversial. Many In- of his college career and left UCLA the second diana fans were outraged that the Pacers had not leading scorer in the school’s history, trailing only selected Steve Alford, the all-American guard who Lew Alcindor (now known as Kareem Abdul- had just led Indiana University to the national Jabbar). championship. Walsh believed Reggie was a more Reggie’s dream to play in the NBA was about to complete player, and Reggie proved him right. As come true. He had long known, played with, and an NBA rookie in 1987, he averaged more than 10 socialized with several Los Angeles Lakers, such as points a game despite starting only a handful of Michael Cooper and Byron Scott, and they had no contests. In that first year, Reggie showed he had doubts about Reggie’s ability to excel at the highest the ability and the mental toughness to star in the level. He was ready to show the world he belonged league. with the best. Continuing the Story The Emerging Champion Reggie soon developed a reputation for two things: The Indiana Pacers chose Reggie as the eleventh his lethal outside shooting and his trash talking. He pick in the first round of the 1987 NBA draft. loved verbally abusing his opponents, believing it Reggie was not surprised he had been selected by gave him a competitive advantage. This practice, the Pacers, as , the team’s general not surprisingly, made him controversial, and he manager, had often spoken admiringly of Reggie. was disliked by many. He was selected to the all-star team four times, he made more than 100 three- Honors and Awards point goals for ten successive years, and he was a member of the victorious U.S. Olympic teams in 1987-88 NBA All-Rookie Second Team 1992 and 1996. Reggie played even better during 1994-98 All-NBA Third Team the playoffs than in the regular season and seemed 1992, 1996 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball to take particular delight in harassing the New York 1997-98 NBA All-Interview Second Team Knicks and one of the team’s celebrity fans, film- 2000 NBA All-Star Team maker Spike Lee. In game five of the 1994 Eastern Conference Fi-

274 Basketball Reggie Miller nals against the Knicks, the Pacers trailed by 12 Milestones points entering the fourth quarter. Inspired by the hostile New York crowd and Lee’s off-court antics, 1994 Set an NBA Playoff record for the most three-point Reggie scored 25 points, including 5 three-point field goals made in one quarter (5) baskets, and led the Pacers to an amazing victory. 1994, 1995 Tied the NBA Playoff record for most three-point field goals made in one half (6) In game one of the 1995 Eastern Conference 1995 Became the first Pacer to start in an NBA All-Star semifinals, the Pacers trailed the Knicks 105-99, Game with only 20 seconds remaining. Amazingly, Reggie 1998 Scored 1,500th career three-pointer scored 8 points in only 8.9 seconds, leading the Closed the season as the NBA’s all-time career Pacers to another victory. In game three of the leader in three-pointers made (1,596) and attempted 1998 Eastern Conference Finals against the Chi- (3,950) cago Bulls, Reggie scored 13 of his 28 points in the Became the first player in NBA history to hit 100 last 41⁄2 minutes of the game to seal another come- three-pointers in nine consecutive seasons (1988-89 from-behind victory. Clearly, Reggie was a player to 1997-98) capable of breaking the spirit of his opponents 1999 Scored 18,000th career point through long-distance shots or sarcastic barbs. In Closed the season as the NBA’s all-time career leader in three-pointers made (1,702) and attempted 2000, he finally led the Pacers to the NBA Finals, (4,225) but the team lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. 2000 Held Pacers’ franchise records for most points Reggie played his last game on May 19, 2005, (17,402), field goals made (5,695) and attempted when the Pacers lost the sixth game of a second- (11,748), free throws made (4,416) and attempted round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons. (5,037), and three-pointers made and attempted Reggie scored 27 points. With 15 seconds left in the 2002 Named to the U.S. team for the FIBA World Basketball Championships game, Indiana coach called timeout 2003 Became the eleventh player in NBA history to log to remove Reggie from the game. The Conseco 43,000 minutes Fieldhouse crowd stood to applaud. As the stand- 2004 Became the first player in NBA history to hit 100 ing ovation continued, Pistons coach Larry Brown, three-pointers in 15 consecutive season who had coached Reggie and the Pacers for four Became the fourteenth player in NBA history to seasons, called an additional timeout so he and his score 24,000 points in his career team could join in the applause. 2005 Retired with 25,279 points, .395 three-point field- On March 30, 2006, with the crowd chanting goal percentage, and .888 free-throw percentage “Reg-gie! Reg-gie!,” the Indiana Pacers retired 2006 Uniform number 31 retired by Indiana Pacers Reggie’s number 31. He became only the fourth player in the team’s forty-year history to have his jersey hoisted to the rafters. After his retirement, He ranked twelfth in career points with 25,279 and Reggie became a basketball analyst and announcer sixth in regular-season games played with 1,389. with TNT. In 2007, rumors spread that Reggie Reggie’s eighteen years with one team was second would unretire to join the Boston Celtics. After a only to John Stockton’s nineteen seasons with the few weeks of speculation, Reggie decided against a Utah Jazz. comeback. Outside of basketball, he heads his own Thomas W. Buchanan, updated by Randy L. Abbott film company, Boom Baby Productions. Beautiful Ohio, his company’s first film, was released in 2006. Additional Sources Ballard, Chris. “One Last Shot for Reggie.” Sports Il- Summary lustrated 102, no. 16 (April 18, 2005): 54-57. Reggie Miller won numerous individual awards. Deitsch, Richard, and Mark Bechtel. “Q and A: He was one of the most exciting players in NBA his- Reggie Miller.” Sports Illustrated 103, no. 18 (No- tory, finishing his eighteen-year career with the vember 7, 2005): 22. same team that drafted him out of UCLA, the Indi- Frisaro, Joe. Reggie Miller from Downtown. Cham- ana Pacers. As of 2008, Reggie remained the leader paign, Ill.: Sports, 2000. in regular-season three-pointers made, converting Miller, Reggie, and Gene Wojciechowski. I Love Be- 2,560 shots in 6,486 attempts for a 39.5 percentage. ing the Enemy. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995.

275 Earl Monroe

Born: November 21, 1944 The more he played, the better he got. Earl was on Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the verge of becoming a star in the college ranks. Also known as: Vernon Earl Monroe (full name); Earl put everything he had into becoming the Earl “The Pearl” Monroe; the Pearl best that he could be on the basketball court. He was spectacular to watch. He looked flashy, but it Early Life was merely his natural style. Whereas some critics Vernon Earl Monroe was born on November 21, believed that Earl was showing off, his coach, Clar- 1944, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Vernon and ence Gaines, knew that he was working harder than Rose Monroe. His father worked as a night watch- anyone to help the team win. During his junior man, and his mother managed a grocery store. Earl year, Earl raised his average to 30 points per game, has an older sister, Anna, and a younger sister, but his greatest college season was still ahead of Theresa. When Earl was five years old, his parents him. In 1966-1967, he scored a total of 1,329 points, divorced. He grew up on the south side of Phil- adelphia, a rough part of the city. His mother’s influence helped Earl stay out of trouble. Earl also fell in love with athletics at an early age. He was a good soccer player, but after breaking his leg, he decided to concentrate on basketball, practicing many hours a day. Earl attended John Bartram High School in south Philadelphia. Earl did not begin to excel until his junior year, when he had grown to 6 feet 2 inches and was moved to the center position. He became adept at a number of trick shots so as to score against the bigger centers on the other high school teams.

The Road to Excellence In his senior year at John Bartram, Earl aver- aged more than 21 points per game and was named all-city. Because he did not possess a strong scholastic record, Temple University of Philadelphia did not offer him a scholarship. He went to work in a factory and learned what life would be like if he did not get a college ed- ucation. After a year of factory work, Earl was re- cruited by Winston-Salem State College, a small, predominantly African American col- lege located in North Carolina. At Winston- Salem, he majored in elementary education. On the basketball court, Earl was moved to the guard position. As a freshman, he averaged Earl Monroe, who used his flashy, playground style of basket- only 7 points per game, but as a sophomore, ball to become a favorite with NBA fans. (Courtesy of New Earl raised his average to 23 points per game. York Knickerbockers)

276 Basketball Earl Monroe

Honors and Awards Gus Johnson. These three players helped spark one of the most potent fast breaks 1966 Sporting News All-American in the NBA. Earl ran the offense and 1967 NCAA College Division Player of the Year brought excitement to Baltimore. He NCAA College Division Tournament Outstanding Player 1968 NBA Rookie of the Year stayed with the Bullets for four years be- NBA All-Rookie Team fore he asked to be traded. During those 1969 All-NBA Team four seasons, Baltimore made it into the 1969, 1971, 1975, 1977 NBA All-Star Team playoffs each year and Earl averaged 23.7 1975 Inducted into NAIA Basketball Hall of Fame 1990 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame points per game. He was not happy in 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team Baltimore, however, finding the city to Uniform number 15 retired by New York Knicks be “dull.” In 1971, Earl was traded to the New York Knicks for , Mike setting a small-college record for total points. Earl Riordan, and some cash. Earl had been allowed to again raised his average, this time to 41.5 points per run the offense in Baltimore, but in New York, the game. Because of all his efforts, the Winston-Salem situation was completely different. The New York Rams won the National Collegiate Athletic Associa- coach, Red Holzman, believed in a more disci- tion (NCAA) College Division Championship, and plined, team-oriented style of play. The Knicks Earl was named NCAA College Division player of were also endowed with a number of extremely tal- the year. ented players, including Walt Frazier, Willis Reed, Bill Bradley, Dave DeBusschere, Dick Barnett, and The Emerging Champion Jerry Lucas. It took some time, but Earl eventually Earl was chosen by the Baltimore Bullets in the learned the Knicks’ team concept and was able to 1967 NBA draft. The Bullets had been a last-place contribute. During his first season with the Knicks, team in the Eastern Division but hoped, with the Earl averaged only 11.9 points per game but be- addition of Earl, that their luck would change. Earl came an important component of the team. turned out to be the missing ingredient that the Bullets needed. During the 1967-1968 season, Earl Continuing the Story was an instant success. He averaged 24.3 points per The Knicks won the 1973 NBA Championship with game and was voted NBA rookie of the year. The the help of Earl “The Pearl,” as he was known. He Bullets also made it to the playoffs. In addition to was a crowd pleaser and a fierce competitor. Walt Earl, the Bullets were blessed with Wes Unseld and Frazier was always cool and steady, whereas Earl was

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1967-68 82 742 .453 507 .781 465 349 1,991 24.3 1968-69 80 809 .440 447 .768 280 392 2,065 25.8 1969-70 82 695 .446 532 .830 257 402 1,922 23.4 1970-71 81 663 .442 406 .802 213 354 1,732 21.4 1971-72 63 287 .434 175 .781 100 142 749 11.9 1972-73 75 496 .488 171 .822 245 288 1,163 15.5 1973-74 41 240 .468 93 .823 121 110 573 14.0 1974-75 78 668 .457 297 .827 327 270 1,633 20.9 1975-76 76 647 .478 280 .787 273 304 1,574 20.7 1976-77 77 613 .517 307 .839 223 366 1,533 19.9 1977-78 76 556 .495 242 .832 182 361 1,354 17.8 1978-79 64 329 .471 129 .838 74 189 787 12.3 1979-80 51 161 .457 56 .875 36 67 378 7.4 Totals 926 6,906 .464 3,642 .807 2,796 3,594 17,454 18.8 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

277 Earl Monroe Great Athletes

dramatic. In the mid-1970’s, he and Frazier had to perfected the “shake-and-bake” style of one-on-one contribute even more to the offense with the retire- basketball. Some basketball experts think that Earl ment of Willis Reed and Dave DeBusschere. Earl may have been the most exciting player ever to play retired after the 1979-1980 season because his in the NBA. knees were giving him problems. The years of twist- ing and slashing had taken their toll. Earl finished Summary with a total of 17,454 career points and an 18.8 Earl Monroe will be remembered for his flamboy- points-per-game average. ant style on the court. He had an amazing way of After his retirement from basketball, Earl be- spinning around larger defenders and driving to- came involved in the management of his Tiffany ward the basket for the score. The New York crowd Entertainment Corporation and Pretty Pearl Rec- came alive when Earl put on a move. The 1973 NBA ords. He managed several notable singing groups. Championship team is considered one of the great- For the most part, he put basketball behind him est teams ever assembled, and Earl was an essential and his energies into entertainment. component of the Knicks’ success. On March 6, 1985, Earl was named the commis- Jeffry Jensen sioner of the United States Basketball League. Dur- ing the late 1980’s and the 1990’s, Earl worked as a Additional Sources television commentator on NBA games. In 1990, Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- he was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basket- ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters Press, 2000. ball Hall of Fame. The National Association of In- “Earl ‘The Pearl’ Monroe.” New York 38, no. 16 tercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) had recognized his (May 9, 2005): 60. college career earlier by inducting him into its Hall Jacobson, Mark. “The House That Earl Built.” New of Fame in 1975. York 38, no. 39 (November 7, 2005): 88. As part of the celebration of the golden anniver- Kalinsky, George, and Phil Berger. The New York sary of the NBA in 1996, Earl was named one of the Knicks: The Official Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration. fifty greatest NBA players of all time. During his New York: Macmillan, 1996. playing days, Earl “the Pearl” helped usher in a new Shouler, Kenneth A. The Experts Pick Basketball’s Best era in basketball by displaying amazing individual Fifty Players in the Last Fifty Years. Lenexa, Kans.: skills within the team concept. He uncovered and Addax, 1998.

278 Alonzo Mourning

Born: February 8, 1970 moved in with a family friend, who inspired his ca- Chesapeake, Virginia reer and repaired the frayed relationship with his Also known as: Alonzo Harding Mourning, Jr. father. The retired schoolteacher and her husband (full name); Zo made a home for Alonzo until he graduated from high school. Alonzo began to get into trouble in his Early Life teens and was persuaded to play basketball. Alonzo Mourning, Jr., was born to Alonzo, Sr., and Julia Mourning on February 8, 1970, in Chesa- The Road to Excellence peake, Virginia. In 1982, the Mournings separated Alonzo played for Indian River Junior-Senior High and divorced. The couple had argued constantly in Chesapeake. His popularity spread quickly. At and, to avoid taking sides, twelve-year-old Alonzo sixteen, he was invited to Pittsburgh’s prestigious Five Star Basketball Camp. During his junior year, Alonzo led his team to fifty-one consecu- tive victories and a state championship, while averaging 21.8 points, 11 rebounds, and 9.6 blocked shots. As a senior, he improved to 25 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 blocked shots per game. He attracted many college recruit- ers and finally chose Georgetown University. The university’s coach, John Thompson, invited Alonzo to try out for the 1988 U.S. Olympic basketball team. The only high- school athlete at the tryout, Alonzo was the second-to-last player cut, but he had honed his skills against more seasoned veterans. In 1989, 6-foot 9-inch Alonzo blocked 169 shots to set a national record. His second year was embroiled in controversy. He was tied to— and later testified against—a Washington, D.C., cocaine dealer. In 1990, Alonzo picked up a bronze medal with the U.S. national team at the FIBA World Championship. Many professional teams hoped Alonzo might leave college and enter the NBA draft. However, Alonzo knew he was not ready. Dur- ing the summer before his senior year, Alonzo worked out with Georgetown alumni Patrick Ewing and Dikembe Mutombo. In his senior year, in addition to completing his sociology degree, Alonzo averaged 21.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per game and blocked 118 shots. Alonzo, who earned all-American honors as a senior, was the Big East Conference player of Alonzo Mourning scoring for the Miami Heat in early 1996. the year and the Big East Conference tourna- (NBAE/Getty Images) ment most valuable player.

279 Alonzo Mourning Great Athletes

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGA FGM FG% FTA FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1992-93 78 1,119 572 .511 634 495 .781 805 76 1,639 21.0 1993-94 60 845 427 .505 568 433 .762 610 86 1,287 21.5 1994-95 77 1,101 571 .519 644 490 .761 761 111 1,643 21.3 1995-96 70 1,076 563 .523 712 488 .685 727 159 1,623 23.2 1996-97 66 885 473 .534 565 363 .642 656 104 1,310 19.8 1997-98 58 732 403 .551 465 309 .665 558 52 1,115 19.2 1998-99 46 634 324 .511 423 276 .652 507 74 924 20.1 1999-00 79 1,184 652 .551 582 414 .711 753 123 1,718 21.7 2000-01 13 141 73 .518 55 31 .564 101 12 177 13.6 2001-02 75 866 447 .516 431 283 .657 632 87 1,178 15.7 2003-04 12 71 33 .465 34 30 .882 27 8 96 8.0 2004-05 37 212 100 .472 141 82 .582 198 18 282 7.6 2005-06 65 315 188 .597 224 133 .594 359 11 509 7.8 2006-07 77 425 238 .560 308 185 .601 350 18 661 8.6 2007-08 25 95 52 .547 76 45 .692 93 7 149 6.0 Totals 838 9,701 5,116 .527 5,862 4,057 .692 7,137 946 14,311 17.1 Notes: GP = games played; FGA = field goals attempted; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTA = free throws attempted; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

The Emerging Champion and field-goal percentage and was the number-two In the 1992 draft, the Charlotte Hornets picked scorer. Alonzo second overall, after Orlando selected In April, 1999, Alonzo blocked his 611th shot to Shaquille O’Neal. In only forty-nine games that become the Heat’s all-time leader in that category. first season, he set a shot-blocking record. After av- That season, Alonzo was named to the all-NBA first eraging 21 points, 10.3 rebounds, and nearly 3.5 team and led the Heat in scoring. He was first in the blocked shots per game for the season, he made league in rebounds, blocked shots, and double- the NBA all-rookie first team and finished second doubles (10-plus points and 10-plus rebounds in a to O’Neal as rookie of the year. With the high- game), earning a spot on the NBA all-defensive est rookie scoring average in Hornets history, he first team and the defensive player of the year shared credit for leading the team to its first playoff award. After the 1999-2000 season, he was named series. defensive player of the year again. Alonzo had a series of injuries during the next season but drew honors outside the NBA. He joined Continuing the Story the U.S. men’s basketball Olympic team and won a After winning a gold medal with the U.S. men’s gold medal at the 1994 FIBA World Champion- team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Alonzo was di- ship. During the 1994-1995 season, Alonzo helped agnosed with a life-threatening kidney disease that the Hornets win at least fifty games for the first caused him to miss the first five months of the 2000- time. He was tops on the team in scoring, rebound- 2001 season and threatened his career. To every- ing, blocked shots, and field-goal percentage. one’s surprise, he returned in time to play the last The Hornets traded Alonzo to the Miami Heat thirteen games of the season and three playoff before the start of the 1995-1996 season. He signed games before Miami was eliminated. Alonzo’s con- a seven-year, $105-million contract and became the dition deteriorated, and he missed the entire 2002- franchise player. Alonzo played as though the fran- 2003 season. The Heat, in a rebuilding mode, did chise depended upon him. Though he suffered an not renew Alonzo’s contract, so he signed a four- injury during his first season with the Heat, he still year contract with the New Jersey Nets. started seventy games. During the second season, Shortly after the 2003 season began, Alonzo’s he led the team to a record 61 wins and to the East- kidney disease worsened, and he retired from the ern Conference Finals. During the 1996-1997 sea- NBA. In December, 2003, he underwent a success- son, he led the Heat in rebounds, blocked shots, ful kidney transplant. Recovered by late 2004,

280 Basketball Alonzo Mourning

Honors and Awards pionship season, Alonzo signed with the Heat for 2008-2009. However, new health concerns kept 1988 McDonald’s High School All-American him off the court until January, 2009, when he an- 1989 Associated Press All-American Third Team nounced his retirement. 1990 FIBA World Championship bronze medal In 1997, Alonzo had founded Alonzo Mourning Associated Press All-American Second Team Big East Conference Player of the Year Charities to help at-risk children and families. Fol- Big East Conference tournament Most lowing the diagnosis of his kidney disease, he be- Valuable Player gan Zo’s Fund for Life, which raised funds for re- 1992 Associated Press All-American First Team search and education in fighting the degenerative 1993 NBA All-Rookie First Team 1994 FIBA World Championship gold medal disease glomerulosclerosis. In 2007, he joined a 1994-97, 2000-02 NBA All-Star Team group of other sports stars in establishing Athletes 1999 all-NBA First Team for Hope, a community support organization. 1999-2000 NBA All-defensive First Team NBA Defensive Player of the Year 2000 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball Summary 2002 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award An awkward, troubled teen, Alonzo Mourning 2009 Uniform number 33 retired by Miami Heat turned his life around playing basketball. Through hard work and the support of family, friends, team- mates, and coaches, he earned a college degree Alonzo began practicing with the Nets but played and was a top player in the Big East Conference. A sparingly. Unhappy with the situation, he asked to gold-medal winner at both the FIBA World Cham- be let out of his contract. The Nets traded Alonzo pionship and at the Olympics, he persevered to the Toronto Raptors in 2004, but he never re- through injuries and kidney failure to become an ported, and his contract was bought out early in outstanding professional basketball player. A two- 2005. He then returned to the Heat to finish out time all-NBA and all-defensive team member, he the season, playing backup to Shaquille O’Neal. won an NBA title in 2006 with the Heat. Though his playing time was limited because of Vincent F. A. Golphin, updated by Jack Ewing injuries, Alonzo contributed on both offense and defense, earning the respect of Miami fans, who Additional Sources dubbed him “the Ultimate Warrior.” In 2005-2006, Mandell, Judith. Super Sports Star Alonzo Mourning. he finished third in the NBA in blocked shots and Berkeley Heights, N.J.: Enslow, 2003. played a significant role in the Heat’s march to the Mourning, Alonzo, and Dan Wetzel. Resilience: 2006 NBA Championship. Faith, Focus, Triumph. New York: Ballantine Alonzo returned to the Heat in 2006-2007 and Books, 2008. started strong before he tore a tendon in his knee. Pitino, Rick, and Pat Forde. Rebound Rules: The Art During the 2007-2008 season, he became the of Success 2.0. New York: Collins, 2008. team’s all-time scoring leader. Intending to play Rosenthal, Bert. Alonzo Mourning. Philadelphia: one final season in hopes of achieving a final cham- Chelsea House, 1998.

281 Chris Mullin

Born: July 30, 1963 While in grammar school, Chris began spend- Brooklyn, New York ing long hours at night shooting baskets. When he Also known as: Christopher Paul Mullin (full was ten, he won the Elks National Free Throw Con- name) test by making 23 of 25 shots. He enjoyed playing basketball so much that at the age of twelve, he Early Life stopped participating in swimming and baseball. Christopher Paul Mullin was born on July 30, 1963, In high school, he became one of the best players in Brooklyn, New York, to Rod Mullin, a customs in- in the city. He first attended Power Memorial High spector, and Eileen Mullin, a homemaker. Chris School, but he transferred to Xaverian, where he was the third of five children. When Chris was helped his team the New York state championship. young, his father taught him to value hard work and that involvement in team sports helped a per- The Road to Excellence son to learn how to cooperate with others toward a Although recruiters from across the country were common goal. Although Chris’s parents did not interested in Chris, he decided to stay close to push him, he grew up with a strong desire to home and attend St. John’s University, which was achieve. a commuter-train ride from Brooklyn in the bor- ough of Queens. Moreover, the St. John’s basketball coach, Lou Car- neseca, had a national reputation. He had seen Chris play when Chris was still in grammar school, and he told the boy even then that he wanted to coach him. Chris became an excellent bas- ketball player by practicing con- stantly. He was a smart player and a great shooter. He felt at home play- ing for St. John’s. His girlfriend, Liz Connolly, kept the statistics for the basketball team. During his four years at St. John’s, Chris earned a reputation as a team player who had extraordinary court vision. If he did not have a clear shot, he could find someone who did. A solid performer during his freshman and sophomore years, Chris raised his level of play re- markably during his junior year. He shot better than 57 percent from the field, averaged 22.9 points per game, and was named to several all- American teams. He was also se- Golden State Warriors forward Chris Mullin penetrating the Washington lected to play for the United States Bullets defense. (Focus on Sport/Getty Images) in the 1984 Summer Olympics. At

282 Basketball Chris Mullin

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1985-86 55 287 .463 189 .896 115 105 768 14.0 1986-87 82 477 .514 269 .825 181 261 1,242 15.1 1987-88 60 470 .508 239 .885 205 290 1,213 20.2 1988-89 82 830 .509 493 .892 483 415 2,176 26.5 1989-90 78 682 .536 505 .889 463 319 1,956 25.1 1990-91 82 777 .536 513 .884 443 329 2,107 25.7 1991-92 81 830 .524 350 .833 450 286 2,074 25.6 1992-93 46 474 .510 183 .810 232 166 1,191 25.9 1993-94 62 410 .472 165 .753 345 315 1,040 16.8 1994-95 25 170 .489 94 .879 115 125 476 19.0 1995-96 55 269 .499 137 .856 159 194 734 13.3 1996-97 79 438 .553 184 .864 317 322 1,143 14.5 1997-98 82 333 .481 154 .939 249 186 927 11.3 1998-99 50 177 .477 80 .870 160 81 507 10.1 1999-00 47 80 .428 37 .902 76 37 242 5.1 2000-01 20 36 .340 24 .857 41 19 115 5.8 Totals 986 6,740 .509 3,616 .865 4,034 3,450 17,911 18.2 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game the Games in Los Angeles, Chris averaged 12 At 6 feet 7 inches, Chris was capable of playing points per game and helped the U.S. team win the both the guard and the small-forward positions. gold medal. During his last year at St. John’s, he av- He was not a great leaper, nor did he possess great eraged 19.8 points per game and helped his team speed, but he made up for these deficiencies by reach the Final Four of the National Collegiate having keen court awareness and a wonderful Athletic Association Basketball Tournament. As a shooting touch from anywhere on the court. When senior, he was named to numerous all-American Chris joined the Warriors, however, he was shocked teams. to find that the team did not function as a cohesive unit. He was used to hard work and constant prac- The Emerging Champion tice, but the other members of the team did not ap- In the 1985 NBA draft, the Golden State Warriors preciate his work ethic. Eventually, Chris became chose Chris as the seventh pick in the first round. discouraged and began to lose interest in training. Although he was eager to play professionally, mov- Chris averaged 14.0 points per game during his ing to the Oakland, California, area was a tough ad- first year with Golden State and 15.1 in his second, justment for him and his family. He was not sure good totals for a young player. Soon, however, he that he wanted to move that far away from home, began drinking heavily to make up for his disap- but this was his chance to play in the NBA, and he pointment with his life away from his home and resolved to make the most of his opportunity. friends. Critics believed that Chris was merely an- other college star who could not make the Honors and Awards transition into the NBA. Luckily for Chris, Don Nelson became the Warriors’ coach be- 1984-85 College All-American fore the 1987-1988 season. Nelson was a for- 1984, 1992 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball mer player who, as a coach, had earned a rep- 1985 United Press International College Player of the Year U.S. Basketball Writers Association College Player of the Year utation for expecting total commitment to Wooden Award the team from his players. 1989, 1991 All-NBA Second Team Nelson was the first person to confront 1989-93 NBA All-Star Team 1990 All-NBA Third Team Chris about his drinking problem. The coach 1992 All-NBA First Team demanded that Chris get help, telling him 2006 Inducted into Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame that otherwise he was through as a player. It took some time for Chris to accept that he was

283 Chris Mullin Great Athletes

an alcoholic and that he needed to seek treatment, 1997-1998 season. He led the Pacers in three-point but in December of 1987, he checked into Cen- percentage in 1998-1999 and ranked second in the tinela Hospital in Los Angeles. His parents were NBA. After another injury in the 1999-2000 season, with him. Because his father was a recovering alco- Chris returned to the lineup in time to help the holic, Chris knew that he could count on his fa- Pacers into the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles ther’s support. Chris was in a rehabilitation pro- Lakers. The Lakers prevailed, four games to two. gram for a month. Doctors told him that he could For the 2000-2001 season, Chris returned to the never drink alcohol again. He decided to enter an Warriors. The season was his last as a player. After intense fitness program to help in his recovery and his retirement, Chris worked for the Warriors in to get ready to play basketball again. the front office as a special assistant. He served in that role from 2002 to 2004. In 2004, he was named Continuing the Story executive vice president of basketball operations Chris came back to the Warriors in the best shape for the Warriors. Even as an executive, Chris of his life. Before he started the fitness program, he brought his competitive spirit and love of basket- had weighed 245 pounds. With the help of the War- ball to the job. riors’ conditioning coach, Mark Grabow, Chris During the length of his illustrious career, Chris trimmed his weight to 210 pounds. He worked to appeared in more than seventy NBA playoff games, remain sober and physically fit for NBA basketball. averaging 13.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists By the 1988-1989 season, he had raised his average per contest. He was selected as an NBA all-star on to 26.5 points per game. five occasions. Known for his quick hands, crisp Chris became more than merely a player who passing, and accurate shooting, he was one of only could score, however. He was a team leader who thirty-one players in NBA history to register more made his teammates better players. In 1992, offi- than 15,000 points, 3,000 rebounds, and 3,000 as- cials recognized his multiple skills and selected sists. In addition, he also had more than 1,500 him as a member of the U.S. Dream Team, which steals and averaged 18.2 points per game. He mar- competed at the Barcelona Summer Olympics. ried his college girlfriend, Liz Connolly, in the fall The Dream Team included such players as Michael of 1991. They had three sons, Sean, Christopher, Jordan and Magic Johnson, and it won the gold and Liam, and one daughter, Kiera. medal as expected. On July 23, 1990, Chris’s father had died of lung Summary cancer, but Chris remained determined to make Chris Mullin overcame major obstacles to become his father proud. An injury kept Chris out of parts an NBA star. Through hard work and the love and of the 1992-1993 and 1993-1994 seasons, but he support of those close to him, Chris reinvented worked hard to return to action. Knee and ankle himself and, in the process, became one of basket- injuries produced another disappointing season ball’s all-time greats. for Chris in 1994-1995, as he missed fifty-seven of Jeffry Jensen the first fifty-nine games. After starting the first nineteen games in the 1995-1996 season, he was Additional Sources moved to a reserve role and averaged only 13.3 Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- points per game, the lowest figure of his career to ketball. Chicago: Masters Press, 1998. that point. McCallum, Jack. “Return of the Straight Shooters.” For the 1996-1997 campaign and for the first Sports Illustrated 101 (October 25, 2004). time in five seasons, Chris was injury free. He Morgan, Terri. Chris Mullin: Sure Shot. Minneapolis: played in seventy-nine games and averaged 14.5 Lerner, 1994. points per game. On August 12, 1997, he was Mullin, Chris, with Brian Coleman. Basketball. New traded to the Indiana Pacers. He left the Warriors York: Dorling Kindersley, 2000. as the franchise leader in career games played and Tafur, Vittorio. “Mullin Willing to Take Chances in steals, fourth in total points and in assists, and with Warriors.” The Sporting News 228 (June 14, fifth in blocked shots. With the Pacers, Chris led 2004). the NBA in free-throw percentage, at .939, for the

284 Dikembe Mutombo

Born: June 25, 1966 French, Spanish, Portuguese, and a number of Af- Kinshasa, Zaire (now in Democratic rican dialects. His linguistic abilities enabled him Republic of Congo) to serve as a summer intern at the World Bank and Also known as: Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo in the U.S. Congress. Mukamba Jean Jacques Wamutombo (full Dikembe was awarded an athletic scholarship af- name) ter his first year at Georgetown. Once he was eligi- ble to play, he learned quickly under Thompson’s Early Life tutelage. The timing he had learned as a goal- Dikembe Mutombo was born and raised in Kin- keeper served him well, and he was an instant suc- shasa, the capital and largest city of Zaire (now cess as a shot-blocker, setting a Big East Conference Democratic Republic of the Congo). A member of record in his first year with 12 blocks in a single the Luba ethnic group, he was the seventh of ten game. In his junior year, he shared the Big East children born to Mukamba Mutombo. Mukamba Conference defensive player of the year award with was a Sorbonne-educated teacher and superinten- teammate Alonzo Mourning. dent of schools in the capital, who was married to Dikembe had an opportunity to shine in his fi- Biamba Mutombo, a housewife and Sunday school nal year for Georgetown: He led the team in scor- teacher. ing, rebounding, and blocked shots. He also led Dikembe attended a Salvation Army school from sixth through eleventh grades. His first sport was soccer, and, with his height and im- pressive arm-span, he was a talented goalkeeper. He did not begin playing basketball until his se- nior year in high school. Education was always of primary importance for Dikembe, and while his stature and amazing potential attracted in- ternational attention in basketball circles, suc- cess in an international science contest won him a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) academic scholarship to Georgetown University, where he planned to study medicine.

The Road to Excellence Georgetown Hoyas coach John Thompson had heard about Dikembe. Thompson looked for- ward to helping Dikembe realize his basketball potential. However, Dikembe was ineligible to play his first year because he was unable to take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), which was offered only in English, a language he did not speak. However, he soon took intensive English classes and enrolled in pre-medical courses. Eventually, he changed his major and earned a dual degree in diplomacy and linguistics. Dikembe Mutombo securing a rebound in a 1995 game. Dikembe learned many languages: English, (NBAE/Getty Images)

285 Dikembe Mutombo Great Athletes

Milestones ing and rebounding, averaging 3.5 blocked shots and 13 rebounds per game. He was ranked third in 1994 Set an NBA Playoffs record with 31 blocked shots in the NBA in each of these categories. a five-game series In 1993-1994, Dikembe had more success. In an 1996 Tied a Nuggets franchise record with 31 rebounds amazing first-round playoff upset against the top- 1997-1998 Led the NBA in total blocked shots for the 5th consecutive season, including a Nuggets’ franchise seeded Seattle SuperSonics, he blocked 31 shots, record 336 in 1993-1994 setting a new NBA record for most blocks in a five- 1998 Blocked 2,000th career shot game series. Although the Nuggets lost the confer- 2004 Blocked 3,000th career shot ence semifinals to the Utah Jazz, Dikembe blocked 2007 Passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become second in 38 shots, setting another NBA record, this time for career blocked shots (behind Hakeem Olajuwon) most blocks in a seven-game series. He also led the Oldest player in NBA history to have more than league in blocks, with 4.1 per game. twenty rebounds in a game (March 2) During the 1994-1995 season, Dikembe again led the league in blocked shots and won the NBA defensive player of the year award. He led the the team in field-goal percentage. He left George- league again in blocks during the 1995-1996 sea- town as the Hoyas’ all-time leader in field-goal per- son, becoming the first player to lead the league in centage and the second-leading shot-blocker, be- that category three consecutive seasons. After that hind Patrick Ewing, with a total of 354. In 1991, the year, Dikembe’s contract expired, and he signed as Denver Nuggets drafted him as the fourth pick a free agent with the Atlanta Hawks. He left Denver overall. as the Nuggets’ all-time leader in blocked shots, with 1,486. The Emerging Champion Dikembe was second in the NBA during the Dikembe quickly established himself as a force in 1996-1997 season in both shot-blocking and re- the NBA. In his first year, he led the Nuggets in bounding, and he won the NBA’s defensive player blocked shots, rebounds, and field-goal percent- of the year award for the second time. He earned age, while averaging 16.6 points per game. He was yet another defensive player of the year award for the only rookie to play in the 1992 all-star game. the 1997-1998 season. The following season, he improved his shot block- Dikembe’s best season came in 2000-2001. After

NBA Statistics Season GP FGA FGM FG% FTA FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1991-92 71 869 428 .493 500 321 .642 870 156 1,177 16.6 1992-93 82 781 398 .510 492 335 .681 1,070 147 1,131 13.8 1993-94 82 642 365 .569 439 256 .583 971 127 986 12.0 1994-95 82 628 349 .556 379 248 .654 1,029 113 946 11.5 1995-96 74 569 284 .499 354 246 .695 871 108 814 11.0 1996-97 80 721 380 .527 434 306 .705 929 110 1,066 13.3 1997-98 82 743 399 .537 452 303 .670 932 82 1,101 13.4 1998-99 50 338 173 .512 285 195 .684 610 57 541 10.8 1999-00 82 573 322 .562 421 298 .708 1,157 105 942 11.5 2000-01 75 556 269 .484 291 211 .725 1,015 76 749 10.0 2001-02 80 641 321 .501 364 278 .764 863 83 920 11.5 2002-03 24 131 49 .374 55 40 .727 153 19 138 5.8 2003-04 65 295 141 .478 119 81 .681 437 25 363 5.6 2004-05 80 217 108 .498 143 106 .741 426 10 322 4.0 2005-06 64 95 50 .526 91 69 .758 306 4 169 2.6 2006-07 75 153 85 .556 87 60 .690 488 13 230 3.1 2007-08 39 80 43 .538 45 32 .711 199 5 118 3.0 Totals 1,187 8,032 4,164 .518 4,951 3,385 .684 12,326 1,240 11,713 9.9 Notes: GP = games played; FGA = field goals attempted; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTA = free throws attempted; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

286 Basketball Dikembe Mutombo he had an outstanding performance in the Honors and Awards 2001 all-star game, the Philadelphia 76ers ac- quired him in a trade. Dikembe led the league 1992, 1995-2002 NBA All-Star in rebounds, was named defensive player of 1994-95, 1998-99 NBA All-Defensive Second Team the year, and helped lead Philadelphia to the 1994-98, 2000-01 NBA Defensive Player of the Year NBA Finals. After the season ended, he re- 1996 NBA Player of the Week ending December 1 signed with the team. Though Dikembe’s of- 1996-98 NBA All-Defensive First Team fensive and defensive numbers were similar 1997 NBA Player of the Week ending November 9 to those of the previous season, Philadelphia 1997-98 All-NBA Third Team traded him to the New Jersey Nets. NBA All-Interview Second Team With New Jersey, Dikembe was limited be- cause of injuries to twenty-four games and rele- 1998-99 IBM Award gated to a backup role. In late 2003, the Nets 1999 President’s Volunteer Service Award waived him, and Dikembe signed with the New 2000 NBA Player of the Week ending January 30 York Knicks, who afterward traded him to the 2001 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award Chicago Bulls. He never played a game for the 2007 Inducted into World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame Bulls, however, as the team dealt him to the National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy Award Houston Rockets. (International)

Continuing the Story In Houston, Dikembe served as a backup for cen- Summary ter Yao Ming. In 2007, he became the oldest player A latecomer to basketball, 7-foot 2-inch Dikembe ever in the NBA to tally more than 20 rebounds in a Mutombo learned the game quickly and became a game. He was thrust into a starting role during the standout in college at Georgetown University. He 2007-2008 season, which was expected to be his last was one of the top defensive players in the NBA in the NBA, when Yao was injured. In January, throughout his seventeen-year career, earned NBA 2008, Dikembe blocked 5 shots in a game to move all-star honors eight times, and was named NBA de- into second place behind Hakeem Olajuwon as the fensive player of the year four times. The oldest NBA’s most prolific career shot-blocker. On the last NBA player ever to collect 20 rebounds in a game, day of 2008, he signed a contract to play for the he finished his career as the second most prolific Houston Rockets for the remainder of their season, shot-blocker in NBA history. which he planned to make his farewell tour. Alexander Jordan, updated by Jack Ewing Off the court, Dikembe earned a reputation as a humanitarian. Aside from his own two children, he Additional Sources and his wife adopted four of his nieces and neph- Araton, Harvey. Crashing the Borders: How Basketball ews. In 1997, he founded the Dikembe Mutombo Won the World and Lost Its Soul at Home. New York: Foundation to aid poor and disadvantaged people Free Press, 2005. in his country. That same year, he donated more Hareas, John. Basketball. New York: Dorling Kin- than $3 million for construction of a general hospi- dersley Children, 2005. tal in Kinshasa, named in honor of his late mother, Hubbard, Jan, and David J. Stern. The Official NBA Biamba. As a result of his work in his homeland and Basketball Encyclopedia. 3d ed. New York: Dou- in the United States, Dikembe was awarded a Presi- bleday, 2000. dent’s Volunteer Service Award in 2000. He also Lane, Jeffrey. Under the Boards: The Cultural Revolu- earned the NBA humanitarian award in 2001. A tion in Basketball. Lincoln, Nebr.: Bison Books, spokesperson for Cooperative for Assistance and 2007. Relief Everywhere (CARE), in 2007, he was praised Torres, John Albert. Sports Great Dikembe Mutombo. for his work in President George W. Bush’s state of Berkeley Heights, N.J.: Enslow, 2000. the union address.

287 Steve Nash

Born: February 7, 1974 major university programs but did not get a posi- Johannesburg, South Africa tive response from a single program. However, Also known as: Stephen John Nash (full name) Dick Davey, Santa Clara University head coach, heard about Steve and went to Canada to re- Early Life cruit him. Stephen John Nash was born in South Africa and In 1992-1993, his freshman year, Steve led the grew up in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, Santa Clara Broncos to the where he did not have an early interest in basket- (WCC) Championship and to the team’s first ap- ball. As the son of a professional soccer player, pearance in the NCAA Basketball Tournament in Steve was drawn to his father’s sport, at which he five years. In Steve’s sophomore year, the Broncos excelled. Both his parents loved athletics and en- had a mediocre season. However, the following sea- couraged all three of their children to play a variety of sports. Steve was a standout not only in soccer but also in and hockey. Steve started playing basketball at twelve years of age; the sport soon be- came his passion. He took the Mount Douglas Secondary School team to the provincial championship, but he was so focused on basketball that his grades suffered. His concerned par- ents enrolled him at St. Michael’s University School, a private boarding school. Steve continued to excel at basketball and was named British Co- lumbia AAA player of the year in his senior season.

The Road to Excellence Despite his outstanding play, Steve was not recruited by a single univer- sity. He strongly believed that he had the talent and the will to play in a ma- jor basketball program. In the sum- mer before his final year of high school, he had competed successfully against some of the top American West Coast high school basketball players. His high school coach, Ian Hyde-Lay, was also persuaded that Steve could successfully play major college basketball in the United States. Therefore, Hyde-Lay called, Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash in 2008. (Rick Scuteri/Reuters/ wrote, and sent videos to dozens of Landov)

288 Basketball Steve Nash

Honors and Awards Phoenix Suns. Steve played as a substitute his first two years in the NBA. Prior to his third year, the 1995-96 West Coast Conference Player of the Year 1998-1999 season, Steve was traded to the Dallas 1996 United States Basketball Writers Association Mavericks. Plagued by injuries the next two sea- all-American team (honorable mention) sons, he missed a number of games but showed 2002-03 All-NBA Third Team flashes of greatness when he did play. His breakout 2002-03, 2005-08 NBA All-Star Team season was 2000-2001, when he became the Maver- 2005 icks’ starting point guard and averaged more than 2005-06 NBA most valuable player 15 points and 7 assists a game. He led the Mavericks Lionel Conacher Award into the second round of the playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs. 2005-07 All-NBA First Team The next three seasons, Steve played brilliantly 2007 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award for the Mavericks, as he averaged, respectively, Named Officer in the Order of Canada 17.9, 17.7, and 14.5 points, with 7.7, 7.3, and 8.8 as- 2008 All-NBA Second Team sists. In all three years he was among the league leaders in three-point shooting percentage. Fur- thermore, his on-court leadership was as impor- son, Steve led them to conference championship tant as his statistical contributions. The Mavericks and a berth in the NCAA Basketball Tournament were a great offensive team with many high-scoring again. Steve was named WCC player of the year af- players, such as Dirk Nowitzki, , ter leading the conference in both scoring and as- and . Steve’s job was to keep every- sists. In the 1995-1996 season, the Broncos re- one happy and involved in the offense, and he did peated as WCC champions and returned to the so seamlessly. Despite winning fifty-two games in NCAA tournament for the third time in four years. the 2003-2004 season, Dallas was eliminated in the Steve was again named WCC player of the year and first round of the playoffs. an honorable-mention all-American. Continuing the Story The Emerging Champion Allowed to become a free agent following 2003-2004 Despite Steve’s success in college, professional season, Steve accepted a five-year, $50-million offer teams were concerned about his size and strength. from the Suns, the team for which he began his At 6 feet 3 inches tall, he was considered small for professional career. He provided the talented but the professional games. Nevertheless, he was the young Phoenix team with veteran leadership and fifteenth pick in the NBA draft, selected by the led the high-scoring Suns to the best record in the

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1996-97 65 74 .423 42 .824 63 138 213 3.3 1997-98 76 268 .459 74 .860 160 262 691 9.1 1998-99 40 114 .363 38 .826 114 219 315 7.9 1999-00 56 173 .477 75 .882 121 272 481 8.6 2000-01 70 386 .487 231 .895 223 509 1,092 15.6 2001-02 82 525 .483 260 .887 254 634 1,466 17.9 2002-03 82 518 .465 308 .909 234 598 1,455 17.7 2003-04 78 397 .470 230 .916 232 687 1,128 14.5 2004-05 75 430 .502 211 .887 249 861 1,165 15.5 2005-06 79 541 .512 257 .921 333 826 1,489 18.8 2006-07 76 517 .532 222 .899 269 884 1,412 18.6 2007-08 81 485 .504 222 .906 282 898 1,371 16.9 Totals 860 4,428 .485 2,170 .897 2,536 6,788 12,278 14.3 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

289 Steve Nash Great Athletes

Western Conference. His excellent play and lead- cally and was once again among league leaders in ership resulted in a most valuable player (MVP) assists. award for Steve. However, the Suns lost to the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. Summary In 2005-2006, Steve had his finest season statisti- Steve Nash should not have been able to play in the cally, with personal bests in points, 18.8; rebounds, NBA for many reasons. He was too small; he could 4.2; and field-goal percentage, .512. Again, he led not jump; and he was from Canada, not a tradition- the league in assists at 10.5 per game. Steve was re- ally strong basketball country. However, not only warded with his second consecutive MVP award. did he play, but he also won two MVP awards and However, Phoenix was ousted in the Western Con- the respect and admiration of fans, analysts, team- ference Finals, this time by his former team, the mates, and opponents. Steve was a team player, and Mavericks. Steve had another excellent year the his teams, when functioning at their peak, were as following season, with a career high in assists aver- talented as any team in the league. He always ap- age, 11.6, and selection as first-team all-NBA. Once preciated all that he was given, and his charity, The again, however, the Suns’ season ended with play- Steve Nash Foundation, helps needy children in off elimination, this time by the eventual cham- many countries. pion Spurs. Jerome L. Neapolitan In the middle of the 2007-2008 season, want- ing desperately to end its playoff frustrations, the Additional Sources Suns traded outstanding forward to Bailey, Peter. Steve Nash: Most Valuable Player. Bolton, the Miami Heat for Shaquille O’Neil. Despite an- Ont.: Fenn, 2007. other exemplary season by Steve, the Spurs elimi- Ballard, Chris. “Friendly Fire: Steve Nash and Dirk nated the Suns from the playoffs for the third time Nowitzki Are Best Buddies, but They Won’t Stop in four years. Although frustrated, at the close Battling Until One Wins the NBA Title.” Sports of the 2007-2008 season, Steve was still young Illustrated 106, no. 17 (April 23, 2007): 40. enough to continue to pursue an NBA Champion- “Steve Nash: The MVP Sequel.” Sports Illustrated ship. He started the 2008-2009 season energeti- 104, no. 16 (April 17, 2006): 70.

290 Curly Neal

Born: May 19, 1941 of hair. At the time, shaved heads were not popular, Greensboro, North Carolina and the school principal sent Curly home. The Also known as: Fred Neal look, however, became part of his image and the source of his ironic nickname. He became the most Early Life recognized Globetrotter and possibly one of the Fred “Curly” Neal was born on May 19, 1941, in most easily recognized athletes around the world. Greensboro, North Carolina. Best known as the smiling, bald-headed Harlem Globetrotters’ ball- The Road to Excellence handling wizard for more than twenty years, Curly Curly starred as a basketball player at James B. played in more than 6,000 games, traveled millions Dudley High School in Greensboro and received of miles, and played basketball in ninety-seven many scholarship offers. After high school he en- countries as a member of the team. His trademark rolled at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, shaved head was actually his creation: At the age of North Carolina. In 1961, he was awarded his first of twelve, he decided to shave his head because it was two all-Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association fun to do and cheaper to maintain than a full head (CIAA) honors. During his senior season, 1963, he not only received his second such honor but also led his team to the CIAA title, while aver- aging 23.1 points per game.

The Emerging Champion After finishing college, Curly had tryouts with the NBA’s New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, and Chicago Bulls. However, he was also 1 of 125 players invited to try out for five spots on the Globetrotters’ roster and made the team. Curly figured he would have done well in the NBA but may not have had as long a career, even though the Globetrotters played many more games than NBA players did every year. Upon joining the Globetrotters, Curly did not envision himself as the team’s dribbling wizard. During his first year, his magic took hold. Owner Abe Saperstein asked him to give ballhandling a try when one of the other drib- blers was injured. Familiar with behind-the- back and through-the-leg moves from college, Curly worked hard to incorporate other ma- neuvers into the routine. Soon enough, Curly had increased his dribbling arsenal to include a variety of techniques, including sliding on the floor while maintaining the dribble. Curly soon took the place of Globetrotter legend Marques Haynes as dribbler extraordi- Curly Neal resting during a Harlem Globetrotters game in naire. Although best known for his ballhand- 1975. (Focus on Sport/Getty Images) ling skills, Curly was also an excellent shooter.

291 Curly Neal Great Athletes

One of his specialties was half-court Honors and Milestones shots. He often wowed crowds with his uncanny ability to make long bas- 1961, 1963 All-Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association kets. On one occasion, while the team 1963-85 Played in more than 6,000 games with the Globetrotters 1986 Inducted into Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Hall of Fame was appearing on ABC’s Wide World of 1993 Harlem Globetrotters Legends Ring Sports, he sank three in a row from half 2008 Number retired by Globetrotters at Madison Square Garden court. Inducted into North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame Playing for one of the most enter- taining teams in the history of orga- nized basketball, Curly became an international active as a Globetrotter by making appearances as celebrity. Often his travels with the team brought an ambassador of goodwill. him to countries on various continents around the world. Because of the rigorous travel schedule, Summary Curly was sometimes uncertain in what city he had In 1993, Curly received one of his greatest honors awoken. Still, he loved the game and the fans. The when he was inducted into the prestigious Legends fans, he said, were what made playing for the Globe- Ring of the Harlem Globetrotters. He was one of trotters so rewarding. Curly, wearing jersey number only twenty-seven people honored in the ring. 22, spent twenty-two seasons with the Globetrot- Membership in the Legends Ring is bestowed on ters, retiring from the team in 1985. those individuals who made significant contribu- tions to the success and development of the Globe- Continuing the Story trotters organization. The award honors those who As a member of the Globetrotters during one of have excelled both on and off the court, in athletic the team’s most popular eras, Curly could often be ability, showmanship, humanitarian contributions, seen on popular television programs such as ABC’s and crowd appeal. Wide World of Sports, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Har- In 1986, Curly became an inductee to the Cen- lem Globetrotters Popcorn Machine, and the made-for- tral Intercollegiate Athletic Association Hall of television movie The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilli- Fame. In 2008, the Globetrotters retired Curly’s gan’s Island. Curly also bridged the generations as number at New York’s Madison Square Garden. He an animated character on The Harlem Globetrotters was the fifth Globetrotter to receive such an honor, cartoon series and on episodes of The New Scooby placing him in the company of basketball legends Doo Movies. The team’s sports entertainment suc- Wilt Chamberlain, Meadowlark Lemon, Marques cess also earned them a star on the Hollywood Walk Haynes, and Goose Tatum. Later that same year, he of Fame. became the first John C. Smith University alumni Curly remained active in community programs. inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of He worked for the Orlando Magic, in its commu- Fame. nity relations department, and directly with the Michael D. Cummings, Jr. NBA. In 1991 and 1992, he was featured in the NBA’s “Stay in School” program, which was de- Additional Sources signed to encourage more than 50,000 Central Green, Bob. Spinning the Globe: The Rise, Fall, and Re- Florida middle school students to stay in school turn to Greatness of the Harlem Globetrotters. New and stay off drugs. Curly always stressed the impor- York: Harper Collins, 2005. tance of education to children. He stated that not Menville, C. The Harlem Globetrotters: An Illustrated everyone will play professional athletics; therefore, History. New York: Benjamin Company, 1978. a solid education is needed to be successful. Al- Wilker, J. The Harlem Globetrotters. Philadelphia: though his playing days were over, Curly remained Chelsea House, 1997.

292 Dirk Nowitzki

Born: June 19, 1978 Too young to enter the professional ranks, Dirk Würzburg, West Germany (now in continued to play in the German youth league. His Germany) coach decided that with his height and shooting Also known as: Dirk Werner Nowitzki (full name) skills, Dirk would be better as an outside shooter than a low-post, inside shooter and shot-blocker. Early Life Dirk’s first team played poorly, and because of his Dirk Werner Nowitzki was born and raised in poor grades in school, Dirk spent much of the sea- Würzburg, a German town between Frankfurt and son on the bench. As the years progressed, how- Nuremberg. His was a professional sporting family. ever, Dirk grew more confident, and his talent blos- His father, Jorg Werner, was a professional hand- somed. ball player who played for a team that competed all In his final season in the German youth league, over the world. His mother, Helga, was a profes- Dirk put up excellent numbers. After only five sional basketball player who played on the Euro- years of playing, Dirk had risen from a bench player pean circuit. His sister, Silke, was accomplished in to a starter who averaged 28.2 points per game. In both track and field and basketball. the championship game, he scored 26 points and From an early age, Dirk was a tall child who tow- was named the German basketball player of the ered above most of his classmates. He played tennis year, an amazing improvement for a boy who had and handball through his junior high school years started out as a tennis player. and did not play in his first competitive basketball game until he was fifteen. Among the things that moved Dirk to take up basketball was his frustration with the treatment he received from class- mates because of his size. Dirk joined a local Würzburg team that was part of a national youth basket- ball program. During his first year, his play attracted the interest of a former German international basketball player, Holger Geschwinder, who was so im- pressed by Dirk’s talent that he offered to be his personal coach. After providing Dirk with a year of unorthodox training that emphasized shooting and passing over strength training, Geschwinder asked Dirk if he wanted to play against the greatest players in Germany or against the greatest players in the world. At the age of sixteen, Dirk chose to play against the best in the world.

The Road to Excellence As Dirk finished his schooling and na- tional military commitment, he also con- Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks taking the shot with Tim Dun- tinued to develop his basketball game. can’s hand blocking his view. (Ron T. Ennis/MCT/Landov)

293 Dirk Nowitzki Great Athletes

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1998-99 47 136 .405 99 .773 162 47 385 8.2 1999-00 82 515 .461 289 .830 532 203 1,435 17.5 2000-01 82 591 .474 451 .838 754 173 1,784 21.8 2001-02 76 600 .477 440 .853 755 186 1,779 23.4 2002-03 80 690 .463 483 .881 791 239 2,011 25.1 2003-04 77 605 .462 371 .877 670 207 1,680 21.8 2004-05 78 663 .459 615 .869 757 240 2,032 26.1 2005-06 81 751 .480 539 .901 728 226 2,151 26.6 2006-07 78 673 .502 498 .904 693 263 1,916 24.6 2007-08 77 630 .479 478 .879 659 266 1,871 23.6 Totals 758 5,854 .471 4,263 .870 6,501 2,050 16,990 22.4 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

Meanwhile, Dirk’s prowess on the basketball regulars. At the end of the 2001-2002 season, the court also drew international attention. Scouts team advanced to the Western Conference Finals from the NBA were taking notice. In the 1998 NBA but lost to the San Antonio Spurs. In 2003-2004, draft, the Dallas Mavericks made Dirk an early first- the Mavericks lost in the first round of the playoffs, round pick, and Dirk became only the fourth Ger- but Dirk had proven that he was a go-to player with man player to enter the NBA. terrific talent. The following season was a roller- coaster period that saw many changes, including The Emerging Champion the departure of Steve Nash, who had become Dirk’s first season in the NBA was disappointing, Dirk’s best friend, and the Mavericks’ longtime but Dallas made major changes before his second head coach, Don Nelson. season began in the fall of 1999. Billionaire Mark replaced Nelson as coach and Cuban bought the team, instantly introducing new raised the Mavericks to even greater heights. Mean- excitement that both coaches and players were while, Dirk continued to put up outstanding num- happy to see. Dallas also had a new lineup, built bers. After the 2004-2005 season ended, he fin- around Dirk, Michael Finley, and point guard Steve ished third in the vote for the league’s most Nash, who became known as the Big Three. During valuable player (MVP), behind former teammate his second season, Dirk doubled his scoring aver- Nash and Shaquille O’Neal. age and played well enough to be named to the Dallas’s 2005-2006 season was a barn burner. league’s all-sophomore team. When the 2000-2001 The team won sixty games, and Dirk averaged 26.6 season began, Dirk was named one of the Maver- points and 9 rebounds per game. Although the Big icks’ cocaptains. That season, he helped lead the Three were no longer together, Dirk proved to be a Mavericks to the playoffs for the first time in more team leader on whom the Mavericks could depend. than ten years. In the spring of 2006, he led the team to its first From that time, both the Mavericks and Dirk appearance in the NBA Finals. The Mavericks won continued to improve, and Dallas became playoff the first two games against the Miami Heat, but Mi- ami won the next four games and the NBA title in a Dallas Mavericks Records* surprising turnaround. Most career points, 16,990 Continuing the Story Most three-pointers, 1,019 Dirk and the Mavericks rebounded during the Most free throws, 4,263 Most rebounds, 6,501 2006-2007 season by posting the league’s best rec- Most points in a game, 53 (December 2, 2004) ord with 67 wins, which was also a franchise record. *Through 2007-2008 season Dirk won the league’s MVP award—the first Euro- pean player ever to win this NBA honor. However,

294 Basketball Dirk Nowitzki in a shocking upset, the Mavericks fell to Honors and Awards former coach Don Nelson’s Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs. 2001-05 Gazzetta dello Sport European Basketball Player of the Year During the 2007-2008 season, Dirk put 2002 World Championships most valuable player up good numbers once again and replaced 2002-09 NBA All-Star Team 2005 Basket magazine German Basketball Player of the Year Maverick legend as the FIBA European Basketball Player of the Year team’s all-time leading scorer. He also re- 2007 NBA most valuable player corded his first triple-double (29 points, 10 2008 All-NBA Second Team rebounds, 12 assists) in a game. However, the Mavericks again lost during in the first round of the playoffs. At the end of the season, fights poverty in Africa. An inspiration to millions Johnson was fired. When Dirk started the 2008- of young people, especially in his native Germany, 2009 season, his eleventh in the NBA, he was still in Dirk was not merely a great basketball player; he the prime of his career, with promising future pros- was also a great person. pects. Indeed, in January, 2009, he again made the Karen Hayslett-McCall Western Conference all-star team. Additional Sources Summary MacRae, Sloan. Meet Dirk Nowitzki: Basketball’s Blond Dirk Nowitzki became a superb basketball player Bomber. New York: PowerKids Press, 2009. who balanced his worldwide fame with his personal Smallwood, John. Heroes of the Hardwood. New York: life. His hobbies included reading and playing the Scholastic, 2005. saxophone to relax. He used his fame to start the Zuehlke, Jeffrey. Dirk Nowitzki. Minneapolis: Ler- Dirk Nowitzki Foundation, a charity group that ner, 2008.

295 Hakeem Olajuwon

Born: January 21, 1963 keem visit Houston and six other American univer- Lagos, Nigeria sities. Hakeem’s first stop was in New York City. Be- Also known as: Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon (full cause the weather was cold, Hakeem immediately name); the Dream; Hakeem the Dream; headed for warmer climates and settled in Houston. Nigerian Nightmare

Early Life Known as “The Dream” to fans and “The Nigerian Nightmare” to opponents, Hakeem Abdul Olaju- won, the son of Salame Olude Olajuwon and Abike Olajuwon, was born on January 21, 1963, in Lagos, Nigeria, an urban area sprawled over three islands with a population between six and ten million people. The concrete, two-bedroom home in the Surblere district of Lagos where Hakeem was born was within walking distance of the National Sta- dium where he played as a youth. The Olajuwons reared six children, one daugh- ter and five sons. Hakeem’s parents both stood taller than 6 feet and were broadly built but trim. No member of either of their families was short, but Hakeem was the tallest.

The Road to Excellence As a tall, skinny child growing up in Lagos, Hakeem had to sneak out of his house to play team handball and soccer. He was best at handball, which is popu- lar in Nigeria and much different from the hand- ball played in the United States. In Nigeria, hand- ball is similar to soccer. Hakeem’s half brother Kaka, who also played sports, persuaded his par- ents that Hakeem could participate in sports and maintain high marks in school. Sports also kept Hakeem busy and off the tough streets of Lagos. Hakeem played basketball at Moslem Teachers College, equivalent to a United States high school. He once scored 60 points for the Nigerian national team, but his fundamental skills of the game were lacking. Guy Lewis, the University of Houston bas- ketball coach, said that Hakeem was not taught the proper fundamentals of basketball while he was growing up. Chris Pond, an old friend of Lewis who worked as a coach with the U.S. State Department for a Cen- Center Hakeem Olajuwon, who blocked the most shots— tral African Republic team, recommended that Ha- 3,830—in NBAhistory. (Courtesy of Houston Rockets)

296 Basketball Hakeem Olajuwon

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1984-85 82 677 .538 338 .613 974 111 1,692 20.6 1985-86 68 625 .526 347 .645 781 137 1,597 23.5 1986-87 75 677 .508 400 .702 858 220 1,755 23.4 1987-88 79 712 .514 381 .695 959 163 1,805 22.8 1988-89 82 790 .508 454 .696 1,105 149 2,034 24.8 1989-90 82 806 .501 382 .713 1,149 234 1,995 24.3 1990-91 56 487 .508 213 .769 770 131 1,187 21.2 1991-92 70 591 .502 328 .766 845 157 1,510 21.6 1992-93 82 848 .529 444 .779 1,068 291 2,140 26.1 1993-94 80 894 .528 388 .716 955 287 2,184 27.3 1994-95 72 798 .517 406 .756 775 255 2,005 27.8 1995-96 72 768 .514 397 .724 784 257 1,936 26.9 1996-97 78 727 .510 351 .787 716 236 1,810 23.2 1997-98 47 306 .483 160 .755 460 143 772 16.4 1998-99 50 373 .514 195 .717 478 88 945 18.9 1999-00 44 193 .458 69 .616 274 61 455 10.3 2000-01 58 283 .498 123 .621 431 72 689 11.9 2001-02 61 194 .464 47 .712 366 66 435 7.1 Totals 1,238 10,749 .512 5,423 .719 13,748 3,058 26,946 21.8 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

The Emerging Champion Thomas Bonk, a Houston Post columnist, to glamor- When Hakeem arrived at Houston as a seventeen- ize the Cougars’ dunking ability. Hakeem had be- year-old, 7-foot, 190-pound freshman, local observ- come the king of the dunk shot. His overall game ers said he had a mysterious name and an impres- skills improved so rapidly that many observers sive frame but was lacking a game. With great found the fact that he had been playing only a short coaching, a burning desire to be the best, and hard period of time hard to believe. Baylor University’s work, in less than three years Hakeem possessed coach Jim Haller remarked that the difference all-American skills that earned him national fame. from what Hakeem had been to what he had be- He spent hours during the summers practicing come was a real testimony to hard work. He said with Moses Malone, one of the best centers in the most people respected and could relate to hard NBA. Malone often pushed Hakeem around, forc- work and dedication. ing Hakeem to refine his raw basketball skills as Hakeem led the Houston team to the NCAA Fi- rapidly as possible. During the winter, Coach Lewis nal Four for three consecutive years. His team had honed and polished those skills. eighty-eight wins and only sixteen losses during his Hakeem excelled in several phases of the game, three seasons. In his last season, he led the nation including shooting, rebounding, and blocking in field-goal accuracy and in rebounding. He be- shots. His shot-blocking ability was such that Coach came the third player in the history of the NCAA to Lewis once called him the greatest shot-blocker he lead the nation in at least two statistical categories had ever seen. In his second season of college bas- in a season. ketball, he was chosen the most outstanding player in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Continuing the Story (NCAA) Basketball Tournament. After leaving college early and entering profes- By the beginning of his third season of college sional basketball, Hakeem continued to impress basketball, Hakeem had become the most famous NBA fans and critics with his style of play, his hustle, player in college basketball’s most famous frater- and his tireless spirit. He was the first player drafted nity, “Phi Slamma Jamma.” Phi Slamma Jamma was into the NBA in 1984, by the Houston Rockets. a nickname for the Houston team created by During the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, Hakeem

297 Hakeem Olajuwon Great Athletes

Honors, Awards, and Records greatest NBA players of all time. In 1997, Houston advanced to the 1983 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player Western Conference Finals again. 1983-84 NCAA All-Tournament Team Although he had moments of bril- 1984 Consensus All-American liance, Hakeem struggled with Sporting News All-American knee problems after 1997. How- Overall first choice in the NBA draft ever, he played well enough dur- ing the 2000-2001 season to be of- 1985 NBA All-Rookie Team fered contracts by several teams, 1985-90, 1992-97 NBA All-Star Team including the Toronto Raptors, 1985, 1987-88, 1990, 1993-94 NBA All-Defensive Team with which he signed a four-year 1986, 1990, 1996 All-NBA Second Team deal. 1987-89, 1993-94, 1997 All-NBA First Team Hakeem’s accomplishments 1990 Southwest Conference Player of the Decade were as impressive in the profes- NBA record for the most blocked shots in a playoff game sional ranks as they had been in (10) (record shared) his collegiate career. A superb 1991, 1995, 1999 All-NBA Third Team player both under and away from 1993 IBM Award the basket, Hakeem was the best 1993-94 NBA Defensive Player of the Year center in the NBA from 1986 un- 1994 NBA most valuable player til the emergence of Shaquille 1994-95 NBA Finals most valuable player O’Neal in 1997. He earned twelve all-NBA honors. He was selected 1996 NBA Greatest 50 Players of All Time Team as the starting center for the West Gold medal, Olympic Basketball team eight times in the annual 1999 Named one of twenty best NBA players of all time NBA all-star game. He led the NBA 2002 Retired as the NBA’s all-time leader in blocked shots (3,830) in rebounding through two sea- Uniform number 34 retired by the Houston Rockets sons, 1988-1989 and 1989-1990. 2008 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame He joined Malone, Wilt Cham- berlain, Bill Russell, and Dennis Rodman to become only the fifth was a star for a rather mediocre Rockets team. Be- player in the history of the NBA to accomplish that cause of unsettled contract talks with the Rockets, feat. He also led the league in blocked shots. He Hakeem had the toughest season of his career in was the third player in the history of the NBA to 1991-1992. For the first time in Hakeem’s career, lead the league in both rebounding and blocked the Rockets failed to make the playoffs. Finally, the shots in the same year, joining Bill Walton and organization made key deals to acquire quality Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He was one of only eight players to support Hakeem. players in NBA history to have more than 20,000 Things turned around for Hakeem and the points and 12,000 rebounds and became the NBA’s Rockets during the 1993-1994 season. He was se- all-time leading shot-blocker with 3,830. lected as the NBA’s most valuable player (MVP), After retiring in November, 2002, Hakeem set- the defensive player of the year, and the NBA Finals tled with his wife Dalia and their five children. He MVP. He led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA also has a daughter from an earlier relationship, Championships in 1994 and 1995. In 1995, in the and she became a basketball player at the Univer- Western Conference Finals against the San Anto- sity of Oklahoma, playing center like her father. nio Spurs, Hakeem dominated NBA MVP David Robinson. Summary During the 1995-1996 campaign, Hakeem’s knees Hakeem Olajuwon’s basketball achievements were began to fail. The Seattle SuperSonics swept the remarkable. His dedication to hard work on the Rockets in the Western Conference Finals. In the fundamentals of the game, coupled with the desire fall of 1996, Hakeem was named one of the fifty to be the best, paid handsome dividends for him.

298 Basketball Hakeem Olajuwon

He succeeded in achieving the American Dream: Additional Sources opportunity plus hard work yielded success. His Christopher, Matt. On the Court with Hakeem Olaju- achievements were given the highest recognition won. Boston: Little, Brown, 1997. in 2008 when he was inducted into the Naismith Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. With his success Kindersley, 2003. on the court came continued growth in retire- Kalb, Elliott. Who’s Better, Who’s Best in Basketball? ment. He lived in Texas and worked in real estate as Mr. Stats Sets the Record Straight on the Top Fifty a buyer and seller. Hakeem’s faith remained his NBA Players of All Time. Chicago: Contemporary guide in life. He stated that life was about simplicity Books, 2004. and not greed. That principle kept him on a stable Olajuwon, Hakeem, and Peter Knobler. Living the and steady path throughout his life. Dream: My Life and Basketball. Boston: Little, Thurman W. Robins, updated by Leslie Heaphy Brown, 1996.

299 Shaquille O’Neal

Born: March 6, 1972 his mother and stepfather Philip Harrison, a ca- Newark, New Jersey reer service man in the military. Also known as: Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal; Shaq; Because of his father’s career in the military, Big Aristotle; the Diesel; Shaq Fu; Shaq Attack; Shaquille moved with his family from city to city ev- Shaq Daddy ery few years. By the time Shaquille was ready for high school, his family had settled near San Anto- Early Life nio, Texas. At Cole High School, Shaquille set nu- Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal was born on March 6, merous scoring and rebounding records. He also 1972, in Newark, New Jersey, to Joe Toney and Lu- grew to his adult height of 7 feet 1 inch, and college cille O’Neal, a municipal employee. Shaquille recruiters everywhere were clamoring for him to never knew his biological father and was raised by attend their schools to play basketball. Shaquille fi- nally settled on Louisiana State Uni- versity (LSU).

The Road to Excellence At LSU, Shaquille began to blossom. The big freshman had a solid season in the Southeastern Conference, one of college basketball’s toughest divi- sions. That year, Shaquille averaged a respectable 13.9 points per game, but he received more attention for his ability to rebound and block shots. As a first-year player, he aver- aged more than 12 rebounds per game, an impressive total for one so young and so new to big-time college basketball. In his second varsity season, Sha- quille improved dramatically. He doubled his scoring and increased his rebounding average to 14.6 per game—leading the nation in that cat- egory. By now, Shaquille was earn- ing accolades, and many predicted he would be an outstanding profes- sional player, even though he was not yet twenty years old. He was named a first team all-American following his sophomore and junior seasons, scor- ing more than 24 points per game in the latter. However, the college game had Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O’Neal slam dunks the ball in a begun to wear on Shaquille. Teams 2003 game against the Atlanta Hawks. (Tami Chappell/Reuters/Landov) knew they could not stop him with

300 Basketball Shaquille O’Neal just one player, so they focused their entire de- young rookie immediately justified that selection, fenses on surrounding him every time he touched as well as the seven-year, $41-million contract he the ball. The prevalence of zone defenses, which was given. His presence in the middle as a shot- were legal in college basketball but were not al- blocker, rebounder, and scorer instantly trans- lowed in the professional game at that time, also formed the Magic from an mediocre team that had heightened the unbalanced way in which he was won just twenty-one games the season before into a defended. In 2001, the NBA lifted its ban on zone playoff contender. Although Orlando missed the defenses, a factor that haunted Shaquille later in playoffs by a small margin, the team won forty-one his professional career. games in Shaquille’s first season.

The Emerging Champion Continuing the Story Shaquille had little remaining to accomplish in the As a youngster, Shaquille had always worried about college game. He had not led his team to a national fitting in because his family moved so often. At title, but he had garnered many individual awards twenty-one years old, Shaquille was more than fit- and had been named the 1991 college player of the ting in: He was becoming wildly popular. He be- year by both the Associated Press and United Press came a marketing phenomenon, receiving lucra- International. Because of the beating Shaquille tive contracts from major corporations. Basketball was taking each game under the basket and be- fans in NBA cities flocked to games to see the new cause of his family’s modest means, he decided to young superstar and the rapidly improving Magic. turn professional, leaving LSU a year early. As a visiting team, Orlando drew more fans to its Nonetheless, the decision was not easy. Sha- games than any team except the defending cham- quille and his parents recognized the importance pion Chicago Bulls, who featured the incompara- of education, and the three of them wanted to ble Michael Jordan. Shaquille was perhaps the make sure that he earned his degree—if not in four strongest player in the league even as a rookie, and years, then at least sometime in the near future. He fans loved to watch his thunderous dunks, which finished his degree at LSU in 2000. occasionally pulled the basket down off its support Though Shaquille made a difficult decision, the stand. Because of his popularity, strength, and skill, Orlando Magic did not have to. Orlando, an NBA Shaquille was voted to the Eastern Conference all- expansion team, had earned the right to the first star team, becoming the first rookie to start in the pick in the draft, with which it chose Shaquille. The game since Jordan.

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1992-93 81 733 .562 427 .592 1,122 152 1,893 23.4 1993-94 81 953 .599 471 .554 1,072 195 2,377 29.3 1994-95 79 930 .583 455 .533 901 214 2,315 29.3 1995-96 54 592 .573 249 .487 596 155 1,434 26.6 1996-97 51 552 .557 232 .484 640 159 1,336 26.2 1997-98 60 670 .584 359 .527 681 142 1,699 28.3 1998-99 49 510 .576 269 .540 525 114 1,289 26.3 1999-00 79 956 .574 432 .524 1,078 299 2,344 29.7 2000-01 74 813 .572 499 .513 940 277 2,125 28.7 2001-02 67 712 .579 398 .555 715 200 1,822 27.2 2002-03 67 695 .574 451 .622 742 206 1,841 27.5 2003-04 67 554 .584 331 .490 769 196 1,439 21.5 2004-05 73 658 .601 353 .461 760 200 1,669 22.9 2005-06 59 480 .600 221 .469 541 113 1,181 20.0 2006-07 40 283 .591 124 .422 297 79 690 17.3 2007-08 61 331 .593 170 .503 554 93 832 13.6 Totals 1,042 10,422 .581 5,441 .525 11,933 2,794 26,286 25.2 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

301 Shaquille O’Neal Great Athletes

Honors and Awards time. Although Shaquille played well for the Lakers during his first three seasons with the 1991 United Press International College Player of the Year team, the Lakers had a difficult time finding Associated Press College Player of the Year the right combination of players to win a cham- 1991-92 College All-American pionship. In 2000, however, Shaquille and Kobe 1993 NBA All-Rookie First Team Bryant led Los Angeles to the NBA title. Sha- NBA Rookie of the Year quille enjoyed a dominant season, winning the 1993-98, 2000-09 NBA All-Star Team NBA scoring title, the MVP award, and the 1994 Gold medal, World Basketball Championships NBA Finals MVP award. Shaquille won the 1994, 1996-97 All-NBA Third Team regular-season MVP award with the highest per- 1995, 1999 All-NBA Second Team centage of first-place votes—99.2 percent—in 1996 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball NBA history. NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team Shaquille enjoyed another great season in 1998, 2000-06 All-NBA First Team 2000-2001. He again led the league in field- 2000 NBA most valuable player goal percentage (.572) and ranked second in IBM Award blocked shots (2.81 per game) and third in 2000, 2004 All-Star Game most valuable player both scoring (28.7) and rebounding (12.7). 2000-02 NBA Finals most valuable player He also continued to rank as the league’s top passing center. His play was always dominating but got even stronger as the season progressed, Shaquille completed his first season in the and he helped the Lakers finish the season and be- league as one of the best rookies ever. He finished gin the playoffs with nineteen consecutive wins. in the top ten in the NBA in scoring, rebounding, The Lakers’ performance in the playoffs in 2001 field-goal percentage, and blocked shots. Conse- was historic. After sweeping Portland, Sacramento, quently, he was named the NBA’s rookie of the year and San Antonio in the first three rounds, Los An- in a nearly unanimous decision, receiving all but geles beat Philadelphia four games to one in the two of the ninety-eight votes. He continued to im- NBA Finals to finish with a 15-1 playoff record—the prove in his second NBA season, earning another best in league history. Along the way, the Lakers starting spot in the all-star game and leading the won all eight road games to become the first play- Orlando Magic to the franchise’s first appearance off team ever to go undefeated on the road. For his in the NBA playoffs. After the NBA season, Sha- dominating performance, Shaquille was once quille won a gold medal playing for Team USA in again voted the MVP of the NBA Finals. the 1994 FIBA World Championship in Toronto, In 2002, Shaquille married Shaunie Nelson, Canada. He was the most valuable player (MVP), with whom he had three children. He won a third averaging 18.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per con- championship with the Lakers in 2002. In 2004, he test. was traded to the Miami Heat; in 2006, he and Shaquille won his first NBA scoring title in 1994- Dwyane Wade led the Heat to its first NBA Champi- 1995, scoring 29.3 points per game. He and Anfer- onship. During the 2006-2007 season, he became nee “Penny” Hardaway led the Magic to the NBA the fourteenth player in NBA history to compile Finals, where the team lost to the Houston Rockets. 25,000 points. During the 1995-1996 campaign, Shaquille missed In 2008, at the age of thirty-six, Shaquille was twenty-eight games because of an injury. He still traded again and became a member of the Phoenix played well, ranking third in scoring and sixth in re- Suns. The 2007-2008 season was the first in four- bounding. Shaquille won another gold medal as a teen years in which he did not make an all-star member of the U.S. Olympic team in the 1996 team. However, he came back strongly in 2008- Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. 2009 and again made the all-star team. On July 18, 1996, Shaquille signed a seven-year, $120-million contract to play for the Los Angeles Summary Lakers. During the 1996-1997 season, he was hon- With Shaq’s offensive dominance, other teams ored as one of the fifty greatest NBA players of all constructed special defenses to stop him. The most

302 Basketball Shaquille O’Neal famous was termed the “hack-a-Shaq.” This tech- and most productive players in the pivot position. nique was developed by Dallas Mavericks coach Because of his spectacular play and rim-rattling Don Nelson; the defender simply held Shaquille dunks, he also became one of the NBA’s most pop- when his team got the ball. This strategy forced ular players and a popular culture icon. Shaquille to shoot free throws. As he was one of the John McNamara, updated by Douglas A. Phillips poorest free-throw shooters in the history of pro- fessional basketball, the technique often worked. Additional Sources Throughout his career, Shaquille was constantly Christopher, Matt. On the Court with Shaquille compared to the greats of the past. Many veteran O’Neal. Boston: Little, Brown, 2003. observers ranked him the greatest big man ever to Gutman, Bill. Shaquille O’Neal: Basketball Sensation. play the game. Others were more cautious. How- Brookfield, Conn.: Millbrook Press, 1994. ever, most likely, Shaquille will become a member Nelson, Murray. Shaquille O’Neal: A Biography. West- of basketball’s hall of fame the first year he is eligi- port, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2006. ble. As Shaquille’s NBA career soared, his impact O’Neal, Shaquille. Shaq Talks Back. New York: St. on popular culture reached beyond basketball. He Martin’s Press, 2001. appeared in movies, video games, and television Rappoport, Ken. Shaquille O’Neal. New York: Walker, shows and released numerous music albums. He 1994. was one of the few sports icons recognized across Shouler, Kenneth A. The Experts Pick Basketball’s Best the world simply by one name—Shaq. Fifty Players in the Last Fifty Years. Lenexa, Kans.: Shaquille O’Neal established himself immedi- Addax, 1998. ately as a star in professional basketball. Despite his Townsend, Brad. Shaquille O’Neal: Center of Atten- youth, he became one of the league’s most feared tion. Minneapolis: Lerner, 1998.

303 Robert Parish

Born: August 30, 1953 favor. As a result, Centenary was placed on proba- Shreveport, Louisiana tion for Robert’s entire college career. Also known as: The Chief Although he helped Centenary to a series of fine seasons and twice led the nation in rebound- Early Life ing, Robert was virtually ignored by the national Robert Lee Parish, one of five children of Robert media, and his statistics did not appear in NCAA Parish, Sr., and Ada Parish, was born on August 30, records. He was one of the nation’s best college 1953, in Shreveport, Louisiana. Robert’s father players, but he was not invited to try out for the U.S. was a plant worker, and his mother held down two team that was to compete in the World University jobs to help provide her children with a comfort- Games after his junior season. Centenary coach able life. As a child, Robert was quiet and solitary, Riley Wallace managed to arrange a tryout for his traits he would retain as an adult. He was also ex- star, however, and Robert not only made the team ceptionally tall and athletic. When he began play- but also won the starting center’s job. That sum- ing basketball for Shreveport’s University Ju- nior High, the school had already given out all its regular jersey numbers, so the 6-foot 2-inch teenager was assigned number 00—an unusual number that stuck with him throughout his career.

The Road to Excellence Robert continued to grow during his teenage years, reaching 7 feet while he was still in high school. He remained quick and graceful de- spite his height, and he dominated Louisiana high school basketball. He led Shreveport’s Woodlawn High to the state title in his senior year, and he was named the number-one high school player in the country by Basketball Amer- ica magazine. Because of his high school success, Robert was deluged with offers from college recruit- ers. He did poorly on his college entrance ex- aminations, however, and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) officials watched the recruiting process closely. To avoid trouble with the NCAA, Robert turned down offers from major-college basketball powers and chose to attend tiny Centenary College in Shreveport. Nevertheless, the NCAA ruled that Robert and several other Centenary re- cruits would have to sit out their freshman sea- son and retake the entrance exams. Robert and the others filed suit to contest the deci- Robert Parish of the Boston Celtics in 1980. (Jim Cummins/ sion, but a federal court ruled in the NCAA’s NBAE/Getty Images)

304 Basketball Robert Parish

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1976-77 77 288 .503 121 .708 543 74 697 9.1 1977-78 82 430 .472 165 .625 679 95 1,025 12.5 1978-79 76 554 .499 196 .698 916 115 1,304 17.2 1979-80 72 510 .507 203 .715 793 122 1,223 17.0 1980-81 82 635 .545 282 .710 777 144 1,552 18.9 1981-82 80 669 .542 252 .710 866 140 1,590 19.9 1982-83 78 619 .550 271 .695 827 141 1,509 19.3 1983-84 80 623 .542 274 .745 857 139 1,520 19.0 1984-85 79 551 .542 282 .743 840 125 1,394 17.6 1985-86 81 530 .549 245 .731 770 145 1,305 16.1 1986-87 80 588 .556 227 .735 851 173 1,403 17.5 1987-88 74 442 .589 177 .734 628 115 1,061 14.3 1988-89 80 596 .570 294 .719 996 175 1,486 18.6 1989-90 79 505 .580 233 .747 796 103 1,243 15.7 1990-91 81 485 .598 237 .767 856 66 1,207 14.9 1991-92 79 468 .535 178 .772 705 70 1,115 14.1 1992-93 79 416 .535 162 .689 740 61 994 12.6 1993-94 74 356 .491 154 .740 542 82 866 11.7 1994-95 81 159 .427 71 .703 350 44 389 4.8 1995-96 74 120 .498 50 .704 303 29 290 3.9 1996-97 43 70 .490 21 .677 89 22 161 3.7 Totals 1,611 9,614 .537 4,095 .721 14,724 2,180 23,334 14.5 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game mer, he helped the team to the gold medal before Robert showed steady improvement, raising his returning to Centenary. After averaging 24.8 scoring average from 9.1 points a game as a rookie points and 18 rebounds a game in his senior year, to 17.2 points a game by his third season, when he he was named a first team all-American by The took over as the team’s full-time center. He also av- Sporting News—but because of the NCAA’s ban, he eraged more than 10 rebounds a game and became remained almost unknown to the public. a solid defender. The Warriors, though, declined in the standings The Emerging Champion each year, compiling a dismal 24-58 record in the Professional scouts, though, were well aware of his 1979-1980 season. Although Robert was one of ability. After his freshman year, the Utah Stars of Golden State’s top players, his steady, controlled the American Basketball Association (ABA) offered style of play and his impassive demeanor were in- him $1 million to turn professional. Robert’s par- terpreted by Bay Area fans and media as signs of in- ents vetoed the deal, however, and he returned to difference to the team’s fortunes. After the season, Centenary to finish his education. After his gradua- he was traded along with a draft choice to the Bos- tion, the Golden State Warriors of the NBA made him the eighth pick in the Honors and Awards 1976 NBA draft. NBA competition was far stiffer than 1975 Gold medal, World University Games what Robert had encountered at Cente- 1976 Sporting News All-American nary, and he struggled at first to bring his 1981-87, 1990-91 NBA All-Star Team play up to professional standards. More- 1982 All-NBA Second Team over, the Warriors were a team of cool vet- 1989 All-NBA Third Team erans who offered him little help. Center 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team Clifford Ray took Robert under his wing, 1998 Uniform number 00 retired by Boston Celtics however, and helped his young rival to 2003 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame learn the ins and outs of the pro game.

305 Robert Parish Great Athletes ton Celtics in exchange for two other draft choices. In the 1995-1996 season with the Hornets, Rob- The Celtics used the Warriors’ pick to draft Kevin ert averaged only 3.9 points and 4.1 rebounds per McHale, who, like Robert, would become a peren- game. In 1996, he signed with the Bulls as a free nial all-star; Golden State used Boston’s picks to se- agent for his final NBA season. In addition to the lect and , both of three championship rings he won with the Celtics, whom proved to be disappointments. In a poll of Robert won one with the Bulls. During the 1996- NBA executives years later, the trade was voted the 1997 season, he was named one of the fifty greatest most one-sided deal in the league’s history. NBA players of all time. He announced his retire- ment from the NBA on August 25, 1997. Continuing the Story Robert ended his career with the most seasons Robert blossomed with the Celtics, elevating his (21) and the most games (1,611) ever played in the play even further. He and McHale teamed with star NBA. He participated in 9 all-star games and 184 forward Larry Bird to give the Celtics a matchless playoff games. With his patented high trajectory front line. Boston compiled a sparkling 62-20 rec- jump shot, he finished with 23,334 career points. ord and won the NBA title in Robert’s first season The Celtics retired his jersey number, 00, on Janu- with the team. For the next six years, the Celtics ary 18, 1998. In 2003, he was inducted into the challenged the Los Angeles Lakers for recognition Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. as the NBA’s top franchise, winning additional NBA Championships in 1984 and 1986 and making Summary it to the finals on two more occasions. Robert Parish overcame the hardships of his youth The team’s consistent success squelched any lin- and the struggles of his college and early profes- gering questions about Robert’s ability to contrib- sional career to become one of the most productive ute to a winner; in Boston, his expressionless face and consistent players of his generation. Although earned him the affectionate nickname “Chief” for the quiet, self-effacing “Chief” was content to leave his resemblance to a character in the 1975 film One the spotlight to others, he was an invaluable part of Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest. By the end of the 1993- one of the best teams of the 1980’s. 1994 season, he ranked among the NBA’s all-time Robert McClenaghan leaders in rebounding and scoring, and as his ca- reer totals mounted, he began to receive overdue Additional Sources recognition as one of the best players of his era. Bjarkman, Peter C. Boston Celtics Encyclopedia.2d During the 1994 off-season, Robert left the ed. Champaign, Ill.: Sports, 2002. Celtics and signed a free-agent contract with the May, Peter. The Last Banner: The Story of the 1985-86 Charlotte Hornets. Serving primarily as a backup Celtics, the NBA’s Greatest Team of All Time. New center to Alonzo Mourning, Robert was an impor- York: Simon & Schuster, 2007. tant addition to the Hornets, helping them earn Ryan, Bob. The Boston Celtics: The History, Legends, the first fifty-win season in franchise history. On and Images of America’s Most Celebrated Team. New November 12, 1994, he became the eighth player York: Gallery Books, 1990. in NBA history to garner more than 14,000 re- Shouler, Kenneth A. The Experts Pick Basketball’s Best bounds. The Hornets made it to the playoffs but Fifty Players in the Last Fifty Years. Lenexa, Kans.: fell to the Chicago Bulls in the first round. Addax, 1998.

306 Candace Parker

Born: April 19, 1986 grade. With her own remarkable talent and her fa- St. Louis, Missouri ther’s coaching, she soon became a better player Also known as: Candace Nicole Parker (full than boys of her own age. Taller than other chil- name) dren, Candace was urged to see her height as a gift and to use it to develop versatility. Early Life Born on April 19, 1986, in St. Louis, Missouri, The Road to Excellence Candace Parker was the youngest child of Larry Following her family’s move to a Chicago suburb, and Sara Parker. Her father, who had played out- Candace attended Naperville Central High School standing basketball at the University of Iowa, and in Naperville, Illinois, graduating in 2004. Can- her mother, a former cheerleader, encouraged bas- dace’s father video recorded her games—as he had ketball as a family activity. Growing up, Candace those of her oldest brother Anthony, who went on played basketball with her brothers and other boys to the NBA—and continued to guide her through but began to pursue it seriously in the seventh her high school career. Candace’s team won the state championship in her junior year, 2003. In the summer following her junior year, she injured her knee and required surgery. In December of her se- nior year, she returned to her team, which won a second consecutive state title. Candace won the USA Today player of the year in both 2003 and 2004. Also, in both those years, she garnered the Nai- smith Award and was selected the Gatorade na- tional basketball player of the year. She was named player of the year in Illinois in 2002, 2003, and 2004. Candace was chosen Illinois Miss Basketball three years in a row and was rated the top high school senior and the number-one prospect by the annual Blue Star Index. In March, 2004, seventeen- year-old Candace beat out five male players to win the slam-dunk contest of the McDonald’s high school game in , Oklahoma. Can- dace was a member of the undefeated U.S. junior World Championship team that won a gold medal in August, 2004. During this competition, she reinjured her left knee and underwent surgery to repair the torn cartilage.

The Emerging Champion Candace, who had announced her commitment to the University of Tennessee on ESPN, arrived on campus in August, 2004. Her knee required a Candace Parker of the Los Angeles Sparks dribbling second surgery in September, and she was given the ball up the court in a 2008 game against the Phoenix medical-redshirt status for her freshman year of Mercury. (Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images) college, thus maintaining her four years of athletic

307 Candace Parker Great Athletes

WNBA Statistics Season GP FGA FGM FG% FTA FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 2008 33 442 231 .523 187 137 .733 313 113 610 18.5 Totals 33 442 231 .523 187 137 .733 313 113 610 18.5 Notes: GP = games played; FGA = field goals attempted; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTA = free throws attempted; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game eligibility. Candace spent that year intensively reha- percent from the free-throw line. She received the bilitating her knee and attending classes. She was State Farm Wade Trophy, the John R. Wooden named to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) all- Award, the Honda Award for basketball player of academic freshman team. the year, and the Basketball Writers Association na- During 2005-2006, her sophomore year, she be- tional player of the year award, and she was named gan to set school records at Tennessee and was ESPN player of the year. She was also tabbed SEC named SEC freshman of the year and the SEC player of the year. rookie of the year. In her junior year, 2006-2007, In her senior year at Tennessee, Candace an- she emerged as a dominant player. At 6 feet 4 nounced that she would forgo her final year of eli- inches, she was listed as guard/forward/center, gibility in order to prepare for the 2008 Olympics displaying the versatility her father had pushed her in Beijing, China, and to seek a professional career. to achieve. In April, 2008, despite having suffered a separated In her free-flowing style of play, Candace could shoulder in a previous game, Candace led the Lady play every position. She could dribble, shoot from Volunteers over the women to a outside, and dunk the ball. In 2007, Candace led second consecutive NCAA Women’s Champion- Tennessee to the NCAA Championship, racking ship. She received the tournament’s most outstand- up impressive statistics in the process. For the sea- ing player award for the second time. Candace also son, she averaged 21.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 70 received several prestigious national honors includ- ing academic all-American, Associated Press Honors and Awards and ESPN player of the year, the Naismith Award, and the John R. Wooden Award. 2002-04 Illinois Miss Basketball Illinois state Player of the Year Continuing the Story 2003-04 Naismith Prep Player of the Year 2004 McDonald’s First-Team All-American Candace was a first-round selection by the USA Today High School Player of the Year Los Angeles Sparks in the 2008 WNBA draft. Gatorade High School Player of the Year In her first game, on May 17, 2008, she 2006 Southeastern Conference tournament most valuable player scored 34 points, setting a new record for a Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year Southeastern Conference Freshman Team rookie in a debut game. Later in the season, Associated Press Second-Team All-American she became the second WNBA player to Kodak All-American slam-dunk in a game; the first was her Sparks 2006, 2007 First-team all-Southeastern Conference teammate Lisa Leslie. Candace was the 2007 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year WNBA rookie of the month in both May and Wade Trophy United States Basketball Writers Association Player of the Year July. During her first WNBA season, she av- 2007-08 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament most outstanding player eraged 18.5 points and 9.5 rebounds. Along John R. Wooden Award with Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury Southeastern Conference Female Athlete of the Year and Lindsay Whalen of the , 2008 Associated Press Player of the Year Candace was named the WNBA peak per- Naismith Trophy WNBA Most Valuable Player former for 2008. In August, she was part of WNBA Rookie of the Year the U.S. basketball team at the Beijing Olym- Gold medal, Olympic Basketball pic Games. She helped the American team win its fourth consecutive gold medal. After

308 Basketball Candace Parker the Olympics, Candace and the Sparks finished the able to blend her skills with the structure of the WNBA season strongly. Though the team was elimi- game to become a national champion. Candace’s nated in the Western Conference Finals, Candace entry into the WNBA signaled a new era for the helped reestablish the Sparks as a preeminent team league, as more players take their game above the in the WNBA. Following the season, Candace was rim. In her rookie season, Candace emerged as one named the WNBA rookie of the year and the WNBA of the best women’s basketball players in the world. most valuable player. She became the first person Mary Hurd in WNBA history to accomplish the feat and joined Wes Unseld and Wilt Chamberlain as the only bas- Additional Sources ketball players to win both awards in the same Anderson, Kelli. “Sparks Are Flying.” Sports Illus- season. trated 108, no. 20 (May 19, 2008). Laurence, Andrew. “Regarding Candace.” Sports Il- Summary lustrated, April 17, 2008. Candace Parker’s success can be attributed to her Smith, Michelle. “Ready for Takeoff: Tennessee father’s persistence and her own unique ability. Forward Candace Parker Has the Talent to Take With his emphasis on fundamentals and her bas- Women’s Hoops to New Heights.” Sports Illus- ketball intelligence, talent and practice, she was trated for Kids 18, no. 3 (March 1, 2006).

309 Tony Parker

Born: May 17, 1982 from Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Tony has two Bruges, Belgium younger brothers, Terrence and Pierre, who also Also known as: William (full play basketball. name) Tony played soccer and basketball as a young boy. Initially, he was more interested in soccer. At Early Life the age of nine, he switched his allegiance to bas- William Anthony “Tony” Parker was born on May ketball after he saw Michael Jordan lead the Chi- 17, 1982, in Bruges, Belgium. His family moved to cago Bulls to the first of six NBA Championships. France when Tony was young. His father, William Tony’s family had always visited his paternal grand- Anthony Parker, Sr., played professional basketball parents in Chicago during the summers; Tony be- for fifteen years outside the United States. His gan using that time to improve his basketball skills. mother, Pamela Firestone, was a model originally The Road to Excellence Tony started playing basketball in amateur leagues in France prior to becoming a teenager. After re- ceiving the most valuable player (MVP) award for the Salbris Junior Tournament in 1997, he entered a professional league in France at only fifteen years old. Though Tony began playing in one of the low- level professional leagues, his strong performance led him to quickly advance to the more prestigious leagues. In 2000, he played a major role in helping France to win the European Junior Champion- ships. In his last season of playing professionally in France, Tony averaged 14.7 points and 5.6 assists per game for a Parisian team. In 2001, he was cho- sen to play for the French national team in the Eu- ropean Championships. He led all players in scor- ing, steals, and assists. He was so impressive that he was named MVP of the tournament. Tony was selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the twenty-eighth pick in the first round of the 2001 NBA draft. In his rookie year, he played in seventy- seven of eighty-two regular-season games; he started seventy-two. In his first game with the Spurs, he set the record as the youngest player to enter a game with the franchise at 19 years and 166 days. Though David Robinson and Tim Duncan were the team’s stars, Tony was considered an important role player. His performance led him to be named to the league’s all-rookie team.

Tony Parker scoring during the 2003 Rookie Challenge The Emerging Champion at the NBA all-star game. (Noah Graham/NBAE/Getty The Spurs defeated the New Jersey Nets to win the Images) NBA Championship in Tony’s second season. Tony

310 Basketball Tony Parker

Honors and Awards range. For the second consecutive year, Tony was selected to play in the all-star game. His 2002 NBA All-Rookie First Team outstanding performance contributed to the 2003, 2005, 2007 Won NBA Championships with San Antonio Spurs Spurs’ success once again. At the end of the 2005 Bronze medal, European Championships (with France) season, San Antonio won its fourth champion- 2006-07, 2009 NBA All-Star ship in nine years by defeating the Cleveland 2007 NBA Finals most valuable player Cavaliers four games to zero. Tony led the team in scoring in the first three games of the series. Averaging 24 points per game in the fi- played a key role in the team’s title. He was able to nals, he was named MVP of the series. neutralize his counterpart and the Nets’ best player, In the 2007-2008 season, Tony continued his ex- the veteran Jason Kidd. By the end of the season, cellent playmaking. Once again, he led the Spurs Tony had also improved enough to be considered in assists, averaging 6 per game. He also finished one of the best point guards in the league. He in- third on the team in scoring, with an average of creased his scoring average by more than 6 points, 18.8 points per game, less than a point behind from 9.2 to 15.5 per game. His assists per game av- Manu Ginobili and Duncan. The Spurs, however, erage also increased from 4.3 to 5.3. Once again, lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Con- he was selected to play for France in the European ference Finals. Championships, in 2003. Furthermore, L’Equipe,a French newspaper, named him the champion of Summary French champions for 2003. He was the first bas- Tony Parker established himself as one of the best ketball player ever to receive this award. point guards in the NBA. He combined quickness, Tony continued to improve. He helped the Spurs good shooting, and ballhandling skills. He also win another championship at the end of the 2004- symbolized the emergence of a burgeoning inter- 2005 season, as the team defeated the defending national influence on the NBA. champions, the Detroit Pistons, four games to three. Kevin L. Brennan Tony had his best season up to that point, averag- ing 16.6 points per game and a career-best 6.1 as- Additional Sources sists. In the 2005-2006 season, the Spurs failed to re- Bednar, Chuck. Tony Parker. Philadelphia: Mason peat as NBA champions. Though the Spurs lost in Crest, 2009. the second round of the playoffs to the Dallas Mav- Finkel, Jon, and Tomás Montalvo-Lagos. Greatest ericks, Tony averaged a career-high 18.9 points per Stars of the NBA: Guards Edition. Los Angeles: game that year. He also shot a career-best average, Tokyopop, 2007. making 55 percent of his field-goal attempts. In ad- MacRae, Sloan. Meet Tony Parker: Basketball’s Famous dition, he set the league record for the most ap- Point Guard. New York: PowerKids Press, 2009. pearances in playoff games be- fore the age of twenty-four. His NBA Statistics outstanding performance led to an appearance on the all-star Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG team. 2001-02 77 268 .419 108 .675 197 334 705 9.2 2002-03 82 484 .464 219 .755 216 432 1,269 15.5 Continuing the Story 2003-04 75 423 .447 191 .702 237 411 1,099 14.7 In the 2006-2007 season, the 2004-05 80 539 .482 210 .650 298 491 1,331 16.6 2005-06 80 623 .548 253 .707 261 460 1,510 18.9 Spurs rebounded from the pre- 2006-07 77 570 .520 274 .783 250 420 1,429 18.6 vious year’s early playoff exit. 2007-08 69 515 .494 248 .715 221 411 1,295 18.8 Tony’s playmaking skills made Totals 540 3,422 .487 1,503 .716 1,422 2,959 8,638 16.0 the team better, and Tony im- Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free proved his three-point shooting. throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; He made a career-best 39.5 per- PPG = points per game cent of his shots from three-point

311 Chris Paul

Born: May 6, 1985 ketball player of the year, and North Carolina’s Mr. Lewisville, North Carolina Basketball. He had 10 assists for the East squad in Also known as: Chris Emmanuel Paul(full name); the McDonald’s All-American high school game. CP3 PrepStars Recruiter’s Handbook ranked him the coun- try’s ninth best high school basketball player. Early Life Though Chris was heavily recruited by colleges Chris Emmanuel Paul was born in Lewisville, with great basketball programs, he decided to at- North Carolina, on May 6, 1985, to Charles and tend Wake Forest University. Robin Paul. He has an older brother named C. J. Chris was close to his grand- father, who owned a gas station. When Chris was young, he worked for his grandfather. Chris played both basketball and football during his youth. Initially, he was better at football, as he played a va- riety of positions on both offense and defense. Though he was fast and agile in his early teens, he was not tall. He played on the junior varsity basketball team his first two years at West Forsyth High School.

The Road to Excellence Chris played on the varsity team at West Forsyth during his last two years. Bene- fiting from a growth spurt, he had good size to complement his quickness. In his junior year, he led his team to the semifinals while averaging 25 points per game. As a result, he earned the 2002 Central Piedmont player of the year award. He was also named to the all-state second team. He had an even better year in his senior season. He averaged almost 31 points per game, along with 8 assists and 6 steals. He also scored 61 points in a single game, the fourth highest in the history of high school basketball in North Carolina. Because of his performance, Chris received numerous accolades: He was included on the all-USA high school second team and was a Parade all-Amer- New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul in 2008. (Layne Murdoch/ ican, North Carolina’s high school bas- NBAE/Getty Images)

312 Basketball Chris Paul

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 2005-06 78 407 .430 394 .847 400 611 1,258 16.1 2006-07 64 381 .437 292 .818 280 569 1,104 17.3 2007-08 80 630 .488 332 .851 321 925 1,684 21.1 Totals 222 1,418 .456 1,018 .840 1,001 2,105 4,046 18.2 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

The Emerging Champion ranking, Wake Forest was upset in the second Chris had an immediate impact for Wake Forest. round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament by the He was the starting point guard in every game as a University of West Virginia. freshman. He averaged 14.8 points per game, which was the second highest on the team. He led Continuing the Story the team in several categories, including assists, Chris decided to enter the NBA draft in 2005. The steals, three-point field-goal percentage, and free- New Orleans Hornets picked him with the fourth throw percentage. Making 46.5 percent of his selection in the draft. Though the Hornets had a three-point field-goal attempts was the fourth best dismal season in the previous year and had to play in the team’s history. His total of 84 steals was the some home games in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, second highest in a season in the school’s history. because of Hurricane Katrina, the team improved He played an important role in helping Wake For- substantially in the 2005-2006 season. Chris’s per- est advance to the third round of the NCAA Basket- formance had much to do with this. He averaged ball Tournament. His outstanding performance 16.1 points, 7.8 assists, and 2.2 steals per game. As a led to his selection as the Atlantic Coast Confer- result, he received the 2006 rookie of the year ence (ACC) rookie of the year in 2003-2004 and as award. In the following season, he had another a member of the conference’s all-freshmen and all- strong performance: He averaged 17.3 points per defensive teams. He was also named the national game and increased his assists per game to 8.9. freshman player of the year by several magazines. Though his average for steals fell to 1.8 per game, Chris’s strong output continued during his the season was still a good one for him, especially sophomore season. He averaged 15.3 points per considering he missed about 20 percent of the year game, which was third on the team. He once again because of injuries. led the team in assists, with 6.6 per game, and In his third season, Chris had his best year to steals, with 2.4 per game. He improved his shooting that point. He had career-high averages in points, from three-point range to 47.4 percent. After a with 21.1; assists, with 11.6; and steals, with 2.7. His great regular-season record and a number-five totals of 925 assists and 217 steals ranked him first in the league. He also ranked first in the league in Honors and Awards triple-doubles, double figures in three major statis- tical categories. His excellent play contributed to 2004 Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year the Hornets’ winning the division championship. 2006 NBA Rookie of the Year However, the San Antonio Spurs beat the Hornets NBA All-Rookie Team in the Western Conference playoff semifinals. Bronze medal, World Championships Chris’s outstanding performance led to substantial recognition. He was named to the all-star team for 2008 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball the 2007-2008 season. In the all-star game, he had 2008-09 NBA All-Star Team an impressive 14 assists. He placed second in the All-NBA First Team voting for the league’s most valuable player award, NBA All-Defensive Team behind Kobe Bryant. Chris was named to the U.S. Olympic team in

313 Chris Paul Great Athletes

2008. He played an important role in helping it go cially notable for a point guard. In only his third undefeated and win the gold medal. He averaged 8 year, he established himself as a team leader and points and 4.1 assists. In the gold medal game, he one of the best players in the NBA. scored 13 points and had 5 assists. During the 2008- Kevin L. Brennan 2009 NBA season that followed, he returned in top form. In January, 2009, he was voted a starter in the Additional Sources all-star game. Ballard, Chris. “Everybody Loves Chris.” Sports Il- lustrated 104, no. 6 (February 13, 2006): 66. Summary McCallum, Jack. “Wild West Shootout.” Sports Illus- In a short period of time, Chris Paul became one of trated 108, no. 7 (February 18, 2008): 32. the best point guards in basketball. His exceptional Macri, Anthony. “Defending Chris Paul: The Spurs’ quickness helped him be a great ball handler, de- Difficult Choices.” Basketball Prospectus, May 4, fender, and shooter. His shooting skills were espe- 2008.

314 Gary Payton

Born: July 23, 1968 reer to become the school’s record-holder in points, Oakland, California assists, and steals. During Gary’s tenure, Oregon Also known as: Gary Dwayne Payton (full name); State made three National Collegiate Athletic Asso- the Glove ciation Basketball Tournament appearances. For Gary’s senior season, Sports Illustrated named him Early Life college player of the year, and he was first-team all- Gary Dwayne Payton was born on July 23, 1968, in American. He was later named to the Pac-10 Con- Oakland, California, and spent his early life in a ference all-decade team and enshrined in Oregon public-housing complex. For the first few years of State’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1996. Gary’s life, his parents, Alfred and Annie Payton, did their best to shelter him and his four siblings from the tough surroundings. Alfred, a Bay Area chef, won $30,000 at a dice table in Reno, Nevada. The family used the money to move into a large house in East Oakland. The place where they hoped to es- cape the city’s drugs and violence became gang turf. Nonetheless, Alfred kept his kids off the streets and decided that his son would play basketball during summers. He pushed school officials to let Gary attend Skyline High School, in the largely white, prosperous East Bay Hills above Oakland. The school was a weak link in Oakland Athletic League bas- ketball but a powerhouse in academics.

The Road to Excellence Gary became a basketball star at Skyline High. He learned to go to the hoop and talk trash with the best shooters on Oakland play- grounds. He helped turn the losing team’s fortunes, leading Skyline to two league titles. Gary made all-state, averaging more than 20 points and 10 assists per game. Despite Gary’s performance, most college recruiters consid- ered him more trouble than his court talents were worth. Gary attended Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, where Coach made him cut his hair and play defense. Gary built his court reputation on offense but was willing to do anything to play basketball. He became Pac-10 Conference freshman of the Seattle SuperSonics point guard Gary Payton finding a team- year and defensive player of the year. He mate with a pass in 1995. (Jonathan Daniel/NBAE/Getty Im- started every game during his four-year ca- ages)

315 Gary Payton Great Athletes

The Emerging Champion ans be allowed to seek market value. In 2000, he After Gary graduated from college, the Seattle Su- again earned a gold medal with Team USA and es- perSonics chose him as the second overall pick in tablished career highs in scoring, field goals, and the 1990 NBA draft. He started slowly but played field-goal attempts in an April 16 game against the well enough his first professional season to earn a Rockets. place on the 1990-1991 all-rookie second team. With experience, he gained confidence, and his Continuing the Story shooting improved the next season as he worked During the middle of the 2002-2003 NBA season, toward becoming one of the league’s premier after twelve years with Seattle, Gary was traded to point guards. In 1994, he began a nine-year run as the Milwaukee Bucks. After the end of the season, both an all-NBA and all-NBA first-team defensive he was an unrestricted free agent. He turned down selection. a lucrative contract offer to sign with the Los An- Gary’s talents peaked in 1995-1996. That sea- geles Lakers, hoping to help the team make a bid son, Gary led the NBA in steals and averaged 19.3 for the NBA Championship. Gary helped lead the points and 7.5 assists per game. The point guard’s Lakers to fifty-six regular-season wins and an ap- trash-talking style was legendary. The NBA named pearance in the NBA Finals. The Lakers lost to the him defensive player of the year, and the Sonics Detroit Pistons in the final round, but Gary’s quest won a franchise-record sixty-four games that year, for an NBA Championship was not over. advancing to the NBA Finals. After the season, Gary was traded again, this In the summer of 1996, Gary won a gold medal time to the Boston Celtics. In February, 2005, he at the Olympics with Team USA. Gary had a great was traded to the Atlanta Hawks, who waived him. 1996-1997 season, averaging 21.8 points per game. Gary returned to Boston as a free agent, starting in The Houston Rockets, however, beat the Sonics in seventy-seven games. Later in 2005, he signed a the playoffs, despite Gary’s heroics: In the last one-year contract with the Miami Heat. There, re- game of that series, Gary had an NBA-record thir- united with Lakers teammate Shaquille O’Neal, teen three-pointers. Gary finally earned an NBA title, hitting crucial The 1998-1999 season started late, because of shots in game-changing situations to help Miami salary disputes between owners and players. Gary, beat the Dallas Mavericks in the finals. Gary re- in the forefront of the standoff, insisted NBA veter- tired following the 2007 season; he ranked in the

NBA Statistics Season GP FGA FGM FG% FTA FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1990-91 82 575 259 .450 97 69 .711 243 528 588 7.2 1991-92 81 734 331 .451 148 99 .669 295 506 764 9.4 1992-93 82 963 476 .494 196 151 .770 281 399 1,110 13.5 1993-94 82 1,159 584 .504 279 166 .595 269 494 1,349 16.5 1994-95 82 1,345 685 .509 348 249 .716 281 583 1,689 20.6 1995-96 81 1,276 618 .484 306 229 .748 339 608 1,563 19.3 1996-97 82 1,482 706 .476 355 254 .715 378 583 1,785 21.8 1997-98 82 1,278 579 .453 375 279 .744 376 679 1,571 19.2 1998-99 50 923 401 .434 276 199 .721 244 436 1,084 21.7 1999-00 82 1,666 747 .448 423 311 .735 529 732 1,982 24.2 2000-01 79 1,591 725 .456 354 271 .766 361 642 1,823 23.1 2001-02 82 1,578 737 .467 335 267 .797 396 737 1,815 22.1 2002-03 80 1,466 665 .454 352 250 .710 334 663 1,634 20.4 2003-04 82 1,024 482 .471 252 180 .714 342 449 1,199 14.6 2004-05 77 725 339 .468 201 153 .761 236 469 873 11.3 2005-06 81 547 230 .420 126 100 .794 233 257 626 7.7 2006-07 68 366 144 .393 57 38 .667 132 201 358 5.3 Totals 1,335 18,698 8,708 .466 4,480 3,265 .729 5,269 8,966 21,813 16.3 Notes: GP = games played; FGA = field goals attempted; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTA = free throws attempted; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

316 Basketball Gary Payton top ten all-time in the NBA in games, assists, Honors and Awards steals, and minutes played. Considered one of the best point guards in NBA history, he was 1987 Pac-10 Conference freshman player of the year recognized as much for his outstanding de- 1990 Sports Illustrated college player of the year fense as for his offensive skills and finished Associated Press All-American First Team Second overall pick in NBA draft among the top five in rebounding for his posi- 1991 NBA All-Rookie Second Team tion. 1994-98, 2000-03 NBA All-Star Team For a tough, trash-talking player from the 1994-2002 NBA All-Defensive First Team rough streets of Oakland, Gary demonstrated 1996 Inducted into Oregon State University Sports Hall of Fame he had a soft spot for the less fortunate. In NBA Defensive Player of the Year 1996, he established the Gary Payton Founda- 1996, 2000 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball tion to provide recreational and educational 1997 NBA All-Pro First Team opportunities to underprivileged youths in his hometown. He also was active in HIV aware- ness fund-raising efforts and supported the Boys and Girls Club of America and other charities. He Additional Sources wrote an inspirational children’s book, Confidence Bernstein, Ross. Gary Payton: Star Guard. Spring- Counts. field, N.J.: Enslow, 2000. Hollinger, John. Pro Basketball Prospectus: 2004-2005 Summary Edition. Dulles, Va.: Potomac Books, 2004. A excellent basketball player throughout high Kalb, Elliott. Who’s Better, Who’s Best in Basketball? school and college, Gary Payton rose from the Oak- New York: McGraw-Hill, 2003. land projects to the top of his profession as a point Mandell, Judith. Super Sports Star Gary Payton. Berke- guard in the NBA. Playing seventeen years for five ley Heights, N.J.: Enslow Elementary, 2001. teams, he used superior quickness and good hands Oliver, Jon A. Basketball Fundamentals. Champaign, to star on both offense and defense. A durable Ill.: Human Kinetics, 2003. player who missed only twenty-five games through- Payton, Gary, et al. Confidence Counts. Dallas, Tex.: out his career, Gary gave back to the environ- Taylor, 1999. ment that fostered him, donating time and money Thompson, Keith R. Heroes of the Hardcourt: Rank- in a variety of efforts designed to help troubled ing Pro Basketball’s One Hundred Greatest Players, youths. and Introducing a Whole New Way of Looking at the Vincent F. A. Golphin, updated by Jack Ewing Game. Bloomington, Ind.: AuthorHouse, 2005.

317 Dramen Petrovi6

Born: October 22, 1964 to recruit him to play college basketball in the Šibenik, Croatia, Yugoslavia (now in United States, but he declined, joining the Yugo- Croatia) slav team Cibona Zagreb instead. In 1984-1985, Died: June 7, 1993 Dramen made his first international news when he Denkendorf, near Ingolstadt, Bavaria, scored 112 points in a single game. He played for Germany the Yugoslav team in the 1984 and 1988 Summer Olympics, winning a silver medal with the team in Early Life 1988. The son of a Serbian police chief and a Croatian mother, Dramen Petrovi6 learned to play basketball The Road to Excellence when he was ten years old. Shooting long-distance In 1986, Dramen signed a four-year contract to play became his specialty, as he stepped farther and far- with Real Madrid in Spain. That same year, he was ther away from the basket to attempt shots. At fif- drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in the third teen years old, he joined his first organized basket- round, and after three years of legal wrangling with ball league, in his hometown. When Dramen was a both Real Madrid and the NBA, he finally came to teenager, the University of Notre Dame attempted play for the team in 1989, after he bought out his own contract for $1.5 million. During his time in Portland, Dramen was a backup for Clyde Drexler, competing for time on the floor with Danny Ainge. He continued to work hard, often staying after practice to work on his shooting, confiding in a friend that “I never think, ‘Oh, good, I’ve opened the door to European players, and now I am going to sit on the bench and be happy.’ I want to be a corner- stone of a team, a leader.” When he was traded to the New Jersey Nets in 1991, Dramen quickly be- came a star, leading the Nets to the playoffs as the team’s scoring leader in the 1991-1992 season. Also in 1992, Dramen led the first- ever Croatian Olympic basket- ball team to the silver medal.

The Emerging Champion Known for his offense, especially his three-point shooting ability, Dramen led the league in three- Dramen Petrovi6 taking a shot for the New Jersey Nets in 1993. (Nathaniel S. pointers during his final season Butler/NBAE/Getty Images) in 1993. Surprisingly, he was

318 Basketball Dramen Petrovi6

Honors and Awards Continuing the Story Dramen was playing with the Croatian 1984 Bronze medal, Olympic Basketball national team in a tournament in Po- 1985-86, 1988 Croatian Sportsman of the Year land when he took a few days off to visit 1986 World Championships most valuable player his German girlfriend. On June 7, 1993, m 1988, 1992 Silver medal, Olympic Basketball Dra en was a passenger in his girlfriend’s 1989 European Championship most valuable player car when it collided with a truck that m La Gazzetta dello Sport European Basketball Player of the Year had veered into their lane; Dra en was killed instantly. The news of his death 1992 Best player, Balkan Championship for Junior Men stunned his NBA colleagues but was con- New Jersey Nets most valuable player sidered a national tragedy in Croatia, 1993 All-NBA Third-Team where flags flew at half-mast and thou- Uniform number 3 retired by New Jersey Nets sands of people, including the Croatian 2002 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame president, attended his funeral. 2007 Inducted into FIBA Hall of Fame After Dramen’s death, the Nets re- 2008 Fifty Greatest Euroleague Competitors tired his uniform number, 3, and in 2002, Dramen was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In snubbed by both fans and coaches for the all-star Croatia, more than fifteen years after his death, game that year, although he was named to the all- Dramen remained a revered national sports hero. NBA third team at the end of the season. During In 2001, when Croatian Goran Ivaniševi6 won the his tenure in the NBA, particularly during his rise men’s Wimbledon title, he dedicated the award to with the Nets, Dramen endured ethnic slurs, includ- Dramen, calling him “a great professional athlete of ing ’s implication that Dramen was the world.” complicit with the 1993 World Trade Center bomb- ing. In addition to his frustrations with comments Summary from players such as Starks, Dramen was going Dramen Petrovi6 played an important role in the NBA through difficult contract negotiations with the as one of the first European players in the league, Nets after the 1993 season and was thinking of leav- and at the time of his death, as one of the most ing the NBA to resume his European basketball ca- successful. Experts continue to debate whether or reer. Whether he would have left the Nets to con- not Dramen was the best European player ever. He, tinue his career in Europe if he had lived will unlike some of the European players who came remain unknown. Nonetheless, despite Dramen’s to the NBA before him, came straight from the Eu- difficulties with the Nets, his skills as a player en- ropean leagues, without U.S. college basketball couraged other NBA teams to begin more thor- experience. In this regard, he set the standard ough scouting of the European leagues for poten- for many European players who joined the league tial superstars; future star players, such as Dirk beginning in the 1990’s. He is perhaps most signifi- Nowitzki and Pau Gasol, benefited from Dramen’s cant for the impact he had on Croatia and in pro- impact with the Nets. moting his home country to the rest of the world.

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1989-90 77 207 .485 135 .844 111 116 583 7.6 1990-91 61 243 .493 114 .832 110 86 623 10.2 1991-92 82 668 .508 232 .808 258 252 1,691 20.6 1992-93 70 587 .518 315 .870 190 247 1,564 22.3 Totals 290 1,705 .506 796 .841 669 701 4,461 15.4 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

319 Dramen Petrovi6 Great Athletes

Dramen was a national hero in Croatia, which was “Basketball Talent: Imports Are Up.” The New York still reeling from years of civil war at the time of his Times, August 20, 1989, p. S1. death. Croatians considered Dramen an ambassa- Freeman, Mike. “Petrovi6‘s Fluency Goes Beyond dor not only for his sport but also for his newly 1-2-3.” The New York Times, March 2, 1993, p. S11. formed country. “Mourning Hero Who Transcended Sports World.” Julie Elliott The New York Times, June 9, 1993, p. S12. O’Donnell, Chuck. “A Basketball Pioneer.” Basket- Additional Sources ball Digest 30, no. 8 (Summer, 2003): 18-20. Araton, Harvey. “Petrovi6 an Athlete of the World.” “Petrovi6 Is Buried as a Hero of Croatia.” The New The New York Times, May 7, 2002, p. S1. York Times, June 12, 1993.

320 Bob Pettit

Born: December 12, 1932 School after one day of practice and was the first Baton Rouge, Louisiana player to be dropped from the baseball team. He Also known as: Robert E. Lee Pettit, Jr. (full made the freshman basketball team because of his name) height (5 feet 10 inches) but played in only three games, without scoring a point. Bob became the Early Life butt of jokes because of his athletic failures, and a Robert E. Lee Pettit, Jr., was born on December 12, group of football players shaved his head. 1932, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where his father was the State Director of Institutions. Bob came The Road to Excellence from a tall family: His father was 6 feet 4 inches; his Determined to succeed at basketball, Bob made a mother was 5 feet 8 inches, and her brothers ranged hoop of a wire hanger and shot tennis balls at it un- from 6 feet 2 inches to 6 feet 5 inches. His father til his sympathetic father put up a basket in their had played basketball and baseball in college. backyard and bought him a basketball. His father The skinny Bob was enthusiastic about sports also advised him to skip rope and play but failed at all he attempted. He was cut from to improve his coordination. Hours of practice the freshman football team at Baton Rouge High paid off when Bob made his high school team as a junior. By his senior year, he was 6 feet 7 inches tall and had learned to dominate smaller players, lead- ing Baton Rouge High School to the state champi- onship. Bob was offered fifteen college scholarships but turned them down to accept a tuition-only scholar- ship to Louisiana State University (LSU) in his hometown because he feared he was not good enough to deserve a full scholarship. At the begin- ning of his college career, Bob’s reflexes were slow and he did not know how to play defense, pass, or drive in for a shot. He improved dramatically, how- ever, and was named to all-American teams in his junior and senior seasons, averaging 31.4 points per game in the latter. In 1954, he became the first- round draft choice of the lowly Milwaukee Hawks.

The Emerging Champion Bob had played center in college but was consid- ered too light to meet the physical demands of that position in the NBA. He was switched to forward, becoming, at 6 feet 9 inches, the tallest forward in the game. Coach Red Holtzman also made Bob work on his rebounding and defensive play and forced him to become more aggressive so that heavier players would not push him around so eas- Bob Pettit, who was the first NBA player to reach 20,000 ily. After a slow start, Bob raised his scoring average career points. (Courtesy of Amateur Athletic Founda- to 20.4 points per game and was named the league’s tion of Los Angeles) rookie of the year.

321 Bob Pettit Great Athletes

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1954-55 72 520 .407 426 .751 994 229 1,466 20.4 1955-56 72 646 .429 557 .736 1,164 189 1,849 25.7 1956-57 71 613 .415 529 .773 1,037 133 1,755 24.7 1957-58 70 581 .410 557 .745 1,216 157 1,719 24.6 1958-59 72 719 .438 667 .758 1,182 221 2,105 29.2 1959-60 72 669 .438 544 .753 1,221 257 1,882 26.1 1960-61 76 769 .447 582 .724 1,540 262 2,120 27.9 1961-62 78 867 .450 695 .771 1,459 289 2,429 31.1 1962-63 79 778 .446 685 .774 1,191 245 2,241 28.4 1963-64 80 791 .463 608 .789 1,224 259 2,190 27.4 1964-65 50 396 .429 332 .820 621 128 1,124 22.5 Totals 792 7,349 .436 6,182 .761 12,849 2,369 20,880 26.4 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

After Bob’s rookie season, the Hawks moved to able player for the second time, and he set an NBA St. Louis, and the team’s star responded to in- record for points in a season that was broken the creased fan support. He led the league in scoring following year by Wilt Chamberlain. The 1958 and was named the NBA’s most valuable player. As championship was Bob’s only one. The Hawks ad- Bob improved, so did the Hawks. In the 1956-1957 vanced to the championship series two more times season, the team that had finished in last place only but were defeated by the Celtics both times. two seasons earlier advanced to the NBA Finals but lost to the Boston Celtics. Continuing the Story The following season, led by coach Alex Han- Bob was the dominant scorer in the NBA before num, the Hawks returned to the finals and de- the arrival of Chamberlain. He scored both from feated the Celtics four games to two. The final outside, using a soft, smooth jump shot, and inside game was particularly dramatic as Bob scored 50 on sheer determination. He was the first NBA points, including 19 of his team’s final 21, making player to score 20,000 points in a career and fin- the winning basket in the final second to lead St. ished with a career average of 26.4 points per game. Louis to a 110-109 victory. He was named most valu- Not satisfied merely to score, Bob worked hard to become one of professional bas- Honors, Awards, and Records ketball’s greatest all-time rebounders. He averaged 16.2 rebounds a game 1953-54 Consensus All-American over his career, learning to use finesse 1955 NBA Rookie of the Year and positioning to offset the strength 1955-65 NBA All-Star Team of heavier opponents. Bob was an NBA All-NBA Team all-star each of his eleven seasons in 1956, 1958-59, 1962 NBA All-Star Game most valuable player (corecipient 1959) the league. Through 2008, his 27 re- 1956, 1959 NBA most valuable player bounds were still the record for the 1958 NBA record for the most free throws made in a Finals game, 19 most rebounds in a NBA all-star game. 1962 NBA record for the most rebounds in an All-Star Game, 27 Many experts label Bob as the greatest 1970 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame all-star performer in the history of NBA 25th Anniversary All-Time Team the NBA. 1979 NCAA Silver Anniversary Award By the time he retired, Bob had set 1980 NBA 35th Anniversary All-Time Team NBA records (all since broken) for 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team points scored, field goals made, and Uniform number 9 retired by Atlanta Hawks minutes played. His statistics would have been more impressive had he

322 Basketball Bob Pettit not been hampered by such injuries as two broken the NBA, Bob was named one of the fifty greatest arms, four fractures in his back, various facial lacer- NBA players of all time. ations requiring a total of 125 stitches, and a knee injury that prematurely ended his career in 1965. Summary Bob became one of the classiest, most exciting Bob Pettit began his professional basketball career players of his time by overcoming his natural frailty during a period when 6-foot 9-inch players were and awkwardness through hard work. Sympa- considered giants and ended it when players even thizing with other tall people who were ridiculed taller were commonplace. He was dominant be- because of their size, he worked with youngsters to cause of his height and excelled through his speed, help them gain self-confidence. Bob was inducted ballhandling ability, shooting accuracy, intelligence, into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of and, most important, fierce competitiveness. Fame in 1970. Michael Adams In 1962, Bob began working for the American Bank and Trust Company and became a vice presi- Additional Sources dent of the bank when he retired from professional Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- basketball. He was the co-organizer and first presi- ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters Press, 2000. dent of the Southern Indiana Officials Association Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling and then served the University of Evansville as the Kindersley, 2003. director of the physical education department and Kalb, Elliott. Who’s Better, Who’s Best in Baseball: Mr. subsequently as the athletic director. Bob also Stats Sets the Record Straight on the Top Seventy-five spent twenty years as a high school and college ref- Players of All Time. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005. eree. He married Carole Crowell, a native of Alex- Pettit, Bob, and . Bob Pettit: The Drive andria, Louisiana, on June 19, 1965. In 1970, Bob Within Me. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, was named to the NBA’s twenty-fifth anniversary 1966. all-time team; in 1980, he was named to the NBA’s Shouler, Kenneth A. The Experts Pick Basketball’s Best thirty-fifth anniversary all-time team. In 1996, as Fifty Players in the Last Fifty Years. Lenexa, Kans.: part of the celebration of the golden anniversary of Addax, 1998.

323 Paul Pierce

Born: October 13, 1977 player of the year and was selected as a McDonald’s Oakland, California all-American. In one playoff game, he scored Also known as: Paul Anthony Pierce (full name); twenty points in two minutes. A Los Angeles Lakers the Truth fan, Paul and friends often sneaked into the Great Western Forum to watch the team. He and his Early Life friends hated the Boston Celtics. Paul Anthony Pierce was born in Oakland, Califor- nia, to Lorraine Hosey and George Pierce; he has The Road to Excellence two older half brothers. Lorraine, a single mother, Heavily recruited by colleges, Paul chose the Uni- moved with Paul to the poor, tough Los Angeles versity of Kansas for its historically strong basket- suburb of Inglewood after Paul finished the sixth ball program. On scholarship, he majored in crime grade. Under the guidance of assistant coach and and delinquency studies. From 1996 to 1998, at 6 policeman Sean Collins, Paul grew from a pudgy feet 6 inches and 235 pounds, he played as both child into a fierce competitor: He got into fistfights shooting guard and , or , with other players if he thought they were not play- for the varsity Jayhawks. He was a member of the ing hard enough. He got up at 5:30 in the morning 1996 USA Under-21 World Championship team to play basketball before classes and often played that won a gold medal with a 5-0 record. Paul con- until 10 at night. He was not a varsity starter until sidered turning professional after his sophomore his junior year. In 1996, he was the California year but stayed with the Jayhawks, hoping to win a

Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce posting up against Kobe Bryant in the 2008 NBA Finals. (Lucy Nicholson/ Reuters/Landov)

324 Basketball Paul Pierce

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1998-99 48 284 .439 139 .713 309 115 791 16.5 1999-00 73 486 .442 359 .798 396 221 1,427 19.5 2000-01 82 687 .454 550 .745 522 253 2,071 25.3 2001-02 82 707 .442 520 .809 566 261 2,144 26.1 2002-03 79 663 .416 604 .802 578 349 2,048 25.9 2003-04 80 602 .402 517 .819 522 410 1,836 23.0 2004-05 82 556 .455 549 .822 539 348 1,769 21.6 2005-06 79 689 .471 627 .772 530 375 2,116 26.8 2006-07 47 373 .439 320 .796 277 194 1,173 25.0 2007-08 80 509 .464 409 .843 411 363 1,570 19.6 Totals 733 5,556 .442 4,594 .795 4,650 2,889 16,945 23.1 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game title. He was enjoying college life and was not ready In 2001, Paul won the three-point contest in the for the business of professional sports. In 1997, he all-star game. That year, Shaquille O’Neal dubbed was selected for the all-Big Twelve Conference Paul “The Truth,” a tribute to his playing abilities. third team. Although he played only three years, as A member of the 2002 USA FIBA World Champi- of 2008, Paul was the sixth all-time leading scorer onship team, he was the leading scorer, but the for the Jayhawks and only one of seven players to team ultimately lost. In 2002-2003, Paul, was the score 700 points in a season. His number 34 jersey Celtics’ leading scorer, averaging 25.9 points per was retired in 2003. game, and helped the team to 40-plus wins in con- In 1998, his junior year, Paul was selected tenth secutive seasons for the first time since the 1991- overall round by the Boston Celtics; some were sur- 1992 and 1992-1993 seasons. Paul and cocaptain prised Paul was not taken earlier in the draft. Antoine Walker were twice selected as Eastern Therefore, Paul felt motivated to work hard to Conference players of week, and Paul played on his demonstrate his talent. He practiced shooting by first NBA Eastern Conference all-star team. The calling out the names of those selected ahead of Celtics reached the playoffs for the first time since him and the teams that passed on him before re- 1994-1995 but lost to the New Jersey Nets in the leasing the ball. Eastern Conference Finals. With 2,144 points, Paul became the first Celtic to finish as the league leader The Emerging Champion in total points scored and the first Celtic since In February, 1999, Paul was the NBA rookie of the Larry Bird to score 2,000 points in consecutive sea- month; later that season, he was a unanimous sons. Paul ranked first in the NBA and broke the choice for the all-rookie first team. In fall 2000, franchise record in free throws made and at- Paul was stabbed multiple times in an altercation at tempted, shooting 604-for-753, 80.2 percent. For a bar in Boston. Surviving life-saving surgery, he the second year in a row, the Celtics lost to the Nets. was returned to the court in three weeks and scored thirty points in his first game Honors and Awards back. During that season, he was the only Celtic who played in all eighty-two games 1995-96 Big Eight Conference Freshman of the Year and led the team in points scored, averag- 1997-98 Big Twelve Conference tournament most valuable player ing 25.3 per game. In March, 2001, he was 1998 Associated Press First Team All-American NBA player of the month, averaging 30.3 1999 NBA All-Rookie Team points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.6 2002-03, 2008 All-NBA Third Team steals. With 738 free-throw attempts, he 2002-06, 2008-09 NBA All-Star Team surpassed the previous team record set by 2008 NBA Finals most valuable player Cedric Maxwell in 1978-1979.

325 Paul Pierce Great Athletes

Cocaptain again, Paul became the first Celtic complete turnaround from the second-worst rec- since Larry Bird to post four consecutive seasons of ord in the NBA in 2006-2007 to the best, with 66 more than 3,000 minutes, with 3,099. He also wins and only 16 losses in 2007-2008. In a dramatic reached 10,000 points in his 431st career game, moment of game one of the NBA Finals against the surpassing Bird, who did not score his 10,000th Los Angeles Lakers, Paul injured his knee, was car- point until his 436th career game. Between 2001 ried to a wheelchair, and went to the locker room. and 2005, Paul was the NBA player of the week nine However, he emerged two minutes later and imme- times. diately made two three-point baskets. Boston won its seventeenth NBA Championship on June 17, Continuing the Story 2008, and Paul was selected as the series MVP. Paul became the Celtics’ sole captain in 2005-2006. In March, 2006, he was named to the USA Basket- Summary ball men’s senior national team but could not com- Through early 2009, Paul Pierce had played his en- pete because of elbow surgery. tire career for the Boston Celtics, wearing number Paul scored 30 or more points in thirteen of 34. A seven-time all-star, he was the sixth highest fourteen games between February 4 and March 8, scorer in Celtics history. He also generously do- 2006, a feat no other Celtic had ever accomplished. nated his time to charities in both Boston and Los In February, he averaged a league-high 33.5 points Angeles. Paul’s statistics made him one of the all- per game, making him the first Celtic since John time best Celtics, putting him in the company of Havlicek in 1970 to lead the league in scoring in a some of the best players ever on the team with the month. By the end of the season, he had tied Bird’s most NBA Championships in history. record of more than 2,000 points in four seasons. Jane Brodsky Fitzpatrick He was one of only two NBA players to score more than 15 points in every game he played that season, Additional Sources and the only player to lead his team in points, 26.8; Shenolikar, Sachin. “No Doubt.” Sports Illustrated rebounds, 6.7; assists, 4.7; and steals, 1.4. for Kids 14, no. 5 (May, 2002). The 2007-2008 season was Paul’s tenth with the Wise, Mike. “Pierce Finds New Life in His Game.” Celtics. When general manager Danny Ainge The New York Times, January 5, 2002. added Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to the team, Witz, Billy. “Pierce’s Road from Inglewood Could Paul finally had all-stars as teammates. Maturing to Hit Its Summit Nearby.” The New York Times, June a team-oriented player, Paul led the Celtics in a 10, 2008.

326 Scottie Pippen

Born: September 25, 1965 dence was boosted. With a proper diet and work- Hamburg, Arkansas out routine, he gained weight and began to look Also known as: Scottie Maurice Pippen (full like the strong athlete that he had become. Reach- name); Pip ing his full height of 6 feet 7 inches during his senior year, Scottie distinguished himself by retain- Early Life ing the remarkable balance, speed, and coordina- The youngest of twelve children, Scottie Pippen tion that he had developed as a smaller man. was born into an impoverished family in rural Averaging more than 23 points per game during Hamburg, Arkansas. Scottie’s father, Preston, la- his senior season, Scottie showed that he was a pro- bored in a paper mill, earning a meager salary that fessional prospect, but his school had never been a hardly fed the large family. Preston was the vic- big draw for recruiters. In fact, no player from Cen- tim of repeated heart attacks, and his health deteriorated until his death in 1991. Scottie’s mother headed the household and tended to her family’s daily needs. Scottie helped with chores and earned money doing odd jobs and babysitting. Occasionally, he played basketball with friends from school. As a youth, Scottie was not an especially im- pressive athlete. He failed to make his high school’s varsity basketball team until his senior year, by which time he had barely reached 6 feet in height. College recruiters bypassed the lanky Scottie. Through the efforts of his high school coach, Scottie was offered a grant from the University of Central Arkansas to be the basketball team’s towel boy. Swallowing his pride, Scottie jumped at the free ticket to col- lege; he was only the second member of his large family to attend a university. He worked hard and held out hope that if he succeeded in college he would be able to raise his family out of poverty.

The Road to Excellence Scottie enjoyed playing in practice games with Central Arkansas’ basketball team, but he earned his permanent spot on the squad by default: When two players were injured, he stepped in as point guard. Smaller than most of his teammates, Scottie was better able to co- ordinate his moves, but he lacked confidence. By his sophomore year, Scottie had grown a Chicago Bulls forward Scottie Pippen completing a reverse few inches and clearly stood out as the team’s slam dunk in a 1992 playoff game. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Im- best player. As his game improved, his confi- ages)

327 Scottie Pippen Great Athletes tral Arkansas had ever advanced to the NBA. Marty The Emerging Champion Blake, a scout who worked for the league, was im- Scottie lived up to the Bulls’ expectations in prac- pressed, however, and was persistent in getting tices following the draft, but once the playing sea- Scottie noticed. Playing in top form at the predraft son began, he floundered. Not only was he indeci- Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, Scottie made sive on the court, but he also suffered from a deep impression on NBA coaches. debilitating back pain. After he underwent back The Chicago Bulls wanted to draft Scottie, but surgery at the close of his first NBA season, how- the team had only the eighth pick in the 1987 NBA ever, his game displayed marked improvement. His draft and feared another club would select him ear- agility and increasing confidence contributed sig- lier. On the eve of the draft, the Bulls made a deal nificantly to the Bulls’ success. Many attributed his with the Seattle SuperSonics, who had a higher growth to Jordan’s expert tutelage, but others sug- drafting position, to ensure that Scottie would go gested that the nagging pressure of proximity to to Chicago. Seattle took Scottie with the fifth pick, Jordan led Scottie to excel. then immediately sent him to Chicago for the In his second season, Scottie helped his team to Bulls’ choice, Olden Polynice, and a future draft advance to the NBA’s Eastern Conference Finals. pick. The deal was one the SuperSonics came to re- When an on-court collision left him with a concus- gret. sion, however, he was forced out of a key game, and Although the Bulls had exerted great effort to the Bulls lost the series, and a spot in the NBA Fi- secure Scottie, the team’s management still har- nals, to the Detroit Pistons. Playing well in 1990, bored doubts about his ability to withstand the Scottie became an all-star, and the Bulls advanced pressures of the NBA. Scottie seemed to lack the to the Eastern Conference Finals again. Just prior confidence and arrogance that characterize most to the decisive seventh game, however, Scottie de- professional ballplayers. He was surprised by the veloped a migraine headache and had to sit out the buzz of the draft, and he was unaccustomed to the game. Without him, the Bulls lost to the Pistons attention that suddenly focused on him as the fifth again, missing the chance to play for the league pick. Once he got to Chicago, however, he fell championship for a second year in a row. This inci- neatly into the shadow of his teammate, Michael dent and Scottie’s inconsistencies led people to Jordan. question both his endurance and his ability to de- liver under pressure. NBA Statistics In the 1991-1992 season, Scot- tie started slowly, but his game Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG picked up halfway through the 1987-88 79 261 .463 99 .576 298 169 625 7.9 season. Increasingly, he stood 1988-89 73 413 .476 201 .668 445 256 1,048 14.4 out as an important force on his 1989-90 82 562 .489 199 .675 547 444 1,351 16.5 1990-91 82 600 .520 240 .706 595 511 1,461 17.8 team, averaging 21 points per 1991-92 82 687 .506 330 .760 630 572 1,720 21.0 game and winning selection to 1992-93 81 628 .473 232 .663 621 507 1,510 18.6 the NBA all-defensive team. The 1993-94 72 627 .491 270 .660 629 403 1,587 22.0 1994-95 79 634 .480 315 .716 639 409 1,692 21.4 competitive rivalry that charac- 1995-96 77 563 .463 220 .679 496 452 1,496 19.4 terized the relationship between 1996-97 82 648 .474 204 .701 531 467 1,656 20.2 Scottie and Jordan was finally 1997-98 44 315 .447 150 .777 227 254 841 19.1 1998-99 50 261 .432 132 .721 323 293 726 14.5 maturing into a more supportive, 1999-00 82 388 .451 160 .717 513 406 1,022 12.5 fraternal relationship. As friends 2000-01 64 269 .451 119 .739 333 294 721 11.3 and teammates, they drove the 2001-02 62 246 .411 113 .774 321 363 659 10.6 2002-03 64 265 .444 121 .818 278 285 689 10.8 Bulls to record-setting victories 2003-04 23 53 .379 17 .630 68 50 136 5.9 in the 1991, 1992, and 1993 NBA Totals 1,178 1,335 .473 772 .704 7,494 6,135 18,940 16.1 Finals. Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free Scottie’s skill and popularity throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; were evident in his selection to PPG = points per game the 1992 Olympic Dream Team. For the first time in Olympic his-

328 Basketball Scottie Pippen

Honors and Awards the 1999-2000 season. He helped bring the Blazers to within one game of the NBA Finals that year. 1990, 1992-97 NBA All-Star Team However, the team was eliminated in the first 1991, 2000 NBA All-Defensive Second Team round of the 2001 playoffs. 1992-99 NBA All-Defensive First Team 1992, 1996 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball After the 2002-2003 season, Scottie returned to 1992, 1997 All-NBA Second Team the Bulls, but because of nagging injuries, he only 1993, 1998 All-NBA Third Team played twenty-three games and then retired. Be- 1994 NBA All-Star Game most valuable player 1994-96 All-NBA First Team cause he was threatened with a breach-of-contract 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team lawsuit, he considered returning to the NBA, but he did not play again in the league. He played a few games in Europe during the 2006-2007 season, first tory, the United States was allowed to compose a in Finland and then in Sweden. During his NBA ca- team of professional, rather than amateur, basket- reer he set many records for small forwards, includ- ball players. Scottie lived his Olympic dream play- ing most assists and steals. ing alongside Jordan, Magic Johnson, Charles Scottie’s success in basketball not only enabled Barkley, Larry Bird, and other greats to win the him to pull his family far above the poverty line but gold medal for the United States. also opened a world of opportunity to the boy from rural Arkansas. However, much of the money he Continuing the Story earned was mismanaged, but he sued and received With Michael Jordan’s surprising retirement from a large settlement. Among his other activities, he basketball in 1993, Scottie emerged as Chicago’s ran a summer basketball camp at Central Arkansas uncontested star. In the 1994 all-star game, his and appeared in television commercials. He also fourth, Scottie showed the NBA’s best players that served as an analyst for the NBA on ABC and ESPN. he would not be overshadowed any longer. He He established the Scottie Pippen Youth Founda- scored 29 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and made tion to provide assistance for struggling young peo- 4 steals on his way to winning the game’s most valu- ple and spent time visiting underprivileged chil- able player honors. dren in Chicago. Scottie was an all-around player who could re- bound, shoot, run the offense, hit “clutch” shots, Summary defend, hit three-point shots, and make key steals. Although Scottie Pippen experienced some hum- He was named to the all-NBA defensive first team bling moments in his career, he was a true suc- for eight consecutive seasons between 1992 and cess story. His ballhandling skills and court vision 1999. In 1994, 1995, and 1996, he was selected to redefined the small-forward position, which he the all-NBA first team. As part of the celebration of termed the “point-forward” position. He overcame the golden anniversary of the NBA in 1996, he was many challenges, which molded him into a great named one of the fifty greatest NBA players of all athlete. time. Debra L. Picker, updated by Thomas L. Erskine Scottie earned another gold medal as part of the 1996 U.S. Olympic team. After Jordan came out of Additional Sources retirement, Scottie and Jordan combined to guide Kalb, Elliott. Who’s Better, Who’s Best in Basketball? the Bulls to another “three-peat,” winning the NBA Mr. Stats Sets the Record Straight on the Top Fifty Championship in 1996, 1997, and 1998. During NBA Players of All Time. Chicago: Contemporary the 1996 season, the Bulls set the NBA record for Books, 2004. the most wins in a season, with seventy-two. Pippen, Scottie. Scottie Pippen: Reach Higher. Lan- Scottie was traded to the Houston Rockets in ham, Md.: Taylor Trade, 1997. January, 1998. Soon thereafter, Barkley signed a Pippen, Scottie, and . Memoirs. New one-year contract to stay with the Rockets. This York: HarperCollins, 1997. combination did not work out, as Scottie openly “Super Sidekicks.” Sports Illustrated 106 (January criticized Barkley as a selfish player. As a result, 22, 2007): 63. Scottie was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers for

329 Frank Ramsey

Born: July 13, 1931 Kentucky continued to dominate national col- Corydon, Kentucky lege basketball during Frank’s junior year as the Also known as: Frank Vernon Ramsey, Jr. (full Wildcats finished 29-3. Frank played in all thirty- name); Kentucky Colonel two games, averaged 15.9 points, and had 383 re- bounds. Early Life In the midst of the Wildcats’ success, though, Frank Vernon Ramsey, Jr., was born in Madison- trouble was brewing. The Kentucky team was ville, Kentucky, on July 13, 1931, to Frank, Sr., and placed on probation during the 1952-1953 season Sara Ramsey. On the same day, one hour later, in for recruiting violations and was forbidden to play the city of Lexington, some 200 miles away and in NCAA contests. Instead, the team played scrim- where Frank would one day become a national bas- mage games. ketball champion, a girl named Jean Hardwick was In the 1953-1954 season, Frank teamed with an- born. Twenty-three years later they would wed. other all-American, Cliff Hagan, to lead Kentucky Playing basketball and baseball and regularly at- to the Wildcats’ first perfect season, 25-0, and tending church with his mother were major parts the SEC Championship. However, the Wildcats re- of Frank’s early life. Frank was also known for his jected an NCAA tournament bid because Frank, colorful antics on and off the basketball court. He Cliff, and another senior were declared ineligible became an outstanding high school player and was for tournament play. a 1948 high school basketball all-American. After Frank left Kentucky after helping lead the Wild- graduation, Frank left Madisonville to attend the cats to an 86-5 record in three seasons. Frank University of Kentucky, where he played basketball scored 1,344 points during his University of Ken- for Adolph Rupp. tucky career, averaging 14.7 points per game. Frank was awarded the school’s Chandler Trophy The Road to Excellence in recognition of his leadership, scholarship, char- When the Kentucky Wildcats opened the 1950- acter, and ability. 1951 season, they had high hopes for Frank. He ex- ceeded all expectations. Like others before him, The Emerging Champion Frank learned quickly that the Kentucky Wildcats After his graduation, Frank was drafted by the Bos- were more than a great team: They were a lifestyle. ton Celtics of the NBA. After completing a brief People defied doctors’ orders to go to games. military service tour as a jailer at Ft. Knox, Ken- Thousands of fans listened avidly to Kentucky games on radio, since tickets were almost impossi- NBA Statistics ble for many fans to get. Scrimmages usually drew nine thousand spectators. Season GP FGM FTM TP PPG Frank became a part of this rich basketball tradi- 1954-55 64 236 243 715 11.2 1956-57 35 137 144 418 11.9 tion quickly. As a sophomore he was a leader on a 1957-58 69 377 383 1,137 16.5 Kentucky team that had a 32-2 record and won the 1958-59 72 383 341 1,107 15.4 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 1959-60 73 422 273 1,117 15.3 1960-61 79 448 295 1,191 15.1 championship. His 10.1-points-per-game scoring 1961-62 79 436 334 1,206 15.3 average and 434 rebounds playing the guard posi- 1962-63 77 284 271 839 10.9 tion influenced others in the Southeastern Confer- 1963-64 75 226 196 648 8.6 ence (SEC); Frank was selected as the SEC’s out- Totals 623 2,949 2,480 8,378 13.4 standing sophomore for the 1950-1951 season. Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FTM = free Frank was mentioned as an all-American in many throws made; TP = total points; PPG = points per game polls.

330 Basketball Frank Ramsey

Honors and Awards tired in 1964. In Frank’s last six seasons the Celtics won the championship every year. In 1951 SEC Outstanding Sophomore Basketball Player the nine seasons he played for Boston, Frank 1951-52 College All-American scored 8,378 points and averaged 13.4 points 1952, 1954 All-SEC Team 1954 Consensus All-American per game in a reserve role. His uniform num- Chandler Trophy ber 23 was retired by the Celtics. Former Cel- 1981 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame tics coach Red Auerbach dubbed Frank the Uniform number 23 retired by Boston Celtics most versatile player ever to play in the NBA. At the end of Frank’s playing career, Auer- bach asked him to serve as an assistant coach tucky, he joined the Celtics and became an integral for the Celtics. Because of the instability associated part of seven NBA Championship teams in eight with coaching, Frank gracefully declined. A few years. years later, Frank gave coaching a try with the Ken- Frank once said that he haggled with the Celtics tucky Colonels of the American Basketball Associa- only once about money—during his rookie season tion (ABA). After guiding the Colonels into the in 1954. Frank and Red Auerbach, the Celtics’ ABA playoffs and losing, Frank chose to leave the coach and manager, agreed on a salary of $8,000. position after only one year at the helm. After that Frank let the Celtics pay him whatever In 1981, in recognition of his three years as a salary they thought he was worth. The most Frank Kentucky Wildcat varsity player and his play for the was ever paid was $20,000 a year. Known as the Boston Celtics, Frank was elected to the Naismith “Kentucky Colonel,” Frank was always ready to play Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. a game and did whatever it took to win. He was a After his retirement, Frank returned to Madison- confident player who excelled in “clutch” situa- ville, where he became a successful businessman tions. All his averages went up in playoff games. and banker. Frank also served as a member of the Frank was instrumental in bringing the Celtics University of Kentucky Board of Trustees. its first NBA title. The Celtics’ championship play- off series with the St. Louis Hawks was tied at the Summary start of the seventh and final game. In double over- Frank was the first “substitute player” admitted to time, Frank made an off-balance twenty-foot jump the hall of fame. He was the NBA’s first legitimate shot to put Boston ahead 124-122, and the Celtics “sixth man,” a role that became integral to future went on to win, 125-123. generations of NBA teams. Frank was an all- Frank became the first “sixth man” in profes- purpose player who played hard every time he put sional basketball. He was capable of playing in the on a uniform. backcourt or up front. The Celtics often turned to Ronald L. Crosbie Frank to break the game open in a matter of min- utes. He gave the Celtics the needed spark. Additional Sources Ballard, Chris. “Frank Ramsey, Celtics Sixth Man.” Continuing the Story Sports Illustrated 94, no. 9 (February 26, 2001): Frank was an integral part of a Boston era that in- 14. cluded other Celtics and greats such as Bill Russell, Bjarkman, Peter C. Boston Celtics Encyclopedia. Cham- Tom Heinsohn, Sam and K. C. Jones, Bob Cousy, paign, Ill.: Sports, 2002. , and Bill Sharman. Frank was the Hubbard, Jan, and David J. Stern. The Official NBA perfect sixth man, a versatile and steady performer Encyclopedia. New York: Doubleday, 2000. as well as a real producer for the Celtics. His best Shaughnessy, Dan. Ever Green: The Boston Celtics, a season with Boston was 1957-1958, when he aver- History in the Words of Their Players, Coaches, Fans, aged 16.5 points per game and had 504 rebounds. and Foes, from 1946 to the Present. New York: St. Frank played nine seasons for the Celtics. He re- Martin’s Press, 1991.

331 Willis Reed

Born: June 25, 1942 (NAIA) small-college championship during his Hico, Louisiana freshman year. Willis averaged 18.5 points per Also known as: Willis Reed, Jr. (full name) game in his four years at Grambling, and he led the team to three Southwestern Atlantic Conference Early Life Championships. Willis was named to the Little All- Willis Reed, Jr., was born on June 25, 1942, in Hico, American team three times, and he also repre- Louisiana. He was the only child of Willis Sr. and sented the United States in the 1963 Pan-American Inell Reed. His father worked as a warehouse fore- Games in Brazil. His only basketball disappoint- man. Willis grew up in the farming community of ment during his college years was that he did not Bernice, Louisiana. As a child, he earned money make the 1964 U.S. Olympic team. However, Willis doing a variety of odd jobs such as hauling hay and had proven to be a high-quality basketball player, cutting grass. Willis was always tall for his age and and he expected to be drafted into the professional not very coordinated. By the time he reached the ranks. eighth grade, he stood 6 feet 2 inches tall. Willis started playing basketball because of his size, but he was not very good at first. He participated in a number of sports at Westside High School, which was located in the nearby town of Lillie, Louisiana. Westside’s basketball coach, Lendon Stone, con- vinced Willis to improve his coordination by jump- ing rope and doing daily drills. Willis’s skills as a basketball player began to show refinement. Al- though he was tall enough to play as a center, Willis was determined to learn to handle the ball as profi- ciently as someone playing a guard position.

The Road to Excellence Willis averaged 12 points per game playing center for Westside during his freshman year. He in- creased his average per game to 17.5 in his sopho- more year, and college recruiters began to take no- tice. Willis had already made up his mind to attend Grambling College, an all-black school in Gram- bling, Louisiana. The basketball coach from Gram- bling, Fred Hobdy, helped Willis while he was still playing at Westside by providing him with size- fifteen basketball shoes. Willis had grown to 6 feet 7 inches by the time he graduated from Westside in 1960, and he had become an all-state performer in both basketball and football. Willis was also a good student, so he had no trouble getting admitted to Grambling. The left-handed Willis had a successful career at Grambling. In 1961, he helped his team win the New York Knicks center Willis Reed. (Courtesy of New National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics York Knickerbockers)

332 Basketball Willis Reed

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1964-65 80 629 .432 302 .742 1,175 133 1,560 19.5 1965-66 76 438 .434 302 .757 883 91 1,178 15.5 1966-67 78 635 .489 358 .735 1,136 126 1,628 20.9 1967-68 81 659 .490 367 .721 1,073 159 1,685 20.8 1968-69 82 704 .521 325 .747 1,191 190 1,733 21.1 1969-70 81 702 .507 351 .756 1,126 161 1,755 21.7 1970-71 73 614 .462 299 .785 1,003 148 1,527 20.9 1971-72 11 60 .438 27 .692 96 22 147 13.4 1972-73 69 334 .474 92 .742 590 126 760 11.0 1973-74 19 84 .457 42 .792 141 30 210 11.1 Totals 650 4,859 .476 2,465 .747 8,414 1,186 12,183 18.7 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

The Emerging Champion kee Bucks to reach the NBA Finals against the Los The NBA held its annual draft in May of 1964. Wil- Angeles Lakers. Willis had to miss much of the final lis was chosen by the New York Knicks in the second series with a hip injury, but his leadership and in- round of the draft. He was disappointed that no spirational presence proved to be too much for the team had picked him in the first round. Willis was Lakers, and the Knicks won the franchise’s first determined to prove to the Knicks and the NBA NBA Championship. In 1970, Willis was named that he was better than a second-round choice. By NBA most valuable player (MVP) for the regular the time Willis left college, he stood 6 feet 10 inches season and NBA playoff MVP. He was also selected and weighed 240 pounds. Playing the center posi- to the all-NBA first team and the NBA all-defensive tion his rookie season for New York, he left no first team. doubt that he was going to be a star in the NBA. Wil- lis averaged 19.5 points per game and established a Continuing the Story new Knicks rebounding record with a total of In 1973, the Knicks won the NBA Championship 1,175. In 1965, he was named rookie of the year again. They defeated the Lakers in the finals, and and was selected to the NBA all-rookie team. Willis was named MVP for the playoffs once again. For most of the next three seasons, Willis was He had suffered a variety of injuries during the sea- moved to the forward position, since the Knicks son, though, and 1973 was his last year with the had acquired the veteran center . The Knicks. Willis played for the Seattle SuperSonics new position was a challenge for Willis, but he during the 1973-1974 campaign, but knee injuries made the extra effort to help his team, and the Knicks advanced into the playoffs at the end of Honors and Awards the 1966-1967 season. The center position was more natural for 1965 NBA Rookie of the Year Willis, and he got his chance to go back to that NBA All-Rookie Team position in the 1968-1969 season. The Knicks 1965-71 NBA All-Star Team 1967-69, 1971 All-NBA Second Team traded Bellamy to the Detroit Pistons for Dave 1970 NBA most valuable player DeBuschere in December of 1968. With for- All-NBA First Team ward DeBuschere added to the team, Willis re- NBA All-Defensive First Team turned to the pivot position. The Knicks were NBA All-Star Game most valuable player finally becoming a solid team. Everything came Inducted into NAIA Basketball Hall of Fame 1970, 1973 NBA Playoff most valuable player together for the Knicks in the 1969-1970 sea- 1976 Uniform number 19 retired by New York Knicks son. The team finished the regular season in 1981 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame first place in the Eastern division and then de- 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team feated the Baltimore Bullets and the Milwau-

333 Willis Reed Great Athletes

kept him out of the lineup for most of the season. the NBA during the 1996-1997 season, Willis was At the end of the season, Willis decided to retire as named one of the fifty greatest NBA players of all a player. time. He later became the New Orleans Hornets’ During his ten-year career, he averaged 18.7 vice president of basketball operations. points per game and more than 12 rebounds a game. Upon retirement, Willis was the only player Summary in NBA history to win the regular season MVP, the In 1981, Willis Reed was named to the Naismith all-star MVP,and the finals MVP all in the same year Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. His tenure with (1970). In 1976, the Knicks retired his uniform the New York Knicks was remarkable not only for number 19—the first uniform number ever retired his statistics but also for the inspirational attitude by the Knicks—paying tribute to Willis as the spirit that Willis brought to the game. He was always de- of the Knicks during the 1970’s. termined to give his best for the good of the team. After his retirement as a player, Willis invested in The intangibles that he brought to the Knicks’ two a variety of business ventures. In 1977, he was championship seasons were the material from named to replace Red Holzman as coach of the which legends are made. Willis was a winner and a Knicks. Willis took the team to the playoffs in his credit to basketball. first season as head coach, but he was fired after Jeffry Jensen only fourteen games in his second year. He served as an assistant coach at St. John’s University during Additional Sources the 1980-1981 season and as the head coach of Gutman, Bill. Tales from the 1969-1970 New York Creighton University from 1981 to 1985. In 1985 Knicks. Champaign, Ill.: Sports, 2005. Willis served as an assistant coach with the Atlanta Heisler, Mark, Willis Reed, Jerry West, and Pete Hawks, and later filled the same role with the Sacra- Newell. Big Men Who Shook the NBA. Chicago: Tri- mento Kings. umph Books, 2005. Willis became head coach of the New Jersey Nets Kalb, Elliott. Who’s Better, Who’s Best in Basketball? in February, 1988. When the season ended in 1989, Mr. Stats Sets the Record Straight on the Top Fifty he moved to the Nets’ front office. In 1993, Willis NBA Players of All Time. Chicago: Contemporary was appointed the Nets’ general manager. Within Books, 2004. two years, he built a perennial playoff contender. Kalinsky, George, and Phil Berger. The New York In 1996, when was hired as the Nets’ Knicks: The Official Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration. head coach, Willis became the senior vice presi- New York: Macmillan, 1996. dent of basketball operations for the franchise. As Mallozzi, Vincent M. Basketball: The Legends and the part of the celebration of the golden anniversary of Game. Willowdale, Ont.: Firefly Books, 1998.

334 Oscar Robertson

Born: November 24, 1938 The Road to Excellence Charlotte, Tennessee Oscar began to excel on the playgrounds of India- Also known as: Oscar Palmer Robertson (full napolis even against older boys. Oscar’s older name); the Big O brother Bailey was an outstanding high school player, and his success inspired Oscar to continue Early Life to develop. In 1953, Oscar entered the all-black Oscar Palmer Robertson was born on November 24, high school Crispus Attucks and made the varsity 1938, in the small town of Charlotte, Tennessee. team as a freshman. In his second year in high He was the youngest of three boys. His family was school, Oscar began to make a name for himself. As poor and there was little work for his father, so they a sixteen-year-old sophomore, Oscar led his team moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, when Oscar was to the final sixteen teams in the state tournament five years old. Oscar’s father found work as a meat before losing to tiny Milan (the team featured in cutter and Oscar was introduced to the Hoosier the 1986 film Hoosiers). state’s love for basketball. Oscar lived near Butler The following year, Oscar led Crispus Attucks to Fieldhouse, which basketball fans annually packed the first state championship for an Indianapolis to the 15,000-seat capacity for the state basketball school. His 25-plus points-per-game average and tournament. The passion for basketball in the area all-around play earned him the nickname of “The inspired Oscar to dedicate himself to the sport. Big O,” which he carried throughout his career.

Oscar Robertson in 1959. (AP/ Wide World Photos)

335 Oscar Robertson Great Athletes

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1960-61 71 756 .473 653 .822 716 690 2,165 30.5 1961-62 79 866 .478 700 .803 985 899 2,432 30.8 1962-63 80 825 .518 614 .810 835 758 2,264 28.3 1963-64 79 840 .483 800 .853 783 868 2,480 31.4 1964-65 75 807 .480 665 .839 674 861 2,279 30.4 1965-66 76 818 .475 742 .842 586 847 2,378 31.3 1966-67 79 838 .493 736 .873 486 845 2,412 30.5 1967-68 65 660 .500 576 .873 391 633 1,896 29.2 1968-69 79 656 .486 643 .838 502 772 1,955 24.7 1969-70 69 647 .511 454 .809 422 558 1,748 25.3 1970-71 81 592 .496 385 .850 462 668 1,569 19.4 1971-72 64 419 .472 276 .836 323 491 1,114 17.4 1972-73 73 446 .454 238 .847 360 551 1,130 15.5 1973-74 70 338 .438 212 .835 279 446 888 12.7 Totals 1,040 9,508 .485 7,694 .838 7,804 9,887 26,710 25.7 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

Honors and Awards The next year, Oscar led Crispus Attucks to the first undefeated 1958-60 United Press International Division I Player of the Year state championship in the his- Sporting News College Player of the Year tory of this tournament known Consensus All-American as . 1959 Gold medal, Pan-American Games When The Big O left Crispus 1959-60 U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division I Player of the Year Attucks, he had led the school to an 87-6 record and a forty-five- Helms Division I Player of the Year game winning streak and aver- Citizens Savings College Basketball Player of the Year aged 28 points per game his se- NCAA All-Tournament Team nior year. In 1956, Oscar was 1960 Gold medal and Cocaptain, Olympic Basketball named “Mr. Basketball” as Indi- Inducted into U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame ana’s finest basketball player. 1961 NBA Rookie of the Year 1961-71 All-NBA Team The Emerging Champion 1961-72 NBA All-Star Team Oscar chose the University of 1961, 1964, 1969 NBA All-Star Game most valuable player Cincinnati to further his educa- 1964 NBA most valuable player tional and athletic career. Almost 1979 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame immediately, he established him- 1980 NBA 35th Anniversary All-Time Team self as the premier collegiate player of the era. In his first year 1985 NCAA Silver Anniversary Award of varsity competition, he aver- 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team aged 35.1 points per game. In 1999 Named one of the twenty best NBA players of all time three years of varsity competi- ESPN Sports Century top 50 greatest North American athletes of the 20th tion, he led Cincinnati to eighty- century nine wins and nine losses. He led Uniform number 1 retired by Milwaukee Bucks the nation in scoring all three 2000 National Association of Basketball Coaches’ Player of the Century years with a 33.8 average, was 2003 Cincinnati Royals uniform number 14 retired by the Sacramento Kings named all-American all three 2006 Inducted into National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame years, and was also named col- lege player of the year three

336 Basketball Oscar Robertson times. During his collegiate career, he broke four- serve clause, which prohibited a player’s free teen scoring records. Oscar was more than a scorer, agency. Although the leagues merged and the draft however. He was the complete ballplayer who could continued, free agency changed and eventually led shoot, rebound, and pass. Even more, Oscar was to high salaries for NBA players. the leader of the team. His attitude on and off of In 1980, Oscar was named a member of the the court made him extremely popular with all col- thirty-fifth anniversary all-time NBA team. As part legiate players and fans. of the celebration of the golden anniversary of the NBA during the 1996-1997 season, Oscar was Continuing the Story named one of the fifty greatest NBA players of all Although Oscar never made it to the National Col- time. During ESPN’s SportsCentury in 1999, a dis- legiate Athletic Association (NCAA) finals, he was tinguished panel of forty-eight journalists, histori- perhaps the most respected collegiate player of his ans, observers, and administrators chose Oscar as time. In 1960, his teammates named him the co- one of the fifty greatest North American athletes of captain of the U.S. Olympic team, which won the the past one hundred years. In 2006, he was an in- gold medal. augural inductee of the National Collegiate Basket- In 1960, Oscar moved on to the NBA and was the ball Hall of Fame. rookie of the year in 1961. During the 1961-1962 campaign, Oscar averaged a triple double for the Summary season, averaging 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and Oscar Robertson was a dedicated athlete who was 11.4 assists per game. He is the only player to ac- admired by all who played with and against him. As complish the feat. In fourteen years in the NBA, he a 6-foot 5-inch guard, Oscar could score, rebound, averaged 25.7 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per and pass as well as anyone. He was the , and 9.5 assists per game. He led Cincinnati ballplayer and a role model for young people and to six consecutive playoff appearances and guided his fellow players both on and off the court. Follow- Milwaukee to four consecutive playoff appear- ing his athletic career, he took his high ideals and ances and one NBA title. In 1964, he was named dedicated spirit into the business world, where he the league most valuable player and was named all- became the president of the largest minority- NBA eleven times. owned chemical manufacturing company in the At the time of his retirement, he was the NBA’s United States. all-time leader in career assists and free throws Joe Blankenbaker made, records that have since been broken. When he finished his career in 1974, he was considered to Additional Sources be one of the greatest all-around players in the his- Kalb, Elliott. Who’s Better, Who’s Best in Basketball? tory of the game. Many basketball experts believe Mr. Stats Sets the Record Straight on the Top Fifty that Oscar was the most versatile player in the his- NBA Players of All Time. Chicago: Contemporary tory of the NBA. Oscar’s offensive abilities changed Books, 2004. the image of a point guard from simply a passer Roberts, Randy. “But They Can’t Beat Us!” Oscar Rob- and floor general to an offensive weapon. ertson and the Crispus Attucks Tigers. Champaign, Oscar served as the president of the NBA Players Ill.: Sports, 1999. Association from 1963-1974. He is known for the Robertson, Oscar. The Big O: My Life, My Times, My landmark suit that was filed by the NBA’s Players Game. Emmaus, Pa.: Rodale Press, 2003. Association against the NBA in 1970. The antitrust Robertson, Oscar, and Michael O’Daniel. The Art of suit challenged the merger of the NBA and the Basketball: A Guide to Self-Improvement in the Fun- American Basketball Association (ABA) as well as damentals of the Game. Los Angeles: O. Robertson the legality of the college draft and the NBA’s re- Media Ventures, 1998.

337 David Robinson

Born: August 6, 1965 was forced to move many times during David’s Key West, Florida early years. After David’s father retired from the Also known as: David Maurice Robinson (full Navy, the Robinsons settled in Woodbridge, Vir- name); the Admiral ginia. There, David excelled in school, as a straight- A student, and in most sports except basketball. In Early Life fact, Robison was an athletic 5 feet 9 inches by his David Maurice Robinson was born on August 6, eighth grade year so, for the first time, he at- 1965, in Key West, Florida, to Freda and Ambrose tempted to play organized basketball. David de- Robinson. He was the second of three children. Be- cided that basketball was not for him, so he focused cause David’s father was in the military, the family on his other academic and sports-related inter- ests, including carpentry, art, music, literature, mathematics, and the physical sciences. David also developed a strong affinity for other sports such as tennis, baseball, and gymnastics.

The Road to Excellence As a 6-foot 7-inch senior in high school, David, after encouragement from classmates and the coach of the Osbourn Park High School team, decided to try basketball again, a sport he had not played since his eighth grade year in junior high. By the end of the season, David had posted impressive . In fact, David earned all-area and all-district honors during his only year of playing high school bas- ketball. However, basketball was not his first priority, and he continued to focus on his aca- demics, especially mathematics. As the result of his hard work in the classroom, David scored an excellent 1320 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). After much debate about where to pursue his dream of becoming an engineer, David opted to follow in his father’s footsteps by applying to the United States Naval Acad- emy to embark on a career as a naval officer. He was formally accepted to the academy and entered in June, 1983. As a freshman, David played basketball for the Navy Midshipmen as a reserve center; he received little playing time and never started a game. However, during the spring of his fresh- man year at the academy, David began to ma- San Antonio Spurs center David Robinson shooting over ture physically. In fact, he grew four inches and Kevin Garnett in the 2001 playoffs. (Adrees Latif/Reuters/ gained weight, literally transforming from a Landov) boy to a man in a matter of months. David,

338 Basketball David Robinson standing 7 feet 1 inch, began to develop his basket- However, although David became an outstand- ball skills by working diligently during the off- ing individual player, his greatest collegiate contri- season before his sophomore year. By the start of bution was to the winning effort of the entire Naval his sophomore year, David had grown close to Academy team. In particular, the academy’s record his teammates, particularly to point guard Doug during David’s career was 106-25, by far the best Wojcik, the all-time assists leader at the academy, four-year period in the school’s history. In 1985, who was responsible for passing David the ball. David along with point guard and cocaptain During the next three seasons, David became a Wojcik, led the Midshipmen to the NCAA Basket- dominant scorer, and the Naval Academy, led by ball Tournament, the team’s first appearance in David and Wojcik, became a prominent power- twenty-five years. In 1986, Navy advanced to the house in Division I college basketball. In his last quarterfinal round of the tournament, also known three years at the academy, David developed into as the Sweet Sixteen, for the first time in school his- one the finest college basketball players in the na- tory. The Navy Midshipmen lost to the Duke Blue tion and was referred to by the press as “The Admi- Devils, ending an attempt at a national champion- ral.” His teammates called him “The Howler” be- ship. cause he howled continually at opponents as a form of intimidation and distraction while they The Emerging Champion were shooting. In addition to his great college play, David played Aside from setting thirty-three individual school on U.S. national teams during the summers of records at the Naval Academy, David reached an 1985, 1986, and 1987, and on the 1988 Olympic impressive college career milestone. He became team. In fact, he helped the U.S. team beat the So- the first National Collegiate Athletic Association viet Union to win a gold medal in the 1986 FIBA (NCAA) Division I player to score 2,600 points, col- World Championship. lect 1,300 rebounds, and make 60 percent of his As one of the best centers in the nation, David at- shots from the field. Additionally, David won a tracted the attention of NBA teams, many of whom number of basketball awards, including the Colo- would have gladly drafted the young star as a soph- nial Athletic Association’s player of the year award omore. However, David was required to serve in the in 1985, 1986, and 1987 and the prestigious Navy after graduation. Naval Academy students pay Wooden, Naismith, and Rupp awards as the na- no tuition for their college education. In return, tion’s best Division I college basketball player in they must serve in the U.S. Navy for five years after 1987. they graduate. Students who leave the school be-

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1989-90 82 690 .531 613 .732 983 164 1,993 24.3 1990-91 82 754 .552 592 .762 1,063 208 2,101 25.6 1991-92 68 592 .551 393 .701 829 181 1,578 23.2 1992-93 82 676 .501 561 .732 956 301 1,916 23.4 1993-94 80 840 .507 693 .749 855 381 2,383 29.8 1994-95 81 788 .530 656 .774 877 236 2,238 27.6 1995-96 82 711 .516 626 .761 1,000 247 2,051 25.0 1996-97 6 36 .500 34 .654 51 8 106 17.7 1997-98 73 544 .511 485 .735 775 199 1,574 21.6 1998-99 49 268 .509 239 .658 492 103 775 15.8 1999-00 80 528 .512 371 .726 770 142 1,427 17.8 2000-01 80 400 .486 351 .747 691 116 1,151 14.4 2001-02 78 341 .507 269 .681 647 94 951 12.2 2002-03 64 197 .469 152 .710 508 61 546 8.5 Totals 987 7,365 .518 6,035 .736 10,497 2,441 20,790 21.1 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

339 David Robinson Great Athletes fore the start of their junior year are not required joined the Spurs. The year prior to David’s arrival, to serve, however, and even though Naval Academy the Spurs’ record was 21-61. In the 1989-1990 sea- officials offered to reduce the length of David’s ob- son, David’s rookie year, the team’s record became ligation from five years to two, many people a remarkable 56-26. The thirty-five-game improve- thought that David would transfer to another col- ment was a great turnaround for the ailing Spurs lege in order to avoid his service commitment. Da- and also a league record. vid chose to remain at the academy. Only after his The Spurs won the Midwest Conference title remarkable junior year did David begin to consider that year, and David won rookie of the year honors a career in professional basketball. as a unanimous choice. He also made the all-rookie In spite of his military commitment, the San An- team, the all-defensive team, and the all-NBA team. tonio Spurs made him the NBA’s number-one draft His sixth-place finish for the most valuable player choice in 1987. He received the largest contract award was an impressive accomplishment for a ever offered to a rookie, approximately $26 million rookie. Most professional athletes only dream over eight years. The Navy excused him from three about having a first year like David’s. For a single years of the normal five years of military commit- athlete to have such a positive impact on a team’s ment following graduation from the Naval Acad- performance is rare. David’s first year was just a emy. The Navy’s rationale for his early dismissal was glimpse of things to come. that his height prohibited him from serving on a submarine or ship and even excluded him from be- Continuing the Story coming a pilot. In his second year, David established himself as one After serving for two years at Naval Submarine of the dominant centers in the NBA. He ranked Base Kings Bay in Georgia, Lieutenant Robinson among the top twenty players in five categories: rebounding, scoring, blocked Honors and Awards shots, steals, and shooting per- centage. His all-around ability 1985-87 Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year made him valuable in any situa- 1986 Gold medal, FIBA World Championships 1986-87 Consensus All-American tion. David claimed the NBA 1987 Bronze medal, Pan-American Games rebounding title in 1991, the Rupp Trophy blocked-shot title in 1992, and United Press International Division I Player of the Year U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division I Player of the Year the scoring title in 1994. He was Eastman Award the NBA defensive player of the Naismith Award year in 1992. He was a member of Wooden Award Sporting News College Player of the Year the all-NBA first team four times, Overall first choice in the NBA draft 1991, 1992, 1995, and 1996; the 1988 Bronze medal, Olympic Basketball all-NBA second team twice, 1994 NCAA Today’s Top Six Award 1990 NBA All-Defensive Team and 1998; and the all-NBA third NBA Rookie of the Year team four times, 1990, 1993, NBA All-Rookie Team 2000, and 2001. He was the first Schick Pivotal Player Award NBA All-Interview Team player in NBA history to be 1990-96, 1998, 2000-01 NBA All-Star Team named to both an all-NBA team 1990, 1993, 2000-01 All-NBA Third Team and an all-NBA defensive team 1991-92, 1995-96 All-NBA First Team 1992 NBA Defensive Player of the Year in each of his first seven seasons. 1992, 1996 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball Furthermore, David was the 1994, 1998 All-NBA Second Team first male basketball player in 1994-96 IBM Award 1995 NBA most valuable player U.S. history to appear in three 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team different Olympic Games. He 1999 Sporting News Good Guys in Pro Sports Award was a member of the 1988 team, 2001 NBA Sportsmanship Award 2003 Sports Illustrated sportsman of the year (cowinner with Tim Duncan) which won the bronze medal in 2009 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Seoul, Korea; a member of the 1992 Dream Team, which won

340 Basketball David Robinson the gold medal in Barcelona, Spain; and the lead- donated $5 million to establish the Carver Acad- ing scorer on the 1996 U.S. Olympic team, which emy in San Antonio, which furthers education and won the gold medal in Atlanta, Georgia. As part tries to increase family solidarity. of the celebration of the golden anniversary of the NBA during the 1996-1997 season, David was Summary named one of the fifty greatest NBA players of all David Robinson was one of the most influential time. In early 2009, he was elected to the Naismith centers in both college and professional basket- Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. ball. His unique ability to balance academics and David was ideally suited to the NBA. One of the athletics was a true test of will. While attending strongest players of his era, at 7 feet 1 inch and 235 the United States Naval Academy, he defined the pounds, David proved to be one of the quickest and term “scholar-athlete.” After serving his country strongest as well. His muscular frame comple- for two years, David joined the NBA and became mented his strong intellect. Many coaches were an all-NBA center. Equally impressive were his most impressed with his court sense: his ability to charitable commitments to the community, a true make sound, quick decisions during a game. indication of leadership, responsibility, and integ- In the 1998-1999 season, David and his team- rity. mate Tim Duncan, known together as the “The William B. Roy, updated by Paul M. Klenowski Twin Towers,” led the Spurs to an NBA Champion- ship. Before Robinson retired officially in 2003, he Additional Sources and Duncan led the Spurs to another champion- Aaseng, Nathan. Sports Great David Robinson. Berke- ship. David is a member of the San Antonio Sports ley Heights, N.J.: Enslow, 1998. Hall of Fame, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, and Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame. ketball. Chicago: Masters Press, 1998. David and his wife, Valerie, reside in Key West, Dolin, Nick, Chris Dolin, and David Check. Basket- Florida, and have three boys, David, Jr., Corey, and ball Stars: The Greatest Players in the History of the Justin. He and his wife founded the David Robin- Game. New York: Black Dog and Leventhal, son Foundation, a Christian organization with the 1997. objective of addressing the physical and spiritual Hubbard, Steve. David Robinson. Grand Rapids, needs of the family. In particular, David tried to Mich.: Zondervan, 1996. promote the education of children and the devel- Mallozzi, Vincent M. Basketball: The Legends and the opment of positive values. In 1997, the Robinsons Game. Willowdale, Ont.: Firefly Books, 1998.

341 Dennis Rodman

Born: May 13, 1961 ful for Dennis’s support and friendship that they Trenton, New Jersey practically adopted the quiet college athlete. Den- Also known as: Dennis Keith Rodman (full nis moved in with the Rich family, welcoming their name); the Worm encouragement as his basketball career began to catch fire. Early Life Dennis was named an all-American as a senior Dennis Keith Rodman was born to Philander and and was the Detroit Pistons’ pick in the second Shirley Rodman on May 13, 1961, in Trenton, New round of the 1986 NBA draft. He began his career Jersey. When Dennis was just three years old, his fa- with the Pistons as a forward and quickly found a ther deserted the family, leaving Dennis and two home as one of a high-spirited group of players younger sisters to the care of their mother. The nicknamed the “Bad Boys.” Dennis also married family moved to Dallas, Texas, where Dennis grew model Annie Banks; they divorced after eighty-two up in the Oak Cliff Projects section of town. He was a shy, frail child and was repeatedly beaten up by older, more aggressive schoolmates. Dur- ing high school, Dennis, at 5 feet 11 inches, failed to make the varsity basketball team. After graduating from high school, he held a variety of jobs, including janitor at the Dallas- Fort Worth Airport. He reportedly stole fifteen watches from the airport gift shop on a dare and was arrested, though not charged after he told the police where the watches were. Shortly after this incident Dennis’s mother kicked him out of the house and their relationship be- came a distant one. Dennis’s life then changed dramatically; a tremendous growth spurt—just under a foot in a single year—resulted in a 6-foot 8-inch Den- nis Rodman. At the age of twenty he began playing basketball. After a year of junior col- lege, the late bloomer won a basketball schol- arship to Southeastern Oklahoma State Uni- versity in 1983.

The Road to Excellence In 1985 and 1986, his junior and senior years of college, Dennis led the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in rebound- ing, with 16.1 and 17.8, rebounds per game re- spectively. At a summer basketball camp dur- ing his college years, Rodman met Byrne Rich, a boy he coached and also comforted upon learning Byrne had killed his best friend in a Dennis Rodman taking off for a slam dunk in early 1996. hunting accident. The Rich family was so grate- (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images)

342 Basketball Dennis Rodman

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGA FGM FG% FTA FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1986-87 77 391 213 .545 126 74 .587 332 56 500 6.5 1987-88 82 709 398 .561 284 152 .535 715 110 953 11.6 1988-89 82 531 316 .595 155 97 .626 772 99 735 9.0 1989-90 82 496 288 .581 217 142 .654 792 72 719 8.8 1990-91 82 560 276 .493 176 111 .631 1,029 85 669 8.2 1991-92 82 635 342 .539 140 84 .600 1,530 191 800 9.8 1992-93 62 429 183 .427 163 87 .534 1,132 102 468 7.5 1993-94 79 292 156 .534 102 53 .520 1,367 184 370 4.7 1994-95 49 240 137 .571 111 75 .676 823 97 349 7.1 1995-96 64 304 146 .480 106 56 .528 952 160 351 5.5 1996-97 55 286 128 .448 88 50 .568 883 170 311 5.7 1997-98 80 360 155 .431 111 61 .550 1,201 230 375 4.7 1998-99 23 46 16 .348 39 17 .436 258 30 49 2.1 1999-00 12 31 12 .387 14 10 .714 171 14 34 2.8 Totals 911 5,310 2,766 .521 1,832 1,069 .584 11,957 1,600 6,683 7.3 Notes: GP = games played; FGA = field goals attempted; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTA = free throws attempted; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game days, after which Dennis’s only child, daughter 215 pounds, Dennis was relatively small for his spe- Alexis, was born. Banks was the initial inspiration cialty. for the many tattoos which later covered much of While with the Spurs, Dennis had a brief rela- Dennis’s body. tionship with singer Madonna and cemented his reputation as a renegade ballplayer and noncon- The Emerging Champion formist. His bad-boy reputation and the failure of Dennis quickly established himself as a key player the Spurs to make the finals in 1994-1995 were key on the Pistons under the welcome tutelage of factors in his trade to the Chicago Bulls in 1996. coach Chuck Daly. Dennis was a strong rebounder The stage was set for Dennis to become a true and a crucial part of the Pistons’ defense, helping champion. the team win back-to-back NBA titles in 1989 and 1990. He continued to build his reputation as a star Continuing the Story player and bad boy, winning NBA defensive player From 1995 to 1998, Dennis played with the Chi- of the year honors in 1990 and 1991. When Daly cago Bulls and became known as the league’s best left the team and several of Dennis’s friends were rebounder and most tenacious defender. While traded, the feeling that his first professional family he was with the team, the Bulls won three NBA was crumbling around him left Dennis with a cyni- Championships—-in 1996, 1997, and 1998. With cal attitude toward the NBA. He charged that the Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, Dennis was at NBA exploited its players but still expected them to the core of what many people have called the great- have a squeaky-clean image—even when such an est basketball team of all time. In the players’ first image was at odds with the demands of the game. regular season together, the Bulls won an unprece- He ended his career with the Pistons in 1992, after dented seventy-two games and went on to win the having earned top rebounder status that year. NBA Championship that year and the two follow- In 1993, Dennis joined the San Antonio Spurs, ing years. signing a three-year contract. He helped the Spurs get to the playoffs and led the league in Milestones rebounding in 1993, 1994, and 1995. With the Spurs, he established himself as a rebounder in 1992-98 Seven consecutive seasons leading league in total the tradition of Bill Russell and Wilt Chamber- rebounds, rebounds per game lain, both centers who were much heavier and 1991-94, 1997-98 Led league in defensive rebounds taller than Dennis. At 6 feet 8 inches, weighing

343 Dennis Rodman Great Athletes

Honors and Awards After his retirement from the NBA, Dennis played with a number of other non-NBA teams in- 1985, 1986 NAIA rebound leader cluding the Long Beach Jam, the Orange County 1986 All-American Crush, and the Tijuana Dragons of the American 1989-93, 1996 NBA All-Defensive Team 1990-91 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Basketball Association (ABA). He played three 1990, 1992 NBA All-Star Team games for the British Basketball League’s Briton Bears and one game for Torpan Pojat, a Finnish professional team. During his tenure with the Bulls, Dennis grew increasingly outrageous and enjoyed a lot of media Summary attention. He became a favorite guest on late-night Though he was also known as one of basketball’s talk shows. In 1996, he wrote a raucous, uncen- “bad boys,” Dennis Rodman was one of the greatest sored autobiography titled Bad As I Wanna Be, rebounders in the NBA. A two-time NBA defensive which quickly became a bestseller. He made his player of the year, five-time NBA all-star, and film debut with Whoopie Goldberg in Eddie the winner of five NBA Championship rings, Dennis same year, signed with MTV to do a show called should be remembered for much more than his Dennis Rodman’s World Tour ’96, and starred in the multicolored hair, tattoos, and nose rings. Jean-Claude Van Damme action film in Linda Bannister 1997. At the age of thirty-seven, Dennis took his five Additional Sources NBA Championship rings with him to Los Angeles Bechtel, Mark, and Stephen Cannella. “On the to join the Lakers after the Bulls’ Jordan-Pippen- Road with . . . Dennis Rodman.” Sports Illustrated Rodman triple threat disbanded in 1998. The 103, no. 19 (November 14, 2005): 20. Lakers hoped Dennis would tighten up the team’s Bickley, Dan. No Bull: The Unauthorized Biography of then-lackluster defense and help Shaquille O’Neal Dennis Rodman. New York: St. Martin’s Press, and Kobe Bryant take the team to the finals. Den- 1997. nis was a problematic Lakers player, getting more Rodman, Dennis, and Jack Isenhour. I Should Be press attention for his six-month-long marriage to Dead by Now. Champaign, Ill.: Sports, 2006. Baywatch actress Carmen Electra in 1998 than for Rodman, Dennis, and Tim Keown. Bad As I Wanna his efforts on the court. Electra filed for divorce, Be. New York: Delacorte, 1996. and the Lakers released Dennis before the playoffs. Rodman, Dennis, Pat Rich, and Alan Steinberg. Re- Dennis joined one more NBA team, the Dallas bound: The Dennis Rodman Story. New York: Mavericks, in the midst of the 1999-2000 season but Crown, 1994. was cut before the season ended. He retired from Rodman, Dennis, and David Whitaker. Words from the NBA at the age of thirty-nine with a reputation the Worm: An Unauthorized Trip Through the Mind as one of the game’s finest defensive players ever to of Dennis Rodman. Chicago: Bonus Books, 1997. step on a court.

344 Bill Russell

Born: February 12, 1934 or play on the 1956 U.S. Olympic team in Mel- Monroe, Louisiana bourne, Australia. Bill decided to play in the Olym- Also known as: William Felton Russell pics, and led the U.S. team to a gold medal. Back in Oakland a few days after the Olympics, Early Life Bill married his college sweetheart, Rose Swisher. William Felton Russell was born on February 12, After a brief honeymoon, the couple was bound for 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana. The Russells moved to Boston, where Bill joined the Celtics. The team, Oakland, California, when Bill was nine years old. with stars Bob Cousy and Bill Sharman, was flashy A few years later, his mother, Katie, died, leaving and quick but lacked a top player to rebound Bill and his brother, Charlie, to raise themselves missed shots. The Celtics had always faded in the while their father, Charles, worked in a foundry. playoffs. Bill was not athletic as a youngster. He tried out for the McClymonds High School football and bas- The Emerging Champion ketball teams but did not make either one. Finally, Bill came to Boston in the middle of the 1956-1957 George Powles, coach of the junior varsity basket- season and helped the Celtics win its first champi- ball team, invited Bill to join his squad. Even then, onship ever. In the last game of the best-of-seven fi- Bill did not play much and he had to share a jersey nals with the St. Louis Hawks, Bill contributed 32 with another player. On his own, Powles gave the rebounds and 5 blocked shots as the Celtics won in painfully skinny Russell two dollars to join the Boys two overtimes, 125-123. In a little more than a year, Club and practice basketball. Bill had won championships in college, in the Olympics, and as a professional. The Road to Excellence The next year, Bill averaged 16.6 points and 22.7 Bill got better and, more important, grew to 6 feet 5 inches by his senior year. With Hal DeJulio, a scout for the University of San Francisco (USF), watch- ing, Bill helped McClymonds defeat powerful Oak- land High School. A few months later, USF became the only university to offer Bill a scholarship. A small school, USF did not have its own gymna- sium or much of a reputation for basketball. Bill helped change that. By his junior year in 1954, he had grown to 6 feet 10 inches, developed a hook shot, and become a defensive demon who blocked opponents’ shots in bunches with his great leaping ability. With Bill, USF won fifty-five straight games and two national championships. Between titles, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) changed the rules to widen the lane—the colored area underneath the bas- ket—from 6 feet to 12 feet, supposedly to offset the dominance of players like Bill. When Bill finished his senior year at San Fran- cisco, the question became whether Bill would turn professional and play for the Boston Celtics of the NBA, who had traded for the right to draft him, Boston Celtics great Bill Russell. (National Archives)

345 Bill Russell Great Athletes

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1956-57 48 277 .427 152 .492 943 88 706 14.7 1957-58 69 456 .442 230 .519 1,564 202 1,142 16.6 1958-59 70 456 .457 256 .598 1,612 222 1,168 16.7 1959-60 74 555 .467 240 .612 1,778 277 1,350 18.2 1960-61 78 532 .426 258 .550 1,868 268 1,322 16.9 1961-62 76 575 .457 286 .594 1,790 341 1,436 18.9 1962-63 78 511 .432 287 .555 1,843 348 1,309 16.8 1963-64 78 466 .433 236 .550 1,930 370 1,168 15.0 1964-65 78 429 .438 244 .573 1,878 410 1,102 14.1 1965-66 78 391 .415 223 .551 1,779 371 1,005 12.9 1966-67 81 395 .454 285 .610 1,700 472 1,075 13.4 1967-68 78 365 .425 247 .537 1,451 357 977 12.5 1968-69 77 279 .433 204 .526 1,484 374 762 9.9 Totals 963 5,687 .440 3,148 .561 21,620 4,100 14,522 15.1 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

rebounds per game to win the first of his five most berlain playing for the heavily favored Los Angeles valuable player awards. In the playoffs, however, he Lakers, the Celtics won again, giving Bill eleven ti- broke his ankle in the third game of the finals, and tles in thirteen professional seasons. Afterward, he Boston lost to the Hawks. In the following season’s announced his retirement from basketball. championship, with Bill healthy, the Celtics swept the Minneapolis Lakers in four games to begin an Continuing the Story incredible run of eight consecutive NBA titles. When Bill finished his professional career, he had Wilt Chamberlain joined the league in the 1959- 21,620 rebounds, an NBA record later broken by 1960 season, and Bill’s battles with him were the Chamberlain. Bill averaged 15.1 points per game. highlight of every season. In these great struggles, If the league had kept statistics on blocked shots it became clear how Bill had revolutionized basket- when Bill played, he probably would have the rec- ball. ord. In 1968, Bill was selected as the Sports Illus- When the NBA first introduced the 24-second trated sportsman of the year. He was named to the in the 1954-1955 season, most coaches NBA silver anniversary all-time team and also cho- thought that teams with the best offensive players sen as The Sporting News athlete of the decade in would win. Chamberlain, at 7 feet 2 inches, was the 1970. The Celtics retired his jersey number, 6, in league’s greatest offensive threat, once averaging 1972. He was voted into the Naismith Memorial better than 50 points per game for an entire sea- Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachu- son. Bill was the game’s best defensive player, and setts, in 1974. In 1980, Bill was selected as a mem- in seven head-to-head playoff appearances, Bill’s ber of the NBA thirty-fifth anniversary all-time Celtics beat Chamberlain’s teams six times. In the team. That same year, he was also voted the greatest NBA, basketball became a game of defense. player in the history of the NBA by the Professional In the 1966-1967 season, longtime Celtics’ Basketball Writers Association of America. coach Red Auerbach retired and chose Bill as his After he left the Celtics, Bill spent three years as successor, making Bill the first black head coach of a Columbia Broadcast Company (CBS) television a major sport. Boston lost in the playoffs to Cham- announcer for NBA games. For a time, he and Rick berlain’s Philadelphia 76ers that year, and many Barry worked together as color commentators, predicted that Bill, at the age of thirty-three, would providing candid comments on the games. In have to make way for younger stars. 1973, he became coach and general manager for Bill brought Boston back the next season, how- the NBA’s Seattle SuperSonics, but the team did ever, beating Chamberlain and the 76ers on the poorly. In 1987, he took a similar job with the Sacra- way to another NBA title. In 1968-1969, with Cham- mento Kings, with similar results. His biggest prob-

346 Basketball Bill Russell lem seemed to be that he did not NBA Record have any players on either team as good as he was. Most rebounds in the playoffs, 4,104 During his NBA career, Bill was selected as an NBA all-star Honors and Awards twelve times (1958-1969). As part 1955 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player of the celebration of the golden 1955-56 Helms Division I Player of the Year anniversary of the NBA during the 1996-1997 season, he was Citizens Savings College Basketball Player of the Year named one of the fifty greatest NCAA All-Tournament Team NBA players of all time. In 1999, Consensus All-American he was named one of the twenty 1956 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball best NBA players of all time. Out- Inducted into U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame side of basketball, Bill tried act- United Press International Division I Player of the Year ing, performing in an episode of Miami Vice and in the Seattle Citizens Savings Northern California Athlete of the Year Children’s Theater. He also wrote 1958, 1961-63, 1965 NBA most valuable player an autobiography, Second Wind 1958-68 All-NBA Team (1979). In 2006, he was inducted 1958-69 NBA All-Star Team into the National Collegiate Bas- 1963 NBA All-Star Game most valuable player ketball Hall of Fame as a mem- ber of its inaugural class. 1968 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year 1969 NBA All-Defensive Team Summary 1970 NBA 25th Anniversary All-Time Team Individual statistics do not tell 1972 Uniform number 6 retired by Boston Celtics the story of Bill Russell. He was 1974 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame the greatest team player of all 1975 Inducted into Black Athletes Hall of Fame time, and his accomplishments must be judged by team success. 1980 Named the Greatest Player in the History of the NBA by the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America In a career that began in 1954 and ended in 1969, playing for NBA 35th Anniversary All-Time Team the University of San Francisco, 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team the U.S. Olympic team, and the 1999 Named one of the twenty best NBA players of all time Boston Celtics, Bill’s teams won 2006 Inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame an incredible fourteen champi- 2007 Honorary doctorate from Suffolk University onships in sixteen attempts. He Honorary degree from Harvard University revolutionized basketball with his shot-blocking defense and Inducted into FIBA Hall of Fame rebounding. 2009 NBA most valuable player award is named “Bill Russell Award” W. P. Edelstein

Additional Sources Russell, Bill, and David Falkner. Russell Rules: Eleven Auerbach, Red, and John Feinstein. Let Me Tell You Lessons on Leadership from the Twentieth Century’s a Story: A Lifetime in the Game. Boston: Little, Greatest Winner. New York: Dutton, 2001. Brown, 2004. Taylor, John. The Rivalry: Bill Russell, Wilt Chamber- Nelson, Murry R. Bill Russell: A Biography. Westport, lain, and the Golden Age of Basketball. New York: Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2005. Ballantine Books, 2006. Russell, Bill, and Taylor Branch. Second Wind: The Whalen, Thomas J. Dynasty’s End: Bill Russell and the Memoirs of an Opinionated Man. Rev. ed. New 1968-69 World Champion Boston Celtics. Boston: York: Simon & Schuster, 1991. Northeastern University Press, 2004.

347 Arvydas Sabonis

Born: December 19, 1964 At 7 feet 3 inches and 279 pounds, Arvydas was , Soviet Union (now in ) an imposing center, but unlike many centers, in his Also known as: Arvydas Romas Sabonis (full early days, Arvydas was quick. Later in his career, af- name) ter leg injuries slowed him down, he still retained excellent three-point range and passing skills. In Early Life 1982, Arvydas was part of the Soviet Union national Arvydas Sabonis was born in Kaunas, Soviet Union team that came to the United States and played ex- (now in Lithuania), to a tailor father and book- hibition games against Indiana University and the keeper mother. Arvydas grew up playing soccer University of Virginia. During those games, Arvydas and basketball, preferring to play guard and focus- stood out as a star. Indiana coach com- ing on his passing. However, by the age of nine, he pared him to Bill Walton and said, “I could not get was nearly 6 feet tall, and his coaches steered him over what potential he had. Such a great raw tal- toward playing center. At sixteen years old, Arvydas ent.” During the game played against the Univer- was playing for the Lithuanian national team. sity of Virginia, commentators noted that Arvydas outplayed , who was the first player chosen in the 1983 NBA draft.

The Road to Excellence During most of the 1980’s, Arvydas played for Lithuania’s Zalgiris Kaunas team, which won three Soviet Union basketball cham- pionships, and the Soviet Union Olympic teams. Many considered him to be the best basketball player in the world but because of limited exposure in the United States, especially since the Soviet Union boycotted the 1984 Olympics, few got the chance to see him play. The Portland Trail Blazers drafted Ar- vydas in the first round of the 1986 NBA draft, but negotiations to bring him to the league took nearly a decade and involved entreaties to the Soviet government from U.S. secretaries of state and Ron Wyden, a congressman from Oregon. During the 1988 Summer Olympics, Arvydas led the Soviet Union team to a gold medal.

The Emerging Champion In addition to the political obstacles that delayed Arvydas’s debut in the NBA, Achil- les tendon and knee injuries kept Arvydas Portland Trail Blazers center Arvydas Sabonis converting a layup from joining the Trail Blazers. With the in a 1998 game against the Golden State Warriors. (Andy Hayt/ fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Arvydas NBAE/Getty Images) was finally free to play in the NBA, but in-

348 Basketball Arvydas Sabonis

Honors and Awards After his NBA playing days ended, Arvydas became part-owner of the Lithu- 1984-85, 1988, 1995, 1997, 1999 European Basketball Player of the Year anian basketball team Zalgiris Kaunas. 1985 Eurobasket Most Valuable Player As an owner-player for the team in 2003- 1988 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball 2004, he won the league’s most valuable 1992, 1996 Bronze medal, Olympic Basketball 1995 Euroleague Final Four Most Valuable Player player award. In 2005, Arvydas retired 1996 NBA Rookie of the Month (April) from Zalgiris Kaunas. NBA Player of the Week (March 31) 2004 Euroleague Most Valuable Player Summary All-Euroleague Arvydas Sabonis had a remarkable ca- 2008 Fifty Greatest Euroleague Contributors reer representing the Soviet Union in the Olympics and played well for the Portland Trail Blazers once he finally stead of joining the Trail Blazers, he signed a three- joined the team. However, Arvydas would have had year deal with Real Madrid, during which time he a much greater impact on the NBA if Cold War pol- led the team to the European title. In the 1992 itics had not kept him from playing for the Trail Summer Olympics, he was part of the Lithuanian Blazers when he was drafted in 1986. In fact, he was team that won the bronze medal. a potential hall of famer. Most of Arvydas’s legend, in North America at least, was based on speculation Continuing the Story and hearsay. In 1995, Arvydas finally joined the Trail Blazers and Julie Elliott quickly became popular with fans, especially be- cause of his passing abilities. Teammates referred Additional Sources to him as “an oversized Globetrotter.” At thirty-one Friend, Tom. “The Courtship of a Wayward Star: years old, Arvydas was the runner-up in both the Sabonis.” The New York Times, November 1, 1995, rookie of the year and sixth man of the year voting. p. B12. He continued to play well for the Trail Blazers for MacMullan, Jackie. “Legend at Large.” Sports Illus- the next six years and was particularly noted for his trated 88, no. 13 (March 30, 1998): 90-92. rebounding and passing, despite suffering various Taylor, Phil. “Catch This!” Sports Illustrated 84, no. injuries. In 2001, Arvydas retired for the first time 16 (April 22, 1996): 32-36. but returned for the 2002-2003 season. In 2003, Toperoff, Sam. “A Lithuanian Basketball Star.” At- Arvydas announced his retirement from the Trail lantic Monthly 258 (July, 1986): 74. Blazers, noting that he wanted to spend more time “When I Was a Kid.” Sports Illustrated for Kids 9, no. 1 with his family in Lithuania. (January, 1997): 22-24.

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1995-96 73 394 .545 231 .757 588 130 1,058 14.5 1996-97 69 328 .498 223 .777 547 146 928 13.4 1997-98 73 407 .493 323 .789 729 218 1,167 16.0 1998-99 50 232 .485 135 .771 393 119 606 12.1 1999-00 66 302 .505 167 .843 513 118 778 11.8 2000-01 61 247 .479 121 .776 331 91 616 10.1 2002-03 78 172 .476 129 .787 335 142 476 6.1 Totals 470 2,082 .500 1,329 .786 3,436 964 5,629 12.0 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

349 Dolph Schayes

Born: May 19, 1928 He played basketball in summer leagues organized New York, New York by the resorts. In 1948, NYU competed in the finals Also known as: Adolph Schayes (full name) of the National Invitational Tournament. Dolph received the for the best New York Early Life City collegiate player. He graduated with a degree Adolph Schayes was born on May 19, 1928, in the in aeronautical engineering. Borough of the Bronx in New York City. His par- When Dolph finished college, professional bas- ents, Carl and Tina Schayes, emigrated from Ro- ketball had not become the popular sport it was in mania to the United States in the early 1920’s. the 1950’s and 1960’s. In 1948, two leagues existed, Dolph was the second of their three sons. the National Basketball League (NBL), organized Dolph attended Public School 91 and Creston in 1937, and the Basketball Association of America Junior High School. He and his friends formed (BAA), founded in 1946. The New York Knicker- their own clubs and challenged other groups of bockers of the BAA and the Syracuse Nationals of boys to games of football, baseball, and basketball. the NBL both offered Dolph a contract. He signed They played basketball more often than other sports to play for the Nationals, or Nats, as they were pop- because nearly every school had outdoor basket- ularly known. Dolph was only twenty years old. ball courts, while it was necessary to travel miles to reach a park that had the space to play football and baseball.

The Road to Excellence In 1942, Dolph entered DeWitt Clin- ton High School. As a 6-foot 5-inch sophomore, he became a member of the basketball team. Despite having an ideal height for a high school center, he played all positions. That enabled him to develop the skills needed to be a versatile player. In 1944, several universities offered Dolph scholarships. He accepted one from New York University (NYU), which was located a few blocks from his home. Dolph became a student at NYU in February, 1945, and immedi- ately became a starter on the basketball team. At the age of sixteen, he found himself matched against many older, stronger, and more experienced ath- letes. The tough competition against these men enabled him to improve his playing skills. During the summers while he at- tended college, Dolph worked at resorts Dolph Schayes, seen in 1969, after becoming the first player in NBA in New York State’s Catskill Mountains. history to record 15,000 points. (AP/Wide World Photos)

350 Basketball Dolph Schayes

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1948-49 63 272 — 267 .724 — — 811 12.8 1949-50 64 348 .385 376 .774 — 259 1,072 16.8 1950-51 66 332 .357 457 .752 1,080 251 1,121 17.0 1951-52 63 263 .355 342 .807 773 182 868 13.8 1952-53 71 375 .367 512 .827 920 227 1,262 17.8 1953-54 72 370 .380 488 .827 870 214 1,228 17.1 1954-55 72 422 .383 489 .833 887 213 1,333 18.5 1955-56 72 465 .387 542 .858 891 200 1,472 20.4 1956-57 72 496 .379 625 .904 1,008 229 1,617 22.5 1957-58 72 581 .398 629 .904 1,022 224 1,791 24.9 1958-59 72 504 .387 526 .864 962 178 1,534 21.3 1959-60 75 578 .401 533 .892 959 256 1,689 22.5 1960-61 79 594 .372 680 .868 960 296 1,868 23.6 1961-62 56 268 .357 286 .896 439 120 822 14.7 1962-63 66 223 .388 181 .879 375 175 627 9.5 1963-64 24 44 .308 46 .807 110 48 134 5.6 Totals 1,059 6,135 .380 6,979 .844 11,256 3,072 19,249 18.2 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

The Emerging Champion his left wrist in 1954, he worked to improve his one- In the fall of 1948, Dolph moved to Syracuse, New handed shots and participated in the playoffs wear- York, to begin his career with the Nats. He was cho- ing a cast. Dolph came back to play after fracturing sen rookie of the year for the 1948-1949 season. By his cheekbone in 1961 and after suffering a knee the fall of 1949, the BAA and the NBL merged and injury in 1962. founded the NBA. During the 1950’s, Dolph emerged as an NBA Continuing the Story star. For twelve consecutive years, he was selected At the end of the 1962-1963 NBA season, the Syra- for the first or second NBA all-star team. He was the cuse Nationals were sold to a group of Philadelphia league’s leading rebounder in 1951 and the leader businessmen. The team was renamed the Philadel- in foul-shooting accuracy in 1958, 1960, and 1962. phia 76ers. Dolph went to Philadelphia and be- The Nats played well together, qualifying for the came the player-coach of the team. After the 1963- league playoffs most years and winning the 1954- 1964 season, Dolph retired as a player. He coached 1955 NBA Championship. the 76ers during the 1964-1965 and 1965-1966 sea- As in high school and college, Dolph proved to sons. He was named NBA coach of the year for be a multitalented player who improved as the 1965-1966. Following the season, however, the years passed. He played the forward position for the Nats and showed he could make shots Honors and Awards from close to the basket or from far away. Sportswriters often commented on his ability 1948 Haggerty Award to shoot a high-arcing set shot. He was a fine 1949 National Basketball League (NBL) Rookie of the Year rebounder and an excellent foul shooter. 1950-61 All-NBA Team 1951-62 NBA All-Star Team Dolph worked hard to improve his skills. He 1966 NBA Coach of the Year studied other players to see what made them 1970 NBA 25th Anniversary All-Time Team successful and copied their techniques. To im- 1972 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame prove his foul-shooting accuracy, he practiced 1977 Inducted into International Jewish Hall of Fame with a 14-inch-diameter hoop, which he fitted 1987 Inducted into Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame inside the regulation 18-inch-diameter one. 1988 Inducted into New York University Hall of Fame When he broke his right wrist in 1952, he 1990 Inducted into New York City Basketball Hall of Fame learned to shoot left-handed. When he broke

351 Dolph Schayes Great Athletes

76ers’ owners decided to hire a new coach. Dolph Summary became the supervisor of officials for the NBA. Dolph Schayes became an outstanding player be- In 1970, a new coaching opportunity arose. The cause he loved the sport and worked hard to de- NBA added teams and Dolph became the coach of velop his skills. He was dedicated to learning all he the new Buffalo Braves. He served as coach during could about the sport and applying it when he the 1970-1971 season and for one game of the played. Away from the basketball court, he applied 1971-1972 season. Braves owners, disappointed by the same kind of effort to whatever he did. As a re- the team’s performance the previous year and a sult, Dolph became a respected businessman and loss on opening night, replaced Dolph with an- community member. other coach. This ended his long association with Ann M. Scanlon professional basketball. Dolph returned to Syracuse. While playing for Additional Sources the Nats, he had started a real estate development Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling and management business. In retirement, he built Kindersley, 2003. this into a successful firm. Dolph married Naomi Kalb, Elliott. Who’s Better, Who’s Best in Basketball? Gross in 1951. They had four children, Debra, Mr. Stats Sets the Record Straight on the Top Fifty Carrie, David, and Daniel. Dan, the youngest, fol- NBA Players of All Time. Chicago: Contemporary lowed in his father’s footsteps. After playing col- Books, 2004. lege basketball at Syracuse University, he went on Siegman, Joseph. Jewish Sports Legends: The Interna- to become a professional basketball player in the tional Jewish Hall of Fame. Rev. ed. Washington, NBA. D.C.: Potomac Books, 2005.

352 Oscar Schmidt

Born: February 16, 1958 commonly known as Oscar Schmidt, or, in his Natal, Brazil homeland of Brazil, simply Oscar. He was raised in Also known as: Oscar Daniel Bezerra Schmidt Brazil and did not play college basketball. (full name); Oscar Schmidt Bezerra; Mão Santa; Holy Hand The Road to Excellence Oscar’s reputation as a prolific scorer and “clutch” Early Life shooter began in an Ibirapuera Stadium in São Oscar Daniel Bezerra Schmidt, or Oscar Schmidt Paulo, Brazil, in 1979. On this occasion, he also be- Bezerra, was born on February 16, 1958, in the came known for “crying” for the ball. He was play- town of Natal in northeastern Brazil. He is most ing for the Syrian Sports Club in the finals of the Interclub Basketball World Championships. With his team down by several points, Oscar hit two shots to put the game into overtime. His teammates recalled that after he made those shots, he “cried” for the ball the entire overtime period. Oscar’s pinpoint shooting led his team to the Interclub Basketball World Championship. This game was the first time Oscar had ever played in front of a large crowd—approximately 18,000 fans attended. Following the game, fans tried to take the shirts from the players’ backs. This was Os- car’s introduction to the center stage. Oscar played for several years in both Italy and Spain, but became best known for his play with the Brazilian national team. While playing overseas, Oscar gained the reputa- tion as a player who was not afraid to shoot from anywhere or in any situation. He had al- most unlimited shooting range and incredi- ble accuracy, which earned him the nick- name “Mão Santa” (Holy Hand). When asked if he ever felt bad that the rest of the team spent their time setting picks for him while he took all of the shots, he responded: “some people . . . play the piano. And some peo- ple . . . move the piano.”

The Emerging Champion In 1984, the New Jersey Nets selected Oscar in the sixth round of the NBA draft. The team spent years trying to convince Oscar to Brazilian star Oscar Schmidt shooting under a defender from the play in the United States, but Oscar refused. Puerto Rican team in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Geor- Oscar had friends that had described their gia. (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) own bad experiences in the NBA. One had

353 Oscar Schmidt Great Athletes

told him that NBA players would not pass the Records and Milestones ball to foreign players. Oscar felt that he might not have been given a feature role on the Nets. Most all-time career points, 49,703 So, while the NBA kept calling, Oscar remained Best points-per-game average in Olympic Basketball history, 28.8 content playing his staring role in Europe and Brazilian National Team Statistics Brazil. Though Oscar had countless achievements 1977, 1983, 1985 1st place, South American Championships while playing professional basketball in Spain 1978 3d place, World Championships 1979 3d place, Pan-American Games and Italy, his greatest took place in the 1987 1979, 1981 2d place, South American Championships Pan-American Games. His Brazilian squad had 1980, 1988, 1992 5th place, Summer Olympics made the finals at in In- 1986 4th place, World Championships 1987 1st place, Pan-American Games dianapolis, Indiana, against the heavily favored 1989 3d place, America’s Cup U.S. team. The American squad included Da- 1990 5th place, World Championships vid Robinson, Danny Manning, , and and had a thirty-four game winning streak in the Pan-American Games. At Summary halftime, the U.S. team led the Brazilian team 68- Oscar Schmidt became known around the world as 54 and looked as if it would pull away. However, in one of the great basketball players of all time. the second half, Oscar took over the game. He Though he never played in the NBA, he was a fore- scored 46 points in leading Brazil to a stunning up- runner to the European and South American play- set of the Americans and a Pan-American Games ers that entered the NBA in the 1990’s and the first gold medal. decade of the twenty-first century. In the United States, he is best remembered for his dominating Continuing the Story performance against the Americans at the Pan- While Oscar was best known in the United States American Games, at which the Brazilian team cap- for his performance in the 1987 Pan-American tured the gold medal. Games, he was known in Europe and South Amer- Theodore Shields ica as one of the game’s all-time great scorers. His 49,703 career points is the highest total ever, in- Additional Sources cluding among NBA players. Oscar played profes- Christie, James. “Schmidt Retires from Brazil at sional basketball for twenty-six years until he was Forty-five.” The Globe and Mail, June 6, 2003, p. S3. forty-five years old. He played in five different Wolff, Alexander. Big Game, Small World: A Basket- Olympic Games and led the Games in scoring on ball Adventure. New York: Warner, 2004. three occasions. He finally retired on May 26, 2003, ______. “The Man from Brazil.” Sports Illustrated stating that he wished he could play forever. 98, no. 23 (June 9, 2003).

354 Frank Selvy

Born: November 9, 1932 time they ever saw him play as a collegian or a pro- Corbin, Kentucky fessional. He scored 24 points in the first quarter, Also known as: Franklin Delano Selvy (full name) 13 in the second quarter, 25 more points in the third quarter, and an unbelievable 38 points in the Early Life final quarter. His final 10 points came with less than Franklin Delano Selvy was born in Corbin, Ken- 10 seconds to go in the game and his last points tucky, on November 9, 1932. He was named for came from a shot from mid-court. Furman won the Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who was inaugurated game 149-95. When Frank reflected on that game as president of the United States on the same day in 2000, he pointed out that he was much prouder Frank was born. Frank was the third of seven chil- of the victories he helped produce at Furman than dren. His father was a coal miner and city worker. of the 100 points he scored in one game. Frank grew up in the tough coal-mining areas of Frank had other high-scoring games, including south central Kentucky. 63 points against Mercer College, 30 points against the University of South Carolina, and 42 points The Road to Excellence against Manhattan College. The latter game, in Frank did not make his high school basketball 1954, earned him the Metropolitan New York Bas- team as a freshman because he was considered too ketball Writers Award as the outstanding college small. He persevered, however, and finally made player to play in New York that season. When Frank the varsity as a junior. By the end of his senior year, left Furman after the 1954 season, he held twenty- he had grown to 6 feet tall. He was chosen to play in four major college records and had scored 50 a state all-star game in which he played well against points or more on eight different occasions. Dur- taller opponents. However, because he had played ing the 1953-1954 campaign, he had averaged an at a smaller high school and was only of average amazing 41.3 points per game. He is a member of height, he was ignored by recruiters from major the Furman Hall of Fame and the South Carolina colleges and universities. Consequently, Frank en- Hall of Fame and was selected as a member of the rolled at Furman University in Greenville, South Southern Conference’s seventy-five-year anniver- Carolina. sary team. In the mid-1990’s, Frank was selected as In college, he attracted national attention as a one of the top one hundred players in NCAA his- high-scoring guard. In his sophomore year, he tory. starred in a memorable 73-72 upset of Duke Uni- versity. He scored 36 points in that game, half the The Emerging Champion total of the entire Duke team. In his junior year, he Frank had grown to be 6 feet 3 inches tall and 180 was a consensus National Collegiate Athletic Asso- pounds by the end of his college career. He could ciation (NCAA) Division I second-team all-Ameri- shoot layups with either hand and had a deadly can. That year, he scored 738 points for an average hook shot. He also excelled on drives to the basket. of 29.5 points per game. In his senior year, he was a He was best known for his one-handed jump shot consensus NCAA Division I first-team all-American. from outside the foul circle. Going straight up and That year he scored more than 1,200 points with an holding the ball at arm’s length, he delivered the incredible 41.7-points-per-game average. shot at the peak of his jump. Sometimes he faked On February 13, 1954, in his greatest game, the shot and drove to the basket when his oppo- Frank scored 100 points against Newberry College. nent left his feet. His jump shot was considered to This game was the first game ever televised through- be virtually unstoppable. With his fakes and hesita- out South Carolina. Frank was playing before tion moves, he drew many fouls from his oppo- friends from his hometown of Corbin, Kentucky. nents, and he was an outstanding free-throw His parents also were there, and this was the only shooter.

355 Frank Selvy Great Athletes

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1954-55 71 452 .378 444 .728 394 245 1,348 19.0 1955-56 17 67 .366 53 .746 54 35 187 11.0 1957-58 38 44 .263 47 .610 88 35 135 3.6 1958-59 68 233 .385 201 .767 248 96 667 9.8 1959-60 62 205 .393 153 .736 175 111 563 9.1 1960-61 77 311 .405 210 .727 301 246 832 10.8 1961-62 79 433 .420 298 .738 412 381 1,164 14.7 1962-63 80 317 .424 192 .714 288 281 826 10.3 1963-64 73 160 .378 78 .639 149 149 398 5.5 Totals 565 2,222 .394 1,676 .725 2,109 1,579 6,120 10.8 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

With such skills, Frank became one of the leg- West, Frank had his greatest season as a profes- endary scorers in college basketball. In three varsity sional in 1961-1962, when he scored 1,164 points seasons, he scored 2,538 points for a 32.5-points- for a 14.7-points-per-game average. He also scored per-game average. He was the NCAA Division I an additional 589 points in fifty-two playoff games scoring champion in 1953 and 1954. He was also for an 11.3-points-per-game average. He was se- the first player in NCAA Division I college basket- lected to play in both the 1955 and 1961 NBA all- ball to score more than 1,000 points in a season star games. When he retired after the 1963-1964 (1953-1954), and he was the first to reach 2,000 season, he had scored a total of 6,709 points as a points in a three-season career. Often overlooked professional in 617 regular season and playoff was his 1953-1954 performance of a record 355 games. free-throw points on a record 444 attempts. In his Upon his retirement, he went into business in famous 100-point game, he scored on 41 field goals Greenville, South Carolina. When Wilt Chamber- in 66 attempts for a 62.1 percent shooting average. lain passed away in 1999, many writers recalled Frank was an honors student at Furman and re- Chamberlain’s 100-point game in the NBA, and in ceived his degree in 1954. He was also a recognized retrospect, Frank’s 100-point collegiate game. leader on campus. He was active in many campus When asked about Chamberlain’s performance, organizations and was a platoon leader and First Frank recalled one night when he shocked Cham- Lieutenant in the college Reserve Officers’ Train- berlain. The Lakers were playing Philadelphia, and ing Corps program. He was also elected president Chamberlain and Frank were matched up for a of his senior class. jump ball. The 7-foot 1-inch Chamberlain did not think that Frank would even attempt jumping, so Continuing the Story Frank was the first player chosen in the 1954 NBA NCAA Division I Records draft. When the Baltimore franchise folded in the fall of 1954, he was sent to Milwaukee, where he av- Most free throws made in a season, 355 (1953-54) eraged 19.0 points per game in his rookie season. Most points in a game, 100 (1954) The franchise was then moved to St. Louis in 1955. Most field goals in a game, 41 (1954) Frank played there briefly before going into the armed services. He returned to St. Louis late in the Honors and Awards 1957-1958 season. He was then traded to New York 1953-54 Consensus All-American for the 1958-1959 season and moved on to the Syra- 1954 Metropolitan New York Basketball Writers Award cuse-Minnesota team in 1959. Finally, in 1960, he Overall first choice in the NBA draft joined the Los Angeles Lakers, where he played for 1955, 1961 NBA All-Star Team the remainder of his professional career. Teamed 1998 Named one of the top 100 players in NCAA history in the Lakers’ backcourt with the famous Jerry

356 Basketball Frank Selvy he stood still. To Chamberlain’s surprise, Frank membered as a hardworking, steady, consistent jumped and won the tap. team player who was not afraid to take his shot in In 2000, a contest was held to select the greatest crucial games. Popular with fellow students and moments in the history of the Los Angeles Lakers. teammates, the handsome athlete parlayed his One of those moments involved Frank—the sev- fame as a star basketball player into a successful ca- enth game of the 1962 NBA Championship series reer in public relations. with the Boston Celtics. The Lakers had come back Daniel R. Gilbert in the last minute of play to tie the score with two “clutch” field goals by Frank. He then took a mem- Additional Sources orable last-second shot that missed. Had he made Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- that one, the Lakers would have claimed its first ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters Press, 2000. league title since moving to Los Angeles. The miss Gutman, Bill. The History of NCAA Basketball. New allowed the Boston Celtics to win an overtime vic- York: Crescent Books, 1993. tory for its fourth straight NBA title. Hubbard, Jan, and David J. Stern. The Official NBA Encyclopedia. New York: Doubleday, 2000. Summary Kalb, Elliott. Who’s Better, Who’s Best in Basketball? Frank Selvy is best known as the first NCAA Divi- Mr. Stats Sets the Record Straight on the Top Fifty sion I college basketball player to score 100 points NBA Players of All Time. Chicago: Contemporary in a game, the first to score more than 1,000 points Books, 2004. in a season, and the first to score 2,000 points in a Lazenby, Roland. The Show: The Inside Story of the three-season career. At one time, he held twenty- Spectacular Los Angeles Lakers in the Words of Those one different individual scoring records as a colle- Who Lived It. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006. giate player. He was never the dominating player in Thornley, Stew. Basketball’s Original Dynasty: The His- the NBA that he had been in college, but he is re- tory of the Lakers. Minneapolis: Nodin Press, 1989.

357 Bill Sharman

Born: May 25, 1926 Baseball was originally his favorite sport, and Abilene, Texas Bill even spent some time in the major leagues af- Also known as: William Walton Sharman (full ter graduating from college. When he and his fa- name) ther nailed a backboard up on the garage at his home, however, Bill became hooked on basketball Early Life as well. William Walton Sharman was born on May 25, 1926, in Abilene, Texas. When he was just a few The Road to Excellence years old, Bill’s family moved to California, where In high school, Bill continued to do well in sports, he grew up. Bill made friends quickly in his new en- earning varsity letters in track, tennis, football, vironment. Even at a very young age, he was a tal- baseball, and basketball. ented and versatile athlete, able to play almost any Bill earned a scholarship to the University of sport well. Southern California (USC), where he continued to play basketball and baseball with almost equal skill. In basketball, his scoring average increased each year, and he scored more than 18 points per game in his senior year and was named all-American. After his brief attempt at professional base- ball—he never became a mainstay of the tal- ent-rich Dodger teams in the early 1950’s—Bill entered professional basketball. Upon joining the Boston Celtics in 1951, Bill teamed with legendary ball-handler Bob Cousy to form one of the top backcourts in history. Bill realized that Cousy was the star playmaker and ball han- dler, so he made himself into one of the great shooters of his day. After his first season in Boston, Bill aver- aged at least 16 points per game every season he played until his 1961 retirement from the NBA. He spent his final professional season as a player in the American Basketball League. Bill and Cousy formed a potent pair in the Celtics’ backcourt, but the team did not begin to make history and win championships until center Bill Russell came along in the fall of 1956. Bill Sharman played on four champion- ship teams with the Celtics.

The Emerging Champion As his career progressed, Bill became the kind of shooter at which other players and coaches could only marvel. His particular skill was a Bill Sharman of the Boston Celtics. (NBAE/Getty Images) matter of dedication, concentration, and con-

358 Basketball Bill Sharman tinual practice. Bill often went to the Honors and Awards arena by himself, hours before the game was scheduled to start, and shoot 1949 Sporting News All-American baskets, making sure that his touch 1950 Consensus All-American and accuracy were perfect. 1953-60 NBA All-Star Game 1953, 1955-60 All-NBA Team Nowhere did this dedication and at- 1955 NBA All-Star Game most valuable player tention to detail show up better than at 1970 NBA 25th Anniversary All-Time Team the foul line. In basketball, such shots ABA Cocoach of the Year are known as free throws, although Bill 1972 NBA Coach of the Year wanted to earn every point possible at 1975 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (as a player) 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team the line. Seven times he led the NBA in Uniform number 21 retired by Boston Celtics foul shooting, three times topping 90 2004 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (as a coach) percent for a season. For his career, he 2005 John R. Wooden Lifetime Achievement Award was a 88-percent foul shooter, ranking among the top in the game’s history. Bill was an eight-time all-star and was selected Los Angeles. Compiling a 27-20 record over two for the 1970 team commemorating the first twenty- seasons, Bill moved on to sports broadcasting for five years of the NBA. In 1976, he was voted into the two years. Hall of Fame. Bill’s first NBA coaching job was with the San Francisco (now Golden State) Warriors. He guided Continuing the Story the Warriors to the playoffs in his only two seasons Even with all of his accomplishments, Bill was not with the club, taking the team all the way to the finals finished with basketball. Whereas others might in his first season. In San Francisco, Bill also helped have been content with such an illustrious career, groom future hall-of-famer Rick Barry, who was Bill kept pushing. For the 1961-1962 season, Bill then just starting out his career. While playing for served as the player-coach of the Los Angeles Jets of Bill, Barry won the only scoring title of his career. the American Basketball League (ABL). In nine- Bill continued to make a name for himself in teen games, Bill averaged 5.6 points per game. the American Basketball Association (ABA), which When the franchise folded, he took over as the emerged in the late 1960’s, as a rival to the more es- head coach of the and guided tablished NBA. Bill coached the Utah Stars to the them to an ABL Championship. After the ABL league championship in 1971. folded, Bill moved to the collegiate level and be- The next season, Bill was even better. He moved came the head coach of California State University, back to Southern California and the NBA to coach

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1950-51 31 141 .391 96 .889 96 39 378 12.2 1951-52 63 244 .389 183 .859 221 151 671 10.7 1952-53 71 403 .436 341 .850 288 191 1,147 16.2 1953-54 72 412 .450 331 .844 255 229 1,155 16.0 1954-55 68 453 .427 347 .897 302 280 1,253 18.4 1955-56 72 538 .438 358 .867 259 339 1,434 19.9 1956-57 67 516 .416 381 .905 286 236 1,413 21.1 1957-58 63 550 .424 302 .893 295 167 1,402 22.3 1958-59 72 562 .408 342 .932 292 179 1,466 20.4 1959-60 71 559 .456 252 .866 262 144 1,370 19.3 1960-61 61 383 .422 210 .921 223 146 976 16.0 Totals 711 4,761 .426 3,143 .883 2,779 2,101 12,665 17.8 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

359 Bill Sharman Great Athletes the Los Angeles Lakers. As a coach, Bill used many In 1970, Bill was selected to the NBA’s twenty- of the same drills and theories he had developed as fifth anniversary team. In 1996, he was named one a player, and his judgment paid off. In the 1971-1972 of the fifty greatest NBA players of all time. In 2004, season, the Lakers won the team’s first NBA title in he was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basket- Los Angeles, and Bill was voted NBA coach of the ball Hall of Fame as a coach, becoming only the year. Also, the Lakers finished with an amazing 69-13 third person, behind John Wooden and Lenny regular season record, the best single-season rec- Wilkens, to be inducted as both a player and coach. ord in NBA history at that time. The team set a rec- ord with thirty-three consecutive victories. Bill is Summary the only coach in the history of professional basket- Bill Sharman was one of the top players and ball to win championships in three different leagues. coaches in professional basketball history. He be- He did it in the ABL, the ABA, and the NBA. came successful largely because of his drive and his As a player and as a coach, Bill believed in rigor- willingness to practice as long and as hard as it took ous conditioning and strict discipline. He con- to achieve his goals. That formula enabled him to ducted practices on a precise schedule and initi- achieve success in the NBA in four different de- ated what is termed today the “,” cades. where players go through a light morning practice John McNamara prior to a game later in the day. Bill and the great UCLA coach John Wooden have similar coaching Additional Sources philosophies, which they expressed in their book Bjarkman, Peter C. Boston Celtics Encyclopedia. Cham- titled The Wooden-Sharman Method: A Guide to paign, Ill.: Sports, 2002. Winning Basketball (1975). Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling The Lakers finished in first place the first three Kindersley, 2003. years that Bill coached them. After that, he moved Rosen, Charles. The Pivotal Season: How the 1971- into the team’s front office and was responsible for 1972 Los Angeles Lakers Changed the NBA. New drafting Earvin “Magic” Johnson and several other York: T. Dunne Books, 2005. key players who kept the Lakers among the Shouler, Kenneth A. The Experts Pick Basketball’s Best league’s top teams through the 1980’s. Bill served Fifty Players in the Last Fifty Years. Lenexa, Kans.: as the Lakers’ general manager from 1976 until Addax, 1998. 1982. He then moved up to club president, retiring Wooden, John, Bill Sharman, and Bob Seizer. The in 1988. He continued to serve as a special consul- Wooden-Sharman Method: A Guide to Winning Bas- tant with the Lakers. ketball. New York: Macmillan, 1975.

360 John Stockton

Born: March 26, 1962 John’s college career started slowly at first, and Spokane, Washington he averaged just 3 points per game in his freshman Also known as: John Houston Stockton (full season at Gonzaga. As time went on, however, he name) adjusted to the level of competition, and he aver- aged 20 points per game in his senior season. More- Early Life over, he was always a marvelous passer. John Houston Stockton was born on March 26, 1962, to Jack and Clementine Stockton. John’s fa- The Emerging Champion ther owned and operated a neighborhood tavern Although was not a hot bed for that stood next door to the Stockton house. professional basketball prospects, John’s talents John began playing basketball on the court be- were so obvious to NBA scouts that several teams hind his house; his first competition came from his were interested in drafting him out of college. The older brothers. He was often the smallest player in those early games, but he com- pensated by playing harder and smarter than anyone else. He retreated to that backyard basketball court in all kinds of weather, rain or shine, sometimes playing until late at night, in order to make him- self a better player. “The only person in the world who thought John would play in the NBA was John,” his father later re- called.

The Road to Excellence John did not have far to go to continue his basketball career. He played his high- school basketball at Gonzaga Prep in Spo- kane and later attended Gonzaga Univer- sity, the local college in Spokane. John’s coaches at both schools noticed that he was an uncommon player. While most other players looked to shoot the ball whenever they got it, John was more eager to pass, an ability that made him an ex- tremely valuable player. John never grew very big. At 6 feet 1 inch and 170 pounds, he was no bigger than many of the fans who came to watch his high-school and college games. He played smarter and with more determina- tion than anyone around him, and he was blessed with an uncanny ability to see all the players on the court at once, which John Stockton, who is the NBA’s all-time leader in career assists, contributed to his amazing passing ability. with 15,806. (Courtesy of NBA)

361 John Stockton Great Athletes

Utah Jazz chose John with the sixteenth pick over- the basket or on the fast break, John got the ball to all in the 1984 NBA draft. him for another score. John and Malone formed a At first, John struggled adjusting to the level of combination that was hard to beat. In the 1988 competition in the NBA. He did not start regularly Western Conference semifinals against the Los An- in his first three seasons in the league. Instead, he geles Lakers, John set the NBA playoff series rec- backed up solid veteran Ricky Green at point ords for assists, 111, and steals, 25. John and guard. In his first three seasons, John did not aver- Malone even shared most valuable player honors age more than 8 points per game. in the 1993 NBA all-star game, which was played on However, things were changing in Utah. The their home floor in Utah. year after the Jazz drafted John, the team selected a As John continued to play well, players, coaches, burly forward named Karl Malone out of another and sportswriters from all over the league began to little-known college, Louisiana Tech. Together, notice him. He made the all-star team numerous Malone and John made Utah one of the best teams years in a row, and he became a more dangerous in the league during the late 1980’s and into the shooter during those years as well, averaging as late 1990’s. many as 17.2 points per game. John did not rest on During the 1987-1988 season, John almost dou- the defensive end of the court either, earning a rep- bled his scoring, raising his average to 14.7 points utation as a tenacious defender and twice leading per game. He also led the NBA in assists. That was the league in steals. Although he was among the only the beginning; John went on to become the smallest players in the league, John clearly showed league’s annual leader in assists, dishing out more that he belonged in professional basketball and than 1,000 assists in five consecutive seasons. that he deserved to be mentioned as among the best players of his time. Continuing the Story In 1992, for the first time ever, NBA players were During the late 1980’s, John became known as the allowed to play on the U.S. Olympic basketball best passer in the game, and he and Malone be- team. The biggest stars in basketball were picked came one of the best combinations in professional for the squad, including Michael Jordan, Magic basketball. When Malone got open underneath Johnson, and Larry Bird. Basketball experts knew

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1984-85 82 157 .471 142 .736 105 415 458 5.6 1985-86 82 228 .489 172 .839 179 610 630 7.7 1986-87 82 231 .499 179 .782 151 670 648 7.9 1987-88 82 454 .574 272 .840 237 1,128 1,204 14.7 1988-89 82 497 .538 390 .863 248 1,118 1,400 17.1 1989-90 78 472 .514 354 .819 206 1,134 1,345 17.2 1990-91 82 496 .507 363 .836 237 1,164 1,413 17.2 1991-92 82 453 .482 308 .842 270 1,126 1,297 15.8 1992-93 82 437 .486 293 .798 237 987 1,239 15.1 1993-94 82 458 .528 272 .805 258 1,031 1,236 15.1 1994-95 82 429 .542 246 .804 251 1,011 1,206 14.7 1995-96 82 440 .538 234 .830 226 916 1,209 14.7 1996-97 82 416 .548 275 .846 228 860 1,183 14.4 1997-98 64 270 .528 191 .827 166 543 770 12.0 1998-99 50 200 .488 137 .811 146 374 553 11.1 1999-00 82 363 .501 221 .860 215 703 990 12.1 2000-01 82 328 .504 227 .817 277 713 944 11.5 2001-02 82 401 .517 275 .857 263 674 1,102 13.4 2002-03 82 309 .483 237 .826 201 629 884 10.8 Totals 1,504 7,039 .515 4,788 .826 4,051 15,806 19,711 13.1 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

362 Basketball John Stockton

NBA Records was on the court and made precision passes. He was extremely intense and focused on the Most seasons with the same franchise, 19 basketball court and always gave everything he Most career assists, 15,806 had to win. John and Malone performed the Most career steals, 3,265 pick-and-roll more effectively and consistently than any other duo in the history of the NBA. Honors and Awards After leading the NBA in assists every year 1988-90, 1992-93, 1996 All-NBA Second Team from 1988 to 1996, John’s average dropped to 1988-96 Led NBA in assists per game 7.5 in 1999 but increased to 8.7 in 2001. On 1989-97, 2000 NBA All-Star Team November 26, 2000, John established the NBA 1989, 1991-92, 1995, 1997 NBA All-Defensive Second Team record for the most games played for one 1991, 1997, 1999 All-NBA Third Team team, 1,271 games with the Utah Jazz, which 1992, 1996 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball broke the previous record of 1,270 games 1993 NBA All-Star Game most valuable player played by John Havlicek for the Boston Celtics. 1994-95 All-NBA First Team In John’s last NBA campaign, 2002-2003, he 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team played in every game for the seventeenth time 2004 Uniform number 12 retired by the Utah Jazz in his nineteen-year career. When he retired, 2009 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball he was twenty-eighth on the all-time NBA scor- Hall of Fame ing list with 19,711 points. He only missed twenty-two games during his NBA career and compiled an amazing twenty or more assists in the team needed good passers and picked John for thirty-four different games. During his career, he the team, which easily captured the gold medal for played in 1,504 games for the Jazz, the most games the United States. John earned another gold played for one team by any player. At the time of his medal playing for the United States on Dream retirement, he ranked third on the all-time list for Team II in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. John got NBA games played. John and Malone played in a to keep the game ball from both gold-medal record 1,412 regular-season games as teammates. games. As part of the celebration of the golden an- Both were known as tough, physical players. John niversary of the NBA during the 1996-1997 season, averaged a career “double-double” of 13.1 points John was named one of the fifty greatest NBA play- and 10.5 assists per game. ers of all time. He and Malone led the Jazz to two On May 2, 2003, in his usual reserved manner, consecutive NBA Finals, in 1997 and 1998, losing to John announced his retirement from the NBA with Jordan and the Chicago Bulls each time. a released statement versus the customary news John set almost every passing record in the NBA, conference. Later that year, Salt Lake City renamed including the most career assists, 15,806; the most the street that runs in front of the Jazz playing facil- assists in a single season, 1,164; the most seasons ity, the Energy Solutions Arena, John Stockton with over 1,000 assists, 7; the most times leading the Drive. On November 22, 2004, John’s jersey, num- league in assists, 9; the most consecutive years lead- ber 12, was retired by the Jazz. A bronze statue of ing the NBA in assists, 9; the highest assists average John was placed in front of the Energy Solutions for a season, 14.5; and the highest career assist aver- Arena on March 23, 2006, close by a statue of age, 10.5. He also set the career record for the most Malone. A bronze plaque commemorates the steals, with 3,265. John was selected to the all-NBA achievements that John and Malone accomplished first team twice, in 1994 and 1995; the all-NBA sec- while playing together for the Jazz. In 2009, he was ond team six times, in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall 1993, 1996; and the all-NBA third team three times, of Fame in his first year of eligibility. in 1991, 1997, 1999. He was named an NBA all-star on ten occasions. Summary Former Utah Jazz coach said that Although he might not have looked like a typical John was the best pure point guard to ever play in basketball player, John Stockton proved that he the NBA. John had a keen sense of where everyone could succeed in the NBA thanks to his determina-

363 John Stockton Great Athletes

tion and court awareness. His ballhandling and Lazenby, Roland. Stockton to Malone: The Rise of the passing skills and his consistent play made him one Utah Jazz. Lenexa, Kans.: Addax, 2002. of the best point guards in basketball history. Lewis, Michael C. To the Brink: Stockton, Malone, and John McNamara, updated by Alvin K. Benson the Utah Jazz’s Climb to the Edge of Glory. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1998. Additional Sources Schnakenberg, Robert. Teammates: Karl Malone and Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- John Stockton. Brookfield, Conn.: Millbrook Press, ketball. Chicago: Masters Press, 1998. 1998. Deseret News. The Jazz: Utah’s Dream Team. Salt Lake Shouler, Kenneth A. The Experts Pick Basketball’s Best City, Utah: Deseret News, 1997. Fifty Players in the Last Fifty Years. Lenexa, Kans.: Kalb, Elliott. Who’s Better, Who’s Best in Basketball? Addax, 1998. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2003.

364 Amare Stoudemire

Born: November 16, 1982 ther in Florida and at other times in New York with Lake Wales, Florida their mother. Also known as: Amare Carsares Stoudemire (full Amare played football and basketball at a young name) age. His favorite player was Shaquille O’Neal. Amare demonstrated outstanding athletic ability Early Life early in his life. In his early teens, he focused on Amare Carsares Stoudemire was born in Lake basketball. His father had died, and Amare became Wales, Florida, on November 16, 1982. His father, concerned about his and his family’s future. Hazell, performed lawn-care service and owned a trucking business. His mother, Carrie, picked fruit. The Road to Excellence Following their parents’ divorce, Amare and his Amare received his first exposure to organized bas- three brothers lived part of the time with their fa- ketball when he started playing for an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team at the age of fourteen. He then played for Mount Zion Christian Acad- emy, a prep school in North Caro- lina. Before his senior year in high school, he transferred to Cypress Creek High School near Orlando, Florida. Though the team was aver- age, he was outstanding. In 2002, he was named Mr. Basketball for the state of Florida. He was also placed on Parade magazine’s first team for high school all-Ameri- cans. In the McDonald’s All-Ameri- can game, he played an important role in helping the East squad win handily. Amare had such impressive bas- ketball skills that PrepStars Recruiter’s Handbook listed him as the top high school player in the country. Ini- tially, he planned to play for the . However, since he had been such a domi- nant player in high school, Amare decided to skip college and declare himself eligible for the 2002 NBA draft. The Phoenix Suns chose him with the ninth pick. He was consid- ered to be a risky selection because he was a young player with few Amare Stoudemire of the Phoenix Suns slam dunking the ball in a 2003 years of experience playing orga- game. (Reuters/Landov) nized basketball.

365 Amare Stoudemire Great Athletes

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 2002-03 82 392 .472 320 .661 721 78 1,106 13.5 2003-04 55 411 .475 310 .713 496 78 1,133 20.6 2004-05 80 747 .559 583 .733 713 131 2,080 26.0 2005-06 3 9 .333 8 .889 16 2 26 8.7 2006-07 82 607 .575 457 .781 786 84 1,671 20.4 2007-08 79 714 .590 556 .805 719 118 1,989 25.2 Totals 381 2,880 .541 2,234 .745 3,451 491 8,005 21.0 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

The Emerging Champion He made his first all-star team and was a second- Amare proved immediately that he was worth the team all-NBA. The Suns advanced to the Western risk. Playing at both the center and the power- Conference Finals before losing to the San Anto- forward positions, he excelled at scoring, rebound- nio Spurs. In the next season, Amare suffered a set- ing, and blocking shots. He played in all eighty-two back. He had surgery on his left knee prior to the games in his first season. He had double figures in regular season and only played in three games. both scoring and rebounding in twenty-five games. He finished with averages of 13.5 points and 8.8 re- Continuing the Story bounds per game and helped the Suns make the Amare made a great comeback for the 2006-2007 playoffs. He was the rookie of the year for the 2002- season after missing most of the previous year. He 2003 season, becoming the first player who skipped played in all 82 games and averaged 20.4 points per college basketball to win the honor. In the follow- game. He also had a career-high 9.6 rebounds per ing year, he experienced multiple injuries that kept game. He was one of only three players in the him out of one-third of the games. Despite this, he league to rank in the top twenty in scoring, field- still managed to lead the team in scoring with 20.6 goal percentage, and rebounds. Also he registered points per game. His performance also earned him double figures in both scoring and rebounding in a a place on the U.S. Olympic team in 2004. The career-best forty-six games. He made the all-star team finished in a disappointing third place, earn- game for the second time in his career. The Suns ing a bronze medal. had a strong season but once again lost to the San Amare continued to improve during his third Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference playoffs. professional season. He seemed to play even better Amare had perhaps his best season in 2007- in the Suns’ new offense, which emphasized a 2008. He had career-high averages with 25.2 points faster tempo. He finished the year with a career- per game and 2.1 blocked shots and made 59 per- best average of 26 points per game. He made 56 cent of his field-goal attempts. For the second con- percent of his field-goal attempts, which ranked secutive season, he had more than 9 rebounds per second in the NBA. He also averaged 8.9 rebounds. game. He was also one of only three players in the league to average 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 Honors and Awards blocked shots per game. He made the all-star team for the third time, and was selected to the all-NBA 2003 NBA Rookie of the Year second team. His efforts helped the Suns make the All-Rookie First Team playoffs for the fourth consecutive year. He started 2004 Bronze medal, Olympic Basketball the 2008-2009 season strongly, too, and was again selected to the all-star game. 2005, 2007-09 NBA All-Star Team 2005, 2008 All-NBA Second Team Summary 2007 All-NBA First Team Amare Stoudemire established himself as one of the best basketball players of his era. He became

366 Basketball Amare Stoudemire one of the most dominating big men in the league, Additional Sources using his size and strength to get rebounds, Fawaz, John. High-Flying Stars. New York: Scholas- blocked shots, and points close to the basket. He tic, 2007. also has great speed, especially for someone his McCallum, Jack. “Forecast: Sunny and Hot—His size. His speed makes defending him particularly Knees Healthy and His Attitude Adjusted, Amare difficult for opposing centers and power forwards. Stoudemire Is Blending His Skills for a Title Con- Furthermore, he represents the trend of great high tender.” Sports Illustrated 106, no. 2 (2007): 58. school players going directly to the NBA and hav- ______. Seven Seconds or Less: My Season on the Bench ing success. with the Runnin’ and Gunnin’ Phoenix Suns. New Kevin L. Brennan York: Simon & Schuster, 2006.

367 Sheryl Swoopes

Born: March 25, 1971 In 1993, she was the national college player of Brownfield, Texas the year. Texas Tech compiled a 58-8 record dur- Also known as: Sheryl Denise Swoopes (full ing Sheryl’s two years with the team. Sheryl was name) the Southwestern Conference player of the year in 1992 and 1993, won the Naismith Award in Early Life 1993, and was named to the Division I all-American Sheryl Swoopes was born on March 25, 1971, and squad in 1991 and 1993. In the latter year, the Lady grew up in Brownfield, Texas, a small town near Red Raiders won the NCAA Basketball Tourna- Lubbock. She learned her basketball skills early by ment championship, and Sheryl was named the playing with her three older brothers and their most valuable player (MVP) of the Final Four. She friends. At the age of seven, she began her competitive career in a local chil- dren’s league. Getting the opportunity to play regularly with boys helped Sheryl develop a more physical game and work harder on her ballhandling skills. Her mother, Louise, watched all her children as they starred in school.

The Road to Excellence Sheryl played basketball for Brownfield High School. In 1988, as a junior, she was named Texas player of the year when her team won the state championship. When she graduated in 1989, she received a scholarship to the University of Texas. After attending for a few days, Sheryl left the school and returned home. She had trouble with the immense size of the school and decided to start her career at a junior college in Texas. Also in 1989, Sheryl was named to the U.S. Olympic Festival’s South team, though she was un- able to play because of injuries.

The Emerging Champion Sheryl resumed her basketball career at Southern Plains Junior College in Texas; she was the junior college player of the year in 1991. She averaged 21.5 points with 11.9 rebounds to lead her squad. In 1991 and 1992, she was selected as a ju- nior college all-American. Sheryl finished her career at Texas Sheryl Swoopes at the 2002 WNBA all-star game. (Mitchell Layton/ Tech, playing for the Lady Red Raiders. NBAE/Getty Images)

368 Basketball Sheryl Swoopes

WNBA Statistics

Season GP FGA FGM FG% FTA FTM FT% Reb. Ast TP PPG 1997 9 53 25 .472 14 10 .714 15 7 64 7.1 1998 29 405 173 .427 86 71 .826 149 62 453 15.6 1999 32 489 226 .462 122 100 .820 202 127 585 18.3 2000 31 484 245 .506 145 119 .821 195 119 643 20.7 2002 32 509 221 .434 154 127 .825 158 107 592 18.5 2003 31 434 175 .403 124 110 .887 143 121 484 15.6 2004 31 429 181 .422 90 77 .856 153 91 459 14.8 2005 33 486 217 .447 180 153 .850 119 141 614 18.6 2006 31 436 180 .413 127 97 .764 183 115 482 15.5 2007 3 25 9 .360 4 4 1.000 17 11 23 7.7 2008 29 192 75 .391 59 41 .695 126 60 205 7.1 Totals 291 3,942 1,727 .438 1,105 909 .823 1,460 961 4,604 15.8 Notes: GP = games played; FGA = field goals attempted; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTA = free throws attempted; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game scored a record 47 points in the championship 2000. In 2000, she earned the MVP and the defen- game. sive player of the year awards. Nike created a shoe Also in 1993, Sheryl was named the Babe Za- in her honor called Air Swoopes. harias female athlete of the year, which brought Sheryl missed the 2001 season after tearing a with it a $10,000 scholarship for her to finish her knee ligament during a workout. However, she re- degree in exercise and sports science. All together, mained with the Comets as an assistant coach. Dur- she was named player of the year by nine different ing her career with the Comets she scored more sporting magazines and organizations based on than 2,500 points and had more than 500 rebounds, her performance in 1993. Her number, 22, was re- 500 assists, and 200 steals. She was a three-time tired by Texas Tech in February, 1994. WNBA MVP. In the 2007 season, however, she suf- fered a back injury and could only play in three Continuing the Story games. The following year she signed with the Seat- After leaving college, Sheryl played in Europe for tle Storm and was instrumental in helping the two years before returning to the United States to team to the playoffs. Previously, she had led the participate in the 1994 FIBA Women’s World Cham- Comets to four WNBA titles. pionship and Goodwill Games. In 1996, 2000, and 2004, she played for the Olympic team, Honors and Awards winning gold medals in each year. In 1997, Sheryl began playing in the WNBA, 1991 Junior College Player of the Year joining the Houston Comets. She was the first 1993 NCAA Final Four most valuable player player to be signed by the WNBA. She quickly NCAA championship team established herself as one of the strongest play- National Player of the Year ers in the league and was part of the all-WNBA Babe Zaharias Female Athlete of the Year first team from 1998 to 2000. One of her great- 1994 Uniform number 22 retired by Texas Tech est joys, however, came off the court: On June 1996, 2000, 2004 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball 25, 1997, her son Jordan Eric Jackson was 1998-2000, 2002, 2005 All-WNBA First Team born. Two years later, she divorced and later 1999-2000 NBA All-Star Team, league’s leading vote-getter disclosed that she was a lesbian. She raised her 2000, 2002, 2005 WNBA most valuable player son with help from her partner, Alisa Scott. 2000, 2002-03, 2005 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Within six weeks of giving birth to her son, 2003 All-WNBA Second Team Sheryl was back on the court playing at almost 2005 All-WNBA Defensive First Team full strength. She was named a starter for the 2006 Bronze medal, World Championships Western Conference all-stars in 1999 and in

369 Sheryl Swoopes Great Athletes

Summary Additional Sources Sheryl Swoopes established herself as one of the Burgan, Michael. Sheryl Swoopes. Philadelphia: Chel- premier female basketball players of all time. She sea House, 2001. brought a new image to the game, as she and fellow Deitsch, Richard. “Sheryl Swoopes.” Sports Illus- basketball stars Lisa Leslie and Rebecca Lobo be- trated 104 (June 26, 2006): 25-26. came the spokespeople for the WNBA. The three- Griffin, Pat. Strong Women, Deep Closets: Lesbians and some have signed many endorsements and model- Homophobia in Sport. Champaign, Ill.: Human Ki- ing contracts, which have brought increased netics, 1998. exposure to the league and to women’s basketball. “Hooping History.” Jet 96 (August 16, 1999): 44. When she revealed her homosexuality, she became Luscombe, Belinda. “Swoopes, There She Is.” Time one of the highest profile athletes ever to do so. 150 (August 18, 1997): 79. Leslie Heaphy, updated by Thomas L. Erskine Schweitzer, Karen. Sheryl Swoopes. Broomall, Pa.: Mason Crest, 2008.

370 Goose Tatum

Born: c. May 3, 1921 peting with white athletes. Goose was an instant New Jersey star with the Globetrotters. His physical abilities Died: January 18, 1967 were combined with a madcap sense of basketball El Paso, Texas humor. Soon Goose was crowned “the Clown Prince Also known as: Reece Tatum (full name); Clown of Basketball.” Prince of Basketball After serving in the Army Air Corps in World War II, where he refined his basketball skills, Goose Early Life returned to the Globetrotters. By the end of the As for so many African American athletes born in 1940’s, the Globetrotters had become one of the the first decades of the twentieth century, the early United States’ most recognizable athletic attrac- life of Reece “Goose” Tatum is hidden in obscurity. tions. Some, however, doubted that the Globetrot- Even the date of his birth is in dispute, with most ters really were as excellent as the team’s on-court commentators claiming it probably occurred sev- record indicated, inasmuch as the Globetrotters’ eral years before the given date of 1921. The son of victories were inevitably won against all-white trav- an itinerant Methodist minister, Goose attended eling opponents, also owned by Saperstein, who segregated schools in small-town Arkansas. While were cast as the stooges and foils for the talented playing football, someone said he looked like a Globetrotters. goose, and the nickname stuck. By the late 1930’s, after several years of sandlot and semiprofessional baseball, Goose was playing profes- sional baseball for the Birmingham Barons and later the Indianapolis or Cincinnati Clowns in the popular but segregated Negro League. Generally a first baseman or pitcher, Goose, with his 84-inch reach, was an impos- ing threat out on the pitching mound. He was a gifted natural athlete who also excelled at football and, eventu- ally, basketball.

The Road to Excellence In 1942, Abe Saperstein signed Goose to play for his legendary Har- lem Globetrotters exhibition basket- ball team. Saperstein had created the Globetrotters in Chicago in 1927—at its inception, the team had nothing to do with the real Harlem. By the end of the 1930’s, the team had achieved considerable popular- ity at a time when professional sports Goose Tatum, who was known as the “clown prince of basketball,” was still segregated and African earned worldwide fame playing with the Harlem Globetrotters. (Hulton Americans were barred from com- Archive/Getty Images)

371 Goose Tatum Great Athletes

The Emerging Champion time, was much more than most white professional The Globetrotters were more than mere entertain- basketball players made. However, he was always ment and Goose was much more than just a famous chronically out of funds, frequently having to bor- clown, though he was noted for stunts like hiding row from Saperstein. Though he was a clown on the basketball under his jersey while the opposing the court, Goose was a loner, often restless and mel- players wandered confusedly around the court, or ancholy when off the court. He frequently refused falling down, apparently seriously injured, only to to travel with the rest of the team, preferring to fly vault upright with a smile, his eyes flashing. He bor- or take the train by himself. rowed eyeglasses from spectators and placed them In 1955, Goose left Saperstein and the Globe- on the referee’s nose or attached a long rubber trotters and founded his own basketball team, the band to the basketball, then shot it toward the bas- Harlem Road Kings, later known as the Stars and ket, only to have it return to his enormous hands. the Magicians, and he played with his team until his In 1948 and 1949, the Globetrotters defeated one death. Money was one incentive: His income rose of the premier professional basketball teams, the to approximately $65,000 per year after leaving the Minneapolis Lakers. In 1950, the Globetrotters en- Globetrotters. Still, his financial problems contin- gaged in a series against the best college and uni- ued and he served a short prison sentence in 1961, versity players, with the Globetrotters winning after a conviction for not paying $186,000 in in- eleven of the eighteen games in the so-called World come taxes. Returning to his first sport, he also pur- Series of Basketball. The following year the Globe- chased an interest in a trotters won fourteen of eighteen games against team, the Detroit Clowns, occasionally playing first the college all-stars, and Goose was selected as the base and center field. By the mid-1960’s Goose’s series most valuable player. In 1952, the Globetrot- health began to fail. He died in El Paso, Texas, in ters were again victorious against the collegians, 1967. He was supposedly forty-five at the time of eleven games to five, and again Goose was the most his death, but many believed he was several years valuable player. older. The Globetrotters also traveled widely, touring Alaska in 1949 and Central and South America in Summary 1950, where the team played before 50,000 fans in Goose Tatum’s life was both a triumph and a trag- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 1951, 75,000 people saw edy. He achieved fame and financial success during them perform in Berlin, fifteen years after the 1936 his lifetime. His tragedy was that much of his ath- Olympics made a star of Jesse Owens, whose accom- letic career took place in a segregated society. By all plishments belied the pernicious racial theories of accounts, Goose was an excellent basketball player, Adolf Hitler. The Globetrotters toured the world in but how great he might have become in a later era 1952. Wherever they played, Goose was always one is impossible to know. Still, for most Americans of of the featured players. During his basketball ca- the mid-twentieth century, black and white, there reer he set scoring records in the Chicago Stadium, was only one “Goose,” and he was a superstar. with 55 points, and the Cow Palace in San Fran- Eugene Larson cisco, with 64 points. The clown had an accurate hook shot. Goose’s play was not all just for laughs. Additional Sources Christgau, John. Tricksters in the Madhouse: Lakers Continuing the Story Versus Globetrotters, 1948. Lincoln: University of The Globetrotters and Goose were featured in two Nebraska Press, 2004. films during the 1950’s: Harlem Globetrotters and Rogosin, Donn. Invisible Men: Life in Baseball’s Negro Go, Man, Go. Goose was well paid by Saperstein, Leagues. New York: Kodansha International, making more than $40,000 per year, which, at the 1995.

372 Diana Taurasi

Born: June 11, 1982 which is presented by the Los Angeles Times to the Chino, California best basketball player in Southern California. Also Also known as: Diana Lurena Taurasi (full while in high school, Diana was named the 2000 name); DT Naismith and Parade magazine national high school player of the year. In 2001, 6-foot Diana had Early Life a brilliant year. She earned a bronze medal as a Diana Lurena Taurasi was born on June 11, 1982, member of the 2001 USA Junior World Basketball in Chino, California, a dairy-farming community Championship team and a gold medal as a mem- in San Bernardino County. Her father, Mario ber of the 2000 USA Basketball Women’s Junior Taurasi, was born in Italy but moved as a child to Ar- World Championship Qualifying team. Also dur- gentina, where he ultimately met Diana’s mother, ing high school, she was named Gatorade’s Califor- Liliana. The couple moved to the United States. Di- nia player of the year for two consecutive seasons. ana has one sister, named Jessika. Diana attended the University of Connecticut where she majored in communication science and The Road to Excellence played brilliantly as a member of the popular Hus- Diana attended Chino’s Don Lugo High School, kies team. In 2001, she ranked in the top ten in where she received the 2000 Cheryl Miller Award, seven different Big East Conference categories. That same year, she was named to the Kodak all-American team and the Associated Press second-team. Throughout her college career, she won numerous prestigious awards, includ- ing the 2003 and 2004 Naismith national player of the year awards. That same year, she re- ceived the NCAA Basketball Tournament East Regional most outstanding player and United States Basketball Writers Association national player of the year awards.

The Emerging Champion After her brilliant college basketball career, Di- ana was selected first overall in the 2004 WNBA draft by the Phoenix Mercury, a team that had finished 8-26 the year before. During her first game with the Mercury, against the Seattle Storm, Diana scored 26 points and led her team to an 84-76 win. Over the entire season, Diana averaged 17.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. The team did not qualify for the playoffs, but Diana could feel proud of her personal ac- complishments during her first year as a pro- fessional basketball player. That year, 2004, she won the WNBA rookie of the year award and Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury heading for the basket was named to the Western Conference all-star in a 2007 game. (Rick Scuteri/Reuters/Landov) team. In addition, she played with the U.S.

373 Diana Taurasi Great Athletes

WNBA Statistics Season GP FGA FGM FG% FTA FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 2004 34 503 209 .416 129 98 .760 149 132 578 17.0 2005 33 427 175 .410 151 121 .801 138 150 527 16.0 2006 34 660 298 .452 183 143 .781 122 139 860 25.3 2007 32 468 206 .440 127 106 .835 135 137 613 19.2 2008 34 579 258 .446 247 215 .870 172 121 820 24.1 Totals 167 2,637 1,146 .435 837 683 .816 716 679 3,396 20.3 Notes: GP = games played; FGA = field goals attempted; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTA = free throws attempted; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

Honors and Awards Continuing the Story Diana’s fame continued to rise, and in 2007, 2000 Naismith National High School Player of the Year Diana led the Mercury to WNBA playoff victo- 2002-04 NCAA Championships with U Connecticut ries against the Seattle Storm and the San An- 2003 Wade Trophy 2003-04 Naismith Award tonio Silver Stars. Next, Diana and the Mer- Big East Conference Player of the Year cury had to battle the defending champions, NCAA Basketball Tournament most outstanding player the Detroit Shock. With teammate Pondexter 2004, 2008 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball 2004 WNBA Rookie of the Year at her side, Diana helped the Mercury to the 2004, 2007 First-team all-WNBA franchise’s first WNBA title. 2005-07 WNBA All-Star Team Summary Throughout her career, Diana Taurasi has been women’s Olympic basketball team and won a gold called “unstoppable,” and many consider her to be medal, a feat she repeated at the 2008 Beijing one of the top women basketball players in the Olympic Games. United States. Her success in high school and col- In 2005, Diana suffered an ankle injury. Never- lege, at the University of Connecticut, led her to theless, she averaged 16 points, 4.2 rebounds, and the Phoenix Mercury, with which she became one 4.5 assists each game. Furthermore, she was a 2005 of the WNBA’s premier players. A true champion, all-star. Although the Mercury had a brilliant start Diana became only the sixth player ever to win an to the 2005 season, the team failed to advance to NCAA title, a WNBA title, and an Olympic gold the playoffs. At this point, former NBA coach Paul medal. Westhead became the team’s head coach in time M. Casey Diana for the 2006 season and introduced a new ap- proach to the team. Another rookie named Cappie Additional Sources Pondexter also began playing for the Mercury at Auriemma, Geno. Geno: In Pursuit of Perfection. New this time. York: Warner Books, 2006. Coach Westhead’s upbeat system provided Di- Buren, Jodi, and Donna A. Lopiano. Superwomen: ana and her team with new enthusiasm. In 2006, One Hundred Women, One Hundred Sports. New Diana led the league in scoring and played in the York: Bulfinch Press, 2004. all-star game. Furthermore, she broke ’s Grundy, Pamela. Shattering the Glass: The Remarkable league records for points in a season and points in a History of Women’s Basketball. Chapel Hill: Uni- game. Diana scored 741 points during the 2006 versity of North Carolina Press, 2007. season and scored an outstanding 47 points during O’Neil, Dana Pennett, and Pat Williams. How to Be a game against Houston. In 2006, Diana averaged Like Women Athletes of Influence: Thirty-one Women 25.3 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game. at the Top of Their Game and How You Can Get There However, though the Mercury finished 18-16, Phoe- Too. Deerfield Beach, Fla.: Health Communica- nix missed the playoffs again. tions, 2007.

374 Nikki Teasley

Born: March 22, 1979 Blue Star magazine, a sports publication, rated Washington, D.C. Nikki the number-one girls’ basketball recruit in Also known as: Michelle Nicole Teasley (full the nation. Nikki’s high school statistics were im- name) pressive: During her senior year, Nikki averaged an astounding 27.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 8.5 as- Early Life sists per game. During this time, she also became Nikki Teasley was born Michelle Nicole Teasley on known for the tricks and drills she could perform March 22, 1979, in Washington, D.C., to Ernestine with a basketball, such as dribbling two balls be- Teasley and Nathaniel Johnson. Her father was tween her legs at the same time. In 1997, Nikki set never active in her life or the lives of her four broth- three records in the prestigious Women’s Basket- ers. Nikki grew up in a violent neighborhood often ball Coaches Association game: most points, 30; filled with criminal activity. Nikki rebelled and par- most field goals, 14; and most field-goal attempts, ticipated in illegal activities; she was arrested for 24. Nikki also captained the gold-medal winning automobile theft at the age of fourteen. In 1993, U.S. junior World Championship team that year. in response to the negative surroundings, Nikki’s mother moved the family to the more stable and The Emerging Champion less violent town of Fredrick, Maryland. At this lo- Nikki was an extremely talented point guard. A cation, the family lived with Nikki’s aunt. coach at her high school said, “She could do more things with a basketball than any player I’[d] ever The Road to Excellence coached, male or female.” Nikki was recruited to Nikki began playing basketball when she was nine play college basketball at the University of North years old. She learned the fundamentals of the Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), where she im- game by watching her brothers and practicing in a proved her basketball skills. In her freshman year, local church parking lot. Her older brother Ernie she was the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) signed her up for a recreation-league basketball rookie of the year. Nikki scored a remarkable 27 team. Nikki dominated the other players. Then, points in her first college game. She averaged 12.9 she attended St. John’s at Prospect Hall High points per game, leading all freshmen in the ACC. School, where she was named the Gatorade player During the 1999 and 2001 seasons, Nikki was of the year for Maryland three years in a row. In ad- named one of the top-ten preseason candidates for dition, Nikki proved her skills against other great the Naismith Award. players and earned high school all-American status However, despite all of her basketball success, four consecutive years. Nikki was unhappy. After considering the demands

WNBA Statistics

Season GP FGA FGM FG% FTA FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 2002 32 166 67 .404 40 30 .750 84 140 204 6.4 2003 34 288 112 .389 112 98 .875 175 214 392 11.5 2004 34 278 108 .388 68 52 .765 116 207 336 9.9 2005 19 135 45 .333 26 22 .846 53 70 141 7.4 2006 34 318 118 .371 92 76 .826 89 183 364 10.7 2007 33 152 51 .336 45 42 .933 73 109 172 5.2 Totals 186 1,337 501 .375 383 320 .836 590 923 1,609 8.7 Notes: GP = games played; FGA = field goals attempted; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTA = free throws attempted; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

375 Nikki Teasley Great Athletes of school and sports, she decided to take a break Honors and Awards from college. She stepped away from the 2000- 2001 season to concentrate on personal challenges 1998 Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year that included a struggle with depression. She went 2002 First-team all-Atlantic Coast Conference home to Maryland, where she worked in construc- Associated Press all-American (honorable mention) tion during the day and at a local department store 2003 WNBA All-Star Game most valuable player at night. During this time she learned to like and be 2003, 2004 Second-team All-WNBA herself. In 2001, Nikki returned to the Tar Heels a stronger player than ever. She ended her college career holding UNC records in assists, with 728, and scored 364 points, averaging 10.7 a game. In and three-pointers, with 236. Nikki averaged 5.8 as- 2007, Nikki played thirty-three games and scored sists a game, an ACC record. 172 points for a 5.2 point average. She averaged 3.3 assists per game, also. However, her team per- Continuing the Story formed inconsistently. In the spring of 2008, the Nikki was the number-five pick in the 2002 Mystics released Nikki, ending her short career in Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Washington. She did not announce her retirement draft. She was chosen by the Portland Fire and later but did not immediately sign with another team. traded to the Los Angeles Sparks, who were the de- Nikki’s WNBA career per-game averages were 8.7 fending champions at the time. The Sparks’ coach points and 5 assists. When not playing basketball, Michael Cooper compared Nikki to NBA legend Nikki enjoyed music: playing drums and rapping. Magic Johnson. Coach Cooper stated that she was as good a passer, defender, and three-point shot- Summary maker as Johnson. Nikki played thirty-two games Nikki Teasley overcame many challenges in her as a rookie, scoring 204 points. She hit a game- childhood and early playing years to have a success- winning, three-point shot with 2.1 seconds left in ful basketball career in the WNBA. Nikki’s athletic the WNBA finals game against the New York Lib- ability always made her a standout, but her deter- erty. The 69-66 victory gave the Sparks a repeat mination and tenacious attitude made her an in- championship. Nikki had 11 points and 11 assists spiring role model for people everywhere. Nikki in the game. could have succumbed to the temptations of child- In 2003, Nikki received WNBA all-star most valu- hood surroundings or the pressure of living as a able player honors and become the first player in high-profile athlete, but, instead, she rose above WNBA history to average more than 10 points, 5 as- these challenges by committing to the discipline sists, and 5 rebounds in a single season. Her unique and determination needed to be a student athlete and creative passing made her a standout to fans and professional basketball player. who enjoyed the entertainment aspect of profes- Deborah Stroman sional basketball. In 2006, Nikki was traded from the Sparks to the Additional Sources Washington Mystics. The team was looking for Layden, Tim. “Back on the Ball.” Sports Illustrated guidance from an experienced veteran. Nikki, in 95, no. 20 (November 19, 2001): 134. her fifth year in the WNBA, had been a vital mem- Stevens, Joe. “WNBA Draft: Sparks Add Spark by ber of a championship winning team. In her first Getting Teasley.” Los Angeles Daily News, April 20, year in Washington, she played thirty-four games 2002, p. S8.

376 Isiah Thomas

Born: April 30, 1961 ketball league. The coach of that school, however, Chicago, Illinois rejected Isiah because he thought he was too small. Also known as: Isiah Lord Thomas III The coach at St. Joseph High School, Gene Pinga- tore, secured a scholarship for Isiah. Pingatore said Early Life Isiah “had that special aura.” Isiah became an honor In the poverty-stricken West Side Chicago neigh- student at St. Joseph, and he led its basketball team borhood known as K-Town, Isiah Lord Thomas III to a second-place trophy in the state championship was born on April 30, 1961, the youngest of nine tournament in his junior year. The next year, he children. Although life in the gang-infested K-Town was one of the nation’s most sought-after basket- was dangerous and difficult, Isiah’s mother and father did their best to raise their large family. Isiah’s father was a foreman at International Har- vester Company for a time; however, when the plant closed, Isiah Thomas II, jobless, became frustrated and an- gry. Eventually, he left home, leaving Mary Thomas in charge of the nine children, seven of whom were boys. Mary Thomas was determined not to have her boys pulled into the West Side’s gang life. She encouraged them to pursue athletics instead of getting involved in crime. In spite of her ef- forts, however, several of her sons were seduced by drugs and gangs. Only the youngest, Isiah, remained the family’s hope for a better life beyond the grip of poverty.

The Road to Excellence Isiah led the journey to wealth and safety. At three years old, he often pro- vided the halftime entertainment at the local Catholic Youth Organization basketball games. Wearing an over- sized jersey and shoes, he would toss up shots with a high arc. “Isiah was amazing,” recalled his brother Alexis. Isiah continued to hone his skills throughout childhood at Gladys Park, just two blocks from his home. When he was in eighth grade, he tried for a basketball scholarship with Weber Detroit Pistons point guard Isiah Thomas in 1989. (Andrew D. Bernstein/ High School of the city’s Catholic bas- NBAE/Getty Images)

377 Isiah Thomas Great Athletes

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1981-82 72 453 .424 302 .704 209 565 1,225 17.0 1982-83 81 725 .472 368 .710 328 634 1,854 22.9 1983-84 82 669 .462 388 .733 327 914 1,748 21.3 1984-85 81 646 .458 399 .809 361 1,123 1,720 21.2 1985-86 77 609 .488 365 .790 277 830 1,609 20.9 1986-87 81 626 .463 400 .768 319 813 1,671 20.6 1987-88 81 621 .463 305 .774 278 678 1,577 19.5 1988-89 80 569 .464 287 .818 273 663 1,458 18.2 1989-90 81 579 .438 292 .775 308 765 1,492 18.4 1990-91 48 289 .435 179 .782 160 446 776 16.2 1991-92 78 564 .446 292 .772 247 560 1,445 18.5 1992-93 79 526 .418 278 .737 232 671 1,391 17.6 1993-94 58 318 .417 181 .702 159 399 856 14.8 Totals 979 7,194 .452 4,036 .759 3,478 9,061 18,822 19.2 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game ball players, recruited by more than one hundred years. That season, averaging 21.3 points and 11 as- colleges. sists, Isiah signed a new ten-year contract worth Indiana University was Isiah’s ultimate choice. more than $12 million. He was also named most Under Coach Bob Knight, Isiah made the all-Big valuable player (MVP) in the all-star game, posting Ten Conference team in his first season. In his sec- 21 points and 15 assists. The next season, Isiah set ond season, Isiah was named all-American and led an NBA record for assists: 1,123. In 1986, he was the Hoosiers to the Final Four of the National Col- once again MVP of the all-star game, leading the legiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Basketball Eastern Conference to a win with 30 points, 10 as- Tournament. Indiana won the 1981 national cham- sists, and 5 steals. pionship, defeating Louisiana State University in In 1987, the Pistons emerged as legitimate play- the semifinal round and the University of North off contenders. Throughout the playoffs, Isiah av- Carolina in the final game. Isiah was named the eraged 20.6 points per game. In the Eastern Con- tournament’s most outstanding player. The next ference Finals, the Pistons stretched the defending season, because of difficulties with Indiana’s world champion Boston Celtics to the full seven coach, Isiah decided to leave Indiana and turn pro- games but lost the last, bitterly contested game. fessional. That season, however, through Isiah’s leadership, the Pistons proved to be championship caliber. The Emerging Champion Isiah was picked second overall in the June 5, 1981, Continuing the Story NBA draft. He signed a $1.6-million contract with In 1988, the Pistons beat the Celtics for the Eastern the Detroit Pistons, whose record in the 1980-1981 Conference Championship and played in the NBA season was the second worst in the league. Isiah Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, the defend- had enough money to help his family out of pov- ing world champions. In game six of that series, erty and soon bought his mother a house in the Isiah gave one of his all-time best performances: Chicago suburb of Clarendon Hills. Isiah’s for- On an injured ankle, he scored 25 points in the tunes were only beginning, however. As a point third quarter, an NBA Finals record. guard, he proved himself a team leader in his As good as his performance was in the 1988 se- rookie year with the Pistons. ries with the Lakers, Isiah had to wait until 1989 to In the 1983-1984 season, the Pistons had a win- wear the world championship ring. In 1989, the ning season, at 49-33, for the first time in seven Pistons again played the Lakers and swept the two-

378 Basketball Isiah Thomas time champions in four games. In 1990, the Honors, Awards, and Records Pistons repeated as world champions, led by Isiah’s dynamic play. He was named the 1980 Men’s U.S. Olympic Basketball Team NBA Finals MVP. Isiah was once quoted as All-Big Ten Team saying that he wanted “to establish in Detroit 1981 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player (what) they’ve done in Boston since the NCAA All-Tournament Team 1950’s and 1960’s, in terms of tradition, in terms of pride, in terms of style of play.” Consensus All-American Isiah was only the fourth player in NBA 1982 NBA All-Rookie Team history to collect more than 9,000 assists. He 1982-93 NBA All-Star Team was an excellent passer and a smooth, clever 1984-86 All-NBA First Team playmaker. Despite his constant friendly NBA All-Star Game most valuable player smile, Isiah was a tough, fierce competitor. A dangerous shooter from anywhere on the 1987 Kennedy Citizenship Award floor, Isiah was an unselfish, team-oriented 1988 NBA record for the most points in one quarter of a Finals game (25) player. He served as the president of the 1990 NBA Finals most valuable player NBA Players Association from the late 1980’s 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team into the early 1990’s. Because of a series of 1999 Named one of the twenty best NBA players of all time injuries during the 1993-1994 season, Isiah slowed down considerably. A torn Achilles 2000 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame tendon in April, 1994, brought an end to his Uniform number 11 retired by Detroit Pistons illustrious career. He had been an NBA all- star twelve times and a member of the all- NBA first team on three occasions: 1984, 1985, and president of basketball operations, but by 2005, the 1986. Knicks had the NBA’s highest team payroll with the Following his retirement, Isiah became part worst record. In June, 2006, Knicks coach Larry owner and executive vice president of the Toronto Brown was fired and replaced by Isiah, on condi- Raptors. As part of the celebration of the golden tion he show “evident progress.” He did not. How- anniversary of the NBA during the 1996-1997 sea- ever, Madison Square Garden (MSG) executives son, he was named one of the fifty greatest NBA gave him a lucrative multiyear contract only nine players of all time. He left the Raptors during the months later. 1997-1998 season and became an analyst for the During the 2006-2007 season, Isiah allegedly in- NBC’s NBA telecasts. stigated his team to commit a “hard foul” against a In August, 1999, Isiah purchased the Continen- Denver Nuggets’ player, which resulted in a vicious tal Basketball Association (CBA) for $10 million. In brawl. Although Isiah was neither suspended nor 2000, Isiah was inducted into the Naismith Memo- fined, his legendary charm had receded to reveal a rial Basketball Hall of Fame. Later in the year, he decided nasty streak. was named the head coach of the Indiana Pacers. In 2007, Isiah and MSG, Inc. were sued for sexual Off the court, Isiah was active as a charity worker harassment by Anucha Browne Sanders, who main- and involved in educational, anticrime, and anti- tained that she had been fired from her $260,000 poverty programs for young people. job as vice president of marketing and business op- Since retiring from play, Isiah’s reputation has erations in retaliation for her complaints about ver- become tarnished. His tenure with the Toronto bal abuse and unwelcome advances. After a three- Raptors was mediocre. Many CBA coaches blamed week trial, a federal jury found Isiah and MSG guilty him—after he refused an offer for the league to and ordered MSG to pay $11.6 million in punitive become an official NBA developmental organiza- damages. Although Isiah admitted calling Sanders tion—for bankrupting the CBA. As coach of the In- a vulgar name and attempting to hug and kiss her, diana Pacers from 2000 to 2003, Isiah was unable to he proclaimed himself “very innocent” and seemed build on Larry Bird’s accomplishments. unaware that his contemptuous behavior was inap- In 2003, Isiah joined the New York Knicks as propriate in the business world. During the 2007-

379 Isiah Thomas Great Athletes

2008 season, the Knicks compiled a dismal 23-59 Additional Sources record, and fans chanted, “Fire Isiah” at home Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- games. He was “reassigned” in April, 2008. ketball. Chicago: Masters Press, 1998. Challen Paul. The Book of Isiah: The Rise of a Basket- Summary ball Legend. Toronto: ECW Press, 1996. Although considered small in size for the NBA, ______. The Isiah Thomas Story: From the Back Court Isiah Thomas was big in character when he led the to the Front Office. Toronto: ECW Press, 2004. Indiana Hoosiers to the NCAA crown and the De- Dolin, Nick, Chris Dolin, and David Check. Basket- troit Pistons to world championships in 1989 and ball Stars: The Greatest Players in the History of the 1990. Isiah’s post-playing career was not reflective Game. New York: Black Dog and Leventhal, of his on-court dominance and affability. 1997. Rustin Larson, updated by Jan Hall Mallozzi, Vincent M. Basketball: The Legends and the Game. Willowdale, Ont.: Firefly Books, 1998.

380 Nate Thurmond

Born: July 25, 1941 beautician. The Thurmond family never had a lot Akron, Ohio of money, but there was much love in the house Also known as: Nathaniel Thurmond (full along with the material necessities. Mr. and Mrs. name); Nate the Great Thurmond taught their sons not to be arrogant and to treat others well. Shortly after Nate retired Early Life from professional basketball, he made it a point to Nathaniel Thurmond was born in Akron, Ohio, on sit down with both of his parents and thank them July 25, 1941. While a young boy, he was given the for everything. nickname of “Nate.” During his career as a profes- sional basketball player, he was called “Nate the The Road to Excellence Great.” Nate had an older brother, Ben. Nate’s fa- Nate was encouraged by his father and brother to ther made a good living while working in the try sports, so he played basketball at Spicer Ele- Firestone rubber plant in Akron; his mother was a mentary School. There Nate played against a team coached by Joe Siegferth, his future high school coach. Siegferth remembers young Nate as a “tall and skinny kid with sort of a pot belly.” He did not realize that he would see Nate again on a basketball court. Siegferth was named basketball coach at Ak- ron Central High, and the freshman class in- cluded Nate Thurmond. Nate was a nice boy and coachable, but he was average as a player. Every season, however, he got better and grew larger. As a 6-foot 9-inch senior, Nate played for- ward because he was not considered strong and aggressive enough to play the center posi- tion. He averaged 12.9 points per game and was emerging as a good defensive player and rebounder. Nate was named to the all-city and honorable mention all-state teams. However, no one could imagine his professional basket- ball future. In the school yearbook, Nate wrote, “I would like to return to Central High as a bas- ketball coach.” In 1959, Nate enrolled at Bowling Green State University in his home state of Ohio. Nate’s high school coach had also played there and was still friends with coach Harold Ander- son. Anderson was glad to have Nate but was more interested in his Central High teammate Elijah Chatman. Golden State Warrior Nate Thurmond surveying the court af- Nate refined his skills and became Bowling ter securing a rebound. (Walter Iooss, Jr./NBAE/Getty Im- Green’s varsity center as a sophomore. He led ages) the team in both scoring and rebounding and

381 Nate Thurmond Great Athletes

dominated rebounding in the Mid-American Con- with a knee injury. Nate considered an early retire- ference (MAC) for three seasons. Bowling Green ment. He remembered the little agreement he and won the MAC title in 1962 and 1963, and Nate was his mother had years ago when he quit his piano named to the all-American team both seasons. lessons: Do what you want and we’ll back you up— as long as you do your best. Nate’s best was yet to The Emerging Champion come. Nate was fully grown, strong, and 6 feet 11 inches tall. Because of his impressive defensive and re- Continuing the Story bounding skills, he drew comparisons to the center In his comeback season of 1970-1971, Nate scored of the Boston Celtics, Bill Russell. The San Fran- 43 points in one game against the Detroit Pistons. cisco Warriors picked Nate in the first round of the In 1971-1972, he passed the 10,000-point mark 1963 NBA draft. while averaging more than 20 points per game for In Nate’s first NBA season, he was the backup the fifth season in a row. His development of an all- center to the great Wilt Chamberlain. Nate was around game landed Nate in seven NBA all-star named to the NBA all-rookie team despite his lim- games. However, Nate is remembered primarily for ited role. The following year, however, Nate got his rebounding and defense. He was named to five chance to perform. Near the all-star break in 1965, NBA all-defensive teams, and the great Kareem the Warriors traded Chamberlain to the Philadel- Abdul-Jabbar called Nate “the toughest defender I phia 76ers. Nate responded and even won a spot on ever faced.” the Western Conference all-star team. He finished In 1974, Nate was traded to the Chicago Bulls the 1964-1965 season with a surprising 16.5-points- and played there until November of 1975, when he per-game scoring average. Never known as a scorer, was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Nate was Nate raised his average to almost 22 points per thirty-four years old and two knee operations had game in the following seasons. slowed him, but his experience and fiery spirit in- Nate became a fixture at the center position for spired the Cavaliers. He led a team of ordinary the Warriors for eleven seasons. Despite his rapid players on a relatively new expansion team into the rise among the NBA’s “big men,” Nate did not NBA playoffs. The 1975-1976 Cavalier season was reach superstar status quickly. He suffered a series called the “Miracle of Richfield”—for the Richfield of injuries throughout his career. In the 1967-1968 Coliseum. season, a broken hand kept him out of the playoffs, In 1977, the grateful Cavaliers retired Nate’s and in 1969-1970, he missed most of the season number 42 jersey after his fourteenth, and last, sea-

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1963-64 76 219 .395 95 .549 790 86 533 7.0 1964-65 77 519 .419 235 .658 1,395 157 1,273 16.5 1965-66 73 454 .406 280 .654 1,312 111 1,188 16.3 1966-67 65 467 .437 280 .629 1,382 166 1,214 18.7 1967-68 51 382 .411 282 .644 1,121 215 1,046 20.5 1968-69 71 571 .410 382 .615 1,402 253 1,524 21.5 1969-70 43 341 .414 261 .754 762 150 943 21.9 1970-71 82 623 .445 395 .730 1,128 257 1,641 20.0 1971-72 78 628 .432 417 .743 1,252 230 1,673 21.4 1972-73 79 517 .446 315 .718 1,349 280 1,349 17.1 1973-74 62 308 .444 191 .666 878 165 807 13.0 1974-75 80 250 .364 132 .589 904 328 632 7.9 1975-76 78 142 .421 62 .504 415 94 346 4.4 1976-77 49 100 .407 68 .642 374 83 268 5.5 Totals 964 5,521 .421 3,395 .667 14,464 2,575 14,437 15.0 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

382 Basketball Nate Thurmond

Honors, Awards, and Records NBA during the 1996-1997 season, Nate was named one of the fifty greatest NBA 1961-63 All-Mid-American Conference Team players of all time. 1962-63 Consensus All-American After retirement, Nate worked briefly 1963 Record for the most rebounds in an NCAA Tournament as a sports broadcaster prior to becom- game, 31 ing involved in public relations with the 1964 NBA All-Rookie Team Warriors. He continued to make a num- 1965 NBA record for the most rebounds in a quarter, 18 ber of appearances each year on behalf of charities and youth camps in the San 1965-68, 1970, 1973-74 NBA All-Star Team Francisco area. Nate also began oper- 1969, 1971-74 NBA All-Defensive Team ating Big Nate’s Barbecue, a rib and 1977 Uniform number 42 retired by Golden State Warriors and chicken restaurant in San Francisco. the Cleveland Cavaliers 1984 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Summary 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team “There are other centers in the league who do some things better than Nate,” Warriors coach said one year. son. The Golden State Warriors (formerly the San “But who can do as many things as well as Francisco Warriors) made Nate the first NBA Thurmond can?” Nate Thurmond collected more player to have his number retired by two teams. than 14,000 points and 14,000 rebounds in the On July 1, 1984, Nate was inducted into the NBA. Beyond those attributes, Nate was described Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in in one Warrior media guide as “solid as Gibraltar, Springfield, Massachusetts, with six others, includ- honest as a day in June, dependable as a ’41 Chevy, ing his college coach, Harold Anderson. Nate and the bronze from which statues are created.” Af- was a quick big man, a tenacious rebounder, great ter Nate’s playing career ended, the Warriors made shot-blocker, and smooth shooter. He was a team- him the team’s director of community relations. oriented player who cared more about winning Ronald L. Ammons than statistics. Some basketball critics labeled Nate the best balanced package for an NBA center, pro- Additional Sources viding just the right mix of offense and defense. In Duerson, Adam. “Barbecue Nation.” Sports Illus- 1974, he was the first player in NBA history to re- trated 107, no. 1 (July 2, 2007): 88-89. cord a quadruple double; he scored 22 points, col- Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling lected 14 rebounds, had 13 assists, and blocked 12 Kindersley, 2003. shots in a game against the Atlanta Hawks. Porter, David L. Basketball: A Biographical Dictionary. Nate still holds the NBA record for most re- Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2005. bounds in one quarter of play, with 18 against the Shouler, Kenneth A. The Experts Pick Basketball’s Best Baltimore Bullets on February 28, 1965. As part of Fifty Players in the Last Fifty Years. Lenexa, Kans.: the celebration of the golden anniversary of the Addax, 1998.

383 Jack Twyman

Born: May 11, 1934 in 1955, and he entered the NBA as a highly touted Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 6-foot 6-inch forward. Also known as: John Kennedy Twyman (full name) The Emerging Champion When Jack entered the NBA, he endured the trials Early Life that most rookies in any sport face. He handled John Kennedy “Jack” Twyman was born on May 11, well the new pressures of nearly daily travel and the 1934, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh has skepticism of his teammates and his opponents. always been a rugged, sports-minded city, a steel- Jack steadily increased his playing time in his mill town that fueled the dreams of many young first year as a Royal until he was a starter. Very men who hoped to be football players. Jack’s dreams quickly, Jack became one of the best pure-shooting were different. He grew up hoping to be a profes- forwards in the first two decades of the NBA. Jack sional basketball player, even though Pittsburgh was especially deadly from the corners, sinking had no professional team. In fact, in the early jump shots that, under contemporary rules, would 1950’s, when Jack was growing up, there were only be worth three points instead of two. eight teams in the NBA. That meant there were In 1957, Jack made the NBA all-star team for the fewer than one hundred potential spots on player first time in just his second year in the league and rosters. Jack was not discouraged by the odds, how- went on to be named to the all-star squad six more ever, and worked hard every day to improve his bas- times in his career. His scoring average in the 1959- ketball skills. By the time he reached high school, 1960 season, his best year, was 31.2 points per he was tall and lanky and destined to be a high-scor- game. Jack’s average was second only to that of the ing forward at Central Catholic High School. high-scoring center Wilt Chamberlain, quite an achievement for a forward well-known for his un- The Road to Excellence selfishness and acute passing skills. After his sterling high school career, he attracted In 1963, Jack and Oscar Robertson led the the attention of the University of Cincinnati and Royals to the Eastern Division finals, where the earned a full basketball scholarship. At college, team lost to the Boston Celtics in seven games. At Jack took nothing for granted and worked hard to one stretch during his career, Jack played in 609 start in his freshman year, an unusual feat at the consecutive games. During the 1963-1964 season, time. Jack suffered a broken hand, causing him to sit out Jack preserved his edge in what was becoming for twelve games, and his scoring average dipped to a sport for bigger, faster men with a rugged off- 15.9 points per game. The Royals again made it to season conditioning program. During the sum- the Eastern Division finals before losing to the mers, he practiced 100 foul shots per day, as well as Celtics once more. 200 jump shots and 150 set shots. He took this rou- Jack was outstanding in the 1964 playoffs, aver- tine, which earned him the admiration and respect aging 20.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. After of veteran players, with him into the professional serving as a reserve rather than a starter during the ranks. 1965-1966 season, Jack retired as only the sixth As a four-year starter on the University of Cincin- player to garner more than 15,000 points in a NBA nati team, Jack was a standout leader and was cho- career. He was one of the best pure-shooting for- sen an all-American in 1954-1955. At the time of his wards during his tenure in the NBA. graduation, Jack was the second all-time leading rebounder in University of Cincinnati history. Continuing the Story Jack’s college success earned him the status of a Most champion athletes have a defining moment second-round draft pick of the Rochester Royals in their career that demonstrates their special tal-

384 Basketball Jack Twyman ent. Jack’s moment came not on the court Honors and Awards as much as it did off the court. During Jack’s career, the Rochester/Cincinnati 1955 College All-American Royals never won a championship. While 1957-63 NBA All-Star Team Jack’s dreams of becoming a successful 1960, 1962 All-NBA Team and well-regarded professional basketball 1980 NCAA Silver Anniversary Award player were fulfilled early in his life, his 1982 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame basketball achievements probably will al- 1996 Ohio Professional and Amateur Athlete Lifetime Achievement Award ways be overshadowed by the humanitar- Uniform number 27 retired by Sacramento Kings ian care he expressed for a teammate. In a time when racial relations were much less open between whites and African Ameri- morial Benefit Basketball Game, an event that dur- cans, Jack befriended a young African American ing Stokes’s lifetime drew star NBA players annu- player named Maurice Stokes. The two of them ally to raise money for his care and rehabilitation. roomed together on the road. On the court, they Later, the basketball event was refocused to pro- anticipated each other’s moves and made a scoring vide funds for needy retired professional players tandem feared throughout the league. In their from the game’s earlier days, when paychecks and third year together on the Royals, the team moved retirement funds were not as lucrative as they are from Rochester to Cincinnati. In March of 1958, today. The basketball event was eventually changed Stokes was stricken with paralysis, a delayed reac- to a golf tournament. tion resulting from a fall on the court several days After leaving professional basketball, Jack went before that had caused severe brain damage. on to a successful career as an insurance executive, Stokes was in a coma for four months. serving as a vice president of A. W. Shell Insurance After Stokes had awakened, Jack visited him Company in Cincinnati, and a sports broadcaster consistently and assumed all responsibility for his for the American Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). care and rehabilitation, becoming Stokes’s legal As one of the first retired athletes to become a guardian. Jack’s special friendship with Stokes con- sports broadcaster, Jack helped establish a trend tinued until Stokes’s eventual death and was chron- for future sports retirees. After five years of broad- icled many times during and since Jack’s playing casting, Jack became the top executive of Super days. In 1973, a movie titled Maurie portrayed the Food Services, a major Midwest food distributor. In special relationship between Stokes and Jack. 1996, he received the Ohio Professional and Ama- Jack annually organized the Maurice Stokes Me- teur Athlete Lifetime Achievement Award.

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1955-56 72 417 .422 204 .685 466 171 1,038 14.4 1956-57 72 449 .439 276 .760 354 123 1,174 16.3 1957-58 72 465 .452 307 .775 464 110 1,237 17.2 1958-59 72 710 .420 437 .783 653 209 1,857 25.8 1959-60 75 870 .422 598 .785 664 260 2,338 31.2 1960-61 79 796 .488 405 .731 669 225 1,997 25.3 1961-62 80 739 .479 353 .815 638 323 1,831 22.9 1962-63 80 641 .480 304 .811 598 214 1,586 19.8 1963-64 68 447 .450 189 .829 364 137 1,083 15.9 1964-65 80 479 .443 198 .828 383 137 1,156 14.5 1965-66 73 224 .450 95 .812 168 60 543 7.4 Totals 823 6,237 .450 3,366 .778 5,421 1,969 15,840 19.2 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

385 Jack Twyman Great Athletes

Summary Additional Sources Jack Twyman was inducted into the Naismith Me- Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- morial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982. This was an ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters Press, 2000. honor that his basketball career alone could have Isaacs, Neil D. Vintage NBA: The Pioneer Era, 1946- earned him, but it was also recognition of his love 1956. Indianapolis, Ind.: Masters Press, 1996. and commitment to his fallen teammate Maurice Perry, Michael, and Nick Lachey. Tales from Cin- Stokes. Jack was a champion in basketball, but cinnati Bearcats Basketball. Champaign, Ill.: Sports, more important, in the spirit of kindness and com- 2004. passion. Pluto, Terry. Tall Tales: The Glory Years of the NBA. Bruce L. Edwards Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2000.

386 Wes Unseld

Born: March 14, 1946 For these performances, Wes made The Sporting Louisville, Kentucky News All-American second team in 1967 and 1968. Also known as: Westley Sissel Unseld (full name) Among the Louisville records Wes set were the all-time scoring average, with 20.6 points per game, Early Life and rebounding average, with 18.9 rebounds per Westley Sissel Unseld was born on March 14, 1946, game. Wes also set the Louisville record for most in Louisville, Kentucky. His mother Cornelia points scored in a game—45 against Georgetown worked in the cafeteria at Newburg Elementary University in 1967—and became one of only a few School in Louisville, and his father Charles worked as an oiler for International Har- vester. Wes grew up in an environment in- fused with great basketball. The rivalry be- tween the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky was a yearly event that enthralled the population. Wes honed his basketball skills on the playgrounds of Louisville, dreaming that someday he would be involved in big-time basketball, perhaps even playing for one of the universities in the state.

The Road to Excellence Wes emerged as a high-caliber basketball player at Louisville’s Seneca High School. In the 1962-1963 and 1963-1964 seasons, Wes led his high school team to the Ken- tucky state championship. Wes’s abilities as a player did not go un- noticed by the universities in the state. In 1964, Wes was the first African American player recruited by the University of Ken- tucky. Although this was a great opportu- nity, Wes chose to attend the University of Louisville because it was close to home and his father could watch him play. During his freshman season at Louisville, Wes immediately assumed a leadership role, scoring 501 points, for a remarkable 35.8 points-per-game average, with 331 rebounds. The scoring and rebounds did not diminish in the next three years of Wes’s college ca- reer. For the 1965-1966 season, Wes scored 518 points and took 505 rebounds; in 1966- Wes Unseld of the Washington Bullets splitting two Boston Celt- 1967, 523 points and 533 rebounds; and in ics defenders. (Courtesy of Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los 1967-1968, 645 points and 513 rebounds. Angeles)

387 Wes Unseld Great Athletes

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1968-69 82 427 .476 277 .605 1,491 213 1,131 13.8 1969-70 82 526 .518 273 .638 1,370 291 1,325 16.2 1970-71 74 424 .501 199 .657 1,253 293 1,047 14.1 1971-72 76 409 .498 171 .629 1,336 278 989 13.0 1972-73 79 421 .493 149 .703 1,260 347 991 12.5 1973-74 56 146 .437 36 .655 517 159 328 5.9 1974-75 73 273 .502 126 .685 1,077 297 672 9.2 1975-76 78 318 .561 114 .585 1,036 404 750 9.6 1976-77 82 270 .490 100 .602 877 363 640 7.8 1977-78 80 257 .523 93 .538 955 326 607 7.6 1978-79 77 346 .577 151 .643 830 315 843 10.9 1979-80 82 327 .513 139 .665 1,094 366 794 9.7 1980-81 63 225 .524 55 .640 673 170 507 8.0 Totals 984 4,369 .509 1,883 .633 13,769 3,822 10,624 10.8 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

Louisville players to accumulate more than 1,000 more than 10,000 career points and collect more points and 1,000 rebounds. than 10,000 rebounds. He was named to the all-star team five times and set Bullets records for most The Emerging Champion minutes played and most rebounds. Wes had serious career plans to become a school- The highest point in Wes’s Bullets career came teacher. However, when he was the named number- in the 1977-1978 season when he led his team to one draft choice, and picked second overall, by the the NBA Championship and was named the series’ Baltimore Bullets of the NBA in 1968, he reconsid- most valuable player. The statistics behind this ered his career path. achievement are significant. For the 1977-1978 In the 1968-1969 season, Wes was named both playoffs and championship series, Wes played 677 rookie of the year and the league’s most valuable minutes, made 71 field goals, made 27 free throws, player. The only other person to be so honored was took a total of 216 rebounds, made 79 assists, and Wilt Chamberlain. In addition, Wes made the all- scored a total of 169 points. NBA first team that year. At the time of his retirement, after thirteen years Continuing the Story as a professional player, Wes was the seventh all- While a player, Wes Unseld had always been noted time rebounder in the league’s history, with 13,769 for his generosity off the court. In 1975, he re- rebounds, and became one of four players to score ceived the first NBA Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award for volunteer work in the neighbor- Honors and Awards hoods of Baltimore, Maryland, and Wash- ington, D.C. When he retired as an active 1967-68 Consensus All-American player in 1981, he continued to volunteer 1969 NBA most valuable player his time to worthy public service activities. All-NBA Team However, Wes’s playing career was only NBA Rookie of the Year part of the story. In 1981, Wes was hired NBA All-Rookie Team 1969, 1971-73, 1975 NBA All-Star Team as vice president of the Capital Center 1975 Kennedy Citizenship Award and the Washington Bullets. In 1987, he 1978 NBA Finals most valuable player became an assistant coach for the Bullets, 1988 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and in January of 1988, he replaced Kevin 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team Loughery as head coach. Uniform number 41 retired by Washington Bullets In his first season as head coach, Wes di- rected the Bullets to thirty wins, twenty-five

388 Basketball Wes Unseld losses, and the playoffs. In spite of the team’s suc- Many basketball experts believe that Wes is the cess that season, the Bullets lost to the Detroit Pis- most important person in the history of the Wash- tons in the first round of the 1988 playoffs. ington Bullets/Wizards franchise. During the 1988-1989 season, Wes had to read- Having been an incredibly proficient passer, just his offense because of the trade of key player rebounder, and team player, Wes received the ulti- Moses Malone. The team went without a center mate honor in basketball when he was inducted most of the season, so a new brought into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of out the best in the veterans on his squad. Although Fame in 1988. Former Boston Celtics coach Red they struggled at times, the Bullets still managed to Auerbach labeled Wes as the best outlet passer to post a record of forty wins and forty-two losses. ever play in the NBA. As part of the celebration of The style of unselfish play that Wes maintained the golden anniversary of the NBA during the as a player became the style of play he emphasized 1996-1997 season, Wes was named one of the fifty as a coach. The number of assists by his top players greatest NBA players of all time. was in the hundreds each season. What former teammate said of Wes, in a Sports Il- Summary lustrated article by Pat Putnam, can be applied to One of the most exciting players in University of him as a coach as well: Louisville history, Wes Unseld took his record- breaking potential to the NBA and fulfilled expec- [He’s] totally unselfish. He keeps the ball moving tations. As a player, he led the Washington Bullets so much everybody gets a piece of the action. Guys to a world championship, and as a coach, he devel- love playing with him. He makes everybody else oped an exciting, crowd-pleasing style of play. The look good. . . . Most people are impressed by scor- five-time NBA all-star also became an all-star citi- ing statistics. The players are more impressed by zen, donating his services and talents to his com- all the other things he does. . . . And you have to re- munity. member—this guy isn’t a superstar just on the Rustin Larson court. He’s a superstar in life, too. Additional Sources At the end of the 1993-1994 season, Wes stepped Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- down as the Bullets’ coach, having compiled a 202- ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters Press, 2000. 345 record with a mediocre team. After working as Mallozzi, Vincent M. Basketball: The Legends and the a color analyst on national broadcasts of NBA Game. Willowdale, Ont.: Firefly Books, 1998. games during the 1994-1995 season, Wes became Monroe, Earl, and Wes Unseld. The Basketball Skill the executive vice president and general manager Book. New York: Atheneum, 1973. of the Bullets in 1996, a job that he maintained af- Shamsky, Art, and Barry Zeman. The Magnificent ter the Bullets changed their name to the Wizards. Seasons. New York: T. Dunne Books, 2004.

389 Dwyane Wade

Born: January 17, 1982 School in Oak Lawn, where the latter was the star of Chicago, Illinois an excellent basketball team. Also known as: Dwyane Tyrone Wade, Jr. (full Dwyane lacked the size and skill to get much name); D-Wade; Flash playing time his first two years in high school. In the summer before his junior year, he worked Early Life many hours developing his game and also grew 4 Dwyane Tyrone Wade, Jr., grew up in Oak Lawn, Il- inches to become more than 6 feet tall. The sup- linois, with his father and stepmother. He credited port of his girlfriend Siohvaughn helped him de- his older sister Tragil as the primary person who velop the will to play to his potential. The couple raised him and instilled in him the values that married in 2002. guided his later life. Dwyane followed his older stepbrother Demetrius to H. L. Richards High The Road to Excellence After Demetrius graduated, Coach Jack Fitzgerald decided to make Dwyane the centerpiece of the high school basketball team. Dwyane had the size and skills to match his basketball passion and intel- ligence. From breaking pressure defenses and scor- ing to rebounding and setting up his teammates, Dwyane provided whatever the team needed. In his junior year, he averaged 20.7 points and 7.6 re- bounds. Between his junior and senior years, Dwyane played with the Amateur Athletic Union Illinois Warriors, the state’s top amateur squad. This expe- rience helped Dwyane improve his game: In his se- nior year, he averaged 27 points and 11 rebounds per game and led his team to a 24-5 record. Despite this excellent play, Dwyane attracted lit- tle interest from major colleges. Past problems in school, including a low American College Test (ACT) score, caused schools to question whether he would qualify academically to play. Marquette University assistant coach Tim Buckley greatly ad- mired Dwyane as a player and a person. Therefore, he persuaded head coach Tom Crean to accept Dwyane as a partial qualifier who could practice with the team but not suit up for games.

The Emerging Champion In 2001-2002, his sophomore year, Dwyane was given the opportunity to play and made the most of it, averaging 17.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.4 as- Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade gliding to the basket in sists per game. He also led the team in steals and a 2005 game against the New Jersey Nets. (Ray Stub- blocked shots, and his 571 total points that year set blebine/Reuters/Landov) a sophomore school record. He led Marquette to a

390 Basketball Dwyane Wade

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 2003-04 61 371 .465 233 .747 247 275 991 16.2 2004-05 77 630 .478 581 .762 397 520 1,854 24.1 2005-06 75 699 .495 629 .783 430 503 2,040 27.2 2006-07 51 472 .491 432 .807 239 384 1,397 27.4 2007-08 51 439 .469 354 .758 214 354 1,254 24.6 Totals 315 2,611 .481 2,229 .774 1,527 2,036 7,536 23.9 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

26-7 record, its best in nearly ten years. Despite Continuing the Story high hopes for the National Collegiate Athletic As- After the Miami Heat picked him fifth overall in sociation (NCAA) Basketball Tournament, Mar- the 2003 NBA draft, Dwyane had an excellent quette was eliminated by Tulsa in the first round. rookie year. Overshadowed during the regular sea- Still Dwyane’s excellent season earned him first son by two of the best rookies in NBA history, team all-Conference USA and honorable-mention LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane ele- all-American. vated his game in the playoffs. He led Miami past Not satisfied, Dwyane worked on the shortcom- the New Orleans Hornets in the first round, hitting ings of his game, particularly his outside jump shot. the game-winning shot in game one, and he helped He also became a father: His wife gave birth to a the Heat push the heavily favored Indiana Pacers daughter, Zaire Blessing Wade. In the 2002-2003 to six games. season, he improved his statistics to 21.5 points, 6.3 With Dwyane getting better every game and rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game and led Mar- with the acquisition of Shaquille O’Neal, the Mi- quette to a 27-6 record. ami Heat made it to the 2004-2005 Eastern Confer- Dwyane saved his best for the NCAA tourna- ence Finals and took a 3-2 lead on the Detroit ment. His effort against top-ranked Kentucky was Pistons. Dwyane played spectacular basketball excellent. His output of 29 points, 11 rebounds, throughout the playoffs, averaging nearly 30 and 11 assists was only the third “triple double” in points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists per game. How- NCAA tournament history. It put Marquette in the ever, injuries forced him out of game six, seriously Final Four, where the team lost to Kansas. Dwyane’s impairing what he could do in game seven, and the excellence garnered him all-American honors and Pistons rallied to win the series. numerous other awards. With a wife and child to In 2005-2006, Dwyane had a remarkable sea- support, Dwyane decided to forego his senior year son, averaging 27.2 points, 6.7 assists, 5.7 rebounds, and enter the draft. and 1.95 steals per game. He also made the game- winning shot in the NBA all-star game. He was at his Honors and Awards best for the playoffs, with one of the most memora- ble performances in NBA history. He not only com- 2003 Associated Press all-American team piled incredible numbers but also elevated his game 2004 NBA All-Rookie Team in virtually every “clutch” situation. After losing the Bronze medal, Olympic Basketball first two games of the NBA Finals to the Dallas Mav- 2005 All-NBA Defensive Second Team ericks, Miami was down 13 points in the fourth 2005-06 All-NBA Second Team 2005-09 NBA All-Star Team quarter of game three. Dwyane led a 22-7 run that 2006 NBA Finals most valuable player turned the game and the series around. Miami won Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year the NBA Championship in six games, and Dwyane 2007 Uniform number retired by Marquette University was unanimously voted the series MVP. All-NBA Third Team Severe injuries limited Dwyane in the 2006-2007 2008 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball and 2007-2008 seasons, but he was fully recovered by the summer of 2008, when he was a key contribu-

391 Dwyane Wade Great Athletes

tor to the gold-medal winning USA Basketball team He has said he wants to leave the world a better at the Beijing Olympics. After returning home, place than he found it. To that end, he has estab- Dwyane began the 2008-2009 NBA season strongly. lished the Wade’s World Foundation to promote ed- In January, 2009, he was named a starter for his ucation, health, and social skills for at-risk children. fifth NBA all-star game. Jerome L. Neapolitan

Summary Additional Sources Dwyane Wade has established himself as one of the Savage, Jeff. Dwyane Wade. Minneapolis: Lerner, best “clutch” players in basketball. His quickness, 2007. ability to penetrate defenses, fearlessness, and obvi- Smallwood, John. Dwyane Wade. New York: Scholas- ous love of the game have made him a fan favorite. tic, 2007. With LeBron James, he is at the forefront of a new Smithwick, John. Meet Dwyane Wade: Basketball’s generation of stars who are reinvigorating the NBA. Rising Star. New York: PowerKids Press, 2007.

392 Ben Wallace

Born: September 10, 1974 Early Life White Hall, Alabama Bearl James “Ben” Wallace was born on September Also known as: Bearl James Wallace (full name); 10, 1974, in the village of White Hall, Alabama, the Big Ben; the Big Bash; the Body; the Fro; the tenth of eleven siblings. The family’s financial situ- Beast; Beast from the East ation was always modest. White Hall is an over- whelmingly African American community in rural Lowndes County with a median income far below the Alabama state average. Ben was introduced to basketball through competi- tion with his seven older, and bigger, brothers and developed the muscular build, physical toughness, and tenacity that became his trade- mark. He attended Central High School in nearby Haynesville, lettering in track, base- ball, football, and basketball. He won all-state honors in the latter three sports.

The Road to Excellence While still in high school, Ben attended a summer basketball camp at York, Alabama, held by , a standout power for- ward for the New York Knicks. Oakley was im- pressed by Ben’s stamina, determination, and ability to compete one-on-one against a sea- soned professional. Ben became one of Oak- ley’s protégés. For his part, Ben began to fo- cus more on basketball, as opposed to his other sports. Oakley directed Ben to Cuya- hoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio, where, from 1992 to 1994, Ben became noted for his defensive and rebounding prowess. In 1994, Oakley steered him to his own alma ma- ter, Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia. There, a Division II dynasty had long flourished under Coach Dave Robbins. Ben was selected as a Division II all-American and helped the Virginia Union Panthers to two Central Intercollegiate Athletic Associa- tion titles. Academically, Ben studied crimi- nal justice and minored in art. Undrafted by the NBA, Ben spent a brief stint playing in Italy. Upon his return to the United States in October, 1996, he tried out Ben Wallace of the Cleveland Cavaliers slamming the ball in with the Washington Bullets (now Washing- 2009. (Joshua Gunter/The Plain Dealer/Landov) ton Wizards) and earned a place on the squad.

393 Ben Wallace Great Athletes

The Emerging Champion After Ben’s first season, in which he appeared in Honors and Awards only thirty-four games, his career gradually devel- 2002-06 All-NBA Defensive First Team oped toward stardom. At 6 feet 9 inches tall, Ben 2002-03, 2005-06 NBA Defensive Player of the Year was among the shortest centers in professional bas- 2002, 2005 All-NBA Third Team ketball, but his muscular, 240-250 pounds and ex- traordinary work ethic propelled him to the ranks 2003-06 NBA All-Star Team of excellence. He played for the Wizards from 1996 2003-04, 2006 All-NBA Second Team to 1999, until he was traded—along with Terry Da- 2007 All-NBA Defensive Second Team vis, , and Jeff McInnis—to the Orlando Magic in return for Ike Austin. After one season in Orlando, Ben was exchanged, along with Chucky 2003-2004, with Ben and as co- Atkins, for Grant Hill of the Detroit Pistons. captains of the team, the Pistons acquired Rasheed In Detroit, Ben’s talents blossomed, and he ac- Wallace, who complemented Ben in the post. The quired a nationwide persona. His Afro-style haircut Pistons played toward a championship, besting the increased his level of intimidation, and his tattoo of Milwaukee Bucks, the Nets, and the Indiana Pacers. London’s “Big Ben” lent him his most widely In the NBA Finals, the Pistons upset the Los An- known nickname. Emerging as a defensive stal- geles Lakers in five games. wart, he ranked near the top of the league in re- bounds and blocked shots. He was named defen- Continuing the Story sive player of the year on four occasions—2002, In 2004-2005, the Pistons performed strongly once 2003, 2005, 2006—a feat equaled by only one other again. Ben had a good year, though he was sus- player: Dikembe Mutombo. Furthermore, Ben was pended, uncharacteristically, for his role in an on- on the Eastern Conference all-star team from 2003 court incident involving Ron Artest of the Pacers. to 2006. In the playoffs, Ben had arguably his best personal With Ben anchoring the NBA’s most formidable series and was a key factor in Detroit’s crushing vic- defense, the Pistons rose in the standings and won tories over the Philadelphia 76ers, the Pacers, and the 2001-2002 division title. However, in the play- the Miami Heat. However, the Pistons failed to re- offs, the Pistons lost in the second round to the Bos- peat as champions, dropping a tough seven-game ton Celtics. Ben enjoyed a spectacular 2002-2003 series against the San Antonio Spurs. season, averaging a league-leading 15.4 rebounds On July 13, 2006, exercising his contract option, per game, and the Pistons crashed through the first Ben accepted an offer from the Chicago Bulls for and second rounds of the NBA playoffs. Then in $60 million over four years. However, he and his

NBA Statistics Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1996-97 34 16 .348 6 .300 58 2 38 1.1 1997-98 67 85 .518 35 .357 324 18 205 3.1 1998-99 46 115 .578 47 .356 384 18 277 6.0 1999-00 81 168 .503 54 .474 665 67 390 4.8 2000-01 80 215 .490 80 .336 1,052 123 511 6.4 2001-02 80 255 .531 99 .423 1,039 115 609 7.6 2002-03 73 210 .481 85 .450 1,126 120 506 6.9 2003-04 81 315 .421 142 .490 1,006 138 773 9.5 2004-05 74 295 .453 130 .428 902 123 721 9.7 2005-06 82 237 .510 123 .416 923 158 597 7.3 2006-07 77 192 .453 109 .408 821 186 494 6.4 2007-08 72 138 .392 72 .426 604 105 348 4.8 Totals 847 2,241 .473 982 .418 8,904 1,173 5,469 6.5 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

394 Basketball Ben Wallace new coach and teammates never really meshed measuring defensive excellence. Despite his defen- into a coherent unit, and after one and one-half sive prowess, Ben has been somewhat underesti- seasons, he was sent to the Cleveland Cavaliers in mated because of his stoic personality and lacklus- February, 2008. This trade helped Cleveland into ter offensive record—especially in terms of foul the playoffs, where the Cavaliers defeated Wash- shooting. However, in contrast to some of the flash- ington in six games. However, with Ben playing in- ier more offensive-minded stars, Ben stands as a jured, the Cavaliers lost to the eventual champion model for quiet determination and hard work. Celtics in seven games. Raymond Pierre Hylton

Summary Additional Sources Ben Wallace, along with his Detroit Pistons team- McCallum, Jack. “A New Way to Win.” Sports Illus- mates, reestablished interest in and respect for the trated 100, no. 25 (June 21, 2004). defensive aspects of the game. The 2003-2004 Pis- Smallwood, John. National Basketball Association Su- tons championship team became the yardstick for perstars 2005. New York: Scholastic, 2005.

395 Bill Walton

Born: November 5, 1952 won the National Collegiate Athletic Association La Mesa, California (NCAA) championship. Coach Wooden was proud Also known as: William Theodore Walton III (full of Bill’s determination and willingness to put the name); Mountain Man team first. Bill averaged 21.1 points and 15 re- bounds per game that year. Early Life The Bruins were no less powerful during Bill’s William Theodore Walton III was the second child junior year, compiling another 30-0 record and an- born to William Theodore II and Gloria Walton. other NCAA Championship. UCLA won an amaz- The Walton children were encouraged to be active ing eighty-eight consecutive games before losing in in a variety of interests, including sports and music. Bill attended the Blessed Sacrament School in San Diego, as did the rest of the Walton children. At the parochial school, he played both basketball and football and excelled as a ball handler on the bas- ketball team. Bill was the team’s center on defense and guard on offense. Bill went to Helix High School in San Diego. His older brother Bruce also attended and was a mem- ber of the basketball team. Bruce was 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighed 285 pounds and took on the role of protecting his younger brother. By his junior year at Helix, Bill had grown to 6 feet 7 inches but weighed only 185 pounds. Because he was so slender, Bill tended to tire easily and was bul- lied by opposing players. His bulkier brother made sure that opposing players did not push Bill around; he did this by elbowing anyone who tried to take advantage of Bill. During his senior year, Bill had gained weight and learned how to pace himself. He led Helix to a 33-0 record by averaging 29 points and 24 rebounds a game. Many major col- leges recruited Bill, but he finally chose the Univer- sity of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).

The Road to Excellence A remarkable basketball legacy had already been established at UCLA under legendary coach John Wooden, and Bill wanted to be a part of the win- ning tradition. He was to fill the void left by the de- parture of Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). Because freshmen were not allowed to play on the varsity squad, Bill had to wait until his sophomore year to compete for the national championship with the UCLA Bruins. In 1972, with Bill, 6 feet 11 Portland Trail Blazers center Bill Walton grabbing a re- inches, at center, the Bruins went undefeated and bound. (NBAE/Getty Images)

396 Basketball Bill Walton

January, 1974, to Notre Dame. The only year that place in his second. He was criticized for not play- Bill did not lead the Bruins to the national champi- ing through injuries. onship was his senior year, when UCLA was upset in Bill’s third season, however, was a complete re- the semifinals by the eventual champions, the North versal of the previous two; he was healthier than he Carolina State Wolfpack. During his three seasons had been in some time. He was elected team cap- at UCLA, Bill was named an all-American and the tain, and a bond was created among himself and player of the year. His many awards included the his teammates. The Trail Blazers became a cohe- 1973 James E. Sullivan Memorial Award as the na- sive unit. A major factor was the addition of Jack tion’s premier amateur athlete. Ramsay as Portland’s new coach. Ramsay was cer- tain that Bill was an asset and not a liability, and The Emerging Champion Ramsay believed in the team concept, where un- Bill was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in selfish play was rewarded. The 1976-1977 cam- 1974. He signed a five-year contract worth close paign became the Trail Blazers’ dream season. to $3 million. Expectations ran high in Portland With an up-tempo style that capitalized on fast for the franchise’s new center from UCLA. While breaks at every opportunity, Portland finished the Coach Wooden knew how to bring out the best in year by defeating the Philadelphia 76ers for the Bill, the situation in the professional ranks proved NBA title. considerably different. At UCLA, Bill had been ac- tive in antiwar activities and was part of what has Continuing the Story been termed the “counterculture.” He was able to In addition to winning the championship during fit in at the collegiate level, but Bill found resis- the 1976-1977 season, Bill was named most valu- tance to his radical political viewpoints in Portland. able player for the playoffs. During the regular sea- He was a determined individual and willing to son, he averaged 14.4 rebounds, 18.6 points, and stand on his principles; therefore, the first couple 3.2 blocked shots per game. Bill increased these of seasons with the Trail Blazers were challeng- statistics in the playoffs, averaging 15.2 rebounds, ing. He had a number of health problems that also 18.2 points, and 3.4 blocked shots per game. made the situation in Portland difficult. During Injuries once again hampered Bill’s contribu- his first season, Bill lost 15 pounds, suffered a dis- tion to the team during the following seasons. Bill located finger, had a bone spur on his left ankle, was forced to miss the entire 1978-1979 season be- and was hobbled by tendinitis in his knees. All cause of chronic injuries. He was traded to the San these factors forced Bill to miss more than half of Diego Clippers in the spring of 1979. Once again, his first season. The Trail Blazers finished in third he was criticized for not living up to his potential. place in the Pacific Division of the NBA’s Western He occasionally showed glimpses of outstanding Conference in Bill’s first year, but dropped to fifth play, but for the most part, the spark seemed to be

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1974-75 35 177 .513 94 .686 441 167 448 12.8 1975-76 51 345 .471 133 .583 681 220 823 16.1 1976-77 65 491 .528 228 .697 934 245 1,210 18.6 1977-78 58 460 .522 177 .720 766 291 1,097 18.9 1979-80 14 81 .503 32 .593 126 34 194 13.9 1982-83 33 200 .528 65 .556 323 120 465 14.1 1983-84 55 288 .556 92 .597 477 183 668 12.1 1984-85 67 269 .521 138 .680 600 156 676 10.1 1985-86 80 231 .562 144 .713 544 165 606 7.6 1986-87 10 10 .385 8 .533 31 9 28 2.8 Totals 468 2,552 .521 1,111 .660 4,923 1,590 6,215 13.3 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

397 Bill Walton Great Athletes

NCAA Division I Records 1988 season. During his thirteen years in the NBA, Bill had managed to play in Highest field goal percentage in NCAA Tournament play, .686 only 44 percent of the games during Highest field goal percentage in one NCAA Tournament, .763 (1973) the regular season and ended his ca- NBA Record reer with a modest 13.3 scoring aver- age. In 1990, he had major surgery on Most blocked shots in an NBA Finals game, 8 (1977) (record shared) his ankles for the third time. This time his ankle bones were fused and, there- Honors and Awards fore, the ankles could no longer flex. 1972-73 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player For the first time in many years, Bill no Rupp Trophy longer suffered from chronic pain. 1972-74 United Press International Division I Player of the Year In 1991, Bill received the NBA U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division I Player of the Year Naismith Award Players Association Oscar Robertson Sporting News College Player of the Year Leadership Award. In 1993, he received Citizens Savings College Basketball Player of the Year (1974 co-recipient) the prestigious honor of induction into NCAA All-Tournament Team Consensus All-American the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall 1973 James E. Sullivan Award of Fame. As part of the celebration of 1974 Lapchick Award the golden anniversary of the NBA dur- Overall first choice in the NBA draft 1977 NBA Finals most valuable player ing the 1996-1997 season, he was named 1977-78 NBA All-Star Team one of the fifty greatest NBA players of All-NBA Team all time. In 1997, Bill was inducted into NBA All-Defensive Team 1978 NBA most valuable player the National High School Sports Hall 1986 NBA Sixth Man Award of Fame. In 1999, the NCAA honored 1993 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Bill with the Silver Anniversary Award 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team 1997 Inducted into National High School Sports Hall of Fame for having made significant professional 1999 Silver Anniversary Award and civic contributions since complet- Uniform number 32 retired by Portland Trail Blazers ing his collegiate eligibility twenty-five years earlier. After his retirement as a player, Bill gone. Bill was so frustrated by his nagging injuries overcame a severe stuttering problem to become a that he brought suit against the Trail Blazers, claim- successful NBA analyst for NBC, the Los Angeles ing that the franchise’s insistence that he play, even Clippers, and ABC/ESPN. In the early 1990’s, Bill with serious injury, led to his permanent injuries. worked for CBS Sports during the NCAA Final During the 1979-1980 season, Bill cut his hair, Four. Furthermore he worked for NBC during the trimmed his beard, began eating meat again, and 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Summer Olympic tried to mend fences with the media. In 1981, he Games. In 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, underwent radical surgery to restructure his badly and 2000, Bill received the best television analyst/ injured left foot. During his time off, he attended commentator award from the Southern California Stanford Law School. The operation worked, al- Sports Broadcasters Association. In 2001, Bill won lowing Bill to play again and to help the Clippers an Emmy Award for best live sports television broad- improve during the 1983-1984 and 1984-1985 cam- cast. In 2002, he received the NBA Retired Player’s paigns. In 1985, the Clippers traded Bill to the Bos- Association Humanitarian Award, and he was hired ton Celtics. This move was his chance to make a as the lead analyst for ESPN/ABC’s coverage of contribution to a team that had a proven winning the NBA. He also became a regular contributor tradition. As a reserve, Bill helped the Celtics win to ESPN.com, NBA.com, ESPN The Magazine, and the NBA title in 1985-1986. He had found new life ESPN Radio. coming off the bench as a crafty veteran and was Bill resides in his hometown of San Diego with immensely happy to win the NBA sixth man award. his wife Lori. Bill has four sons: Adam, Nathan, During the next two seasons, Bill was sidelined Luke, and Chris. Adam played basketball at Louisi- by a painful foot injury, missing the entire 1987- ana State University, and Nathan played at Prince-

398 Basketball Bill Walton ton University. Luke played basketball at the Uni- Heisler, Mark. Giants: The Twenty-five Greatest Centers versity of Arizona and plays professionally for the of All Time. Chicago: Triumph Books, 2003. Los Angeles Lakers. Chris played college basket- Kalb, Elliott. Who’s Better, Who’s Best in Basketball? ball at San Diego State University. Mr. Stats Sets the Record Straight on the Top Fifty NBA Players of All Time. Chicago: Contemporary Summary Books, 2004. Bill Walton was one of the most intelligent and flex- Love, Matt. Red Hot and Rollin’: A Retrospection of the ible “big men” basketball has ever known. Always a Portland Trail Blazers’ 1976-77 NBA Championship rebel who upbraided the establishment, he could Season. Pacific City, Oreg.: Nestucca Spit Press, change the course of a game with his all-around 2007. play and unselfishness. Under the tutelage of John McNeal, Stan. “Q and A: Bill Walton.” Sporting News Wooden and , Bill blossomed into one 229, no. 16 (April 22, 2005): 78. of the greatest basketball players of all time. How- Scott, Jack. Bill Walton: On the Road with the Portland ever, injuries plagued his playing career and lim- Trail Blazers. New York: Crowell, 1978. ited his greatness. Later, Bill became one of the wit- Walton, Bill, Michael Dinerman, William Conroy, tiest and most insightful basketball analysts in the and Michael J. Fresina. Street and Smith’s Specialty field. Publications Presents One Hundred Greatest College Jeffry Jensen, updated by Michael Stellefson Basketball Programs of All Time. Charlotte, N.C.: Street & Smith, 2005. Additional Sources Walton, Bill, and Gene Wojciechowski. Nothing but Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling Net: Just Give Me the Ball and Get Out of the Way. Kindersley, 2003. New York: Hyperion, 1994.

399 Charlie Ward

Born: October 12, 1970 knew that he had an alternative to the NFL. Conse- Thomasville, Georgia quently, he announced that he would not play for Also known as: Charlie Ward, Jr. (full name) an NFL team unless he was selected in the first Other major sport: Football round of the 1994 draft. Afraid of wasting a high pick on a quarterback who might shun football, Early Life NFL teams passed on Charlie. Several months later, Charlie Ward was born on October 12, 1970, in however, the New York Knicks made Charlie a first- Thomasville, Georgia. Both his parents were teach- round selection in the NBA draft. He was the ers who raised him with a strong commitment to twenty-sixth pick overall. Christianity and the desire to excel at all sports. In The quarterback whom many scouts thought high school, he played football, basketball, and too small to play professional football proved to be baseball. Afterward, he attended community col- big enough to play in a sport known for the great lege in Tallahassee, Florida, then transferred to size of its athletes. If his basketball career had not nearby Florida State University, where he played worked out, Charlie might have had still other op- football and basketball. tions. In 1993, the Milwaukee Brewers had selected him as a pitcher in the Major League Baseball The Road to Excellence draft, even though Charlie never played baseball in Charlie was an excellent basketball player through college. The following year, the his four years at Florida State, but his achievements also drafted him. on the football field overshadowed what he did on the basketball court. During his junior and senior The Emerging Champion seasons as starting quarterback, he led the football In the fall of 1994, Charlie put football behind him team to a 22-2 record. In 1993, Charlie’s senior sea- and began his professional basketball career. Dur- son, Florida State won the college national football ing his rookie season, he saw limited playing time. championship for the first time. Charlie threw He appeared in only ten games for the Knicks, aver- for 3,032 yards and 27 touchdowns, with a 69.5- aging 1.6 points in 4.4 minutes per game. He percent completion rate and only 4 interceptions. missed the first half of December with a sprained He was named to the college all-American first right wrist, and a sore left shoulder caused him to team by The Sporting News. He also won a host of ma- miss a month. Charlie was not on the Knicks’ jor awards, including the Heisman Trophy and the postseason roster as the team advanced to the con- Maxwell Award, both of which go to the best col- ference semifinals. lege football player in the country; the Walter The next season Charlie raised his playing time Camp Award, for the college player of the year; the to sixty-two games, backing up teammate Derek James E. Sullivan Award, for the nation’s best ama- Harper at point guard. He averaged 12.7 minutes teur athlete; and the Johnny Unitas Award, for the per game, but the arrival of veteran Gary Grant cut best college quarterback. The 91 percent of first- into his playing time. Nevertheless, Charlie played place votes Charlie received for his Heisman Tro- in seven of eight postseason games with the Knicks, phy was a record. He was the first African American averaging 4.6 points and 2.4 assists in 13.1 minutes quarterback and the first football player from the per game. Atlantic Coast Conference to win the Heisman. Charlie hoped to play professional football, but Continuing the Story many scouts judged him too small, at 6 foot 2 At the start of the 1996-1997 season, his third in the inches, to play quarterback in the National Foot- NBA, Charlie continued to be the Knicks’ backup ball League (NFL). Certain that his basketball point guard, this time playing behind Chris Childs. skills would be valued by teams in the NBA, Charlie However, he also started in twenty-one games, sev-

400 Basketball Charlie Ward

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGA FGM FG% FTA FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1994-95 10 19 4 .211 10 7 .700 6 4 16 1.6 1995-96 62 218 87 .399 54 37 .685 102 132 244 3.9 1996-97 79 337 133 .395 125 95 .760 220 326 409 5.2 1997-98 82 516 235 .455 113 91 .805 274 466 642 7.8 1998-99 50 334 135 .404 78 55 .705 172 271 378 7.6 1999-00 72 447 189 .423 58 48 .828 228 300 528 7.3 2000-01 61 373 155 .416 70 56 .800 159 273 433 7.1 2001-02 63 303 113 .373 58 53 .810 127 203 326 5.2 2002-03 66 414 165 .378 53 101 .774 177 306 305 7.2 2003-04 71 390 160 .408 206 84 .741 144 215 424 6.0 2004-05 14 77 24 .314 51 16 .846 39 43 75 5.4 Totals 630 3,428 1,400 .364 1,754 639 .771 1,648 2,539 3,947 6.3 Notes: GP = games played; FGA = field goals attempted; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTA = free throws attempted; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game enteen of which the Knicks won. His average of 6 reer high, and was a major part of the Knicks’ sur- assists per game ranked second on the team. He prise run to the NBA Finals. played in nine playoff games at the end of that sea- Charlie started at point guard again during the son, but the Knicks lost once again. 1999-2000 season and came through for the Knicks Charlie finally came into his own as one of the in the playoffs. Against the Miami Heat, he aver- top basketball players in the NBA during the 1997- aged 12.7 points in the first four games. He also 1998 season. He started in all eighty-two games of scored a career playoff-high 20 points in a game- the regular season. He led the team in assists, at 5.7 four win that evened the series at two games apiece. per game, and steals, at 1.7 per game. He also Eventually, the Knicks won the series in seven reached his personal best scoring average of 7.8 games. Knicks coach, , considered points per game. His 466 total assists set a team rec- Charlie the team’s most valuable player during the ord for the Knicks. During the midseason all-star playoffs. weekend that took place in New York City, Charlie After the 1999-2000 season, Charlie’s playing participated in the AT&T Shootout and finished time started to diminish. After starting sixty-nine fourth. At the end of the season, the Knicks lost to games during that season, he started only thirty- the Indiana Pacers in the semifinal round of the three games during the 2000-2001 season but still playoffs. managed to record respectable numbers: 4.5 as- During the lockout-shortened 1998-1999 sea- sists and 7.1 points per game. In the middle of the son, Charlie and were the only play- 2003-2004 season, the Knicks traded him to the ers to start all fifty games for the Knicks. Once Phoenix Suns. When the Suns quickly cut him to again, Charlie led the team in assists, at 5.4 per save salary-cap space, Charlie signed with the San game, tied for twenty-first in the NBA, and in steals Antonio Spurs, with whom he finished the season. at 2.1 per game, tied for tenth place in the NBA. He Then, he signed with the Houston Rockets. played an average of 31.1 minutes per game, his ca- By 2004, Charlie was feeling the burden of inju- ries accumulated over ten years. After starting in Football Honors thirteen games for the Rockets, he retired from playing. He then worked with the team as an assis- 1993 Heisman Trophy tant coach. In 2007, he was hired to help coach a James E. Sullivan Award high school basketball team in Houston. At the end Maxwell Award of the year, he became the head coach of the 2006 Inducted into National Football Foundation’s College school’s football team. The season was a big chal- Football Hall of Fame lenge for Charlie, as the team lost every game in 2007. He met that challenge, however, by prepar-

401 Charlie Ward Great Athletes ing the team so well that it began the 2008 season school years, he earned a degree in therapeutic with three consecutive, lopsided wins. recreation from Florida State, graduating with a 3.3 grade point average. He was also a model citi- Summary zen at every level at which he played and was well Charlie Ward was one of the most versatile athletes known for devoting time during his off-seasons to ever to achieve success in more than one sport. In such community services as youth basketball camps. 1993, as a quarterback at Florida State, he led the Richard Slapsys, updated by the Editors Seminoles to the school’s first national title and won numerous awards, including the Heisman Tro- Additional Sources phy, the Sullivan Award, and the Maxwell Award. Benson, Michael. Everything You Wanted to Know His Heisman Trophy alone is irrefutable evidence About the New York Knicks: A Who’s Who of Everyone of his greatness as a college football player. He Who Ever Played on or Coached the NBA’s Most Cele- never played professional football but was certainly brated Team. Lanham, Md.: Taylor Trade, 2007. one of the best football players ever to play profes- Hale, Mark. “Charlie Has Double Vision: Ward sional basketball, and he was the only Heisman Now Two-Sport Coach.” New York Post, June 15, winner ever to play in the NBA. In 2006, he was 2008. elected to the National Football Foundation’s Col- Lupica, Mike. “Eyes On The Prize.” Esquire 121, lege Football Hall of Fame. Moreover, even though no. 3 (March, 1994): 61-62. he did not play college baseball, he was drafted by Murphy, A. “Twice Blessed.” Sports Illustrated 77 two Major League Baseball teams. He was also a (October 5, 1992): 32-35. fine tennis player. Ward, Charlie, and Joe Cooney. Charlie Ward: Charlie’s greatness transcended his manifold Winning by His Grace. Champaign, Ill.: Sports, athletic skills. An excellent student throughout his 1998.

402 Spud Webb

Born: July 13, 1963 led Midland to the junior college national champi- Dallas, Texas onship and started earning national recognition. Also known as: Anthony Jerome Webb (full He played basketball for Midland again as a sopho- name) more, and although his team did not repeat its na- tional championship season, he was named to the Early Life junior college all-American team. At this time, he Born in Dallas, Texas, Anthony “Spud” Webb came still had not attained his adult height of 5 feet 7 from a family of modest means. Growing up with inches. The inspirational story of a man his size his three older sisters and two brothers, Spud had a who could dunk was spreading. relatively happy childhood. His father was a hard-working shopkeeper, and both of Spud’s parents encouraged him to be dili- gent and attend church regularly. He ob- tained his unusual nickname as a baby, when a family friend compared the shape of his head to Sputnik, the Russian satellite. His sister shortened the word to “Spud,” and the nickname stuck. Spud loved many sports as a child. He played football and ping-pong in addition to basketball. He was even a talented boxer as a young boy. Spud showed early signs of quickness and agility, but his involvement in sports as a youth was often hampered by his small size. In the seventh grade, he stood only 4 feet 9 inches and weighed 90 pounds. However, by the time he was a se- nior in high school, Spud’s strong determi- nation and nearly constant practicing had earned him a spot on the varsity team, even though he was only 5 feet 4 inches. After a successful senior season, he was one of ten players selected for the Texas all-state team.

The Road to Excellence Despite Spud’s amazing ability to dunk a basketball, his quickness on defense, and his outside-shooting range, Spud was not highly recruited by colleges. Although he was disappointed that no Division I schools wanted him, he chose to attend Midland Junior College in Texas. At the junior col- lege level, he learned many fundamentals Atlanta Hawks guard Spud Webb slamming the ball against the from Coach Jerry Stone and changed to a Los Angeles Lakers during the 1986-1987 NBA season. (Stephen team-oriented style of play. In 1982, Spud Dunn/Getty Images)

403 Spud Webb Great Athletes

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1985-86 79 199 .483 216 .785 123 337 616 7.8 1986-87 33 71 .438 80 .762 60 167 223 6.8 1987-88 82 191 .475 107 .817 146 337 490 6.0 1988-89 81 133 .459 52 .867 123 284 319 3.9 1989-90 82 294 .477 162 .871 201 477 751 9.2 1990-91 75 359 .447 231 .868 174 417 1,003 13.4 1991-92 77 448 .445 262 .859 223 547 1,231 16.0 1992-93 69 342 .433 279 .851 193 481 1,000 14.5 1993-94 79 373 .460 204 .813 222 528 1,005 12.7 1994-95 76 302 .438 226 .934 174 468 878 11.6 1995-96 77 186 .433 125 .862 100 294 544 7.1 1997-98 4 5 .417 2 1.000 3 5 12 3.0 Totals 814 2,903 .452 1,946 .848 1,742 4,342 8,072 9.9 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

No Southwest Conference schools recruited the exposure might get him drafted into the NBA. Spud, even after his successful junior-college bas- The Detroit Pistons chose him in the fourth round ketball career. Therefore, he was surprised when of the 1985 draft. He was cut from the team during coaches and Tom Abatemarco of training, but the Atlanta Hawks’ coach Mike Fra- North Carolina State University began courting tello signed him soon after. Spud started as the him. North Carolina State was the defending na- point-guard position in his first professional game tional champion, and Spud was excited to play for a and played respectably, scoring 12 points with 10 team with such a respected basketball tradition. assists. At the time, he was the shortest player to However, at North Carolina State, Spud was ex- ever enter an NBA game. pected to take a much stronger leadership role, The highlight of Spud’s career was winning the calling plays and even choosing the defense. Many 1986 . This high-profile event, people still thought Spud could not be a successful more than any other, thrust him into the national basketball player because of his size. In his first spotlight. After the contest, he made numerous game with his new team, he proved the skeptics media appearances and represented several com- wrong, finishing with 18 points, 5 assists, 4 re- panies in advertising campaigns. No matter how bounds, and 3 steals. He was named the most valu- famous he became, however, he was careful to rep- able player of the game and received positive me- resent only reputable companies and convey his dia attention NBC. personal integrity at all times. Spud finished his impressive college career at North Carolina State averaging 10.4 points and 5.7 Continuing the Story assists per game. He was named to the all-tourna- From 1985 until 1991, Spud was an important ment team by the National Collegiate Athletic As- player for the Hawks. Then, he played three statisti- sociation, although his team just missed making cally successful seasons with the Sacramento Kings. the Final Four his senior year. In the twilight of his basketball career, he played for the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Orlando The Emerging Champion Many sports commentators and coaches thought Milestones that Spud’s college days were to be the peak of his basketball career, but Spud did not give up on his NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion (1986) dream of playing in the NBA. He participated in Career high points, 34 (1993) exhibition games and also played for a semipro Career high assists, 17 (1993) team called the Rhode Island Gulls, hoping that

404 Basketball Spud Webb

Magic. He finished twelve seasons in the NBA, aver- amazing jumping ability were inspirational to aging 9.9 points per game. After his retirement in smaller athletes, and he made history as a motiva- 1997, Spud spent his time managing several busi- tional athlete. ness interests, speaking at events, and relaxing. Valerie Brown

Summary Additional Sources Spud Webb, whose career culminated with his vic- McCallum, Jack. “It’s a Game of Inches After All.” tory at the 1986 slam-dunk competition, impacted Sports Illustrated, December 2, 1985. both college and pro basketball. He proved that Pearlman, Jeff. “Short Guy.” Sports Illustrated,No- size was not always the predominant attribute of an vember 4, 2002. NBA player. As of 2008, Spud was the third shortest Webb, Spud, with Reid Slaughter. Flying High. New player in NBA history. His determination and York: Harper & Row, 1988.

405 Chris Webber

Born: March 1, 1973 Webber. Chris grew up in a rough, lower-middle- Detroit, Michigan class neighborhood. When Chris was in sixth grade Also known as: Mayce Christopher Webber III and already taller than most of his classmates, his (full name); C-Webb father suggested he play basketball. Originally awk- ward on the court, Chris improved considerably by Early Life the time he reached high school. Born in Detroit, Michigan, on March 1, 1973, Though Chris wanted to remain in public school Mayce Christopher “Chris” Webber III was the el- in his neighborhood, his father sent him to a pri- dest of five children of Mayce Webber, Jr., and Doris vate school in the upper-class suburb of Birming- ham. At Detroit Country Day School, Chris came into basketball prominence. He led the team to three state basketball championships. As a senior, he averaged more than 29 points and 13 rebounds per game, earning honors as the national high school player of the year.

The Road to Excellence Heavily recruited for his on-court presence, Chris chose to remain close to home. He en- rolled at the University of Michigan. The uni- versity’s 1991 incoming freshman class also in- cluded , Jalen Rose, and two other talented players. Pressed into service midseason, the all-freshman unit led a dark- horse team to a winning record and collected the nickname “The Fab Five.” Chris was a stand- out, becoming the Big Ten Conference fresh- man of the year and the first-ever freshman to lead the conference in rebounds. The Fab Five played into the National Collegiate Athletic As- sociation (NCAA) Basketball Tournament and advanced to the final game. In the 1992-1993 season, Michigan had an- other winning record, as the Fab Five matured into a solid, smooth-running, stylish unit. Chris, a first-team all-American, headed Michigan’s efforts as team leader in scoring, rebounds, blocks, and field-goal percentage. Once again, Michigan breezed through the preliminaries of the NCAA Basketball Tournament and into the final game. The game was close through- out. With only 20 seconds remaining, Michi- Chris Webber of the Philadelphia 76ers scoring on a layup gan was down by 2 points. However, Chris against the Indiana Pacers in 2005. (Brent Smith/Reuters/ made a small blunder of far-reaching conse- Landov) quences. He grabbed a rebound, brought the

406 Basketball Chris Webber

Milestones Stopped for speeding, Chris was arrested for pos- session of marijuana, resisting arrest, and other vio- 1993-94 Became the first NBA rookie to total more than 1,000 lations. points, 500 rebounds, 250 assists, 150 blocks, and In 1998, Chris was traded to the Sacramento 75 steals Kings. He excelled for his new team. In the strike- shortened 1998-1999 season, he led the NBA in re- bounds, averaging 13 per game, as the resurgent ball down court, and called a timeout with 11 sec- Kings advanced to the playoffs. Chris enjoyed some onds left. However, the team was out of timeouts. of his best years as a professional with Sacramento. The penalty was a on Chris. Awarded He was all-NBA five years in a row, from 1999 to a pair of foul shots and the ball out of bounds, the 2003. In 2000-2001, he averaged a career-high 27.1 University of North Carolina pulled away to a 77-71 points per game. The following season, he inspired victory. the Kings to a franchise-best record of 61-21. Though he put up good numbers in the 2002- The Emerging Champion 2003 season, Chris was in legal trouble again. As Humiliated by his error seen by millions on na- part of an investigation into gambling, he was tional television, Chris decided to forgo his final asked to testify and was charged with lying to a two years in college and entered the NBA draft. grand jury. Also, evidence indicated that Chris had The Orlando Magic chose Chris but traded him to accepted money throughout high school and col- the Golden State Warriors. Though playing out of lege. As a result, Michigan forfeited victories in the position at center, Chris averaged 17.5 points and NCAA tournaments in which Chris had partici- 9.1 rebounds to win rookie of the year honors. pated, forfeited the entire 1992-1993 season, and Clashes with Warriors coach Don Nelson caused expunged Chris’s school records. Adding injury to Chris to opt out of his contract with the team, and insult, in 2003, he hurt his knee and had to un- he was traded to the Washington Bullets (later the dergo surgery. Wizards). Chris spent four seasons (1994-1998) in Washington, averaging more than 20 points and 9 Continuing the Story rebounds per game. In 1997-1998, he became an Chris was never the same player after surgery. In NBA all-star for the first time. His last year in Wash- 2005, he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. In ington was memorable for all the wrong reasons. 2006, he averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds per

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGA FGM FG% FTA FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1993-94 76 1,037 572 .552 355 189 .532 694 272 1,333 17.5 1994-95 54 938 464 .495 233 117 .502 518 256 1,085 20.1 1995-96 15 276 150 .543 69 41 .594 114 75 356 23.7 1996-97 72 1,167 604 .518 313 177 .565 743 331 1,445 20.1 1997-98 71 1,341 647 .482 333 196 .589 674 273 1,555 21.9 1998-99 42 778 378 .486 174 79 .454 545 173 839 20.0 1999-00 75 1,548 748 .483 414 311 .751 788 345 1,834 24.5 2000-01 70 1,635 786 .481 461 324 .703 777 294 1,898 27.1 2001-02 54 1,075 532 .495 338 253 .749 546 258 1,322 24.5 2002-03 67 1,433 661 .461 354 215 .607 704 364 1,542 23.0 2003-04 23 421 174 .413 114 81 .711 200 105 430 18.7 2004-05 67 1,283 555 .433 228 181 .794 612 318 1,306 19.5 2005-06 75 1,422 617 .434 348 263 .756 741 256 1,518 20.2 2006-07 61 639 289 .452 132 102 .638 437 188 684 11.2 2007-08 9 31 15 .484 28 5 .417 32 18 35 3.9 Totals 831 15,024 7,912 .479 3,906 2,534 .649 8,124 3,526 17,181 20.7 Notes: GP = games played; FGA = field goals attempted; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTA = free throws attempted; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

407 Chris Webber Great Athletes

Honors and Awards bilia, including rare documents signed by such historical figures as Booker T. Washington, 1994 Schick NBA Rookie of the Year Frederick Douglass, and Martin Luther King, Unanimously named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team 1997 NBA Player of the Week for the week ending April 20 Jr., to help African American children cele- 1997, 2000-03 NBA All-Star brate their heritage. 1998-99 All-NBA Second Team 1999 NBA Player of the Week for the week ending April 25 Summary 1999, 2002-03 All-NBA Second Team Chris Webber experienced success at every 2000 All-NBA Third Team NBA All-Interview Second Team level of basketball. Noted for his ability to score 2000-03 NBA All-Star Team and rebound, he was a five-time NBA all-star 2001 All-NBA First Team and averaged more than 20 points and 9 re- 2009 Uniform number 4 retired by Sacramento Kings bounds per game in his career. Though he led a number of his teams to the playoffs, he was never able to triumph in big games. However, game. The following year, he was injured again, his in the first decade of the twenty-first century, he contract was bought out, and he was waived. helped the Kings to the franchise’s greatest success In 2007, Chris signed with the Detroit Pistons since moving to Sacramento. and helped the team to the conference finals. In Jack Ewing 2008, he returned to the Golden State Warriors. His play with the team was limited to just nine Additional Sources games. In March, 2008, he retired and began a new Albom, Mitch. Fab Five: Basketball, Trash Talk, the career as a television commentator on TNT net- American Dream. New York: Warner Books, 1993. work. For his career, he averaged 20.7 points and McMullen, Jackie. “Webb Feat.” Sports Illustrated, 9.8 rebounds. January 31, 2000. Chris became a legitimate candidate for the Macnow, Glen. Sports Great Chris Webber. Berkeley Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame de- Heights, N.J.: Enslow, 1999. spite past legal problems. He worked hard to re- Russo, Chris, and Allen St. John. The Mad Dog One deem his tarnished image through good works. In Hundred: The Greatest Sports Arguments of All Time. 1993, he founded the Timeout Foundation, a char- New York: Doubleday, 2003. itable organization aimed at inner-city youth. Dur- Shapiro, Len, and Andy Pollin. The Great Book of ing his time in Sacramento, he donated tickets to Washington D.C. Sports Lists. New York: Running Kings’ home games to at-risk families. He regularly Press, 2008. contributed to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He Thornley, Stew. Super Sports Star: Chris Webber. also exhibits his extensive collection of memora- Berkeley Heights, N.J.: Enslow, 2002.

408 Jerry West

Born: May 28, 1938 Basketball, however, became his most successful Cheylan, West Virginia sport. Also known as: Jerry Alan West (full name); Mr. Clutch; Zeke from Cabin Creek The Road to Excellence Jerry first played basketball on the Cheylan Junior Early Life High School team and went on to play at East Bank Jerry Alan West was born on May 28, 1938, in High School. He set basketball records for East Cheylan, West Virginia, near the state capital of Bank High School in field goals, free throws, and Charleston. Cheylan was a small town of approxi- total points. mately five hundred people. The West family mail- Jerry’s high school coach, Roy Williams, in- ing address was listed as Cabin Creek, West Vir- stilled in Jerry the desire to learn all aspects of the ginia. game: shooting, defense, passing, and playmaking. Life in the coal-mining community of Cheylan During his sophomore year in high school, Jerry was quiet and conservative. Jerry’s father, Howard, suffered a broken ankle, the first of a series of ma- worked as a machine operator, gas station owner jor injuries in his career. After much hard work and and operator, and electrician. The family lived in a practice, he was able to continue his brilliant high six-bedroom house. Jerry, one of six children, had school basketball career. three brothers and two sisters. He participated in Jerry led East Bank High School to the West Vir- several junior high school and high school sports. ginia state championship in 1956. In his senior year, he averaged 34.2 points per game and became the first player in West Virginia to score more than 900 points in a single season. He was se- lected to the all-state and all-tourna- ment teams. , West Virginia Uni- versity basketball coach and, later, general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers, recruited Jerry to attend West Virginia University. As a sopho- more, Jerry played on the West Vir- ginia team, which was ranked num- ber one in the country in 1958. During his three-year varsity ca- reer at West Virginia, Jerry averaged 24.8 points and 13.3 rebounds per game, while shooting 50.6 percent. He was voted most valuable player (MVP) each of his three years on var- sity. He also played for the winning 1958 Pan-American Games team and the 1960 gold-medal Olympic team in Rome, Italy. Finally, Jerry was the Los Angeles Lakers guard Jerry West dribbling the ball past the defense MVP in the 1959 National Collegiate of the Chicago Bulls in a 1968 playoff game. (AP/Wide World Photos) Athletic Association Final Four.

409 Jerry West Great Athletes

The Emerging Champion the playoff games, the Lakers record for the 1971- Jerry entered the NBA in 1961, playing for the Los 1972 season was an incredible 81-16. Long after his Angeles Lakers. His first year as a professional was retirement from playing, Jerry continued to hold disappointing, as he averaged only 17.6 points per many of the Los Angeles Lakers team records. He game. With much dedication and perseverance, he was named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball finished his second year with an average of 30.8 Hall of Fame in 1979 and to the NBA thirty-fifth an- points per game. One of the highlights of his sec- niversary all-time team in 1980. ond season came on January 17, 1962, when he Jerry met his wife, Jane, while they were students scored 63 points against the New York Knicks; at at West Virginia University. They had three sons, the time, the point total was a single-game scoring David, Michael, and Mark. After his first marriage record for guards. Jerry averaged a career high of ended in divorce, Jerry married Karen Bua in 1978. 31.3 points per game during the 1965-1966 playing She had been a cheerleader at Pepperdine Univer- season. sity. They had two sons. Their son Jonnie attended By this time in his career, Jerry was beginning to West Virginia University, where he played basket- be recognized as “Mr. Clutch.” He earned this nick- ball for the Mountaineers. name because of his ability to win numerous col- lege and professional games in high-pressure sit- Continuing the Story uations. One of his most memorable shots was a Jerry had a distinguished fourteen-year career in 60-foot basket he made in game three of the 1970 the NBA. Former opponents, teammates, coaches, NBA Finals against New York to send the game into fans, and officials respected his talent and referred overtime. to him as the complete ballplayer. His speed, quick- Jerry became the fifth player in NBA history to ness, shooting ability, leadership, consistency, and score 20,000 points and the third player to score perfectionism made him one of college basket- 25,000 points. He was also recognized for his defen- ball’s and the NBA’s best players. It is perhaps his sive skills and was selected to the NBA all-defensive dedication and hard work that best characterized team from 1969 to 1973. He led the Lakers to the Jerry’s basketball career. NBA Finals nine times. In the 1969 finals, against The fame and recognition that Jerry received did the Boston Celtics, Jerry became the first player on not change his personality. He remained modest, a losing team to win the NBA Finals MVP award. respectful, and courteous. He suffered numerous In 1972, Jerry led the Lakers to the franchise’s injuries throughout his high school, college, and first NBA Championship in Los Angeles. Including professional careers. He overcame these injuries to

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1960-61 79 529 .419 331 .666 611 333 1,389 17.6 1961-62 75 799 .445 712 .769 591 402 2,310 30.8 1962-63 55 559 .461 371 .778 384 307 1,489 27.1 1963-64 72 740 .484 584 .832 443 403 2,064 28.7 1964-65 74 822 .497 648 .821 447 364 2,292 31.0 1965-66 79 818 .473 840 .860 562 480 2,476 31.3 1966-67 66 645 .464 602 .878 392 447 1,892 28.7 1967-68 51 476 .514 391 .811 294 310 1,343 26.3 1968-69 61 545 .471 490 .821 262 423 1,580 25.9 1969-70 74 831 .497 647 .824 338 554 2,309 31.2 1970-71 69 667 .494 525 .832 320 655 1,859 26.9 1971-72 77 735 .477 515 .814 327 747 1,985 25.8 1972-73 69 618 .479 339 .805 289 607 1,575 22.8 1973-74 31 232 .447 165 .833 116 206 629 20.3 Totals 932 9,016 .474 7,160 .814 5,376 6,238 25,192 27.0 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

410 Basketball Jerry West

Honors, Awards, and Records his retirement from basketball. When the Lakers repeated in 2001, he had the satis- 1958 Gold medal, Pan-American Games faction of knowing he had built the team. 1959 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player In 2002, Jerry became the president of NCAA All-Tournament Team basketball operations for the Memphis 1959-60 Consensus All-American 1960 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball Grizzlies. The Grizzlies had been one of Inducted into U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame the worst NBA teams, but through Jerry’s 1962-73 All-NBA Team efforts, the Grizzlies won fifty games dur- 1962-74 NBA All-Star Team ing the 2004 season. He was named execu- 1965-66 NBA record for the most free throws made in a season (840) tive of the year by the NBA. Jerry left his po- 1969 NBA Finals most valuable player 1969-73 NBA All-Defensive Team sition with the Grizzlies in 2007. Afterward, 1972 NBA All-Star Game most valuable player he focused on helping the Lakers as an in- 1979 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame terested fan who could be trusted to impart 1980 NBA 35th Anniversary All-Time Team some valuable words of wisdom. With his Uniform number 44 retired by Los Angeles Lakers love for the game and his love for the 1995, 2004 NBA Executive of the Year 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team Lakers, Jerry was looking to help mold an- 1999 Named one of the twenty best players of all time other championship team in Los Angeles. 2005 Uniform number 44 retired by West Virginia University 2007 Statue of West dedicated at the West Virginia University Coliseum Summary For many fans, the names “Mr. Clutch” or “Mr. Consistency” are synonymous with become a thirteen-time NBA all-star. He was named Jerry West. His cool, calm, and collected personal- to the all-NBA first team twelve times. This success ity and leadership ability on the court were a inspired many young people to participate in bas- coach’s dream. Jerry must be ranked as one of the ketball. He was appointed as the Lakers’ head coach best all-time players in the history of the NBA. It is in 1976. In three seasons, he guided the team to a appropriate that a silhouette of him dribbling a 145-101 record. From 1979 to 1982, he served as a ball is used in the NBA’s official logo. scout and special consultant for the Lakers. He was Dana D. Brooks, updated by Jeffry Jensen hired as general manager in 1982 and appointed president of the Lakers in the summer of 1988, Additional Sources helping build the Lakers dynasty of the 1980’s. Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling In 1995, he was promoted to executive vice pres- Kindersley, 2003. ident of basketball operations for the Lakers. After Lace, William W. The Los Angeles Lakers Basketball the team posted its best record in four campaigns, Team. Berkeley Heights, N.J.: Enslow, 1998. Jerry was named the NBA executive of the year for Lazenby, Roland. The Lakers: A Basketball Journey. 1995. As part of the celebration of the golden anni- New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1993. versary of the NBA during the 1996-1997 season, Ramen, Fred. Jerry West. New York: Rosen Central, he was named one of the fifty greatest NBA players 2002. of all time. In 1999, he was named one of the twenty Thornley, Stew. Basketball’s Original Dynasty: The best NBA players of all time. After the Lakers won History of the Lakers. Minneapolis: Nodin Press, the NBA Championship in 2000, Jerry announced 1989.

411 Nera White

Born: November 15, 1935 was working in the mailing department at H. O. Macon County, Tennessee Ball’s. This job and playing basketball for NBC con- Also known as: Nera Dyson White (full name) sumed most of her young adult life.

Early Life The Emerging Champion Born in 1935, in Macon, Tennessee, Nera White Nera led her NBC team to AAU Championships was the oldest of seven children and was raised on a ten times, including eight straight from 1962 to farm near the small town of Lafayette, Tennessee. 1969. Before women’s basketball was an Olympic She started as a freshman on the Macon County event, Nera led the U.S. national team to a first- High School women’s basketball team and was place finish at the 1957 FIBA World Championship voted most valuable player for her district in 1954. in Rio de Janeiro; she was named most valuable Women’s basketball was played differently in player in the tournament. In those days, interna- Nera’s day. Each team had six women on the floor: tional teams for the United States were thrown to- two on defense only, two on offense only, and two gether haphazardly. Nera’s 1957 championship that could run up and down the floor. Nera aver- team did not even practice together until it was in aged 25 points per game during her senior year Brazil, and then the team practiced outside only. and was named to the Nashville Banner’s all-Middle Nera was the star not only of the talented NBC Tennessee second team. A natural athlete, Nera team but also of all women’s AAU basketball. A per- also excelled in men’s baseball and softball, play- fectionist who demanded the best from herself and ing center field and shortstop. Reportedly, she her teammates, Nera was not impressed by the lack could circle softball bases in 10 seconds. At 6 feet 1 of organization at the international level. Nera re- inch, Nera was not the tallest or biggest player in called the 1958 trip to Moscow, Russia, during the women’s basketball. Her main attributes were her height of the Cold War, when Soviet hosts withheld great speed and large hands that could easily palm dinner until after the game was over. She and her a basketball. American teammates literally played hungry. A good outside shooter with impressive leaping The Road to Excellence ability, Nera could routinely dunk the basketball, Intelligent and extremely shy, Nera probably would according to her teammates. Like many great bas- have gone unnoticed in an age before Title IX lev- ketball players, Nera was more concerned with win- eled the playing field for women athletes. However, ning and leading than with individual honors. She Nera played for the Nashville Business College always passed first in order to get easy baskets for (NBC) in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) in her teammates. When ballhandling skills were re- 1954. Her outstanding play earned her all-Ameri- quired, Nera could dribble with the best players of can status. She was an all-American fifteen years in her day. A complete athlete on the basketball all, every year until her retirement in 1969. court, Nera could also play defense and rebound. Nera studied at the George Peabody College for Unlike the more physical style of subsequent gen- Teachers in Nashville, Tennessee, and all that prevented her from getting a bachelor’s de- Honors and Awards gree in education was her shyness and inability to speak in front of an audience. With small 1955-69 Amateur Athletic Union All-American groups of friends or teammates, Nera could 1957 Gold medal, World Championships World Championships most valuable player hold her own in conversation. However, her 1992 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame timid nature kept her from relating to larger 1999 Inducted into Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame groups that were not assembled to watch her 2000 Sports Illustrated for Women top 100 sportswomen on the basketball court. Nera’s full-time job

412 Basketball Nera White erations, the game Nera played was more like a bal- Summary let and less like a wrestling match. In 1992, Nera White was the first women’s player to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basket- Continuing the Story ball Hall of Fame. In 1999, she was inducted into Nera adopted a teammate’s child at his birth at the the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Upon her same time that NBC was folding; basketball was retirement in 1969, Nera was admitted into the transitioning from six players to five. In 1969, even Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. In an era before though she was a single mother to a biologically un- scholarships, professional leagues, or product en- related child, she raised her son in Tennessee. Life dorsements, Nera was a pioneer in women’s basket- after basketball was uncertain for Nera. For several ball. Those who saw her play or played against her years, she had worked for H. O. Ball, farmed in the during her glory days acclaim her as one of, if not summers, and played AAU basketball the rest of the, greatest women’s basketball player of all time. the time. She had a comfortable routine. Shortly Randy L. Abbott after Mr. Ball died in 1977, Nera lost her job. In her early forties with a son to raise, Nera could not find Additional Sources work. In 1982, she returned to her family farm Ikard, Robert W. Just for Fun: The Story of AAU Wom- where she raised beef cattle, silage, and tobacco. en’s Basketball. Fayetteville: University of Arkan- Passionate about guarding her privacy, Nera rarely sas Press, 2005. gave interviews and preferred the company of her Marantz, Steve. “A Good Life Regretted: Women fellow local farmers. Her hometown of Lafayette Basketball Legend Nera White.” Sporting News, named the high school gym in her honor. March 4, 1996, pp. 32-35.

413 Lenny Wilkens

Born: October 28, 1937 Mannion and Lenny’s boyhood friend Tommy Brooklyn, New York Davis—who later won a batting title for the Los An- Also known as: Leonard Randolph Wilkens, Jr. geles Dodgers—finally persuaded Lenny to try the (full name) high school team again. Davis was the star, and Lenny’s job was to pass the ball to him. Lenny aver- Early Life aged 11 points per game in his senior year and re- Leonard “Lenny” Randolph Wilkens, Jr., was born ceived enough notice to earn a scholarship to Prov- on October 28, 1937, in Brooklyn, New York. He idence College, which Mannion had encouraged grew up in a four-room apartment in the tough to recruit him. Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. This area has produced many fine ath- letes, but it has also produced many youngsters who were unable to escape the temptations of the neighborhood. Lenny’s African American father, a chauffeur, died in 1941, and Lenny’s Irish American mother, Henrietta Cross Wilkens, worked in a candy factory. Lenny began delivering groceries for a neighborhood vegetable market when he was seven to help support his four younger siblings. Henrietta, a devout Catholic, stressed to Lenny the impor- tance of staying in school so he could make something of himself. Lenny, a left-hander, became well- known throughout the neighborhood for his athletic skills. After he was en- couraged by Father Thomas Mannion, Lenny starred in Catholic Youth Orga- nization leagues in Brooklyn in his early teens. He later credited Mannion for making him work to improve himself. He also strived to model himself after his childhood hero, Jackie Robinson, who became Major League Baseball’s first African American player, with the Brooklyn Dodgers, in 1947.

The Road to Excellence Lenny did not play varsity basketball until his senior year at legendary Boys High School. He had quit the team the previous year after the coach did not Lenny Wilkens with the Seattle SuperSonics. (Courtesy of Seattle Su- play him because of his slight physique. perSonics)

414 Basketball Lenny Wilkens

At Providence College, where Lenny was one of The Emerging Champion only six African American students, he averaged Lenny continued to shine as a point guard with St. 14.9 points per game and impressed professional Louis. The Hawks had a team of established stars, basketball scouts with his ability to pass and create such as Cliff Hagan, Clyde Lovellette, and Bob shots for his teammates. His 1,193 points were sec- Pettit—all future hall of famers—so once again, ond most in school history. Lenny was asked to pass instead of shoot. Nonethe- Providence was not known as a basketball school less, he averaged 11.9 points during his rookie year. in those days, but Lenny helped the Friars receive Lenny was satisfied with his role. Although he attention. The basketball team had never won more could score, he realized the importance of distrib- than nineteen games in a season before Lenny ar- uting the ball and playing unselfishly. As good a rived, but it won eighteen, twenty, and twenty-four player as he was, Lenny was best at making the play- games in his three varsity seasons. In each of Lenny’s ers around him better. Many times, Lenny drove to last two seasons, Providence played in the National the basket, drawing an extra defender, and slipped Invitational Tournament (NIT), which was nearly as the ball to a teammate for an easy layup and two important in those days as the National Collegiate points for his team. Known as one of the great Athletic Association Basketball Tournament became playmakers in the history of basketball, Lenny led in the subsequent decades. Lenny was named to all- the NBA in assists for the 1969-1970 and 1971-1972 American teams and was selected the 1960 NIT most seasons. He was selected as the MVP of the 1971 valuable player (MVP). The two twenty-win seasons NBA all-star game and finished second to Wilt that Lenny helped to produce brought so much Chamberlain of the Philadelphia 76ers in the MVP prestige and so many good players to the school’s voting for the 1967-1968 season, when he averaged basketball program that Providence won twenty 20 points and 8.3 assists. games in each of the seven years after Lenny left. Most players equate ability with scoring points. In 1960 Lenny graduated with a degree in eco- Lenny did not feel that way. He was happy to do his nomics and was drafted in the first round by the St. job with the same cool, quiet precision that he be- Louis (now Atlanta) Hawks of the NBA and signed gan displaying in his rookie season. He was content for $8,000 with a $1,500 bonus. Although some to let someone else receive the honors and acco- thought him too small, at 6 feet 1 inch, to make an lades. The New York Knicks’ Bill Bradley, a future impact in professional basketball, Lenny wanted U.S. senator, described Lenny as the smartest back- only a chance. court player he had ever faced.

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1960-61 75 333 .425 214 .713 335 212 880 11.7 1961-62 20 140 .385 84 .764 131 116 364 18.2 1962-63 75 333 .399 222 .696 403 381 888 11.8 1963-64 78 334 .413 270 .740 335 359 938 12.0 1964-65 78 434 .414 416 .746 365 431 1,284 16.5 1965-66 69 411 .431 422 .793 322 429 1,244 18.0 1966-67 78 448 .432 459 .787 412 442 1,355 17.4 1967-68 82 546 .438 546 .768 438 679 1,638 20.0 1968-69 82 644 .440 547 .770 511 674 1,835 22.4 1969-70 75 448 .420 438 .788 378 683 1,334 17.8 1970-71 71 471 .419 461 .803 319 654 1,403 19.8 1971-72 80 479 .466 480 .774 338 766 1,438 18.0 1972-73 75 572 .449 394 .828 346 628 1,538 20.5 1973-74 74 462 .465 289 .801 277 522 1,213 16.4 1974-75 65 134 .439 152 .768 120 235 420 6.5 Totals 1,077 6,189 .432 5,394 .774 5,030 7,211 17,772 16.5 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

415 Lenny Wilkens Great Athletes

Honors and Awards fought seven-game series to the Washing- ton Bullets. The next season, Lenny and 1960 NIT most valuable player the Sonics finally won the championship. Consensus All-American Lenny took control of the losing 1963-65, 1967-71, 1973 NBA All-Star Team Cleveland Cavaliers in the late 1980’s and 1971 NBA All-Star Game most valuable player helped turn that team around. During 1989 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of the 1988-1989 and the 1991-1992 seasons, Fame (as a player) Lenny led the Cavaliers to fifty-seven 1994 NBA Coach of the Year wins, the most victories in the history of 1996 One of NBA Top Ten coaches in history the franchise. After the playoffs in 1993, NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team Lenny left the Cavaliers and became 1998 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of head coach of the Atlanta Hawks. In Fame (as a coach) 1994, for the first time in his coaching ca- Uniform number 19 retired by Seattle SuperSonics reer, he was selected as the NBA coach of the year. On January 6, 1995, Lenny be- came the all-time winningest coach in After eight years in St. Louis, Lenny was traded NBA history with 939 victories, surpassing the 938 to the Seattle SuperSonics, a team introduced to wins of the Boston Celtics’ great coach Red Auer- the league in 1967. The Seattle management bach. thought that with a player like Lenny the team After serving as an assistant coach under Chuck might improve quickly. The SuperSonics even gave Daly on the U.S. Dream Team that won the Olym- Lenny the chance to be player-coach in 1969, after pic gold medal in Barcelona, Spain, in 1992, Lenny he had averaged a career-high 22.4 points the pre- coached the U.S. Dream Team II to the gold medal vious season. He became the NBA’s second African in the Summer Olympics in Atlanta in 1996. Ironic- American coach, following Bill Russell of the Bos- ally, despite his glowing career at Providence, Lenny ton Celtics. had not been invited to the tryouts for the 1960 In Lenny’s third year as player-coach, he guided Olympic team. the Sonics to a 47-35 record. Lenny then played for In June, 2000, Lenny became the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers for two seasons. In 1975, he the Toronto Raptors. After two winning seasons, finished his playing career as player-coach for the the Raptors stumbled to a 24-58 record in 2002- Portland Trail Blazers. In fifteen seasons in the 2003, and Lenny was fired. His unemployment was NBA, he scored 17,772 points, made 7,211 assists, brief. In January, 2004, the New York Knicks hired and was selected as a member of the NBA all-star him. He was unable, however, to turn that declin- team nine times. He averaged 16.5 points and 6.7 ing franchise around and resigned the following assists per game. Highly admired by his teammates January. After working for Fox Sports Northwest, and opponents, Lenny served as vice president of Lenny became vice chairman of the Seattle Super- the NBA Players Association from 1961 to 1969. Sonics in 2006 and was named vice president of bas- ketball operations shortly afterward. He left that Continuing the Story post in July, 2007. Lenny decided that he liked coaching and contin- ued in the game after he retired as a player. He Summary coached in Portland for two years, laying the foun- In 1996, Lenny was named one of the NBA’s top dation for the Trail Blazers team that won the NBA ten coaches. As part of the celebration of the title in 1976-1977. golden anniversary of the NBA during the 1996- Lenny returned to the SuperSonics as the direc- 1997 season, he was picked as one of the fifty great- tor of player personnel in May, 1977. In 1977-1978, est NBA players of all time. Despite never having a he took over a struggling Seattle team that had won superstar on his teams, Lenny left coaching with only five of its first twenty-two games. He guided 1,332 victories, the most in NBA history. Over his a collection of young, unknown players to the record thirty-two-year coaching career, his teams NBA Finals that season, where they lost in a hard- won fifty or more games nine times and two divi-

416 Basketball Lenny Wilkens sional titles and went to the NBA Finals twice, win- John Wooden and Bill Sharman as the only individ- ning one championship. His outstanding career uals enshrined in both categories. earned him honorary doctorates from Providence, John McNamara, updated by Michael Adams Seattle University, and St. Francis College in his na- tive Brooklyn. Additional Sources Through all his achievements, Lenny remained Dolin, Nick, Chris Dolin, and David Check. Basket- the same shy person he was as a player. Even when ball Stars: The Greatest Players in the History of the his team won the championship, he gave all the Game. New York: Black Dog and Leventhal, 1997. credit to the players. He seldom raised his voice at Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling his players or at the referees, and he never tried to Kindersley, 2003. draw attention to himself. When dealing with play- Pluto, Terry. TallStories: The Glory Years of the NBA, in ers, Lenny was known as tough but fair. the Words of the Men Who Played, Coached, and Built Lenny was never interested in who got the credit Pro Basketball. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1992. for winning games or championships. He let others Triche, Arthur, ed. From Sweet Lou to ’Nique: Twenty- score the points and get the headlines. Nonethe- five Years with the Atlanta Hawks. Atlanta, Ga.: less, basketball fans and insiders knew how much Longstreet Press, 1992. Lenny contributed to his teams. Lenny was elected Wilkens, Lenny, and Terry Pluto. Unguarded: My to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Forty Years Surviving in the NBA. New York: Simon as a player in 1989 and as a coach in 1998, joining and Schuster, 2001.

417 Dominique Wilkins

Born: January 12, 1960 States Army sergeant stationed near the French , France capital. He was the second of eight children of Ger- Also known as: Jacques Dominique Wilkins (full trude and John Wilkins. name); Human Highlight Film John Wilkins left the family when Dominique was just thirteen. The family later moved to Wash- Early Life ington, North Carolina, where Dominique lived Jacques Dominique Wilkins was born in Paris, under his mother’s watchful eye. Gertrude felt her France, on January 12, 1960, the son of a United son was a target for all kinds of criminal types. He trusted just about everyone he met. Dominique was enterprising. At fifteen he challenged men in their twenties to games of one-on-one basketball; the winner of each game collected one dollar. Dominique beat them regularly and gave the money to his mother to buy food for the family. “I always thought he was doing odd jobs, raking grass,” Gertrude said in People Weekly. Dominique was more exacting: “She thought I was stealing it. She was always second-guessing me.”

The Road to Excellence Playing for a dollar a game against men of the street was not to be Dominique’s full-time oc- cupation, however. As a high school senior, he established himself as a basketball phenome- non and attracted the attention of many large universities with his free-wheeling, run-and- dunk-the-ball play. The University of Georgia was the school that finally lured Dominique onto campus. In his freshman season, 1979-1980, he played in sixteen games, scoring a total of 297 points for an average of 18.6 points per game. This kind of performance while on the second team prompted the coaches to make Dominique a starter the next season. In the 1980-1981 season, Dominique saw twice as much playing time as he had as a fresh- man. Playing in thirty-one games, he scored 732 points for a 23.6-points-per-game average and grabbed more than 200 rebounds. Domi- nique was named to The Sporting News All- American second team for his season perfor- Dominique Wilkins of the Atlanta Hawks asking for the ball near mance. the basket. (Courtesy of Atlanta Hawks) The next season was nearly as good. Again

418 Basketball Dominique Wilkins

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1982-83 82 601 .493 230 .682 478 129 1,434 17.5 1983-84 81 684 .479 382 .770 582 126 1,750 21.6 1984-85 81 853 .451 486 .806 557 200 2,217 27.4 1985-86 78 888 .468 577 .818 618 206 2,366 30.3 1986-87 79 828 .463 607 .818 494 261 2,294 29.0 1987-88 78 909 .464 541 .826 502 224 2,397 30.7 1988-89 80 814 .464 442 .844 553 211 2,099 26.2 1989-90 80 810 .484 459 .807 521 200 2,138 26.7 1990-91 81 770 .470 476 .829 732 265 2,101 25.9 1991-92 42 424 .464 294 .835 295 158 1,179 28.1 1992-93 71 741 .468 519 .828 482 227 2,121 29.9 1993-94 74 698 .440 442 .847 481 169 1,923 26.0 1994-95 77 496 .424 266 .782 401 166 1,370 17.8 1996-97 63 397 .417 281 .803 402 119 1,145 18.2 1998-99 27 50 .379 29 .690 71 16 134 5.0 Totals 1,074 9,963 .461 6,031 .811 7,169 2,677 26,668 24.8 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game playing in thirty-one games, Dominique scored a was making a contribution to his team’s wins, the total of 659 points and had a 21.3 points-per-game press said he lacked true team-leadership skills. average. Again his rebounds exceeded 200, and Dominique was viewed by some as a mere curios- again he received all-American honors. Although ity whose talents were best used in jumping high he was still an undergraduate, the NBA was seri- and winning slam-dunk competitions. He was not ously interested in his talents. considered a “real” player. Atlanta teammate Scott Hastings said in a Sports Illustrated article by Jack The Emerging Champion McCallum, “’Nique used to do slam-dunk champi- Drafted by the Utah Jazz of the NBA in the first onships in the warmups, and it tired him out. He round in 1982, Dominique dropped out of college had a second-quarter sweat going before the game to become a professional basketball player. Before started.” the 1982-1983 NBA season began, however, Dom- Dominique took such criticism to heart and inique was traded to the Atlanta Hawks for two changed his style of play. “I wanted to prove I was a players and an undisclosed amount of cash. total player,” Dominique said in Sports Illustrated.“I The trade worked out well for Atlanta. In the wanted to change people’s opinion of me. It both- first two seasons with Dominique on the team, the ered me that I had never made the all-star team, that Hawks made the playoffs. Although Dominique people thought all I could do was dunk.” No longer was he known solely as the player who ran Honors and Awards up the floor to make the spectacular slam dunk. Dominique developed a smooth 1981-82 Sporting News All-American jump shot and assumed a leadership 1983 NBA All-Rookie Team role on the team. 1983-84, 1986-91 NBA All-Star Team 1986 All-NBA First Team When Atlanta coach 1987-88, 1991, 1993 All-NBA Second Team installed Dominique at the “big-guard” 1989, 1994 All-NBA Third Team spot on the team, observers were amazed 1996 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball at the results. In the 1985-1986 season, Euroleague Final Four most valuable player 2001 Uniform number 21 retired by the Atlanta Hawks Dominique was the NBA’s scoring cham- 2004 Inducted into Georgia Sports Hall of Fame pion with an average of 30.3 points per 2006 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame game. In the playoffs that same season, Dominique had a game high of 50 points

419 Dominique Wilkins Great Athletes against the Detroit Pistons, whom the Hawks beat Dream Team II, which captured the gold medal in 140-122. None of those points were scored by slam Atlanta in 1996. dunks, and it was the first 50-point performance in Dominique returned to the NBA for the 1996- the playoffs since 1975, when Bob McAdoo scored 1997 campaign, playing for the San Antonio Spurs. as many for Buffalo. He was a pleasant surprise, leading the Spurs in scor- In the 1985-1986 season, Dominique was named ing with 18.2 points per game and also contributing to the Eastern Conference all-star team for the first 6.4 rebounds per game. During the 1997-1998 sea- time. This honor was the result of dedicated play son, he played in Europe for Teamsystem Bolognia for the Hawks. His Atlanta teammates remarked in Italy. He then made another NBA comeback dur- that Dominique had accepted the responsibility ing the 1998-1999 season with the Orlando Magic. of the team leader. From the 1985-1986 season He saw limited action and only averaged 5.0 points through the 1988-1989 season, Dominique led the per game. Dominique ended his NBA career in Hawks to fifty or more wins each campaign. 1999. He had been selected to the all-NBA first team in 1986; to the all-NBA second team in 1987, Continuing the Story 1988, 1991, and 1993; and to the all-NBA third team With a $6.5 million contract that his mother nego- in 1989 and 1994. He finished with 26,668 career tiated for him—“I think he should be paid more,” points, an average of 24.8 points per game. she said in People Weekly—Dominique was able to After he retired as a player, Dominique remained support his mother, three sisters, two brothers, and active in basketball. He held numerous positions his daughter, Aisha. A trusting, calm person, Dom- with the Atlanta Hawks, including the vice presi- inique continued to be managed by his mother, for dent of basketball. He started his own company, whom he bought a $250,000 house in Atlanta. whose product is distributed in the South. In 2006, “He’s the target for crooks and leeches because he Dominique was inducted into the Naismith Memo- trusts everyone,” his mother said. Dominique set- rial Basketball Hall of Fame. tled in a four-bedroom house outside Atlanta and bought two cars, a Ferrari and a Mercedes. Summary In addition, Dominique continued to anchor Known as the “Human Highlight Film,” Dominique the Atlanta team and lead the NBA in scoring statis- Wilkins emerged from the University of Georgia to tics. No longer labeled an undisciplined player on become one of the greatest players to wear an At- the court, he earned the respect of the league. “I lanta Hawks uniform. A member of the all-NBA don’t see any part of his game that hasn’t im- team four times and NBA scoring champion in proved,” said Fratello in People Weekly. 1986, Dominique became a master of the game In the early 1990’s, Dominique became an all- and a true team leader. around contributor to the Hawks. During the 1990- Rustin Larson 1991 season, he averaged 25.9 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. Midway through the 1991- Additional Sources 1992 season, Dominique ruptured his Achilles ten- Bjarkman, Peter C. The Biographical History of Bas- don, but he came back strong the next season to ketball. Lincolnwood, Ill.: Masters Press, 2000. post a 29.9 scoring average for the Hawks. After fin- Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling ishing the 1994 season with the Los Angeles Clip- Kindersley, 2003. pers, he played for the Boston Celtics during the Lawrence, Andrew. “Dominique Wilkins, Forward.” 1994-1995 campaign, averaging 17.8 points per Sports Illustrated 102, no. 24 (June 13, 2005): 14. game. Shouler, Kenneth A. The Experts Pick Basketball’s Best In August, 1995, Dominique played in the Greek Fifty Players in the Last Fifty Years. Lenexa, Kans.: League for Panathinaikos Athens. He averaged Addax, 1998. 20.7 points and 7.7 rebounds in leading the team to Triche, Arthur, ed. From Sweet Lou to ’Nique: Twenty- the European Championship for Men’s Clubs in five Years with the Atlanta Hawks. Atlanta: Long- 1996. He was named a member of the U.S. Olympic street Press, 1992.

420 Natalie Williams

Born: November 30, 1970 The Emerging Champion Long Beach, California After graduating from UCLA with a degree in soci- ology, Natalie played professional volleyball for Early Life two years with the Utah Predators. In 1996, she Natalie Williams was born November 30, 1970, to was named an alternate on the 1996 U.S. women’s Nathaniel Russell Williams and Robyn Barker in Olympic volleyball team and also received a presti- Long Beach, California. She was raised in Taylors- gious honor as Utah’s female athlete of the century. ville, Utah, near Salt Lake City, with a half sister and During the 1996-1997 season, Natalie played for two half brothers. Her father played in the NBA the Portland Power in the American Basketball for nine years. While in high school, Natalie— League (ABL), an independent professional bas- who eventually reached 6 feet 2 inches in height—excelled in athletics. She played bas- ketball and volleyball and won the Utah state long-jump championship in track and field. During her senior year, she led the Taylors- ville volleyball and basketball teams to state championships.

The Road to Excellence Natalie attended the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), where she led the volleyball team to the Final Four each of her four years. Thanks to her tremendous spik- ing ability, UCLA won the national volleyball championship in 1990 and 1991. Natalie was twice named national player of the year and was a four-year all-American in volleyball at UCLA. She represented the United States in volleyball at the 1991 and 1993 World Univer- sity Games. At the 1993 Games, Natalie car- ried the torch in the Opening Ceremony. During her four seasons on the Bruins’ basketball team, from 1991 to 1994, Natalie averaged 20.4 points and 12.8 rebounds per game. She was named to the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) all- American first team in 1993, becoming the first woman to earn all-American honors in both basketball and volleyball during the same year. Natalie repeated as a dual all- American in 1994 and was a Naismith player of the year finalist in both 1993 and 1994. She was also a 1993 Kodak all-American. In addi- tion, Natalie was named to the Pac-10 Confer- Natalie Williams shooting a free throw for the in a ence all-decade team for the 1990’s. 2002 game. (Kent Horner/NBAE/Getty Images)

421 Natalie Williams Great Athletes

WNBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FGA FG% FTM FTA FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1999 28 180 347 .519 144 191 .754 257 25 504 18.0 2000 29 179 365 .490 182 228 .798 336 51 543 18.7 2001 31 349 171 .490 133 97 .729 308 55 439 14.2 2002 31 285 124 .435 132 98 .742 255 38 351 11.3 2003 34 363 176 .485 148 105 .709 255 46 457 13.4 2004 34 293 133 .454 119 83 .697 235 62 349 10.3 2005 34 248 103 .415 67 45 .672 186 31 251 7.4 Totals 221 2,250 1,066 .474 1,018 754 .741 1,832 308 2,894 13.1 Notes: GP = games played; FGA = field goals attempted; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTA = free throws attempted; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game ketball organization for women that eventually in- NBA events associated with the all-star game. As a cluded eleven teams. During her first professional member of the U.S. senior women’s national team, season, Natalie was a unanimous all-ABL selection. Natalie played in the 1999 hall-of-fame enshrine- The following season, she led the league in scoring ment game in October. Against a select team of and rebounding and was named most valuable WNBA stars, Natalie led in scoring and rebounding. player. Led by Natalie’s dominating play, the Power rose from last place in 1996-1997 to the Western Continuing the Story Conference Championship in 1997-1998. During Showing tremendous dedication, athleticism, foot- three seasons with the Power, Natalie averaged 20.0 work, and the ability to outplay opponents under points per game and 11.7 rebounds per game. the basket, Natalie developed a well-balanced of- In 1998, after the ABL folded, Natalie led the fensive game. Like her father, Natalie became ad- U.S. national team to a gold medal in the FIBA ept at banking shots off the glass. She also featured Women’s World Championship. Gathering 86 re- a consistent midrange jump shot and developed bounds, she set an American women’s record for a into a good free-throw shooter. Natalie, strong and single world-championship series. In the 1999 draft powerful but with a soft shooting touch, patterned of the Women’s National Basketball Association her game after Utah Jazz power forward Karl Ma- (WNBA), the Utah Starzz selected Natalie as the lone. In seventeen of the twenty-nine games she third overall pick. Throughout the 1999 season, played for the Starzz in the 2000 season, she scored Natalie was dominant in scoring and rebounding. and rebounded in double figures. During 2000, That year, she played in the first WNBA all-star game she averaged 18.7 points and 11.6 rebounds per and was the leading scorer for the victorious West- game and was again selected to play in the WNBA ern Conference. Natalie then led the Starzz into the all-star game. She was also selected to the 2000 all- WNBA playoffs. Natalie and Utah Jazz guard Jeff WNBA first team. Hornacek won the two-ball contest during the 1999 In 2000, Natalie won an Olympic gold medal with the U.S. Women’s Olympic team. Natalie Honors and Awards scored 15 points and collected 9 rebounds in the deciding game against Australia. Back in the 1993-94 All-American First Team United States, she continued to play for the Starzz Kodak All-American at UCLA until 2002, the year she opened up a restaurant in 1994 Pac-10 Athlete of the Decade 1996 Utah’s Woman Athlete of the Century Salt Lake City. She was a torch bearer for the 2002 1996-97 All-ABL First Team Winter Games in that city. Before the start of the 1998 ABL most valuable player 2003 season, she was traded to the Indiana Fever. In 1999 USA Basketball’s Female Athlete of the Year 1999-2001 WNBA All-Star Team 2003, Natalie started all thirty-four games, was sec- All-WNBA First Team ond on the team in scoring and rebounding, and 2000 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball played in the WNBA all-star game. In 2003-2004, Natalie played for a women’s team

422 Basketball Natalie Williams in Russia in order to compete in the International en’s basketball teams that won gold medals in the Basketball Federation . Natalie led the 1998 FIBA World Basketball Championships and team in scoring and rebounding, as the team fin- the 2000 Summer Olympics. An athletic player ished third in the tournament. Natalie also played around the basket, Natalie was a dominant force in briefly with the team in Euroleague competition the ABL and made a major impact in the WNBA as before returning to the United States late in 2004 a leader in scoring and rebounding during a ten- to rejoin the Fever. year professional career. Before the 2005 season, Natalie announced that Alvin K. Benson, updated by Jack Ewing season would be her last. By the end of her career, she had played in 221 professional games, averag- Additional Sources ing 8.3 rebounds and 13.1 points per game. After Benson, Harriet. Boosters Always Win! The Fans of retirement, Natalie, was inducted into the UCLA Women’s Basketball. Palo Alto, Calif.: Tip-Off Athletics Hall of Fame and concentrated on raising Press, 2003. her adopted twins. In addition to conducting bas- Layden, Joseph. Superstars of U.S.A. Women’s Basket- ketball skills clinics for girls, she worked in real ball. New York: Aladdin, 2000. estate and served as an assistant coach for a girls’ O’Reilly, Jean, and Susan K. Cahn, eds. Women and basketball team at Skyline High School. Sports in the United States: A Documentary Reader. Boston: Northeastern University Press, 2007. Summary Owens, Tom, and Diana Star Helmer. Teamwork: A two-sport athlete, Natalie Williams earned all- The Utah Starzz in Action. New York: Rosen, 1999. American honors in both basketball and volleyball Terzieff, Juliette. Women of the Court: Inside the at UCLA. She was a key member of the U.S. wom- WNBA. New York: Alyson Books, 2008.

423 Lynette Woodard

Born: August 12, 1959 and twice an academic all-American, matching her Wichita, Kansas hardwood performances with dedication in the class- room. Lynette was recognized as the nation’s best Early Life collegiate female basketball player when she won Lynette Woodard was born on August 12, 1959, in the Wade Trophy in 1981. During her career, the Wichita, Kansas, the youngest in a family that in- compiled a 108-32 record. Her ac- cluded three sisters and one brother. Lynette be- complishments were recognized by her alma mater came excited about basketball at an early age as she when she became the first woman to be inducted watched her cousin Geese Ausbie perform his Har- into the university’s athletic hall of fame. She also re- lem Globetrotter ballhandling tricks. At the age of ceived the National Collegiate Athletic Association five, Lynette began to practice what she saw her Today’s Top Five Award in 1982. cousin do and spent a lot of time playing basketball.

The Road to Excellence While in high school, Lynette led her Wich- ita North High basketball team to two state championships. Having grown to a height of 6 feet by the end of her high school ca- reer, she was highly recruited by college coaches. In 1977, Coach Marian Washing- ton convinced her to attend the University of Kansas. Though only a freshman, Lynette quickly established herself as one of the country’s top players. She led the nation in rebound- ing her first year and was named freshman of the year by two nationwide publications. In 1979, she followed her nation-leading rebound feat by leading the nation in scor- ing with a 31.7-points-per-game average. On January 6, 1981, Lynette broke the women’s career scoring record of 3,199 points when she scored the first basket in a home contest against Stephen F. Austin College. Lynette also led the nation in steals for three years.

The Emerging Champion Her Kansas career was filled with many ac- complishments. By the time she graduated with a speech communications degree in 1981, Lynette held eight University of Kan- sas career records, seven single-season rec- ords, and five single-game records. Four Lynette Woodard of the Harlem Globetrotters. (Focus on Sport/ times she was named a Kodak All-American Getty Images)

424 Basketball Lynette Woodard

College Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1977-78 33 366 .497 101 .664 490 47 833 25.2 1978-79 38 519 .562 139 .656 545 97 1,177 31.7 1979-80 37 372 .504 137 .714 389 165 881 23.8 1980-81 30 305 .533 122 .693 281 196 732 24.5 Totals 138 1,562 .526 499 .682 1,705 505 3,623 26.3 WNBA Statistics

1997 28 87 .399 43 .672 116 67 217 7.8 1998 27 36 .387 23 .575 66 22 95 3.5 Totals 55 123 .395 66 .635 182 89 312 5.7 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

Before her collegiate career ended, Lynette be- Lynette’s cousin Ausbie was no longer a mem- came an international basketball sensation. Her ber of the team, and the other members were a bit scoring and rebounding abilities made her an asset unsure of Lynette at first. They figured her selec- for the U.S. teams. She played on three U.S. teams in tion might be just a publicity stunt. Ausbie encour- 1978 and 1979, including the gold-medal-winning aged her from afar, though, and Lynette’s talent 1979 World University Games team. She was also se- and outgoing personality helped to win the quick lected for the 1980 Olympic team that did not play approval of her male teammates. Lynette had little when the United States chose to boycott the Mos- time to adjust herself, as she played her first game cow Olympics. The boycott was a disappointment with the Globetrotters in Brisbane, Australia, just for Lynette and for all the players who had trained ten days after joining the team. Thus began a so hard for the Games. schedule that included almost two hundred games Following graduation, Lynette continued her a year and a series of “firsts” for her and for the career in a women’s professional basketball league Globetrotters: her first game as a Globetrotter in in Skio, Italy. After a year overseas, she returned to the United States; her first live television appear- the United States and played on the 1983 Pan- ance with the team; her first game in her home- American gold-medal-winning U.S. team and World town of Wichita as a Globetrotter. Lynette enjoyed University Games silver-medal-winning team. Lyn- playing for fun and making people laugh. The fans ette again became an Olympian in 1984. She cap- also seemed to enjoy seeing her perform with the tained the U.S. squad that won the gold medal at team. the Olympics in Los Angeles. In October, 1987, Lynette announced her time with the Globetrotters was finished. Lynette’s two- Continuing the Story year contract expired before the season, and terms Lynette wondered where to play after the Olym- of a new contract could not be worked out to her pics. She became an assistant coach at the Univer- satisfaction. The major road-block in the contract sity of Kansas. However, in 1983, Lynette saw a negotiations was the Globetrotters policy limiting newspaper advertisement saying the Harlem Globe- the players’ outside projects, particularly promo- trotters were holding tryouts to select one woman tions. Lynette felt her contract was too binding and to sign as a Globetrotter. Two tryout camps were that it was in her best interest to leave the Globe- held in late summer and early fall of 1985. Eigh- trotters organization. Lynette’s post-Globetrotters teen women, the nation’s best, were selected for projects included an instructional basketball video, the tryouts. When the tryouts were finished and speaking engagements, camps, and clinics. She the player was chosen, Lynette’s lifelong dream again served as a Kansas assistant coach in the 1989- had come true: She had become a Globetrotter. 1990 season.

425 Lynette Woodard Great Athletes

Honors and Awards In 1997, at the age of thirty- seven, Lynette played for the Cleve- 1978 Street and Smith’s College Freshman of the Year land Rockers in the Women’s Inducted into University of Kansas Athletic Hall of Fame National Basketball Association 1978-81 All-Big Eight Conference Team (WNBA). She averaged 7.8 points Kodak All-American 1979 Gold medal, World University Games and 2.4 assists per game. Lynette 1979-81 Big Eight Conference Tournament most valuable player spent the 1998 season with the De- 1980 Women’s U.S. Olympic basketball team troit Shock, averaging 3.5 points 1980-81 Academic All-American per game. Retiring from the WNBA 1981 Street and Smith’s College Basketball Co-Player of the Year at the age of thirty-nine, she again Broderick Award joined the coaching staff at Kansas Wade Trophy University in 1999. In 2004, she was 1982 NCAA Today’s Top Five Award National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Woman of the Year inducted into the Naismith Memo- 1983 Silver medal, World University Games rial Basketball Hall of Fame. Gold medal, Pan-American Games 1984 Gold medal, Olympic Basketball Summary 1985 NCAA Salute to the 1984 U.S. Olympians Lynette Woodard’s career demon- 1986 Women’s Sports Foundation Professional Sportswoman of the Year strated that dreams can come true. 1989 Big Eight Conference Player of the Decade From the age of five, she dreamed Inducted into National High School Sports Hall of Fame 1991 Bronze medal, Pan-American Games of becoming a Harlem Globetrot- 1993 Flo Hyman Award ter. As a collegian, she became one 2004 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame of the all-time greats in the wom- 2005 Inducted into Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame en’s game, propelling herself into a tryout and eventual selection as the first female player for the Lynette played professional basketball for four Globetrotters. Lynette was a prolific scorer, ending seasons in Italy (1980-1981, 1987-1990) and led the her college career with 3,649 points. Priolo team to the 1989 Italian National Champi- Rita S. Wiggs onship. From 1990 to 1993, she played in Japan for Daiwa Securities, guiding the 1992 team to the divi- Additional Sources sional championship. She won a bronze medal with Green, Ben. Spinning the Globe: The Rise, Fall, and Re- the U.S. team in the 1991 Pan-American Games. turn to Greatness of the Harlem Globetrotters. New From 1993 to 1995, Lynette served as the athletic York: Amistad, 2005. director for the Kansas City school district. Robbins, Liz. “Reflecting on Days Before the WNBA.” While playing in Japan, Lynette became inter- The New York Times, July 12, 2006, p. D5. ested in the stock market. In 1995, she joined the “She Showed She Could Play with the Big Guys.” Magna Securities Corporation in New York, serv- People Weekly 41, no. 9 (March 7, 1994): 181. ing as vice president of the first brokerage firm to Vance, Doug, and Jeff Bollig. Beware of the Phog: Fifty be owned by African American women. In her Years of Allen Fieldhouse. Champaign, Ill.: Sports, spare time, Lynette continued to organize basket- 2005. ball training clinics for aspiring young athletes and Woolum, Janet. Outstanding Women Athletes: Who also served on the 1996 Olympic committee board They Are and How They Influenced Sports in Amer- of directors. ica. Phoenix, Ariz.: Oryx Press, 1998.

426 John Wooden

Born: October 14, 1910 ence—was a stern but caring man who instilled dis- Hall, Indiana cipline and honesty in his children. John and his Also known as: John Robert Wooden (full name); brothers were fond of playing a form of basketball Wizard of Westwood with a rag ball and a tomato basket nailed to the hay loft in the barn. Early Life John Robert Wooden was born on October 14, The Road to Excellence 1910, in Hall, Indiana. He lived his early days on During the depression of the 1930’s, John’s father farms in the local rural area. The Wooden home lost the family farm, and the family moved to did not have running water or electricity. John was Martinsville, Indiana, where John attended high the third of six children in a close, hardworking school. At Martinsville, John met Nellie, his wife to family. John’s father—a strong and steady influ- be. His high school basketball coach was Glenn Curtis, a man John later suc- ceeded as Indiana State Univer- sity’s basketball coach. As a soph- omore, John once quit the team over Curtis’s treatment of cer- tain favorite players. John later said that incident taught him to listen to players who disagreed with him as a coach. John went on to win all-state honors in bas- ketball three straight years while excelling in baseball as well. He led the basketball team to a state championship in 1927. After high school, John en- rolled at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. There, he captained the 1932 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship team. John, a scrappy 5-foot 10-inch guard, was named all-American three times. He was awarded the 1932 Big Ten Conference Medal for outstanding merit and profi- ciency in scholarship and athlet- ics, and was named college bas- ketball’s player of the year. After graduating from Purdue in 1932, John began teaching at Dayton High School in Ken- tucky, where he was the coach John Wooden during his college playing days. (AP/Wide World Photos) for all sports. At Dayton, he ex-

427 John Wooden Great Athletes

perienced his only losing season as a coach, an im- also landed sharpshooting guard Lucius Allen. For portant learning experience. From Dayton, John forwards, John recruited a pair of 6-foot 8-inch returned to his native Indiana to coach at Central players, Lynn Shackleford and . High School in South Bend, where he coached From 1966 to 1968, John’s Bruins had a forty- basketball, baseball, and tennis and taught En- seven-game winning streak. The streak was finally glish for nine years. In eleven years coaching high- snapped by the University of Houston, sparked by school basketball, John compiled an overall record Elvin Hayes, in a game at the Houston Astrodome. of 218-42. Alcindor was injured and did not play well in the During World War II, John’s coaching career game, which was the team’s only loss; the Bruins was interrupted for three years with service in the finished the season with a 29-1 record. UCLA Navy. He served as a full lieutenant from 1943 to gained revenge against Houston in the NCAA 1946. Later, John served as athletic director at Indi- Tournament by defeating the Cougars 101-69. The ana State University in Terre Haute. For two years, Bruins’ victory over the University of North Caro- John coached basketball and baseball. Then he lina gave UCLA another NCAA Championship. headed west for the University of California at Los In 1969, the Alcindor-led Bruins became the Angeles (UCLA) in 1948. first team to win three straight NCAA titles. They beat John’s alma mater, Purdue, in the champion- The Emerging Champion ship game. In his first two years at UCLA, John built and trained a fine team which won the Pacific Coast Continuing the Story Conference (PCC) championship in 1950. The John seemed long overdue to come off his winning UCLA Bruins marched to the PCC title again in streak. With the graduation of the awesome Alcin- 1952 and 1956, but John’s success within his own dor, many thought UCLA’s reign was finished, yet conference was only part of the story. In 1960, John the coach had a few more tricks for his rivals. The was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basket- next season, Alcindor’s understudy, Steve Patter- ball Hall of Fame as a player. son, had the help of sophomore forwards Sidney John’s first great UCLA team emerged in 1963- Wicks and , and the Bruins captured a 1964. The heart of the team was a pair of scrappy, fourth straight NCAA crown in 1970. The trio of sharpshooting guards, Walt Hazzard and Gail Good- Patterson, Rowe, and Wicks came back in 1971 to rich. The team was unranked in the preseason win a fifth straight title. The next year, John was in- polls, but the Bruins swept to a 30-0 season and the ducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) of Fame as a coach, the first person ever inducted championship. in more than one category. Goodrich was back the following season, but the In 1972, John built his team around another Bruins lost the first game. The team then rallied to outstanding center, Bill Walton. UCLA went unde- sweep its second national crown in a row. In the feated in 1971-1972 and 1972-1973, and captured NCAA final, Goodrich scored 42 of the Bruins’ 91 two more NCAA Championships. UCLA’s winning points, and UCLA knocked out the University of streak was finally stopped by the University of No- Michigan, 91-80. tre Dame in January, 1974, at a record 88. That The UCLA team had an off- year in 1965-1966, but as coach, College Statistics John had a banner season in re- cruiting. He landed the greatest Season GP FGM FTM FT% TP PPG collection of new basketball tal- 1929-30 13 45 26 — 116 8.9 ent ever assembled at one school. 1930-31 17 53 54 .693 140 8.2 His prize player was 7-foot 2-inch 1931-32 18 79 61 .709 219 12.2 Lew Alcindor (who later became Totals 48 177 141 — 475 9.9 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) of New Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free York, the most sought-after high- throw percentage; TP = total points; PPG = points per game school player in the nation. John

428 Basketball John Wooden year, the Bruins were at last defeated Milestones in NCAA Tournament play, after 38 consecutive tournament victories. Coaching record in NCAA Tournament play includes sixteen appearances, twelve Final The Bruins dropped a double-over- Four appearances, and ten championship titles, for an overall won-lost record of 47-10 time thriller to North Carolina State Overall NCAA coaching record (including tournament games) is 664-162, for an .804 winning percentage in the national semifinals. One of three members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inducted both In 1975, UCLA captured its tenth as a player and as a coach national crown under John. He an- nounced his retirement to the team Honors and Awards before the final game against Ken- tucky, and the Bruins’ players gave 1930-32 Helms Athletic Foundation All-American their coach a going-away present. 1932 Citizens Savings College Basketball Player of the Year They defeated the Wildcats 92-85. Big Ten Conference medal for outstanding achievement in scholarship and athletics John’s coaching genius was with- 1960 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of out question. Whatever kind of team Fame (as a player) he had, he managed to produce a win- 1964, 1967, 1969-70, 1972-73 United Press International Division I Coach of the Year ner. John was named NCAA college 1964, 1967, 1970, 1972-73 U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division I Coach basketball coach of the year in 1964, of the Year 1967, 1969, 1970, 1972, and 1973. 1967, 1969-70, 1972-73 Associated Press Division I Coach of the Year In his career at UCLA, John com- 1969-70, 1972 National Association of Basketball Coaches Division I piled a record of 620-147, a winning Coach of the Year percentage of more than 80 percent. 1970 Sporting News Sportsman of the Year He coached more than a dozen play- 1972 Sports Illustrated Co-Sportsman of the Year ers who went on to play professional Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of basketball. Fame (as a coach) John and his wife reared a son and 1974 John W. Bunn Award a daughter. John was named Califor- Awarded honorary doctorate in physical education by nia “Father of the Year” in 1964 and the Purdue University Board of Trustees for his California “Grandfather of the Year” outstanding contribution to coaching in 1974. After 53 years of marriage, 1994 Landry Medal his beloved wife died in 1985. 1995 Reagan Distinguished American Award In 1994, John was presented the NCAA Theodore Roosevelt Sportsmanship Award Landry Medal as an inspiration to 2000 Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Twentieth American youth. He was honored with Century the Reagan Distinguished American 2003 UCLA’s basketball court named “Nell and John Award in 1995, as well as the NCAA Wooden Court” Theodore Roosevelt Sportsman Award. 2006 Inducted into College Basketball Hall of Fame In 1999, John was named the greatest coach of the twentieth century by the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to be- (ESPN). The following year, he received the Nai- come the best that you are capable of becoming,” smith Men’s College Coach of the Twentieth Cen- John said. He believed that attaining success is like tury Award. Even in his later nineties, John contin- the process of building a pyramid, only each block ued to attend many of the UCLA basketball games is a character trait. His “pyramid of success” con- played at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles. sists of 25 building blocks that include discipline, faith, patience, and self-control. John had three ba- Summary sic rules for his players: be on time for practice, do After he retired, John Wooden spoke to many not use profanity, and never criticize another player. people about how he achieved so much success. More than thirty years after his retirement from “Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of coaching, John remained an inspiration to his for-

429 John Wooden Great Athletes

mer athletes and to those who admired him as a Williams, Pat, and David Wimbish. How to Be Like successful leader. Coach Wooden: Life Lessons from Basketball’s Greatest Kevin R. Lasley, updated by Alvin K. Benson Leader. Deerfield Beach, Fla.: Health Communi- cations, 2006. Additional Sources Wooden, John R. Practical Modern Basketball. New Biro, Brian D. Beyond Success: The Fifteen Secrets to Ef- York: Ronald Press, 1966. fective Leadership and Life Based on Legendary Coach ______. Wooden on Leadership. New York: McGraw- John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success. New York: Berk- Hill, 2005. ley, 2001. Wooden, John R., and Steve Jamison. My Personal Bisheff, Steve. John Wooden: An American Treasure. Best: Life Lessons from an All-American Journey. New Nashville, Tenn.: Cumberland House, 2004. York: McGraw-Hill, 2004. Chapin, Dwight, and Jeff Prugh. The Wizard of West- ______. Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Re- wood: Coach John Wooden and His UCLA Bruins. flections on and off the Court. Chicago: Contempo- Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1973. rary Books, 1997. Heisler, Mark. They Shoot Coaches, Don’t They? UCLA Wooden, John R., and . John Wooden’s and the NCAA Since John Wooden. New York: Mac- UCLA Offense. Champaign, Ill.: Human Kinetics, millan, 1996. 2006. Johnson, Neville L. The John Wooden Pyramid of Suc- Wooden, John R., and John Reger. Quotable Wooden: cess: The Authorized Biography, Oral History, Philos- Words of Wisdom, Preparation, and Success by and ophy, and Ultimate Guide to Life, Leadership, Friend- About John Wooden, College Basketball’s Greatest ship, and Love of the Greatest Coach in the History of Coach. Nashville, Tenn.: TowleHouse, 2002. Sports. Los Angeles: Cool Titles, 2003. Wooden, John R., and Jack Tobin. They Call Me Nater, Swen, and Ronald Gallimore. You Haven’t Coach: The Fascinating First-Person Story of a Leg- Taught Until They Have Learned: John Wooden’s endary Basketball Coach. Rev. ed. Chicago: Con- Teaching Principles and Practices. Morgantown, temporary Books, 2004. W.Va.: Fitness Information Technology, 2006.

430 James Worthy

Born: February 27, 1961 The Emerging Champion Gastonia, North Carolina An unheralded freshman on that team named Mi- Also known as: James Ager Worthy (full name); chael Jordan stole some of James’s thunder by sink- Big Game James ing a decisive jump shot against Georgetown Uni- versity in the NCAA Finals, but James was the Early Life team’s undisputed leader and greatest player. James Ager Worthy was born to a minister and reg- James’s 28 points on 13-for-17 shooting and a key istered nurse on February 27, 1961, in Gastonia, defensive won him the tournament’s most North Carolina. A natural athlete, James won head- outstanding player award, and he shared national lines with his basketball exploits even be- fore he entered high school. The tall— he eventually grew to the height of 6 feet 9 inches—and lanky James led Ashbrook High School to three state champion- ships. His average of 21.5 points per game and 12.5 rebounds per game in his senior year at Ashbrook attracted the attention of college programs from around the country, and James was rec- ognized as one of the best high school basketball players in America.

The Road to Excellence James chose to attend college in his home state, at the University of North Carolina. He arrived with high expecta- tions and became one of the school’s first freshmen to start in his first game. Midway through his freshman year, how- ever, James slipped and broke his ankle. He missed the season’s final fourteen games, and many people doubted that he could return to his previous form. James proved his doubters wrong, as he returned to North Carolina and won all-Atlantic Coast Conference honors. His team advanced to the National Col- legiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship game but lost to Indiana University. As a junior, James led one of the most talented college teams ever as- sembled to a 32-2 record and the 1981- 1982 NCAA national championship. James was named a first-team consensus James Worthy shooting a lay up against the Boston Celtics. (Andrew all-American. D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images)

431 James Worthy Great Athletes

NBA Statistics Season GP FG% FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 1982-83 77 .579 .624 399 132 1,033 13.4 1983-84 82 .556 .759 515 207 1,185 14.5 1984-85 80 .572 .776 511 201 1,410 17.6 1985-86 75 .579 .771 387 201 1,500 20.0 1986-87 82 .539 .751 466 226 1,594 19.4 1987-88 75 .531 .796 374 289 1,478 19.7 1988-89 81 .548 .782 489 288 1,657 20.5 1989-90 80 .548 .782 478 288 1,685 21.1 1990-91 78 .492 .797 356 275 1,670 21.4 1991-92 54 .447 .814 305 252 1,075 19.9 1992-93 82 .447 .810 247 278 1,221 14.9 1993-94 80 .406 .741 181 154 812 10.2 Totals 926 .521 .769 4,708 2,791 16,320 17.6 Notes: GP = games played; FG% = field goal percentage; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game player of the year honors with the University of Vir- adelphia 76ers, but was named to the NBA’s all- ginia’s Ralph Sampson. rookie team. James left college and was the first pick in the While recuperating, James returned to the Uni- 1982 NBA draft. He joined the defending NBA versity of North Carolina to finish his degree. The champion Los Angeles Lakers. With Magic John- Lakers traded starting forward in the son and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James won champi- 1983 off-season, and the following season James onship rings in 1985, 1987, and 1988. joined the Lakers’ starting lineup. The team won three championships in the next five years after Continuing the Story epic battles with the Boston Celtics, the Philadel- In 1982, the Los Angeles Lakers had an all-star phia 76ers, and the Detroit Pistons. small forward in Jamaal “Silk” Wilkes. James would James’s accomplishments in the 1988 NBA Fi- have started—and starred—immediately for almost nals against the Detroit Pistons cemented his repu- any team in the NBA, but in Los Angeles he could tation as one of the game’s top performers at the not crack the starting lineup. Instead of sulking, highest levels of competition. He posted the first James resolved to study the game and learn as and only triple-double of his professional career in much as he could from the veteran Wilkes. He the decisive game seven of the 1988 finals, with 36 made the best of the situation and put up respect- points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists, and was named able statistics before fracturing his tibia late in the the series’ most valuable player (MVP). Magic John- season. James missed the 1983 playoffs, in which son later called him one of the “top five players in the Lakers were swept in the NBA Finals by the Phil- playoff history.” James did not revolutionize the small for- Honors and Awards ward position in the way that his contemporar- ies Julius “Dr. J” Erving and Larry Bird did, but 1982 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player his peers did consider him one of the greatest 1983 NBA All-Rookie Team forwards of his generation. For basketball fans 1986-92 NBA All-Star Team who came of age during the peak of the NBA’s 1988 NBA Finals most valuable player popularity in the 1980’s and 1990’s, the sight of James finishing a Magic Johnson-led fast break 1990-91 All-NBA Third Team for the Lakers is an enduring memory. For 1995 Uniform number 42 retired by Los Angeles Lakers these fans, James epitomized the word “clutch”: 1996 NBA 50 Greatest Players of All Time Team He performed at his highest possible level 2003 Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame when the games were most important. During his playing days, James was always in-

432 Basketball James Worthy stantly recognizable for his trademark goggles—a James was named one of the fifty greatest NBA play- pair of which is in the Smithsonian Institution. Af- ers of all time. In 2003, he was inducted into the ter his retirement in 1994, he became an ardent Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. advocate of athletes wearing protective eyewear. Todd Moye Shortly after retiring, James launched Big Game James, a sports marketing firm that links sports ce- Additional Sources lebrities with major corporations for endorsement Hareas, John. NBA’s Greatest. New York: Dorling purposes. James then put his basketball expertise to Kindersley, 2003. work as a commentator for the Fox Sports Network Kalb, Elliott. Who’s Better, Who’s Best in Basketball? and CBS Sports. He later worked for the Lakers as a Mr.Stats Sets the Record Straight on the Top Fifty NBA pregame analyst for television broadcasts. Players of All Time. Chicago: Contemporary Books, 2004. Summary Porter, David L. Basketball: A Biographical Dictionary. A champion at every level of organized basketball, Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2005. James Worthy earned the nickname “Big Game Powell, Adam. University of North Carolina Basketball. James” for his performances in the 1982 NCAA Fi- Charleston, S.C.: Arcadia, 2005. nal Four and in three NBA Championship Series. A Rapoport, Ron. “One on One with James Worthy.” seven-time NBA all-star with 16,320 career points, Sport 82 (May, 1991): 15-16.

433 Yao Ming

Born: September 12, 1980 playing competitive basketball by the age of nine, Shanghai, China the same year that he entered junior high school. Also known as: Chairman Yao; the Ming Dynasty; Great Wall of Yao The Road to Excellence At thirteen, Yao tried out for the Sharks junior Early Life club, a youth team associated with the local Chi- Yao Ming was born the only child of Chinese bas- nese professional squad, the Shanghai Sharks. He ketball stars Yao Zhiyuan and Fang Fengdi. He practiced a total of 10 hours a day to be able to weighed 11 pounds at birth, more than twice the make the team. After four years with the junior average weight of a Chinese newborn. At ten years team, he joined the senior-level team. At seven- old, Yao was examined by doctors because of his teen, he made his debut in the Chinese Basketball height: 5 feet 5 inches. The doctors estimated he Association (CBA). As a rookie, he averaged 10 would grow to be more than 7 feet tall; his adult points and 8 rebounds per game. During this time, height is 7 feet 6 inches. As the son of two profes- Yao met his future wife, Ye Li. sional basketball players, not surprisingly, Yao was Yao spent four years with the Shanghai Sharks. During his second season, he broke his foot, reducing his jumping ability significantly. In his third and fourth years with the Sharks, he dramatically increased his overall play, not only in points per game, rebounds, and min- utes played, but also in the way he was able to dominate a game.

The Emerging Champion By Yao’s second year with the Shang- hai Sharks, the NBA was courting him. While he did sign a contract with an agent, Yao’s contract was deemed in- valid, thus preventing his entry into the NBA at the age of nineteen. By 2002, at twenty-one, Yao had a team of people working for him to get him into the NBA. Nicknamed “Team Yao,” the hard-working group reached an agreement to get Yao into the NBA draft. Though he was widely predicted to be chosen number-one in the draft, some teams were concerned about whether the CBA would allow Yao to play in the United States. The Hous- ton Rockets assured Chinese officials that they would pick Yao with the num- ber-one selection, and he was cleared Yao Ming during his first season in the NBA. (AP/Wide World Photos) to play basketball in the United States.

434 Basketball Yao Ming

NBA Statistics

Season GP FGM FG% FTM FT% Reb. Ast. TP PPG 2002-03 82 401 .498 301 .811 675 137 1,104 13.5 2003-04 82 535 .522 361 .809 735 122 1,431 17.5 2004-05 80 538 .552 389 .783 669 61 1,465 18.3 2005-06 57 467 .519 337 .853 581 85 1,271 22.3 2006-07 48 423 .516 356 .862 452 94 1,202 25.0 2007-08 55 432 .507 345 .850 594 129 1,209 22.0 Totals 404 2,796 .520 2,089 .826 3,706 628 7,682 19.0 Notes: GP = games played; FGM = field goals made; FG% = field goal percentage; FTM = free throws made; FT% = free throw percentage; Reb. = rebounds; Ast. = assists; TP = total points; PPG = points per game

One of the contingencies in Yao’s NBA contract solid series performance with 15 points and 7.4 re- stipulated that he play for the Chinese national bounds per game. In 2005, the Rockets added team. As a result, Yao missed his rookie training Tracy “T-Mac” McGrady. However, Yao spent most camp with the Rockets while he played in the FIBA of the year injured and the pair was only able to World Championship. His initial NBA debut was a play a total of thirty games together. The 2006 sea- poor one. He scored 1 point and had 1 rebound. son did not start out much better when Yao broke His next twelve games were equally unimpressive. his right knee just before Christmas. He returned Many basketball analysts declared him an NBA for the playoffs, though. In a seven-game series bust. with the Utah Jazz, Yao put up superstar numbers, However Yao improved as the season pro- averaging 25.1 points and 10.3 rebounds. However, gressed. He scored 20 points against the Los An- the Rockets lost the series. geles Lakers in mid-November and finished his rookie season with 13.5 points-per-game and 8.2- Continuing the Story rebounds-per-game averages. He was second in the Life outside of the NBA became profitable for Yao NBA rookie of the year voting, behind Amare as well. He participated in the 2004 and 2008 Olym- Stoudemire, and was a unanimous pick for NBA all- pics with the Chinese national team. At the latter star rookie first ream. Furthermore, he was named Games, held in Beijing, he led the delegation of the Sporting News rookie of the year. With the resig- Chinese Olympians at the Opening Ceremonies. nation of Rudy Tomjanovich, Yao started his In 2004, he coauthored a book, titled Yao: A Life in second season under offensive-minded Jeff Van Two Worlds, with Ric Bucher. He was featured in the Gundy. The results were immediate. documentary The Year of the Yao, which told of his In his second year, Yao significantly increased rookie year in the NBA and included comments his points and rebounds averages to 17.5 and 9.0, from basketball greats Charles Barkley and Sha- respectively. He was also voted to be the starting quille O’Neal as well as other sport stars like Mi- center in the 2004 NBA all-star game. Houston chael Irvin. The documentary focused on the cul- played its first postseason game in many years. tural differences that Yao faced as he moved from While the Rockets lost to the Lakers, Yao had a China to the United States. In 2005, another book was published titled Operation Yao Ming that ex- Honors and Awards plored the life of Yao and his parents. On August 6, 2007, Yao married his longtime sweetheart, Ye Li. 2002 First pick in the NBA draft 2003 NBA All-Rookie First Team Summary The Sporting News Rookie of the Year A true success story, Yao Ming became an inspira- Laureus Newcomer of the Year award 2003-09 NBA All-Star Team tion to millions of Chinese children and one of the 2004, 2006, 2008 All-NBA Third Team most famous Chinese athletes ever. He takes an ac- 2007 All-NBA Second Team tive role in many nonprofit foundations, including the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders. In 2003,

435 Yao Ming Great Athletes he helped raise $300,000 to help fight the severe Additional Sources acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak. In Bradley, Michael. Yao Ming. Oregon City, Oreg.: 2007, he held a charity basketball game that raised Marshall Cavendish, 2004. more than $965,000 for underprivileged children Lamar, Brook. Operation Yao Ming: The Chinese throughout China, and he donated $2 million to Sports Empire, American Big Business, and the the relief effort after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. Making of an NBA Superstar. New York: Gotham Furthermore, has helped open the door for Chi- Books, 2005. nese basketball players to join the NBA. Yao Ming, and Ric Bucher. Yao: A Life in Two Worlds. Karen Hayslett-McCall New York: Miramax Books, 2004.

436 Resources

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setti Revolutionized America’s Great Indoor Game. Boyer. The Complete Encyclopedia of Basketball. Bloomington, Ind.: AuthorHouse, 2005. London: Carlton, 2002. Pluto, Terry. Tall Tales: The Glory Years of the NBA. Stewart, Mark. Basketball: A History of Hoops. New Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2000. York: Franklin Watts, 1998. Ponti, James. WNBA: Stars of Women’s Basketball. Summer, Barbara, ed. Open the Unusual Door: True New York: Pocket Books, 1999. Life Stories of Challenge, Adventure, and Success by Porter, David L. Basketball: A Biographical Dictionary. Black Americans. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2005. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2005. Taragano, Martin. Basketball Biographies: 434 U.S. Porter, Karra. Mad Seasons: The Story of the First Wom- Players, Coaches, and Contributors of the Game, en’s Professional Basketball League, 1978-1981. Lin- 1891-1990. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland, 1991. coln: University of Nebraska Press, 2006. Terzieff, Juliette. Women of the Court: Inside the Robertson, Oscar, and Michael O’Daniel. The Art of WNBA. New York: Alyson Books, 2008. Basketball: A Guide to Self-Improvement in the Fun- Thomas, Ron. They Cleared the Lane: The NBA’s Black damentals of the Game. Los Angeles: O. Robertson Pioneers. 2d ed. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Media Ventures, 1998. Press, 2004. Russo, Chris, and Allen St. John. The Mad Dog One Thompson, Keith R. Heroes of the Hardcourt: Rank- Hundred: The Greatest Sports Arguments of All Time. ing Pro Basketball’s One Hundred Greatest Players, New York: Doubleday, 2003. and Introducing a Whole New Way of Looking at the Rutledge, Rachel. The Best of the Best in Basketball. Game. Bloomington, Ind.: AuthorHouse, 2005. Brookfield, Conn.: Millbrook Press, 1998. Walton, Bill, Michael Dinerman, William Conroy, Sachare, Alex. One Hundred Greatest Basketball Play- and Michael J. Fresina. Street and Smith’s Specialty ers of All Time. New York: Simon & Schuster, Publications Presents One Hundred Greatest College 1997. Basketball Programs of All Time. Charlotte, N.C.: Sachare, Alex, and Joe Hubbard. The Official NBA Street & Smith, 2005. Basketball Encyclopedia. London: Hi Marketing, Warner, Neil K. Off Court: Now the Other Side of the 2000. NBA. Lindon, Utah: Neil K. Warner Books, Shouler, Kenneth A. The Experts Pick Basketball’s Best 2004. Fifty Players in the Last Fifty Years. Lenexa, Kans.: Wooden, John R. Practical Modern Basketball. New Addax, 1998. York: Ronald Press, 1966. Smallwood, John. Heroes of the Hardwood. New York: Wooden, John, Bill Sharman, and Bob Seizer. The Scholastic, 2005. Wooden-Sharman Method: A Guide to Winning Bas- Smith, Ron, Ira Winderman, and Mary Schmitt ketball. New York: Macmillan, 1975.

440 Basketball Resources on the World Wide Web

Sports sites on the World Wide Web offer rich sources of information on athletes, teams, leagues, and the various sports themselves. Through careful searching, one can find up-to-date news on almost every sport; schedules; detailed statistics; sports; biographies of athletes; histories of teams, leagues, and individual sports; and much more. Since the previous edition of Great Athletes was published in 2001, both the number and quality of sports Web sites offering unrestricted access have increased significantly, making it easier than ever before to find information. However, while finding information on the Web has grown easier, evaluat- ing the reliability of the information one finds may be growing harder. The vast majority of sports Web sites are maintained by fans and bloggers whose objectivity and accuracy can be difficult to judge. Even articles on sites such as Wikipedia may present problems. Wikipedia articles are often detailed, up to date, and accurate, but they are not fully vetted and can be altered at any time by any user. Search engines such as and Yahoo! are efficient tools for finding information on athletes quickly, but if they are used carelessly, they may direct users to unreliable sites. For this reason, it is generally wise to begin any Web search with a list of Web sites that are proven to be reliable. The purpose of this list is to help guide readers to the best Web sources for basketball and to call attention to the variety of sites available online. Preference has been given to sites maintained by professional sports organizations, reputable news services, online magazines, halls of fame, and television networks, as well as other sites that provide accurate and unbiased information. However, a few blog sites are included to ensure coverage of subjects not well covered elsewhere, such as African basketball. Most of the sites listed here can be found quickly by entering their names into an online search engine. If that approach does not work, one can simply type a URL (uniform resource locator) into the address line of a Web browser. Note that it is usually unnecessary to enter “http://” and that many sites can be found through more than a single URL. As still more sites are certain to emerge, it is advisable to use text searches to find new sites. Also, look for links to other sites on the pages that you visit. Every site listed here was inspected and found to be working in January, 2009. Many of these sites offer links to merchandisers, but every effort has been made to avoid sites that serve primarily as sites for vendors and sports handicappers. URLs often change; if a link fails to work, search the name of the Web site with a standard Web search engine such as Google or Yahoo!

General Sites Broadcast Sports http://www.broadcastsports.com Africa South of the Sahara Sports News http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/africa/ Cable News Network (CNN)/Sports Illustrated sports.html (SI) http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com AllSports http://www.allsports.com Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame http://www.cshof.ca Ballparks http://www.ballparks.com Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) Sports Black College Sports Review (magazine) http://cbc.ca/sports http://www.black-sports.com

441 Basketball Resources on the World Wide Web Great Athletes

CBS SportsLine Rivals http://cbs.sportsline.com http://www.rivals.com

College Sports Information Directors of America Sport Science (CoSIDA) http://www.exploratorium.edu/sports http://www.cosida.com The Sporting Life ESPN http://www.sporting-life.com http://espn.go.com SportingNews.com Excite: Sports http://www.sportingnews.com http://sports.excite.com Sports Illustrated (magazine) FOXSports http://www.pathfinder.com/si http://www.foxsports.com Sports Illustrated for Kids History of Women in Sports Timeline http://www.sikids.com http://www.northnet.org/stlawrenceaauw/ timeline.htm Sports Network http://www.sportsnetwork.com/home.asp Home Box Office (HBO) Sports http://www.hbo.com/realsports Sports Schedules as You Like ’Em http://www.cs.rochester.edu/u/ferguson/ International Association for Sports Information schedules http://www.iasi.org/home.html SportsFan Radio Network International Olympic Committee (IOC) http://www.sportsfanradio.com http://www.olympic.org SportsFeed (news) MaxPreps: America’s Source for High School http://www.sportsfeed.com Sports http://www.maxpreps.com/national/home.aspx SportsLine USA http://www.sportsline.com MSNBC Sports http://nbcsports.msnbc.com Turner Network Television (TNT) Sports http://tnt.turner.com/sports National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) http://www.ncaa.org USA Network Sports http://www.usanetwork.com/sports New England Sports Network http://www.nesn.com USA Today-Sports http://www.usatoday.com One on One Sports http://www.1on1sports.com Women’s Sports Information http://www.womenssportsinformation.com PioneerPlanet: Sports http://www.pioneerplanet.com/sports World Wide Web Virtual Library: Sports http://sportsvl.com Real Fans Sports Network http://www.realfans.com

442 Basketball Basketball Resources on the World Wide Web

Yahoo! Sports FIBA Europe http://dir.yahoo.com/recreation/sports http://www.fibaeurope.com

International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Basketball http://www.fiba.com

AfricaBasket LatinBasket http://www.africabasket.com http://www.latinbasket.com

Asia-Basket Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame http://www.asia-basket.com http://www.hoophall.com

AustraliaBasket National Basketball Association (NBA) http://www.australiabasket.com http://www.nba.com

Basketball in Africa National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) http://basket-in-africa.blogspot.com Basketball http://www.ncaa.com http://www.basketball.ca/hm SLAM (magazine) http://www.slamonline.com EuroBasket http://www.eurobasket.com Women’s Basketball (magazine) http://www.wbmagazine.com Europe Basketball http://www.internationalbasketball.com/ Women’s National Basketball Association europe.html (WNBA) http://www.wbna.com

443 Glossary

all-American: Nationwide honor awarded yearly to bang the boards: Go after rebounds aggressively. the best high school and college players. All- bank shot: Shot that strikes the backboard before American honors are awarded by a variety of or- reaching the basket. ganizations and publications, and their prestige baseline: Line extending across each end of the court varies. A “consensus” all-American is a player behind the basket. Also known as the end line. who is awarded all or most of these honors. basket: Metal rim and cloth net attached to the all-league: Annual designation given by numerous backboard that is the target for the ball. In the organizations to top players in high school, col- early days of basketball, the basket was an actual lege, and professional sports. peach basket, from which the bottom was even- all-NBA: Annual designation given to the top play- tually removed. “Basket” is also a colloquial term ers at each basketball position. for a field goal. all-pro: Distinction given by many press organiza- basketball: Sport played between two teams, of five tions similar in meaning to all-league or all- players each, with the intention of putting a ball NBA. into an elevated goal situated at either end of all-star game: Annual game between the best play- the court. ers from the NBA’s Eastern and Western Confer- blocked shot: Play in which a defensive player stops ences, played in a different host city each year. an offensive player from scoring by hitting the The NBA all-star weekend also includes other shot away from the basket before the ball is on its skills events, such as the slam-dunk contest and downward arc. the three-point shooting contest. Major news bounce pass: Pass that strikes the floor between services such as the Associated Press select their passer and recipient. own yearly all-star teams, but these selections boxing out: Taking a position between one’s oppo- usually do not involve specially held games. nent and the basket to increase one’s chances of all-state: Annual designation given by numerous securing a rebound. organizations to top players in each state in high cagers: Old colloquial term for basketball players school, college, and professional sports. that originated because early games were played amateur: Athlete who competes for honors, rather on courts surrounded by chickenwire “cages” than tangible prizes or money, and who does not designed to keep the ball from going out of attain professional status. College players are bounds. amateurs within the sports in which they repre- center: Position of player who normally works clos- sent their schools, but they may also play profes- est to the basket and has primary responsibility sionally in other sports. for getting rebounds and blocking shots. Usually assist: Pass completed to a teammate who immedi- the tallest player on a team. ately scores a field goal. Only one assist is cred- center court: Midpoint on the court marked by a ited on a scoring play in basketball, in contrast small center on which jump balls are taken to be- to , which credits up to two assists. gin games. backboard: Flat surface to which the basket is con- crossover dribble: Switch of the dribble hand in nected; usually made of unbreakable glass so front of the body. that spectators behind the basket can see cut: Move by an offensive player to deceive, or “fake through it. out,” a defender, usually to initiate a drive to the backcourt: Half of the court opposite that of the basket. basket that the offensive team is attacking. defense: Team not possessing the ball that is trying backcourt players: Players in the guard positions. to stop opponents from scoring. back-door cut: Set play in which an offensive player defensive rebound: Rebound recorded by any cuts behind the defender and toward the basket. player on defense. See offensive rebound.

444 Basketball Glossary deliberate foul: Foul intentionally made to stop the ately moving away from the basket. See also jump clock and create an opportunity to regain pos- shot. session of the ball after an inbound play or free- fast break: Play that emphasizes advancing the ball throw attempt. Also known as an intentional downcourt as fast as possible and anticipating an foul. easy basket while denying the other team the disqualification: Fouling out, or ejection from the chance to set up defensively. game after recording the maximum number of Fédération Internationale de Basketball (FIBA): personal fouls. Five personal fouls are allowed in Also known as the International Basketball Fed- high school, college, and most youth league eration, the governing body for basketball that games, and six are allowed in the National Bas- sanctions the world basketball championships ketball Association. Players and coaches may and sets rules for international competitions. also be ejected for other reasons, such as fight- FIBA. See Fédération Internationale de Basketball. ing or arguing with officials. field goal: Scoring shot, other than a free throw, double team: Combination of two players to guard that falls through the rim during regular play. a single opponent. Normally earns 2 points, but is awarded 3 points double-double: Achievement by an individual when a shot is made from outside the 3-point arc player of double figures (10 or more) in any two in most leagues. categories: points, rebounds, assists, blocks, or field-goal percentage: Percentage calculated by di- steals. See also triple double. viding field goals made by attempts. draft: Method by which NBA teams annually select Final Four: Last four teams to survive in the NCAA new players, who have played for American high Basketball Tournament. schools or colleges and for international teams. five-second : Failure to inbound the ball Usually the teams with the previous season’s within five seconds that results in a . worst records are accorded the right to choose forwards: Players who normally play closer to the first. Many teams trade or sell their draft picks to basket than guards, outside the perimeters of other teams. the free-throw lane, through which they maneu- Dream Team: Term given to the 1992 U.S. Olympic ver in and out. Most teams operate with two for- basketball team, the first to use professional wards, but teams lacking designated centers may players in the Summer Olympics. Its members be said to operate with three forwards. See also included Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and power forward; small forward. Larry Bird. foul. See personal foul; technical foul. dribble: Bouncing of the ball on the floor of the foul line: Line parallel to the baseline, 15 feet from court using only one hand at a time. Basketball the backboard, from which players shoot free- players controlling the ball are not allowed to throws. Also known as the free-throw line. move their feet without dribbling the ball, and free agent: Player not under contract to any team, after they stop dribbling, they may not resume who is therefore at liberty to negotiate with any unless another player touches the ball. team or organization. A free agent can be a pro- drive: To move rapidly and aggressively with the fessional player whose contract has expired, one ball off the dribble, especially as a move toward who has been waived or cut from a team, or an the baseline or the basket. amateur trying to sign with a professional team. dunk: Scoring of a basket by driving the ball free throw: taken from the foul through the basket from above the rim. Also line that is worth 1 point. Free throws are known as a slam dunk, jam, or stuff. awarded after personal and technical fouls by Elite Eight: Last eight teams to survive in the NCAA the opposing team. Basketball Tournament. free-throw line. See foul line. end line. See baseline. free-throw percentage: Percentage of successfully fake: Deceptive movement by a player handling converted free-throw attempts. the ball that causes a defensive player to lose bal- frontcourt: Offensive end of the court, between ance or move out of position. the midcourt line and baseline. fall-away jumper: Shot attempted while deliber- frontcourt players: Forwards and centers.

445 Glossary Great Athletes

full-court press: Defensive tactic that begins with ioned keyhole. In American basketball, the lane guarding the opposing offensive players in the is now the same width as the circle. In interna- backcourt, instead of waiting until they cross the tional basketball, the lane is wider at the base, midcourt line. making it a trapezoid shape. give-and-go: Offensive maneuver in which a player lane: Marked area under the basket between the passes the ball to a teammate who returns it as end line and the free-throw line. the first player cuts to the basket. Also known as lane violation: Misplay occurring when any player an inside cut. steps into the lane before a free-throw attempt goaltending: Illegal physical interference with a reaches the hoop or the backboard. If a defend- field goal attempt. Both offensive and defensive ing player commits this violation while an op- players can be penalized for this infraction. ponent misses a free throw, the shooter is al- guards: Players primarily responsible for moving lowed a second attempt. If any player, including the ball from the backcourt into the frontcourt the shooter, violates the lane, the shot is disal- to initiate offensive play. Typically the shortest lowed. players on a team, guards usually position them- lay up: Shot taken at point-blank range from un- selves farthest from the basket. See also point derneath or to the side of the basket. guard; shooting guard. low post: Area close to the basket on either side of half-court press: Defensive strategy of applying the lane. pressure on the opposing team as soon as it ad- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Offi- vances the ball across midcourt. cial hall of fame of basketball, honoring Amer- halftime: Designated intermission at the midpoint ican and international players, coaches, and of a game. other contributors; located in Springfield, Mas- hand check: Type of foul in which a defensive sachusetts, where James Naismith invented bas- player places one or both hands on the ball han- ketball in 1891. dler to impede the latter’s progress. National Basketball Association (NBA): Top pro- high post: Area on either side of the free-throw fessional basketball league in the United States line. and Canada, founded in 1946. holding: Type of foul in which one player grasps an- National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA): other to impede the latter’s progress. Principal governing body of interscholastic col- hoop: Colloquial term for the basket or its rim. lege athletic programs. College basketball pro- “Hoops” is a colloquial term for the game itself. grams are divided among three divisions. In jump ball: Start or restart in which the referee 2009, 347 college and university men’s basket- throws the ball into the air between two oppos- ball teams competed in 32 conferences within ing players who then jump to contest possession Division I, which includes virtually all major col- of the ball. All games are begun with jump balls lege programs. Most smaller schools compete in at center court. In the early years of basketball, Divisions II and III. Smaller numbers of wom- jump balls were used to restart games after every en’s teams also compete in the same divisions. field goal. In later years, their use was restricted National Collegiate Athletic Association Men’s Di- to starting second halves and resolving posses- vision I Basketball Tournament: Premier col- sion when opposing players became tied up with lege basketball tournament in the United States, the ball. Now, most leagues below the profes- held each March to determine the NCAA Divi- sional level use jump balls only to start games. sion I national champion. The field begins with jump shot: Shot taken when a player leaves the sixty-five teams and is narrowed down to one floor and releases the ball toward the basket team over the course of three weekends. Teams while in the air. See set shot. are chosen for the tournament by either win- key: Area in front of the basket outlined by the lane ning a conference title or earning an at-large and the free-throw circle. In the early days of bid. The latter selections are made by a commit- basketball, the diameter of the circle was longer tee. Similar tournaments are also held for Divi- than the width of the lane, and the entire key sion I women’s teams and Division II teams. took its name from the shape of an old-fash- NBA. See National Basketball Association.

446 Basketball Glossary

NCAA. See National Collegiate Athletic Associa- court—positions, similar to the guard position tion. in skill set but generally occupied by taller play- net: Webbing, made of cotton or nylon, suspended ers than those who play the guard positions. See below the basket’s rim. also power forward. offensive rebound: Rebound recorded by any mem- : Basketball games played on playgrounds ber of the offensive team, including the player or on other unsanctioned outdoor courts. Street- who misses the shot. See defensive rebound. ball players typically prefer flashy and tricky indi- one and one: Foul-shooting sequence in which a vidual basketball skills over team skills. player is awarded a second shot only after mak- Sweet Sixteen: Last sixteen teams to survive in a ing the first one; used in college basketball. tournament. paint: Colloquial term for the area within the lane, technical foul: Rules violation that generally does which is usually painted a distinctive color. not involve physical contact during play. Most personal foul: Penalty attributed to an individual frequently called for unsportsmanlike conduct, player. a technical foul, or “T,” may also be called against pick. See screen. a nonplayer, such as a coach. Technical fouls are pick-and-roll. See screen-and-roll. not included in personal-foul counts, but multi- playoffs: Series of games played after the regular ple infractions can lead to ejection from games. season to determine the champion of a league, When a technical foul is called, play is stopped, conference, or division. and the opposing team is awarded a single free point guard: One of the two backcourt positions, oc- throw, attempted by the player of its choice, as cupied by the playmaker and on-court leader. all other players are moved to the opposite side post player: Usually a center or forward who plays of the court. After the attempt is made, whether under or near the basket. Post players often re- it is successful or not, play is resumed. ceive the ball while facing away from the basket, three-pointer: Field goal made from beyond the toward which they may then turn to shoot. three-point line, or arc, that earns 3 points. power forward: One of the two forward positions, three-second violation: Lane violation resulting in usually occupied by one of the tallest players on a turnover when an offensive player without the a team. See also small forward. ball spends more than three seconds within the rim: Metal hoop, secured to the backboard, hold- key. ing the net through the ball passes to score. trap: Defensive strategy designed to create a turn- rookie of the year: Award given to the top first-year over in which two players defend one offensive player in a league, division, or conference. player with the ball. screen: Strategy in which an offensive player re- traveling: Violation resulting in a turnover when a mains stationary at a specific point on the court ball handler takes more than one step without in order to block a defensive player guarding dribbling the ball. another offensive player. triple double: Achievement by an individual player screen-and-roll: Offensive set in which an offensive of double figures (10 or more) in any three cate- player blocks the ball handler’s defender and gories: points, rebounds, assists, blocks, or steals. subsequently moves toward the basket. See also double double. semifinals: Games played to determine which teams turnover: Play in which one team loses possession or players advance to championship finals. of the ball to the other through a ball-handling set shot: Shot taken by a player, both of whose feet mistake, such as an errant pass, or a rule viola- are planted firmly on the floor. tion. shooting guard: One of the two standard backcourt walk on: Player who earns a place on a college team positions, occupied by the guard who bears pri- without the benefit of a scholarship offer, which mary responsibility for scoring. See also point a successful walk-on player may earn later. guard. small forward: One of the two forward—or front- Christopher Rager

447 Basketball Players Time Line

Birthdate Player Birthplace April 9, 1898 Paul Robeson Princeton, New Jersey April 12, 1900 Joe Lapchick Yonkers, New York October 14, 1910 John Wooden Hall, Indiana June 16, 1916 Hank Luisetti San Francisco, California January 15, 1920 Bob Davies Harrisburg, Pennsylvania c. May 3, 1921 Goose Tatum New Jersey October 26, 1921 Joe Fulks Birmingham, Kentucky June 18, 1924 George Mikan Joliet, Illinois December 23, 1924 Bob Kurland St. Louis, Missouri October 22, 1925 Slater Martin El Mina, Texas May 25, 1926 Bill Sharman Abilene, Texas October 3, 1926 Marques Haynes Sand Springs, Oklahoma April 9, 1928 Paul Arizin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania May 19, 1928 Dolph Schayes New York, New York August 9, 1928 Bob Cousy New York, New York September 7, 1929 Clyde Lovellette Petersburg, Indiana July 13, 1931 Frank Ramsey Corydon, Kentucky December 9, 1931 Cliff Hagan Owensboro, Kentucky April 25, 1932 Meadowlark Lemon Wilmington, North Carolina May 25, 1932 K. C. Jones Taylor, Texas November 9, 1932 Frank Selvy Corbin, Kentucky December 12, 1932 Bob Pettit Baton Rouge, Louisiana January 13, 1933 Tom Gola Philadelphia, Pennsylvania June 24, 1933 Sam Jones Wilmington, North Carolina February 12, 1934 Bill Russell Monroe, Louisiana May 11, 1934 Jack Twyman Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania August 26, 1934 Tom Heinsohn Jersey City, New Jersey September 16, 1934 Elgin Baylor Washington, D.C. November 15, 1935 Nera White Macon County, Tennessee June 26, 1936 Hal Greer Huntington, West Virginia August 21, 1936 Wilt Chamberlain Philadelphia, Pennsylvania October 28, 1937 Lenny Wilkens Brooklyn, New York May 28, 1938 Jerry West Cheylan, West Virginia November 24, 1938 Oscar Robertson Charlotte, Tennessee December 13, 1938 Gus Johnson Akron, Ohio March 30, 1940 Jerry Lucas Middletown, Ohio April 8, 1940 John Havlicek Martins Ferry, Ohio October 16, 1940 Dave DeBusschere Detroit, Michigan May 19, 1941 Curly Neal Greensboro, North Carolina July 25, 1941 Nate Thurmond Akron, Ohio April 15, 1942 Walt Hazzard Wilmington, Delaware June 25, 1942 Willis Reed Hico, Louisiana

448 Basketball Basketball Players Time Line

Birthdate Player Birthplace July 7, 1942 Connie Hawkins Brooklyn, New York April 23, 1943 Gail Goodrich Los Angeles, California June 3, 1943 Billy Cunningham Brooklyn, New York July 28, 1943 Bill Bradley Crystal City, Missouri November 24, 1943 Dave Bing Washington, D.C. January 23, 1944 Sergei Belov Nashchyokovo, Soviet Union (now in Russia) March 28, 1944 Rick Barry Elizabeth, New Jersey November 21, 1944 Earl Monroe Philadelphia, Pennsylvania March 29, 1945 Walt Frazier Atlanta, Georgia November 17, 1945 Elvin Hayes Rayville, Louisiana March 14, 1946 Wes Unseld Louisville, Kentucky April 16, 1947 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar New York, New York June 22, 1947 Pete Maravich Aliquippa, Pennsylvania September 2, 1948 Nate Archibald New York, New York September 10, 1948 Bob Lanier Buffalo, New York October 25, 1948 Dave Cowens Newport, Kentucky October 25, 1948 Dan Issel Batavia, Illinois November 26, 1948 Krešimir ^osi6 Zagreb, Croatia, Yugoslavia (now in Croatia) September 21, 1949 Artis Gilmore Chipley, Florida February 22, 1950 Julius Erving Hempstead, New York September 25, 1951 Bob McAdoo Greensboro, North Carolina November 27, 1951 Dramen Dalipagi6 Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia (now in Bosnia and Herzegovina) April 27, 1952 George Gervin Detroit, Michigan November 5, 1952 Bill Walton La Mesa, California August 30, 1953 Robert Parish Shreveport, Louisiana January 5, 1954 Alex English Columbia, South Carolina March 23, 1955 Moses Malone Petersburg, Virginia March 26, 1955 Ann Meyers San Diego, California April 15, 1956 Michael Cooper Los Angeles, California September 29, 1956 Carol Blazejowski Elizabeth, New Jersey December 7, 1956 Larry Bird West Baden Springs, Indiana July 23, 1957 Nick Galis New Jersey December 19, 1957 Kevin McHale Hibbing, Minnesota February 16, 1958 Oscar Schmidt Natal, Brazil July 1, 1958 Nancy Lieberman-Cline Brooklyn, New York August 12, 1959 Lynette Woodard Wichita, Kansas August 14, 1959 Magic Johnson Lansing, Michigan September 23, 1959 Hortåncia Marcari Potirendaba, São Paulo, Brazil January 12, 1960 Dominique Wilkins Paris, France (of U.S. parents) February 27, 1961 James Worthy Gastonia, North Carolina April 30, 1961 Isiah Thomas Chicago, Illinois May 13, 1961 Dennis Rodman Trenton, New Jersey November 1, 1961 Anne Donovan Ridgewood, New Jersey March 26, 1962 John Stockton Spokane, Washington June 22, 1962 Clyde Drexler New Orleans, Louisiana August 5, 1962 Patrick Ewing Kingston, Jamaica January 21, 1963 Hakeem Olajuwon Lagos, Nigeria

449 Basketball Players Time Line Great Athletes

Birthdate Player Birthplace February 17, 1963 Michael Jordan Brooklyn, New York February 20, 1963 Charles Barkley Leeds, Alabama April 14, 1963 Cynthia Cooper Chicago, Illinois May 24, 1963 Joe Dumars Shreveport, Louisiana July 13, 1963 Spud Webb Dallas, Texas July 24, 1963 Karl Malone Bernice, Louisiana July 30, 1963 Chris Mullin Brooklyn, New York January 3, 1964 Cheryl Miller Riverside, California October 22, 1964 Dramen Petrovi6 Šibenik, Croatia, Yugoslavia (now in Croatia) December 19, 1964 Arvydas Sabonis Kaunas, Soviet Union (now in Lithuania) April 1, 1965 Mark Jackson Brooklyn, New York August 6, 1965 David Robinson Key West, Florida August 24, 1965 Reggie Miller Riverside, California September 25, 1965 Scottie Pippen Hamburg, Arkansas June 25, 1966 Dikembe Mutombo Kinshasa, Zaire (now in Democratic Republic of Congo) September 1, 1966 Tim Hardaway Chicago, Illinois February 3, 1968 Vlade Divac Prijepolje, Serbia, Yugoslavia (now in Serbia) July 23, 1968 Gary Payton Oakland, California September 18, 1968 Toni Kukoc Split, Yugoslavia (now in Croatia) March 14, 1969 Larry Johnson Tyler, Texas November 18, 1969 Sam Cassell Baltimore, Maryland February 8, 1970 Alonzo Mourning Chesapeake, Virginia August 25, 1970 Robert Horry Harford County, Maryland October 12, 1970 Charlie Ward Thomasville, Georgia November 30, 1970 Natalie Williams Long Beach, California March 25, 1971 Sheryl Swoopes Brownfield, Texas July 18, 1971 Penny Hardaway Memphis, Tennessee March 6, 1972 Shaquille O’Neal Newark, New Jersey July 7, 1972 Lisa Leslie Gardena, California October 5, 1972 Grant Hill Dallas, Texas March 1, 1973 Chris Webber Detroit, Michigan March 23, 1973 Jason Kidd San Francisco, California October 6, 1973 Rebecca Lobo Southwick, Massachusetts February 7, 1974 Steve Nash Johannesburg, South Africa (moved to Canada as infant) September 10, 1974 Ben Wallace White Hall, Alabama June 7, 1975 Allen Iverson Hampton, Virginia July 20, 1975 Ray Allen Merced, California April 25, 1976 Tim Duncan Christiansted, St. Croix, Virgin Islands May 19, 1976 Kevin Garnett Maudlin, South Carolina January 26, 1977 Vince Carter Daytona Beach, Florida July 28, 1977 Manu Ginóbili Bahía Blanca, Argentina August 9, 1977 Chamique Holdsclaw Astoria, New York October 13, 1977 Paul Pierce Oakland, California May 13, 1978 Mike Bibby Cherry Hill, New Jersey June 19, 1978 Dirk Nowitzki Würzburg, West Germany (now in Germany) August 23, 1978 Kobe Bryant Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

450 Basketball Basketball Players Time Line

Birthdate Player Birthplace March 11, 1979 Elton Brand Peekskill, New York March 22, 1979 Nikki Teasley Washington, D.C. April 13, 1979 Baron Davis Los Angeles, California May 24, 1979 Tracy McGrady Bartow, Florida July 21, 1979 Tamika Catchings Stratford, New Jersey July 6, 1980 Pau Gasol Barcelona, Spain September 12, 1980 Yao Ming Shanghai, China January 17, 1982 Dwyane Wade Chicago, Illinois May 17, 1982 Tony Parker Bruges, Belgium June 11, 1982 Diana Taurasi Chino, California November 16, 1982 Amare Stoudemire Lake Wales, Florida May 29, 1984 Carmelo Anthony Brooklyn, New York December 30, 1984 LeBron James Akron, Ohio May 6, 1985 Chris Paul Lewisville, North Carolina April 19, 1986 Candace Parker St. Louis, Missouri

451

All-Time Great Players

Fifty Greatest NBA Players

In 1996, the National Basketball Association selected fifty players as the greatest in the league’s fifty-year his- tory. The chosen players were not ranked and are listed here in alphabetical order.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar George Gervin Bob Pettit Nate Archibald Hal Greer Scottie Pippen Paul Arizin John Havlicek Willis Reed Charles Barkley Elvin Hayes Oscar Robertson Rick Barry Magic Johnson David Robinson Elgin Baylor Sam Jones Bill Russell Dave Bing Michael Jordan Dolph Schayes Larry Bird Jerry Lucas Bill Sharman Wilt Chamberlain Kevin McHale John Stockton Bob Cousy Karl Malone Isiah Thomas Dave Cowens Moses Malone Nate Thurmond Billy Cunningham Pete Maravich Wes Unseld Dave DeBusschere George Mikan Bill Walton Clyde Drexler Earl Monroe Jerry West Julius Erving Hakeem Olajuwon Lenny Wilkens Patrick Ewing Shaquille O’Neal James Worthy Walt Frazier Robert Parish

455 WNBA All-Decade Team

In 2006, the Women’s National Basketball Association celebrated the completion of its tenth season by hav- ing fans vote for the first decade’s most outstanding players. The top ten players and five honorable men- tions were elected from a list of thirty nominees selected by a panel of media members, players, and coaches.

First Team Sheryl Swoopes, Houston Comets (1997- ) , Seattle Storm (2002- ) , Houston Comets (1997- ) Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever (2001- ) Cynthia Cooper, Houston Comets (1997-2000, Honorable Mention 2003) , (1997- , Sacramento Monarchs 2004) (1999- ) Chamique Holdsclaw, Washington Mystics (1999- Lauren Jackson, Seattle Storm (2001- ) 2004), Los Angeles Sparks (2005- ) Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles Sparks (1997- ) , Sacramento Monarchs Katie Smith, (1999-2005), (1998- ) Detroit Shock (2005- ) Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury (2004- ) , Charlotte Sting (1999-2005), , New York Liberty (1997- Houston Comets (2005- ) 2003), Los Angeles Sparks (2004)

456 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Named after James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame was established in 1949 by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. The hall honors players, coaches, ref- erees, and “contributors,” such as team owners and broadcasters. Players must be retired for five years before they may be nominated; they are voted in by a twenty-four-member committee of media representatives, Hall of Fame members, and trustees. Only players are listed here, but players who have also been inducted as coaches are marked with plus signs (+). Their years of induction (as players) are given in parentheses.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1995) Alex English (1997) Edward W. Krause (1976) Nathaniel Archibald (1991) Julius W. Erving (1993) Robert A. Kurland (1961) Paul J. Arizin (1978) Patrick Ewing (2008) Robert J. Lanier (1992) Charles Barkley (2006) Harold E. Foster (1964) Joe Lapchick (1966) Thomas B. Barlow (1981) Walter Frazier (1987) Nancy Lieberman (1996) Richard F. Barry (1987) Max Friedman (1972) Clyde E. Lovellette (1988) Elgin Baylor (1977) Joseph F. Fulks (1978) Jerry R. Lucas (1980) (1973) Lauren Gale (1977) Angelo Luisetti (1959) Walter Bellamy (1993) Harry J. Gallatin (1991) Edward C. Macauley (1960) Sergei Belov (1992) William “Pop” Gates (1989) Moses Malone (2001) David Bing (1990) George Gervin (1996) Peter P. Maravich (1987) Larry Bird (1998) Thomas J. Gola (1976) Hortencia Marcari (2005) Carol Blazejowski (1994) Gail Goodrich (1996) Slater N. Martin (1982) Bernard Borgmann (1961) Harold E. Greer (1982) Robert McAdoo (2000) William W. Bradley (1983) Robert F. Gruenig (1963) Branch McCracken (1960) Joseph R. Brennan (1975) Clifford O. Hagan (1978) Jack McCracken (1962) Alfred N. Cervi (1985) Victor A. Hanson (1960) Robert McDermott (1988) Wilton N. Chamberlain (1979) -Stewart (1992) Richard S. McGuire (1993) Charles T. Cooper (1977) John Havlicek (1984) Kevin McHale (1999) Kresimir Cosic (1996) Cornelius L. Hawkins (1992) (2003) Robert J. Cousy (1971) Elvin E. Hayes (1990) Ann E. Meyers (1993) David W. Cowens (1991) Marques Haynes (1998) George L. Mikan (1959) Joan Crawford (1997) Thomas W. Heinsohn (1986) Vern Mikkelsen (1995) William J. Cunningham (1986) Nat Holman (1964) Cheryl Miller (1995) (1997) Robert J. Houbregs (1987) Vernon Earl Monroe (1990) Dramen Dalipagi6 (2004) (1997) Calvin J. Murphy (1993) (2008) Charles D. Hyatt (1959) Charles C. Murphy (1960) Robert E. Davies (1970) Daniel P. Issel (1993) Hakeem Olajuwon (2008) Forrest S. DeBernardi (1961) Harry “Buddy” Jeannette (1994) Harlan O. Page (1962) David A. DeBusschere (1983) Earvin “Magic” Johnson (2002) Robert Parish (2003) Henry G. Dehnert (1969) William C. Johnson (1977) Drazen Petrovic (2002) Anne Donovan (1995) Donald Neil Johnston (1990) Robert L. Pettit (1971) Clyde Drexler (2004) K. C. Jones (1989) (1961) Joe Dumars (2006) Sam Jones (1984) James C. Pollard (1978) (1972) Michael Jordan (2009) Frank V. Ramsey, Jr. (1982)

457 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Great Athletes

Willis Reed, Jr. (1982) Bill W. Sharman+ (1976) William T. Walton (1993) Arnold (Arnie) Risen (1998) (1961) Robert Wanzer (1987) Oscar P. Robertson (1980) John Stockton (2009) Jerry A. West (1980) David Robinson (2009) Maurice Stokes (2004) Nera D. White (1992) John S. Roosma (1961) Isiah Thomas (2000) Leonard (Lenny) Wilkens+ (1989) John D. Russell (1964) David Thompson (1996) Dominique Wilkins (2006) William F. Russell (1975) John A. Thompson (1962) Lynette Woodard (2004) Adolph Schayes (1973) Nate Thurmond (1985) John R. Wooden+ (1960) Ernest J. Schmidt (1974) John (Jack) K. Twyman (1983) James Worthy (2003) John J. Schommer (1959) Westley S. Unseld (1988) (1996) Barney Sedran (1962) Robert P. Vandivier (1975) Uljana Semjonova (1993) Edward A. Wachter (1961)

458 Annual Awards and Honors

John R. Wooden Award

Established in 1977 to honor the most outstanding players in men’s college basketball, the John R. Wooden Award was named in honor of UCLA’s legendary coach, who had retired after winning his tenth national championship for UCLA in 1975. Recipients of the award are selected by a large panel of voters representing all fifty U.S. states. The awards take into consideration both regular- and postseason play, as well as the play- ers’ character. Since 2004, a second award has been given to women players.

Women 1989 Sean Elliott, Arizona 2004 , Duke 1990 , La Salle 2005 , Louisiana State 1991 Larry Johnson, UNLV 2006 Seimone Augustus, Louisiana State 1992 , Duke 2007 Candace Parker, Tennessee 1993 , Indiana 2008 Candace Parker, Tennessee 1994 Glenn Robinson, Purdue 2009 , Connecticut 1995 Ed O’Bannon, UCLA 1996 , Massachusetts Men 1997 Tim Duncan, Wake Forest 1977 , UCLA 1998 Antawn Jamison, North Carolina 1978 Phil Ford, North Carolina 1999 Elton Brand, Duke 1979 Larry Bird, Indiana State 2000 , Cincinnati 1980 , Louisville 2001 , Duke 1981 Danny Ainge, Brigham Young 2002 Jason Williams, Duke 1982 Ralph Sampson, Virginia 2003 T. J. Ford, Texas 1983 Ralph Sampson, Virginia 2004 , Saint Joseph’s 1984 Michael Jordan, North Carolina 2005 , Utah 1985 Chris Mullin, St. John’s 2006 J. J. Redick, Duke 1986 Walter Berry, St. John’s 2007 , Texas 1987 David Robinson, U.S. Naval Academy 2008 , North Carolina 1988 Danny Manning, Kansas 2009 , Oklahoma

461 USA Basketball Athlete of the Year Awards

Affiliated with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), USA Basketball is the governing body of bas- ketball within the United States. Every year since 1980, the organization has named one female basketball player and one male basketball player as its basketball athletes of the year. The award was originally intended for individual players, but in 1992 and 2008 the male athlete award went to U.S. national teams that distin- guished themselves in international competitions. The female award for 1982 and the male awards for 1984 and 2004 were shared. Awards are made to both amateur and professional players.

Female Players Male Players 1980 Carol Blazejowski 1980 Isiah Thomas 1981 Denise Curry 1981 Kevin Boyle 1982 1982 Glenn Rivers LaTaunya Pollard 1983 Michael Jordan 1983 Lynette Woodard 1984 Michael Jordan 1984 Cheryl Miller 1985 1985 1986 Cheryl Miller 1986 David Robinson 1987 Teresa Edwards 1987 Danny Manning 1988 Katrina McClain 1988 1989 Venus Lacey 1989 Larry Johnson 1990 Teresa Edwards 1990 Alonzo Mourning 1991 Ruthie Bolton 1991 Christian Laettner 1992 Katrina McClain 1992 1992 U.S. Olympic Team 1993 Lisa Leslie 1993 Michael Finley 1994 Dawn Staley 1994 Shaquille O’Neal 1995 1995 Ray Allen 1996 Teresa Edwards 1996 Scottie Pippen 1997 Chamique Holdsclaw 1997 Earl Boykins 1998 Lisa Leslie 1998 Elton Brand 1999 Natalie Williams 1999 Gary Payton 2000 Teresa Edwards 2000 Alonzo Mourning 2001 2001 Chris Duhon 2002 Lisa Leslie 2002 Reggie Miller 2003 Seimone Augustus 2003 Tim Duncan 2004 Dawn Staley 2004 2005 Chris Paul 2006 Diana Taurasi 2005 Shelden Williams 2007 2006 Carmelo Anthony 2008 Katie Smith 2007 Jason Kidd 2008 USA Men’s Senior Basketball Team

462 National Basketball Association

NBA Top Draft Picks

Year Player Drafting team School or country 1947 Clifton McNeely Pittsburgh Ironmen Texas Wesleyan 1948 Andy Tonkovich Marshall 1949 Providence Steamrollers Kansas State 1950 Charlie Share Boston Celtics Bowling Green 1951 Gene Melchiorre Baltimore Bullets Bradley 1952 Milwaukee Hawks West Virginia 1953 Baltimore Bullets Long Island 1954 Frank Selvy Baltimore Bullets Furman 1955 Milwaukee Hawks Duquesne 1956 Rochester Royals Duquesne 1957 Rod Hundley Cincinnati Royals West Virginia 1958 Elgin Baylor Minneapolis Lakers Seattle 1959 Cincinnati Royals Kansas State 1960 Oscar Robertson Cincinnati Royals Cincinnati 1961 Walt Bellamy Chicago Packers Indiana 1962 Bill McGill Chicago Zephyrs Utah 1963 New York Knicks Duke 1964 Jim Barnes New York Knicks Texas Western 1965 San Francisco Warriors Davidson 1966 Cazzie Russell New York Knicks Michigan 1967 Jimmy Walker Detroit Pistons Providence 1968 Elvin Hayes Houston Rockets Houston 1969 Lew Alcindor (Kareem Milwaukee Bucks UCLA Abdul-Jabbar) 1970 Bob Lanier Detroit Pistons St. Bonaventure 1971 Cleveland Cavaliers Notre Dame 1972 LaRue Martin Portland Trailblazers Loyola-Chicago 1973 Doug Collins Philadelphia 76ers Illinois State 1974 Bill Walton Portland Trailblazers UCLA 1975 David Thompson Atlanta Hawks North Carolina State 1976 John Lucas Houston Rockets Maryland 1977 Kent Benson Milwaukee Bucks Indiana 1978 Portland Trailblazers Minnesota 1979 Magic Johnson Los Angeles Lakers Michigan State 1980 Joe Barry Carroll Golden State Warriors Purdue 1981 Dallas Mavericks DePaul 1982 James Worthy Los Angeles Lakers North Carolina 1983 Ralph Sampson Houston Rockets Virginia 1984 Hakeem Olajuwon Houston Rockets Houston 1985 Patrick Ewing New York Knicks Georgetown 1986 Brad Daugherty Cleveland Cavaliers North Carolina 1987 David Robinson San Antonio Spurs Navy

465 NBA Top Draft Picks Great Athletes

Year Player Drafting team School or country 1988 Danny Manning Los Angeles Clippers Kansas 1989 Pervis Ellison Sacramento Kings Louisville 1990 New Jersey Nets Syracuse 1991 Larry Johnson Charlotte Hornets Nevada-Las Vegas 1992 Shaquille O’Neal Orlando Magic Louisiana State 1993 Chris Webber Orlando Magic Michigan 1994 Glenn Robinson Milwaukee Bucks Purdue 1995 Joe Smith Golden State Warriors Maryland 1996 Allen Iverson Philadelphia 76ers Georgetown 1997 Tim Duncan San Antonio Spurs Wake Forest 1998 Los Angeles Clippers Pacific 1999 Elton Brand Chicago Bulls Duke 2000 Kenyon Martin New Jersey Nets Cincinnati 2001 Washington Bullets Glynn Academy, Georgia 2002 Yao Ming Houston Rockets China 2003 LeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers St. Vincent-St. Mary H.S., Ohio 2004 Orlando Magic S.W. Atlanta Christian Academy, Georgia 2005 Andrew Bogut Milwaukee Bucks Utah 2006 Toronto Raptors Italy 2007 Portland Trail Blazers Ohio State 2008 Chicago Bulls Memphis 2009 Blake Griffin Los Angeles Clippers Oklahoma

466 NBA Rookies of the Year

1953 , Fort Wayne Pistons 1982 Buck Williams, New Jersey Nets 1954 Ray Felix, Baltimore Bullets 1983 , San Diego Clippers 1955 Bob Pettit, Milwaukee Hawks 1984 Ralph Sampson, Houston Rockets 1956 Maurice Stokes, Rochester Royals 1985 Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls 1957 Tom Heinsohn, Boston Celtics 1986 Patrick Ewing, New York Knicks 1958 Woody Sauldsberry, Philadelphia Warriors 1987 Chuck Person, Indiana Pacers 1959 Elgin Baylor, Minneapolis Lakers 1988 Mark Jackson, New York Knicks 1960 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Warriors 1989 Mitch Richmond, Golden State Warriors 1961 Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati Royals 1990 David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs 1962 Walt Bellamy, Chicago Packers 1991 Derrick Coleman, New Jersey Nets 1963 , Chicago Zephyrs 1992 Larry Johnson, Charlotte Hornets 1964 Jerry Lucas, Cincinnati Royals 1993 Shaquille O’Neal, Orlando Magic 1965 Willis Reed, New York Knicks 1994 Chris Webber, Golden State Warriors 1966 Rick Barry, San Francisco Warriors 1995 Grant Hill, Detroit Pistons 1967 Dave Bing, Detroit Pistons Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks 1968 Earl Monroe, Baltimore Bullets 1996 , Toronto Raptors 1969 Wes Unseld, Baltimore Bullets 1997 Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers 1970 Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), 1998 Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs Milwaukee Bucks 1999 Vince Carter, Toronto Raptors 1971 Dave Cowens, Boston Celtics 2000 Elton Brand, Chicago Bulls Geoff Petrie, Portland Trail Blazers Steve Francis, Houston Rockets 1972 , Portland Trail Blazers 2001 Mike Miller, Orlando Magic 1973 Bob McAdoo, Buffalo Braves 2002 Pau Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies 1974 Ernie DiGregorio, Buffalo Braves 2003 Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns 1975 Keith Wilkes, Golden State Warriors 2004 LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers 1976 , Phoenix Suns 2005 , Charlotte Bobcats 1977 Adrian Dantley, Buffalo Braves 2006 Chris Paul, New Orleans/Oklahoma City 1978 Walter Davis, Phoenix Suns Hornets 1979 Phil Ford, Kansas City Kings 2007 , Portland Trail Blazers 1980 Larry Bird, Boston Celtics 2008 Kevin Durant, Seattle SuperSonics 1981 Darrell Griffith, Utah Jazz 2009 Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

467 NBA Most Valuable Players

1956 Bob Pettit, St. Louis Hawks 1983 Moses Malone, Philadelphia 76ers 1957 Bob Cousy, Boston Celtics 1984 Larry Bird, Boston Celtics 1958 Bill Russell, Boston Celtics 1985 Larry Bird, Boston Celtics 1959 Bob Pettit, St. Louis Hawks 1986 Larry Bird, Boston Celtics 1960 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia Warriors 1987 Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers 1961 Bill Russell, Boston Celtics 1988 Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls 1962 Bill Russell, Boston Celtics 1989 Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers 1963 Bill Russell, Boston Celtics 1990 Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers 1964 Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati Royals 1991 Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls 1965 Bill Russell, Boston Celtics 1992 Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls 1966 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia 76ers 1993 Charles Barkley, Phoenix Suns 1967 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia 76ers 1994 Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets 1968 Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia 76ers 1995 David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs 1969 Wes Unseld, Baltimore Bullets 1996 Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls 1970 Willis Reed, New York Knicks 1997 Karl Malone, Utah Jazz 1971 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee Bucks 1998 Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls 1972 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee Bucks 1999 Karl Malone, Utah Jazz 1973 Dave Cowens, Boston Celtics 2000 Shaquille O’Neal, Los Angeles Lakers 1974 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee Bucks 2001 Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers 1975 Bob McAdoo, Buffalo Sabres 2002 Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs 1976 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles Lakers 2003 Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs 1977 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles Lakers 2004 Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves 1978 Bill Walton, Portland Trail Blazers 2005 Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns 1979 Moses Malone, Houston Rockets 2006 Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns 1980 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles Lakers 2007 Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks 1981 Julius Erving, Philadelphia 76ers 2008 Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers 1982 Moses Malone, Houston Rockets 2009 LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

468 NBA Defensive Players of the Year

1983 , Milwaukee Bucks 1997 Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta Hawks 1984 Sidney Moncrief, Milwaukee Bucks 1998 Dikembe Mutombo, Atlanta Hawks 1985 , Utah Jazz 1999 Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat 1986 , San Antonio Spurs 2000 Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat 1987 Michael Cooper, Los Angeles Lakers 2001 Dikembe Mutombo, Philadelphia 76ers 1988 Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks 1989 Mark Eaton, Utah Jazz 2002 Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons 1990 Dennis Rodman, Detroit Pistons 2003 Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons 1991 Dennis Rodman, Detroit Pistons 2004 Ron Artest, Indiana Pacers 1992 David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs 2005 Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons 1993 Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets 2006 Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons 1994 Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets 2007 Marcus Camby, Denver Nuggets 1995 Dikembe Mutombo, Denver Nuggets 2008 Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics 1996 Gary Payton, Seattle SuperSonics 2009 Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

469 NBA Sixth Man Award

In 1983, the National Basketball Association instituted the Sixth Man Award to recognize players who make major contributions to their teams by coming off the bench. To be eligible for the award, players must play as substitutes in more than half their games. Winners of the award are selected by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.

1983 Bobby Jones, Philadelphia 76ers 1997 John Starks, New York Knicks 1984 Kevin McHale, Boston Celtics 1998 Danny Manning, Phoenix Suns 1985 Kevin McHale, Boston Celtics 1999 Darrell Armstrong, Orlando Magic 1986 Bill Walton, Boston Celtics 2000 , Phoenix Suns 1987 , Milwaukee Bucks 2001 Aaron McKie, Philadelphia 76ers 1988 , Dallas Mavericks 2002 , Detroit Pistons 1989 Eddie Johnson, Phoenix Suns 2003 Bobby Jackson, Sacramento Kings 1990 Ricky Pierce, Milwaukee Bucks 2004 Antawn Jamison, Washington Wizards 1991 , Indiana Pacers 2005 Ben Gordon, Chicago Bulls 1992 Detlef Schrempf, Indiana Pacers 2006 Mike Miller, Memphis Grizzlies 1993 Clifford Robinson, Portland Trail Blazers 2007 , Phoenix Suns 1994 , Charlotte Hornets 2008 Manu Ginóbili, San Antonio Spurs 1995 Anthony Mason, New York Knicks 2009 , Dallas Mavericks 1996 Toni Kukoc, Chicago Bulls

470 NBA Scoring Champions

From the National Basketball Association’s first season through 1968-1969, the league’s official scoring champions were the players who scored the most total points each season. Since the 1969-1970 season, the scoring championship has gone to players—provided they have played in the requisite minimum number of games—with the highest points-per-game averages (PPG). During many seasons the PPG leaders have not been the players who have scored the most points.

Season Player Team Games Points PPG Total Points Leaders 1946-1947 Joe Fulks Philadelphia Warriors 60 1389 23.2 1947-1948 Chicago Stags 48 1007 21.0 1948-1949 George Mikan Minneapolis Lakers 60 1698 28.3 1949-1950 George Mikan Minneapolis Lakers 68 1865 27.4 1950-1951 George Mikan Minneapolis Lakers 68 1932 28.4 1951-1952 Paul Arizin Philadelphia Warriors 66 1674 25.4 1952-1953 Neil Johnston Philadelphia Warriors 70 1564 22.3 1953-1954 Neil Johnston Philadelphia Warriors 72 1759 24.4 1954-1955 Neil Johnston Philadelphia Warriors 72 1631 22.7 1955-1956 Bob Pettit St. Louis Hawks 72 1849 25.7 1956-1957 Paul Arizin Philadelphia Warriors 71 1817 25.6 1957-1958 George Yardley Detroit Pistons 72 2001 27.8 1958-1959 Bob Pettit St. Louis Hawks 72 2105 29.2 1959-1960 Wilt Chamberlain Philadelphia Warriors 72 2707 37.6 1960-1961 Wilt Chamberlain Philadelphia Warriors 79 3033 38.4 1961-1962 Wilt Chamberlain Philadelphia Warriors 80 4029 50.4 1962-1963 Wilt Chamberlain San Francisco Warriors 80 3586 44.8 1963-1964 Wilt Chamberlain San Francisco Warriors 80 2948 36.9 1964-1965 Wilt Chamberlain SF Warriors/Phil 76ers 73 2534 34.7 1965-1966 Wilt Chamberlain Philadelphia 76ers 79 2649 33.5 1966-1967 Rick Barry San Francisco Warriors 78 2775 35.6 1967-1968 Dave Bing Detroit Pistons 79 2142 27.1 1968-1969 Elvin Hayes San Diego Rockets 82 2327 28.4

Points-per-Game Leaders 1969-1970 Jerry West Los Angeles Lakers 74 2309 31.2 1970-1971 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Milwaukee Bucks 82 2596 31.7 1971-1972 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Milwaukee Bucks 81 2822 34.8 1972-1973 Nate Archibald Kansas City-Omaha Kings 80 2719 34.0 1973-1974 Bob McAdoo Buffalo Braves 74 2261 30.6 1974-1975 Bob McAdoo Buffalo Braves 82 2831 34.5 1975-1976 Bob McAdoo Buffalo Braves 78 2427 31.1 1976-1977 Pete Maravich New Orleans Jazz 73 2273 31.1 1977-1978 George Gervin San Antonio Spurs 82 2232 27.2 1978-1979 George Gervin San Antonio Spurs 80 2365 29.6 1979-1980 George Gervin San Antonio Spurs 78 2585 33.1

471 NBA Scoring Champions Great Athletes

Season Player Team Games Points PPG 1980-1981 Adrian Dantley Utah Jazz 80 2452 30.7 1981-1982 George Gervin San Antonio Spurs 79 2551 32.3 1982-1983 Alex English Denver Nuggets 82 2326 28.4 1983-1984 Adrian Dantley Utah Jazz 79 2418 30.6 1984-1985 New York Knicks 55 1809 32.9 1985-1986 Dominique Wilkins Atlanta Hawks 78 2366 30.3 1986-1987 Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls 82 3041 37.1 1987-1988 Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls 82 2868 35.0 1988-1989 Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls 81 2633 32.5 1989-1990 Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls 82 2753 33.6 1990-1991 Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls 82 2580 31.5 1991-1992 Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls 80 2404 30.1 1992-1993 Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls 78 2541 32.6 1993-1994 David Robinson San Antonio Spurs 80 2383 29.8 1994-1995 Shaquille O’Neal Orlando Magic 79 2315 29.3 1995-1996 Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls 82 2491 30.4 1996-1997 Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls 82 2431 29.6 1997-1998 Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls 82 2357 28.7 1998-1999 Allen Iverson Philadelphia 76ers 48 1284 26.8 1999-2000 Shaquille O’Neal Los Angeles Lakers 79 2344 29.7 2000-2001 Allen Iverson Philadelphia 76ers 71 2207 31.1 2001-2002 Allen Iverson Philadelphia 76ers 60 1883 31.4 2002-2003 Tracy McGrady Orlando Magic 75 2407 32.1 2003-2004 Tracy McGrady Orlando Magic 67 1878 28.0 2004-2005 Allen Iverson Philadelphia 76ers 75 2302 30.7 2005-2006 Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers 80 2832 35.4 2006-2007 Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers 77 2430 31.6 2007-2008 LeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers 75 2250 30.0 2008-2009 Dwyane Wade Miami Heat 79 2386 30.2

472 Women’s National Basketball Association

WNBA Top Draft Picks

Year Player Drafting team School or country 1997 Dena Head Utah Starzz Tennessee 1998 Utah Starzz Poland 1999 Chamique Holdsclaw Washington Mystics Tennessee 2000 Belgium 2001 Lauren Jackson Seattle Storm Australia 2002 Sue Bird Seattle Storm Connecticut 2003 LaToya Thomas Cleveland Rockers Mississippi State 2004 Diana Taurasi Phoenix Mercury Connecticut 2005 Janel McCarville Charlotte Sting Minnesota 2006 Seimone Augustus Minnesota Lynx Louisiana State 2007 Phoenix Mercury (traded to Minnesota) Duke 2008 Candace Parker Los Angeles Sparks Tennessee 2009 Angel McCoughtry Atlanta Dream Louisville

475 WNBA Rookies of the Year

1997 (no award) 2003 , Detroit Shock 1998 Tracy Reid, Charlotte Sting 2004 Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury 1999 Chamique Holdsclaw, Washington Mystics 2005 Temeka Johnson, Washington Mystics 2000 , Minnesota Lynx 2006 Seimone Augustus, Minnesota Lynx 2001 , Portland Fire 2007 Armintie Price, 2002 Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever 2008 Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks

476 WNBA Most Valuable Players

1997 Cynthia Cooper, Houston Comets 2003 Lauren Jackson, Seattle Storm 1998 Cynthia Cooper, Houston Comets 2004 Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles Sparks 1999 Yolanda Griffith, Sacramento Monarchs 2005 Sheryl Swoopes, Houston Comets 2000 Sheryl Swoopes, Houston Comets 2006 Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles Sparks 2001 Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles Sparks 2007 Lauren Jackson, Seattle Storm 2002 Sheryl Swoopes, Houston Comets 2008 Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks

477 WNBA Defensive Player and Sixth Woman Awards

Since the Women’s National Basketball Association’s first season in 1997, it has named the season’s most out- standing defender the defensive player of the year. In 2007, it followed the example of the NBA by designat- ing the season’s most productive player off the bench the Sixth Woman of the Year.

Defensive Player of the Year 2005 Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever 1997 Teresa Weatherspoon, New York Liberty 2006 Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever 1998 Teresa Weatherspoon, New York Liberty 2007 Lauren Jackson, Seattle Storm 1999 Yolanda Griffith, Sacramento Monarchs 2008 Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles Sparks 2000 Sheryl Swoopes, Houston Comets 2001 Debbie Black, Miami Sol Sixth Woman of the Year 2002 Sheryl Swoopes, Houston Comets 2007 Plenette Pierson, Detroit Shock 2003 Sheryl Swoopes, Houston Comets 2008 Candice Wiggins, Minnesota Lynx 2004 Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles Sparks

478 WNBA Scoring Leaders

Since the Women’s National Basketball Association began in 1997, it has given “peak performer” awards to players who have led the league in various statistical categories, some of which have changed over the years. Although it was not until 2002 that the league settled on the NBA’s system of using average points per game (PPG) to determine its scoring leader the entire list below is based on PPG.

Year Player Team Games Points PPG 1997 Cynthia Cooper Houston Comets 28 621 22.2 1998 Cynthia Cooper Houston Comets 30 680 22.7 1999 Cynthia Cooper Houston Comets 31 686 22.1 2000 Sheryl Swoopes Houston Comets 31 643 20.7 2001 Katie Smith Minnesota Lynx 32 739 23.1 2002 Chamique Holdsclaw Washington Mystics 20 397 19.9 2003 Lauren Jackson Seattle Storm 33 698 21.2 2004 Lauren Jackson Seattle Storm 31 634 20.5 2005 Sheryl Swoopes Houston Comets 33 614 18.6 2006 Diana Taurasi Phoenix Mercury 34 860 25.3 2007 Lauren Jackson Seattle Storm 31 739 23.8 2008 Diana Taurasi Phoenix Mercury 34 820 24.1

479

Indexes

Name Index

Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem, 1 Galis, Nick, 116 Lovellette, Clyde, 232 Allen, Ray, 5 Garnett, Kevin, 118 Lucas, Jerry, 234 Anthony, Carmelo, 8 Gasol, Pau, 121 Luisetti, Hank, 237 Archibald, Nate, 11 Gervin, George, 124 Arizin, Paul, 14 Gilmore, Artis, 127 McAdoo, Bob, 240 Ginóbili, Manu, 130 McGrady, Tracy, 243 Barkley, Charles, 17 Gola, Tom, 133 McHale, Kevin, 246 Barry, Rick, 20 Goodrich, Gail, 135 Malone, Karl, 249 Baylor, Elgin, 23 Greer, Hal, 138 Malone, Moses, 252 Belov, Sergei, 26 Maravich, Pete, 255 Bibby, Mike, 28 Hagan, Cliff, 141 Marcari, Hortåncia, 258 Bing, Dave, 31 Hardaway, Penny, 144 Martin, Slater, 261 Bird, Larry, 34 Hardaway, Tim, 147 Meyers, Ann, 264 Blazejowski, Carol, 37 Havlicek, John, 150 Mikan, George, 267 Bradley, Bill, 39 Hawkins, Connie, 153 Miller, Cheryl, 270 Brand, Elton, 42 Hayes, Elvin, 156 Miller, Reggie, 273 Bryant, Kobe, 45 Haynes, Marques, 159 Monroe, Earl, 276 Hazzard, Walt, 161 Mourning, Alonzo, 279 Carter, Vince, 49 Heinsohn, Tom, 164 Mullin, Chris, 282 Cassell, Sam, 52 Hill, Grant, 167 Mutombo, Dikembe, 285 Catchings, Tamika, 54 Holdsclaw, Chamique, 170 Chamberlain, Wilt, 57 Horry, Robert, 173 Nash, Steve, 288 Cooper, Cynthia, 60 Neal, Curly, 291 Cooper, Michael, 63 Issel, Dan, 175 Nowitzki, Dirk, 293 ^osi6, Krešimir, 66 Iverson, Allen, 178 Cousy, Bob, 68 Olajuwon, Hakeem, 296 Cowens, Dave, 71 Jackson, Mark, 181 O’Neal, Shaquille, 300 Cunningham, Billy, 74 James, LeBron, 184 Johnson, Gus, 187 Parish, Robert, 304 Dalipagi6, Dramen, 77 Johnson, Larry, 190 Parker, Candace, 307 Davies, Bob, 79 Johnson, Magic, 193 Parker, Tony, 310 Davis, Baron, 82 Jones, K. C., 197 Paul, Chris, 312 DeBusschere, Dave, 84 Jones, Sam, 200 Payton, Gary, 315 Divac, Vlade, 87 Jordan, Michael, 203 Petrovi6, Dramen, 318 Donovan, Anne, 90 Pettit, Bob, 321 Drexler, Clyde, 93 Kidd, Jason, 207 Pierce, Paul, 324 Dumars, Joe, 96 Kukoc, Toni, 210 Pippen, Scottie, 327 Duncan, Tim, 98 Kurland, Bob, 213 Ramsey, Frank, 330 English, Alex, 101 Lanier, Bob, 215 Reed, Willis, 332 Erving, Julius, 104 Lapchick, Joe, 218 Robertson, Oscar, 335 Ewing, Patrick, 107 Lemon, Meadowlark, 220 Robinson, David, 338 Leslie, Lisa, 222 Rodman, Dennis, 342 Frazier, Walt, 110 Lieberman-Cline, Nancy, 226 Russell, Bill, 345 Fulks, Joe, 113 Lobo, Rebecca, 229

483 Name Index Great Athletes

Sabonis, Arvydas, 348 Thomas, Isiah, 377 West, Jerry, 409 Schayes, Dolph, 350 Thurmond, Nate, 381 White, Nera, 412 Schmidt, Oscar, 353 Twyman, Jack, 384 Wilkens, Lenny, 414 Selvy, Frank, 355 Wilkins, Dominique, 418 Sharman, Bill, 358 Unseld, Wes, 387 Williams, Natalie, 421 Stockton, John, 361 Woodard, Lynette, 424 Stoudemire, Amare, 365 Wade, Dwyane, 390 Wooden, John, 427 Swoopes, Sheryl, 368 Wallace, Ben, 393 Worthy, James, 431 Walton, Bill, 396 Tatum, Goose, 371 Ward, Charlie, 400 Yao Ming, 434 Taurasi, Diana, 373 Webb, Spud, 403 Teasley, Nikki, 375 Webber, Chris, 406

484 Country Index

ARGENTINA SOVIET UNION Kevin Garnett, 118 Manu Ginóbili, 130 Sergei Belov, 26 George Gervin, 124 Arvydas Sabonis, 348 Artis Gilmore, 127 BELGIUM Tom Gola, 133 Tony Parker, 310 SPAIN Gail Goodrich, 135 Pau Gasol, 121 Hal Greer, 138 BRAZIL Cliff Hagan, 141 Hortåncia Marcari, 258 UNITED STATES Penny Hardaway, 144 Oscar Schmidt, 353 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 1 Tim Hardaway, 147 Ray Allen, 5 John Havlicek, 150 CANADA Carmelo Anthony, 8 Connie Hawkins, 153 Steve Nash, 288 Nate Archibald, 11 Elvin Hayes, 156 Paul Arizin, 14 Marques Haynes, 159 CHINA Charles Barkley, 17 Walt Hazzard, 161 Yao Ming, 434 Rick Barry, 20 Tom Heinsohn, 164 Elgin Baylor, 23 Grant Hill, 167 CROATIA Mike Bibby, 28 Chamique Holdsclaw, 170 Krešimir ^osi6, 66 Dave Bing, 31 Robert Horry, 173 Toni Kukoc, 210 Larry Bird, 34 Dan Issel, 175 Dramen Petrovi6, 318 Carol Blazejowski, 37 Allen Iverson, 178 Bill Bradley, 39 Mark Jackson, 181 DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF Elton Brand, 42 LeBron James, 184 THE CONGO Kobe Bryant, 45 Gus Johnson, 187 Dikembe Mutombo, 285 Vince Carter, 49 Larry Johnson, 190 Sam Cassell, 52 Magic Johnson, 193 FRANCE Tamika Catchings, 54 K. C. Jones, 197 Tony Parker, 310 Wilt Chamberlain, 57 Sam Jones, 200 Cynthia Cooper, 60 Michael Jordan, 203 GERMANY Michael Cooper, 63 Jason Kidd, 207 Dirk Nowitzki, 293 Bob Cousy, 68 Bob Kurland, 213 Dave Cowens, 71 Bob Lanier, 215 JAMAICA Billy Cunningham, 74 Joe Lapchick, 218 Patrick Ewing, 107 Bob Davies, 79 Meadowlark Lemon, 220 Baron Davis, 82 Lisa Leslie, 222 LITHUANIA Dave DeBusschere, 84 Nancy Lieberman-Cline, 226 Arvydas Sabonis, 348 Anne Donovan, 90 Rebecca Lobo, 229 Clyde Drexler, 93 Clyde Lovellette, 232 NIGERIA Joe Dumars, 96 Jerry Lucas, 234 Hakeem Olajuwon, 296 Tim Duncan, 98 Hank Luisetti, 237 Alex English, 101 Bob McAdoo, 240 RUSSIA Julius Erving, 104 Tracy McGrady, 243 Sergei Belov, 26 Patrick Ewing, 107 Kevin McHale, 246 Walt Frazier, 110 Karl Malone, 249 SOUTH AFRICA Joe Fulks, 113 Moses Malone, 252 Steve Nash, 288 Nick Galis, 116 Pete Maravich, 255

485 Country Index Great Athletes

Slater Martin, 261 David Robinson, 338 Chris Webber, 406 Ann Meyers, 264 Dennis Rodman, 342 Jerry West, 409 George Mikan, 267 Bill Russell, 345 Nera White, 412 Cheryl Miller, 270 Dolph Schayes, 350 Lenny Wilkens, 414 Reggie Miller, 273 Frank Selvy, 355 Dominique Wilkins, 418 Earl Monroe, 276 Bill Sharman, 358 Natalie Williams, 421 Alonzo Mourning, 279 John Stockton, 361 Lynette Woodard, 424 Chris Mullin, 282 Amare Stoudemire, 365 John Wooden, 427 Curly Neal, 291 Sheryl Swoopes, 368 James Worthy, 431 Hakeem Olajuwon, 296 Goose Tatum, 371 Shaquille O’Neal, 300 Diana Taurasi, 373 VIRGIN ISLANDS Robert Parish, 304 Nikki Teasley, 375 Tim Duncan, 98 Candace Parker, 307 Isiah Thomas, 377 Chris Paul, 312 Nate Thurmond, 381 YUGOSLAVIA Gary Payton, 315 Jack Twyman, 384 Krešimir ^osi6, 66 Bob Pettit, 321 Wes Unseld, 387 Dramen Dalipagi6, 77 Paul Pierce, 324 Dwyane Wade, 390 Vlade Divac, 87 Scottie Pippen, 327 Ben Wallace, 393 Toni Kukoc, 210 Frank Ramsey, 330 Bill Walton, 396 Dramen Petrovi6, 318 Willis Reed, 332 Charlie Ward, 400 Oscar Robertson, 335 Spud Webb, 403

486 Position Index

CENTERS Wilt Chamberlain, 57 John Havlicek, 150 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 1 Cynthia Cooper, 60 Connie Hawkins, 153 Wilt Chamberlain, 57 Michael Cooper, 63 Elvin Hayes, 156 Krešimir ^osi6, 66 Bob Cousy, 68 Tom Heinsohn, 164 Dave Cowens, 71 Dave Cowens, 71 Chamique Holdsclaw, 170 Vlade Divac, 87 Billy Cunningham, 74 Rebecca Lobo, 229 Anne Donovan, 90 Bob Davies, 79 Clyde Lovellette, 232 Tim Duncan, 98 Dave DeBusschere, 84 Jerry Lucas, 234 Patrick Ewing, 107 Clyde Drexler, 93 Hank Luisetti, 237 Pau Gasol, 121 Cliff Hagan, 141 Frank Ramsey, 330 Artis Gilmore, 127 Walt Hazzard, 161 Willis Reed, 332 Connie Hawkins, 153 Tom Heinsohn, 164 Dolph Schayes, 350 Elvin Hayes, 156 Dan Issel, 175 Nera White, 412 Tom Heinsohn, 164 Magic Johnson, 193 Dan Issel, 175 K. C. Jones, 197 GUARDS Gus Johnson, 187 Sam Jones, 200 Dramen Dalipagi6, 77 Bob Kurland, 213 Bob Lanier, 215 Bob Davies, 79 Bob Lanier, 215 Joe Lapchick, 218 Gail Goodrich, 135 Joe Lapchick, 218 Nancy Lieberman-Cline, 226 Hal Greer, 138 Lisa Leslie, 222 Kevin McHale, 246 John Havlicek, 150 Rebecca Lobo, 229 Slater Martin, 261 Walt Hazzard, 161 Clyde Lovellette, 232 Cheryl Miller, 270 Michael Jordan, 203 Jerry Lucas, 234 Bob Pettit, 321 Meadowlark Lemon, 220 Moses Malone, 252 Frank Ramsey, 330 Pete Maravich, 255 George Mikan, 267 Willis Reed, 332 Slater Martin, 261 Alonzo Mourning, 279 Bill Russell, 345 Ann Meyers, 264 Dikembe Mutombo, 285 Dolph Schayes, 350 Earl Monroe, 276 Dirk Nowitzki, 293 Frank Selvy, 355 Chris Mullin, 282 Hakeem Olajuwon, 296 Bill Sharman, 358 Curly Neal, 291 Shaquille O’Neal, 300 Isiah Thomas, 377 Frank Ramsey, 330 Robert Parish, 304 Wes Unseld, 387 Frank Selvy, 355 Willis Reed, 332 Jerry West, 409 Goose Tatum, 371 David Robinson, 338 Lenny Wilkens, 414 Jerry West, 409 Bill Russell, 345 Lynette Woodard, 424 John Wooden, 427 Arvydas Sabonis, 348 John Wooden, 427 Oscar Schmidt, 353 POINT GUARDS Amare Stoudemire, 365 FORWARDS Nate Archibald, 11 Nate Thurmond, 381 Paul Arizin, 14 Mike Bibby, 28 Wes Unseld, 387 Sergei Belov, 26 Sam Cassell, 52 Ben Wallace, 393 Larry Bird, 34 Bob Cousy, 68 Bill Walton, 396 Carol Blazejowski, 37 Baron Davis, 82 Yao Ming, 434 Bob Davies, 79 Walt Frazier, 110 Joe Fulks, 113 Tim Hardaway, 147 COACHES Tom Gola, 133 Marques Haynes, 159 Larry Bird, 34 Cliff Hagan, 141 Mark Jackson, 181

487 Position Index Great Athletes

Magic Johnson, 193 Karl Malone, 249 Dwyane Wade, 390 K. C. Jones, 197 Moses Malone, 252 Lynette Woodard, 424 Sam Jones, 200 Dirk Nowitzki, 293 Jason Kidd, 207 Bob Pettit, 321 SMALL FORWARDS Nancy Lieberman-Cline, 226 Dennis Rodman, 342 Carmelo Anthony, 8 Steve Nash, 288 Amare Stoudemire, 365 Rick Barry, 20 Candace Parker, 307 Chris Webber, 406 Elgin Baylor, 23 Tony Parker, 310 Natalie Williams, 421 Larry Bird, 34 Chris Paul, 312 Bill Bradley, 39 Gary Payton, 315 SHOOTING GUARDS Vince Carter, 49 Oscar Robertson, 335 Ray Allen, 5 Tamika Catchings, 54 John Stockton, 361 Dave Bing, 31 Michael Cooper, 63 Diana Taurasi, 373 Bill Bradley, 39 Billy Cunningham, 74 Nikki Teasley, 375 Kobe Bryant, 45 Clyde Drexler, 93 Isiah Thomas, 377 Vince Carter, 49 Alex English, 101 Charlie Ward, 400 Cynthia Cooper, 60 Julius Erving, 104 Spud Webb, 403 Michael Cooper, 63 Penny Hardaway, 144 Lenny Wilkens, 414 Billy Cunningham, 74 Grant Hill, 167 Clyde Drexler, 93 Robert Horry, 173 POWER FORWARDS Joe Dumars, 96 LeBron James, 184 Charles Barkley, 17 Nick Galis, 116 Toni Kukoc, 210 Elton Brand, 42 George Gervin, 124 Tracy McGrady, 243 Dave DeBusschere, 84 Manu Ginóbili, 130 Cheryl Miller, 270 Tim Duncan, 98 Penny Hardaway, 144 Chris Mullin, 282 Kevin Garnett, 118 Allen Iverson, 178 Paul Pierce, 324 Pau Gasol, 121 Tracy McGrady, 243 Scottie Pippen, 327 Robert Horry, 173 Hortåncia Marcari, 258 Sheryl Swoopes, 368 Dan Issel, 175 Reggie Miller, 273 Jack Twyman, 384 Gus Johnson, 187 Dramen Petrovi6, 318 Dominique Wilkins, 418 Larry Johnson, 190 Bill Sharman, 358 James Worthy, 431 Bob McAdoo, 240 Diana Taurasi, 373 Kevin McHale, 246 Jack Twyman, 384

488 Team Index

College Teams Dave Cowens, 71 LOUISIANA TECH Charlie Ward, 400 UNIVERSITY BOSTON COLLEGE Karl Malone, 249 Bob Cousy (coach), 68 FURMAN UNIVERSITY Frank Selvy, 355 MCNEESE STATE BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY Joe Dumars, 96 Nate Thurmond, 381 Patrick Ewing, 107 Allen Iverson, 178 MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY BRIGHAM YOUNG Alonzo Mourning, 279 Dwyane Wade, 390 UNIVERSITY Dikembe Mutombo, 285 Krešimir ^osi6, 66 MARSHALL UNIVERSITY GETTYSBURG COLLEGE Hal Greer, 138 CALIFORNIA STATE Bob Davies (coach), 79 UNIVERSITY, MEMPHIS STATE LONG BEACH GONZAGA UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY (now George Gervin, 124 John Stockton, 361 UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS) CENTENARY COLLEGE GRAMBLING STATE Penny Hardaway, 144 Robert Parish, 304 UNIVERSITY Willis Reed, 332 MICHIGAN STATE COLLEGE OF IDAHO UNIVERSITY Elgin Baylor, 23 INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY Magic Johnson, 193 Larry Bird, 34 COLLEGE OF THE MONTCLAIR STATE HOLY CROSS UNIVERSITY Bob Cousy, 68 Artis Gilmore, 127 Carol Blazejowski, 37 Tom Heinsohn, 164 JOHNSON C. SMITH DEPAUL UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY Joe Fulks, 113 George Mikan, 267 Curly Neal, 291 NEW YORK UNIVERSITY DUKE UNIVERSITY LA SALLE UNIVERSITY Dolph Schayes, 350 Elton Brand, 42 Tom Gola, 133 Grant Hill, 167 NORTH CAROLINA LANGSTON UNIVERSITY CENTRAL UNIVERSITY EASTERN MICHIGAN Marques Haynes, 159 Sam Jones, 200 UNIVERSITY George Gervin, 124 LOUISIANA STATE NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY Pete Maravich, 255 Spud Webb, 403 Meadowlark Lemon, 220 Shaquille O’Neal, 300 Bob Pettit, 321 OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY John Havlicek, 150 Sam Cassell, 52 Jerry Lucas, 234

489 Team Index Great Athletes

OKLAHOMA A&M STANFORD UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT UNIVERSITY (now Hank Luisetti, 237 Dave DeBusschere, 84 OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY) SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON Bob Kurland, 213 Carmelo Anthony, 8 Clyde Drexler, 93 Dave Bing, 31 Elvin Hayes, 156 OLD DOMINION Hakeem Olajuwon, 296 UNIVERSITY Anne Donovan, 90 Sheryl Swoopes, 368 UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO Nancy Lieberman-Cline, 226 Gus Johnson, 187 UNITED STATES NAVAL PRARIE VIEW A&M ACADEMY (Navy) UNIVERSITY OF INDIANA UNIVERSITY David Robinson, 338 Isiah Thomas, 377 Cynthia Cooper (coach), 60 UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA UNIVERSITY OF IOWA PRINCETON UNIVERSITY Charles Barkley, 17 Connie Hawkins, 153 Bill Bradley, 39 Robert Horry, 173 UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS PROVIDENCE COLLEGE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA Wilt Chamberlain, 57 Lenny Wilkens, 414 Mike Bibby, 28 Clyde Lovellette, 232 Paul Pierce, 324 PURDUE UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA John Wooden, 427 Jason Kidd, 207 UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY Cliff Hagan, 141 ST. BONAVENTURE UNIVERSITY OF Dan Issel, 175 UNIVERSITY CALIFORNIA, Frank Ramsey, 330 Bob Lanier, 215 LOS ANGELES Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 1 UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY Baron Davis, 82 Wes Unseld, 387 Mark Jackson, 181 Gail Goodrich, 135 Chris Mullin, 282 Walt Hazzard, 161 UNIVERSITY OF Ann Meyers, 264 MASSACHUSETTS SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY Reggie Miller, 273 Julius Erving, 104 Steve Nash, 288 Bill Walton, 396 Natalie Williams, 421 UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SEATTLE UNIVERSITY John Wooden (coach), 427 (Florida) Elgin Baylor, 23 Rick Barry, 20 UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL SETON HALL UNIVERSITY ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN Bob Davies, 79 Scottie Pippen, 327 Chris Webber, 406 Nick Galis, 116 UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA SOUTHEASTERN Oscar Robertson, 335 Kevin McHale, 246 OKLAHOMA STATE Jack Twyman, 384 UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, Dennis Rodman, 342 UNIVERSITY OF LAS VEGAS CONNECTICUT Larry Johnson, 190 SOUTHERN ILLINOIS Ray Allen, 5 UNIVERSITY Rebecca Lobo, 229 Walt Frazier, 110 Diana Taurasi, 373

490 Basketball Team Index

UNIVERSITY OF WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY Clyde Lovellette, 232 NEW MEXICO Tim Duncan, 98 Bob McAdoo, 240 Michael Cooper, 63 Chris Paul, 312 Kevin McHale, 246 Pete Maravich, 255 UNIVERSITY OF NORTH WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY Robert Parish, 304 CAROLINA Jerry West, 409 Gary Payton, 315 Vince Carter, 49 Paul Pierce, 324 Billy Cunningham, 74 WINSTON-SALEM STATE Frank Ramsey, 330 Michael Jordan, 203 UNIVERSITY Bill Russell, 345 Bob McAdoo, 240 Earl Monroe, 276 Bill Sharman, 358 Nikki Teasley, 375 Bill Walton, 396 James Worthy, 431 Dominique Wilkins, 418 Professional Teams BUFFALO BRAVES Gary Payton, 315 ATLANTA HAWKS Walt Hazzard, 161 Mike Bibby, 28 Bob McAdoo, 240 UNIVERSITY OF SAN Connie Hawkins, 153 Moses Malone, 252 FRANCISCO Walt Hazzard, 161 K. C. Jones, 197 Toni Kukoc, 210 CAPITAL BULLETS Bill Russell, 345 Moses Malone, 252 Elvin Hayes, 156 Pete Maravich, 255 K. C. Jones (coach), 197 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH Dikembe Mutombo, 285 Wes Unseld, 387 CAROLINA Spud Webb, 403 Alex English, 101 Lenny Wilkens (coach), 414 CAROLINA COUGARS Dominique Wilkins, 418 Billy Cunningham, 74 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BALTIMORE BULLETS CHARLOTTE HORNETS Cynthia Cooper, 60 Elvin Hayes, 156 Dave Cowens (coach), 71 Lisa Leslie, 222 Gus Johnson, 187 Vlade Divac, 87 Cheryl Miller, 270 Earl Monroe, 276 Larry Johnson, 190 Wes Unseld, 387 Alonzo Mourning, 279 UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE Robert Parish, 304 Tamika Catchings, 54 BIRMINGHAM BLACK Chamique Holdsclaw, 170 BARONS CHARLOTTE STING Candace Parker, 307 Goose Tatum, 371 Anne Donovan(coach), 90

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS BOSTON CELTICS CHICAGO BULLS Slater Martin, 261 Ray Allen, 5 Elton Brand, 42 Nate Archibald, 11 George Gervin, 124 UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, Dave Bing, 31 Artis Gilmore, 127 EL PASO Larry Bird, 34 Michael Jordan, 203 Nate Archibald, 11 Sam Cassell, 52 Toni Kukoc, 210 Tim Hardaway, 147 Bob Cousy, 68 Robert Parish, 304 Dave Cowens, 71 Scottie Pippen, 327 VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY Kevin Garnett, 118 Dennis Rodman, 342 Paul Arizin, 14 Artis Gilmore, 127 Nate Thurmond, 381 John Havlicek, 150 Ben Wallace, 393 VIRGINIA UNION Tom Heinsohn, 164 UNIVERSITY K. C. Jones, 197 CHICAGO SKY Ben Wallace, 393 Sam Jones, 200 Dave Cowens (coach), 71

491 Team Index Great Athletes

CHICAGO STAGS Allen Iverson, 178 INDIANA FEVER Bob Cousy, 68 Bob Lanier, 215 Tamika Catchings, 54 Bob McAdoo, 240 Natalie Williams, 421 CINCINNATI ROYALS Dennis Rodman, 342 Nate Archibald, 11 Isiah Thomas, 377 INDIANA PACERS Bob Cousy, 68 Ben Wallace, 393 Larry Bird (coach), 34 Clyde Lovellette, 232 Chris Webber, 406 Alex English, 101 Jerry Lucas, 234 Tim Hardaway, 147 Oscar Robertson, 335 DETROIT SHOCK Mark Jackson, 181 Jack Twyman, 384 Nancy Lieberman-Cline, 226 Gus Johnson, 187 Lynette Woodard, 424 Reggie Miller, 273 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS Chris Mullin, 282 Walt Frazier, 110 GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS Isiah Thomas (coach), 377 LeBron James, 184 Rick Barry, 20 Nate Thurmond, 381 Baron Davis, 82 INDIANAPOLIS CLOWNS Ben Wallace, 393 Tim Hardaway, 147 Goose Tatum, 371 Lenny Wilkens, 414 Walt Hazzard, 161 Chris Mullin, 282 KANSAS CITY KINGS CLEVELAND ROCKERS Robert Parish, 304 Nate Archibald, 11 Lynette Woodard, 424 Nate Thurmond, 381 Bob Cousy (coach), 68 Chris Webber, 406 CONNECTICUT SUN KENTUCKY COLONELS Rebecca Lobo, 229 HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS Artis Gilmore, 127 Wilt Chamberlain, 57 Dan Issel, 175 Marques Haynes, 159 Cliff Hagan, 141 Meadowlark Lemon, 220 LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS Curly Neal, 291 Elton Brand, 42 DALLAS MAVERICKS Goose Tatum, 371 Sam Cassell, 52 Sam Cassell, 52 Lynette Woodard, 424 Baron Davis, 82 Alex English, 101 Mark Jackson, 181 Tim Hardaway, 147 HOUSTON COMETS Bill Walton, 396 Jason Kidd, 207 Cynthia Cooper, 60 Dominique Wilkins, 418 Steve Nash, 288 Rebecca Lobo, 229 Dirk Nowitzki, 293 Sheryl Swoopes, 368 LOS ANGELES LAKERS Dennis Rodman, 342 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 1 HOUSTON ROCKETS Elgin Baylor, 23 DENVER NUGGETS Charles Barkley, 17 Kobe Bryant, 45 Carmelo Anthony, 8 Rick Barry, 20 Wilt Chamberlain, 57 Alex English, 101 Sam Cassell, 52 Michael Cooper, 63 Tim Hardaway, 147 Clyde Drexler, 93 Vlade Divac, 87 Dan Issel, 175 Elvin Hayes, 156 Pau Gasol, 121 Allen Iverson, 178 Robert Horry, 173 Gail Goodrich, 135 Mark Jackson, 181 Mark Jackson, 181 Connie Hawkins, 153 Dikembe Mutombo, 285 Tracy McGrady, 243 Walt Hazzard, 161 Moses Malone, 252 Robert Horry, 173 DETROIT PISTONS Dikembe Mutombo, 285 Magic Johnson, 193 Dave Bing, 31 Hakeem Olajuwon, 296 Bob McAdoo, 240 Dave DeBusschere, 84 Scottie Pippen, 327 Karl Malone, 249 Joe Dumars, 96 Charlie Ward, 400 Shaquille O’Neal, 300 Grant Hill, 167 Yao Ming, 434 Gary Payton, 315

492 Basketball Team Index

Dennis Rodman, 342 MINNESOTA OAKLAND OAKS Frank Selvy, 355 TIMBERWOLVES Rick Barry, 20 Jerry West, 409 Sam Cassell, 52 James Worthy, 431 Kevin Garnett, 118 Kevin McHale (coach), 246 Joe Lapchick, 218 LOS ANGELES SPARKS Spud Webb, 403 Michael Cooper (coach), 63 ORLANDO MAGIC Chamique Holdsclaw, 170 NEW JERSEY NETS Patrick Ewing, 107 Lisa Leslie, 222 Vince Carter, 49 Penny Hardaway, 144 Candace Parker, 307 Jason Kidd, 207 Grant Hill, 167 Nikki Teasley, 375 Bob McAdoo, 240 Tracy McGrady, 243 Alonzo Mourning, 279 Shaquille O’Neal, 300 MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES Dikembe Mutombo, 285 Ben Wallace, 393 Pau Gasol, 121 Dramen Petrovi6, 318 Spud Webb, 403 Dominique Wilkins, 418 MIAMI HEAT NEW ORLEANS HORNETS Penny Hardaway, 144 Baron Davis, 82 PHILADELPHIA 76ERS Tim Hardaway, 147 Chris Paul, 312 Charles Barkley, 17 Alonzo Mourning, 279 Elton Brand, 42 Shaquille O’Neal, 300 NEW ORLEANS JAZZ Wilt Chamberlain, 57 Gary Payton, 315 Gail Goodrich, 135 Billy Cunningham, 74 Dwyane Wade, 390 Pete Maravich, 255 Julius Erving, 104 Hal Greer, 138 MILWAUKEE BUCKS NEW YORK KNICKS Allen Iverson, 178 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 1 Nate Archibald, 11 Toni Kukoc, 210 Ray Allen, 5 Bill Bradley, 39 Bob McAdoo, 240 Nate Archibald, 11 Dave DeBusschere, 84 Moses Malone, 252 Sam Cassell, 52 Patrick Ewing, 107 Dikembe Mutombo, 285 Dave Cowens, 71 Walt Frazier, 110 Dolph Schayes, 350 Alex English, 101 Tom Gola, 133 Chris Webber, 406 Toni Kukoc, 210 Penny Hardaway, 144 Bob Lanier, 215 Mark Jackson, 181 PHILADELPHIA WARRIORS Moses Malone, 252 Larry Johnson, 190 Paul Arizin, 14 Gary Payton, 315 Jerry Lucas, 234 Wilt Chamberlain, 57 Oscar Robertson, 335 Bob McAdoo, 240 Joe Fulks, 113 Earl Monroe, 276 Tom Gola, 133 MILWAUKEE HAWKS Dikembe Mutombo, 285 Bob Pettit, 321 Willis Reed, 332 PHOENIX MERCURY Frank Selvy, 355 Cynthia Cooper (coach), 60 MINNEAPOLIS LAKERS Isiah Thomas (coach), 377 Nancy Lieberman-Cline, 226 Elgin Baylor, 23 Charlie Ward, 400 Diana Taurasi, 373 Clyde Lovellette, 232 Lenny Wilkens (coach), 414 Slater Martin, 261 PHOENIX SUNS George Mikan, 267 NEW YORK LIBERTY Charles Barkley, 17 Frank Selvy, 355 Rebecca Lobo, 229 Sam Cassell, 52 Gail Goodrich, 135 MINNESOTA PIPERS NEW YORK NETS Penny Hardaway, 144 Connie Hawkins, 153 Rick Barry, 20 Connie Hawkins, 153 Julius Erving, 104 Grant Hill, 167 Robert Horry, 173

493 Team Index Great Athletes

Gus Johnson, 187 Dennis Rodman, 342 Hakeem Olajuwon, 296 Jason Kidd, 207 Charlie Ward, 400 Lenny Wilkens (coach), 414 Steve Nash, 288 Dominique Wilkins, 418 Shaquille O’Neal, 300 TRI-CITIES BLACKHAWKS Amare Stoudemire, 365 SAN DIEGO CLIPPERS Bob Cousy, 68 Bill Walton, 396 PITTSBURGH PIPERS UTAH JAZZ Connie Hawkins, 153 SAN DIEGO Mark Jackson, 181 CONQUISTADORS Karl Malone, 249 PORTLAND POWER Wilt Chamberlain (coach), Pete Maravich, 255 Natalie Williams, 421 57 John Stockton, 361 K. C. Jones (coach), 197 PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS UTAH STARRZ (WNBA) Clyde Drexler, 93 SAN DIEGO ROCKETS Natalie Williams, 421 Dramen Petrovi6, 318 Elvin Hayes, 156 Scottie Pippen, 327 UTAH STARS (ABA) Arvydas Sabonis, 348 SAN FRANCISCO WARRIORS Moses Malone, 252 Bill Walton, 396 Rick Barry, 20 Lenny Wilkens, 414 Wilt Chamberlain, 57 Tom Gola, 133 Mike Bibby, 28 ROCHESTER ROYALS Jerry Lucas, 234 Bob Davies, 79 Nate Thurmond, 381 VIRGINIA SQUIRES Jack Twyman, 384 Julius Erving, 104 SEATTLE STORM George Gervin, 124 SACRAMENTO KINGS Anne Donovan (coach), 90 Mike Bibby, 28 Sheryl Swoopes, 368 WASHINGTON BULLETS Vlade Divac, 87 Dave Bing, 31 Spud Webb, 403 SEATTLE SUPERSONICS Elvin Hayes, 156 Chris Webber, 406 Ray Allen, 5 K. C. Jones (coach), 197 Patrick Ewing, 107 Moses Malone, 252 ST. LOUIS HAWKS Walt Hazzard, 161 Wes Unseld, 387 Cliff Hagan, 141 K. C. Jones (coach), 197 Ben Wallace, 393 Clyde Lovellette, 232 Gary Payton, 315 Slater Martin, 261 Lenny Wilkens, 414 WASHINGTON CAPITOLS Bob Pettit, 321 Bill Sharman, 358 Frank Selvy, 355 SPIRITS OF ST. LOUIS Lenny Wilkens, 414 Moses Malone, 252 Rick Barry, 20 SAN ANTONIO SPURS SYRACUSE NATIONALS Tim Duncan, 98 Hal Greer, 138 WASHINGTON MYSTICS George Gervin, 124 Dolph Schayes, 350 Chamique Holdsclaw, 170 Artis Gilmore, 127 Frank Selvy, 355 Nikki Teasley, 375 Manu Ginóbili, 130 Robert Horry, 173 TORONTO RAPTORS WASHINGTON WIZARDS Moses Malone, 252 Vince Carter, 49 Michael Jordan, 203 Tony Parker, 310 Mark Jackson, 181 Ben Wallace, 393 David Robinson, 338 Tracy McGrady, 243 Chris Webber, 406

494