CHAUNCEY RAY BILLUPS

Chauncey Ray Billups (born September 25, 1976, in Denver, Colorado) is an American professional basketball point guard for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also played for Team USA. Billups won the NBA Finals MVP in 2004, helping the Detroit Pistons beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals, and given the nickname "Mr. Big Shot" to make the picture end of the game with Detroit. A five-time NBA All-Star and three-time All-NBA selection, he was chosen third overall in 1997 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics, and also played for the Toronto Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves. Billups played college basketball at the University of Colorado, where he was honored in 2004 as the fifth player to have his jersey (number 4) retired.
High school
Billups attended Denver George Washington High School, where he chose a team that four-time All-State first, Colorado Mr. Basketball three times, and Colorado Player of the Year as a sophomore and a junior. He was elected for 1995 Tim McDonald's All-American but did not play due to shoulder injury, an injury that he would have a problem with off and on throughout his 

career early.

Billups attended but not graduated from the University of Colorado, which has been designed after the second year. In Colorado, Billups average of 18.5 points per game during two seasons. In the 1996-1997 season he was named to the Big 12 Conference First Team and Basketball Times All-American First Team. That same year Billups led the Buffaloes to their first NCAA tournament victory in more than thirty years, 80-62 over Indiana.
Formulate third overall in 1997 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics, Billups traded to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for center Kenny Anderson through his first season. Billups then played for the Denver Nuggets, who traded him to the Orlando Magic. He is on the injured list until the end of the season and never played a game for Orlando (he entered the season-ending team photo, wearing jersey number 2).
Billups signed by the Minnesota Timberwolves as a back-up for Point guard Terrell Brandon later. Brandon Billups replace injured and have a breakthrough season, 2001-02.

PAU GASOL I SAEZ

 

Pau Gasol Saez i (Catalan pronunciation: [paw ɡəzɔɫ]) (born July 6, 1980 in Barcelona, Spain) is a Spanish professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was born to Marisa Saez and Agusti Gasol, and he spent his childhood in Spain. Gasol was designed by the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA Draft 2001, but his rights traded to Memphis Grizzlies, with whom he won NBA Rookie of the Year Award. He currently holds the Memphis Grizzlies franchise record for career games played, minutes played, field goals made and attempted, free throws made and attempted, offensive, defensive and total rebounds, blocked shots, turnovers, and points. After seven seasons with the team, Gasol traded to the Lakers on February 1, 2008. His younger brother, Marc Gasol is also a professional basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA.
Early career

Gasol started playing basketball with his school team called the Alvirne, and he eventually signed a contract with Cornella. When he was sixteen years old, he started playing for Barcelona's junior team. [3] He also won the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in 1998 and 1998 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship. After moving into the senior team from Barcelona, Gasol played a total of only eleven minutes in the season 1998-99, and an average of under 15 minutes per game in the next year. However, at the end of the season in Europe, Gasol average of 11.3 points and 5.2 rebounds in just 24 minutes per game. Barcelona won the Spanish National Cup championship game in 2001, and Gasol named Most Valuable Player. After entering the NBA Draft, Gasol was chosen third overall in the first round of the 2001 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks, who traded the draft rights to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Shareef Abdur-Rahim.

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ANDREW BYNUM LEE

Andrew Bynum Lee (born October 27, 1987 in Plainsboro, New Jersey) was a professional basketball player who played for the United States Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He designed the 10th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2005. Bynum became the youngest player ever to play the NBA game later that year, breaking the record for Jermaine O'Neal. In the middle of the 2007-08 season, he suffered an injury to his left kneecap and eventually missed the rest of the season and all playoffs. He made a successful return at the beginning of the 2008-09 season. In January 2009, however, he suffered another injury, this time to his right knee. He was able to return before the playoffs started and is part of the Lakers squad that won the 2009 NBA championship. In the season 2010-post, Bynum played in every single playoff game with a torn meniscus and strained Achilles tendon and the Lakers repeated as NBA champions against the Boston Celtics.
 

Early years

Andrew Bynum Lee was born in Plainsboro, New Jersey for Lee and Janet Bynum. He grew up in East Orange, Irvington, and Plainsboro, New Jersey, where Bynum finish elementary school and started playing basketball. He has two older brothers named Ernest and Corey. Despite having the same name, he is not associated with point guard Will Bynum.

CHRISTOPHER WESSON BOSH

Christopher Wesson Bosh (born March 24, 1984) was a professional basketball player the United States who play power forward for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Collecting various awards basketball since his high school days, Bosh left the college at Georgia Tech after one season to enter the 2003 NBA Draft. He was selected fourth overall by the Toronto Raptors in a very competitive draft class. While in Toronto, Bosh emerged as one of the young stars in the league, he became a five-time NBA All-Star, was named to the All-NBA second team once, came to the U.S. national team (with whom he won Olympic gold in 2008), and take over former fan-favorite Vince Carter as the face and leader of the Raptors franchise. In the 2006-07 season, Bosh led the Raptors to their first NBA Playoffs in five years, and their first division title. He left Toronto as an all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocks, double doubles, free throws made and attempted, and minutes played.
Because the initials and number jerseys of former, Bosh is nicknamed "CB4", a name first coined by former Toronto Raptors play-by-play commentator Chuck Swirsky [1] Because of his own childhood experiences. Chris Bosh Bosh Foundation established to help promote sports and education among youth in Dallas and Toronto, and regularly speaks to youth about the benefits of reading.
Early life
Born in Dallas, Texas, to Noel and Freida Bosh, Chris Bosh was raised in Hutchins, Texas. Family-oriented person, Bosh often played basketball at home with his brother, Joel. With four years, he began to learn how to dribble a basketball in the gym where his father played pick-up games. While Bosh is always high since his youth and allows herself to others out-rebound the basketball game, he just started to learn the game around the fourth grade at a playground near his grandmother's house. Besides basketball, Bosh also played baseball through high school, choose to play as first baseman. Growing up, his parents Bosh name as the greatest influence on personality and is considered the NBA superstar Kevin Garnett as his favorite athlete, modeling play after him. Academic, Bosh always successful in school but he started to get significant attention from college recruiters when he led Lincoln High School in Dallas to rank number one in the country and USA Today National Championship with a perfect 40-0 season.
adolescents continue to lead Lincoln High to win the Class 4A state title before 16,990 fans when he was tortured to 23 points, 17 rebounds and nine blocks. Bosh later was named High School Player of the Year by Basketball America, Powerade Player of the Year in Texas, a first-team all-America by Parade, McDonald's and EA Sports, team-second all-America by USA Today and SLAM Magazine, a First-team all-state players, and "Mr. Basketball" in Texas by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches.With combination of value and skills of basketball, Bosh was in a number of college recruiting lists. University of Florida and the University of Memphis make serious efforts, but it was Paul Hewitt, coach of Georgia Tech, which makes the best impression. Bosh felt Hewitt will look out for the best interests and respect the aspirations to play professional basketball, let alone, Georgia Tech's transition offense impress teenagers.
Bosh finally chose to follow in the footsteps cousin and aunt and attended Georgia Tech to study graphic design and computer imaging, and then, management. There, he led the Yellow Jackets average 15.6 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in 31 games, and led the Atlantic Coast Conference in field goal percentage (.560), Antawn Jamison joined as a freshman only once do it. Bosh was originally intended to complete the degree, but at the end of the 2002-03 season, a strong performance convinced him that he was ready for the NBA. He left Georgia Tech after his first season and enter the 2003 NBA Draft. Although Bosh said in an interview that he missed the future of college days, he was sure he made the right decision to pursue a professional career. He also intends to get a college degree later in life, to fulfill the promise made to his mother.

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RAJON PIEERE RONDO

Rajon Pierre Rondo (born February 22, 1986) is an American professional basketball player WHO plays point guard for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Rondo Attended Eastern High School and Oak Hill Academy for his high-school basketball career, before receiving a scholarship from the University of Kentucky. He Played for two years at Kentucky before declaring for the 2006 NBA Draft, represented by agent Bill Duffy.
During the draft, Rondo was selected 21st overall by the Phoenix Suns, and was subsequently traded to the Boston Celtics, he made his NBA Nowhere debut as a rookie During the 2006-07 season. He Played a supporting role before he established Himself as the starting point guard for the Celtics During the 2007-08 season. That season, Rondo earned his first NBA Championship, playing alongside All-Stars Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. His breakout performance Came During the 2009 NBA Playoffs, Helping his team to the second round.
Early life
Rondo was born on February 22, 1986 in Louisville, Kentucky to Amber Rondo. He has three siblings: Dymon, William and Anton. He Had little contact with his father, left his family Pls WHO he was seven years old. To support the family, his mother worked the third shift at Philip Morris USA, a tobacco company. Rondo was first Interested in football, before his mother steered uterus Towards That basketball Because she felt the sport would be less punishing on his skinny frame. After Rondo Became serious about basketball, he Attended Louisville's Eastern High School for three years he Nowhere Played under head coach Doug Bibby. During his junior year at Eastern High School, he averaged 27.9 points, 10.0 rebounds and 7.5 assists uterus the which earned a spot on the All-State honors and was named the 7th Region Player of the Year. He Transferred to Virginia's Oak Hill Academy for his senior year he averaged 21.0 Nowhere points per game (ppg), 3.0 rebounds per game (RPG) and 12.0 assists per game (APG) and finished the 2003-04 season with a 38-0 record . In his senior year at Oak Hill Academy, Rondo broke Jeff McInnis's single-season school record of 303 assists, while averaging a double-double. There, he included two Efforts of 27 assists and a single-game school record of 31, merely four away from the all-time national record. He Also Had a 55-point games in high-school, second highest all-time in the Oak Hill Academy, surpassed only by Calvin Duncan with 61. Rondo was named to the McDonald's All-American Team in 2004 and scored a total of 14 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds in the all-star game. Also he participated in the 2004 Jordan Capital Classic game, logging 12 points, 5 assists and 4 steals. He ended his career as Oak Hill Academy's all-time assists leader in a single season with 494 assists, surpassing Jeff McInnis

PAUL ANTONY PIERCE

Paul Anthony Pierce (born in Oakland, California, October 13, 1977, age 33 years), nicknamed The Truth,  is an American professional basketball player in NBA basketball group, the Boston Celtics. He received his award All-America First Team in the early years of his career in Kansas, and has been a player since the beginning of each season selected by the Celtics as the 10th overall selection in NBA Draft 1998. He also won the award 6 times All-Star and bringing Boston to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2002, before discontinued New Jersey Nets. After going through the regular season the 2007-08 season, the Celtics into the NBA Finals end and managed to become champion. Pierce was elected to the NBA Finals MVP 2008 in his first NBA Finals.

KEVIN GARNETT

Kevin Garnett (born in Mauldin, South Carolina, United States, May 19, 1976, age 34 years) is a professional basketball player the United States who currently plays for the NBA and Boston Celtics power forward berposisikan. He used to be called "KG", "The Big Ticket", and "The Kid" and has a 211 cm tall and weighs 100 kg. He also still holds the NBA record in one season can score at least 20.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists (per game).
career
Minnesota Timberwolves

After studying at Farragut Career Academy in Chicago, Illinois, he was in the draft in 1995 by the Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA player who in the draft out of high school's first since 20 years. In Minnesota Timberwolves he gets the highest salary in the NBA and is known as a very dominant player in the club and managed to bring Timberwolves joined the NBA Playoff often since he came to the team. In the 2003-04 season, he was awarded the NBA Most Valuable Player Award (NBA Season) of brilliance and managed to round NBA playoff 2004 in the same season, but the dream to the NBA Finals in 2004 defeated the Los Angeles Lakers. However, in subsequent seasons, he began to experience frustration because the Timberwolves had not come back again to the NBA playoff since the 2003-04 season. Finally, moments before the 2007-08 season began, he was finally sent to the Boston Celtics after the team's move from the Seattle SuperSonics Ray Allen to the Celtics.

Boston Celtics

On the Celtics, Garnett with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen to form Tandem Big Three. The three of them managed to make the Celtics into the NBA playoff round of 2008 with a losing record to win the best in the NBA (66-16). At the end of the 2007-08 season, Garnett got the title of the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and successfully brought his team to the round of the NBA Finals 2008 to meet the Los Angeles Lakers. Garnett and his team overcame the Lakers to win the title of the 17th, while Garnett is for his first NBA title.

On October 31, 2008, Garnett became the youngest player in NBA history that can achieve performance up to 1000 games at the age of 32 years 165 days, breaking the record of Shawn Kemp who reach the age of 33 years 24 days.

Walter Ray Allen or Ray Allen

Walter Ray Allen or Ray Allen (born in Merced, California, July 20, 1975, age 35 years) is an American NBA player who played in the Boston Celtics and the position is as a shooting guard. He is famous for its ability to fire three-pointnya and is one of the best in history. He was educated and play basketball at the University of Connecticut. At that time, he plays in the position of Point Guard. 

Career
Drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves, but soon sold to the Milwaukee Bucks who also became the first team in his career in the NBA. Since the 1996-97 season until the 2000-01 season, the Bucks always managed to reach the round of the NBA Playoffs and the peak, in the 2000-01 season as well, he was with the Bucks reached the Eastern Conference finals before being defeated by the Philadelphia 76ers Allen Iverson who was still playing for the 76ers.
Mid-season 2002-03, he moved to the Seattle SuperSonics after exchange with Gary Payton. Allen's best achievements with the team is to reach the NBA Playoff 2005, namely the Western Conference semifinals, before being beaten by the San Antonio Spurs with a 4-2. By the 2007-08 season, ie, just before the start of the NBA Draft 2007, he was sent to the Boston Celtics and the Celtics in exchange for some players, namely: Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West, and Jeff Green (players in the draft of the 5th by the Boston Celtics).
Migration Allen to the Celtics finally make Kevin Garnett, Timberwolves Minnesotta stars also moved into the same team. Allen, Garnett, and Paul Pierce brought his team reached the NBA Playoff 2008 with win-lose record of the best in the NBA regular season (66-16) and headed for the NBA Finals 2008 after defeating the Detroit Pistons to 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals. In the NBA Finals, Celtics opponent is the Lakers. Celtics win the NBA Finals and the NBA champion. For Allen this is his first NBA championship title
Career achievements

Up to now, Allen came in second place as a player scored the most three-point shots in NBA history, as many as 2444 times with an average accuracy reaches 39.6% shooting (he became the first position among the players who are still active).
In the 2005-2006 season, Allen broke the NBA record that has survived for 10 years, the highest scoring three-point shots in a season, as many as 269 times. Number of shots three points broke the previous record holder was held by Dennis Scott (now costumed Orlando Magic), which makes the shot as much as 267 times in one season (Raihan Scott printed on the season 1995-1996.
In the NBA Finals game 2 in 2010, he managed to make eight three-point shots to break the previous record in the final. Previous record was seven times, which is held by Scottie Pippen, Kenny Smith, and Allen himself.

BIOGRAFI OF STEVE NASH

 

Stephen John "Steve" Nash, OC, OBC (born February 7, 1974) is a Canadian professional basketball player who played point guard for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nash, who was born in South Africa to British parents but raised in Canada, enjoyed a high-school basketball career a success, and he was eventually given a scholarship by Santa Clara University. In four seasons with the Broncos, the team made three NCAA Tournament appearances, and Nash was twice named West Coast Conference Player of the Year.
After graduating from Santa Clara as the team's all-time leader in assists, Nash entered the 1996 NBA Draft and was selected as the selected 15 by the Phoenix Suns. He made a minimal impact, and sold to the Dallas Mavericks in 1998. With a third season with the Mavericks, he was first elected to the NBA All-Star Game and has received All-NBA first choice. Together with Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley, Nash led the Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals the following season. However, he became a free agent after the 2003-04 season and returned to the Phoenix Suns.

In the 2004-05 season, Nash led the Suns to the Western Conference Finals, and was named the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP). He was named MVP again in the 2005-06 season, and missed out on his third MVP in a row to Nowitzki the next season. Named by ESPN in 2006 as the ninth greatest point guard of all time, Nash has led the league in assists and free throw percentage at various points in his career. He is also ranked as one of the top players in league history to shoot three-point, free throw shooting, the number of assists and assists per game.
Nash, who is married, was involved in charity and humanity, and he is also interested in soccer and film-making. In 2006, Time named him as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. On December 28, 2007, has announced that Nash would receive Canada's highest honors civilian, the Order of Canada, [4] and on June 3, 2008, it was announced that Nash would receive a star on Canada's Walk of Fame. On September 18, 2009, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Law by the University of Victoria, in recognition of his athletic achievements and his philanthropic work on behalf of young people through the Steve Nash Foundation

high scool

 Nash initially attended Mount Douglas Secondary School, but after its value began to fall, his parents decided to enroll him at St. Michaels University School, a private boarding school.At St. Michaels, he starred in basketball, soccer, and rugby union. While playing basketball during his senior season, Nash was an average of 21.3 points, 11.2 assists, and 9.1 rebounds per game. In season 1991-1992, he led his team in last year with the title of British Columbia AAA provincial champions, and was named Player of the Year province.

College career
Although Nash's high school coach, Ian Hyde-Lay, sent letters of investigation and highlight reels on Nash's behalf for more than 30 universities in the United States, Nash was not recruited by any university, until the Santa Clara head coach Dick Davey requested video footage of the young guard. After watching Nash personally, Davey said he was "nervous as hell just hoping that no one else will see him. It did not take a Nobel Prize winner to figure out this guy is good enough. It's just a case of hoping someone from the big names arrive . 'However, Davey Nash also said that he was "the worst defensive player" he had ever seen.

Nash was awarded a scholarship by Santa Clara for the 1992-93 season. At that time, already five years since the Broncos appeared in the NCAA tournament. That changed when Nash led the Broncos to the title (WCC) West Coast Conference and upset win over No. 2 seeded Arizona in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Division I [8] In the game., Nash scored six straight free throws in the last 30 seconds of contest [9] Although the Santa Clara. defeated by Temple in the next round, is considered a successful 1992-93 campaign. However, the Broncos failed to maintain the momentum next season, and managed only a 5-7 record in the team conference.The recovered in season 1994-95, with Nash who named the Conference Player of the Year and WCC topping Broncos. Displaying the league leaders to score goals and assist in Nash, the Broncos returned to the NCAA tournament, but they were defeated by Mississippi State [8] After the season,. Nash contemplated turning professional, and decided to fight back when he knows he probably will not be considered as a first-round pick in 1995 NBA Draft.
In season 1995-96, Nash began to attract the attention of national media and professional scouts. He has spent the summer before that honing skills, playing with the Canadian national team and worked with the likes of established NBA players Jason Kidd and Gary Payton [8] Santa Clara again. WCC title, and for the second consecutive year, Nash was named the Conference Player of the Year, the first Bronco to do it since Kurt Rambis. He scored 28 points in leading the # 10 seed to upset the Broncos first-round win over # 7 seed Maryland, but then the Broncos eliminated by Kansas. Nash performances ensure that he was named Honorable Attention All-American as a senior by The Associated Press and USBWA. He also finished his career as a leader of Santa Clara's all-time in career assists (510), free throw percentage (.862), and creating and trying three-pointers (263-656). [10] He remains the school's third all-time scoring list (1689), and holds a Santa Clara-season free throw percentage record (.894). In September 2006, Nash was his jersey (# 11) retired, Santa Clara became the first student-athlete who receives the award.

BIOGRAFI OF DWYANE WADE

Dwyane Tyrone Wade,Jr. lahir 17 Januari 1982 di Chicago, Illinois, Amerika Serikat, adalah pria pemain bola bola basket bertinggi tubuh 193 cm dan berjuluk Flash atau D-Wade serta bermain di klub NBA Miami Heat untuk sekarang ini sebagai shooting guard.

After entering the league as the fifth pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, Wade was named to the All-Rookie team and the All-Star team the following six seasons. In his third season, Wade helped lead the Miami Heat to their first NBA Championship in franchise history. He was named the 2006 NBA Finals MVP as he helped lead the Heat to a 4–2 series win over the Dallas Mavericks. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Wade led the United States Men's Basketball team, commonly known as the "Redeem Team", in scoring, as they captured gold medal honors in Beijing, China. In the 2008–09 season, Wade led the league in scoring and earned his first NBA scoring title.

Early life

Dwyane Wade was born on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois to Dwyane Sr. and Jolinda Wade. He cites one of his older sisters, Tragil, as the individual most responsible for his childhood upbringing and for steering him in the proper direction. His parents divorced and he lived with his father and stepmother in Robbins, Illinois during his childhood. As a child growing up in the Chicago area Wade idolized former Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan and has said he patterns his game after him.

Wade attended Harold L. Richards High School in Oak Lawn, playing for the school's varsity basketball team. While he did not acquire much playing time during his sophomore year, his stepbrother, Demetris McDaniel, was the star of the team. Wade grew four inches in the summer before his junior year and saw an increase in playing time, averaging 20.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. The following year, Wade averaged 27.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game while leading his team to a 24–5 record. It advanced to the title game of the Class AA Eisenhower Sectional. During this season he set school records for points (676) and steals (106) in a season. Wade was recruited by only three college basketball teams (Marquette University, Illinois State, and DePaul University) due to academic problems.

College career

Wade chose to play college basketball for Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. During Wade's freshman year at Marquette, he was ineligible to play with the men's team due to a violation of the NCAA's Proposition 48. Wade sought tutoring to improve his writing skills in order to regain eligibility. When Wade became eligible to play the following year (2001–2002), he led the Golden Eagles in scoring with 17.8 ppg, led the conference in steals at 2.47 per game, and accumulated averages of 6.6 rebounds per game and 3.4 assists per game. Marquette finished with a 26–7 record, the school's best record since the 1993–94 season. In 2002–03, Wade led Marquette in scoring again with 21.5 ppg, and Marquette won the school's first and only Conference USA championship with a 27–6 record. Wade then led the Golden Eagles to the Final Four, the school's first appearance in the Final Four since winning the 1977 national championship. After the season, he was named to the All-America First Team by the Associated Press; Wade is the first Marquette basketball player since 1978 to do so.

Wade's performance during the Midwest Regional Final of the 2003 NCAA Tournament was highly publicized by the national press. Against heavily favored, top-ranked and top-seeded Kentucky Wildcats, Wade recorded a triple-double with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists. His triple double was the fourth in NCAA Tournament history. Wade's exceptional play helped lead Marquette over the Wildcats 83–69 and into the Final Four; Wade was named MVP of the Midwest Regional. Marquette finished the season ranked #6 in the AP poll, the school's highest ranking since the 1976–77 season. Wade's strong tournament play resulted in increased visibility in the national media and, consequently, a high draft projection. As a result, he elected to forgo his senior year at Marquette and enter the 2003 NBA draft. On February 3, 2007, almost four years after Wade played in his final collegiate game, Marquette retired his jersey at halftime of a game against Providence. Although Marquette requires student-athletes to graduate prior to receiving jersey retirement honors, the University made a special exception for Wade based on his accomplishments since leaving Marquette.

 

BIOGRAFI OF ALLEN EZAIL IVERSON

 

FULL NAME: Allen Ezail Iverson
HEIGHT: 6 Feet 0 Inches
WEIGHT: 180 Pounds
POSITION: Guard
JERSEY NUMBER :     3
BIRTHPLACE: Hampton, Virginia
BIRTHDAY: June 7, 1975
COLLEGE: Georgetown
NBA TEAM: Detroit Pistons
NICKNAMES: Thunder, Dwizzle, A.I., the Answer
All-STAR : 11 times (played 9)
CAREER HIGHS: 60 Points, 11 Rebounds, 16 Assists
NBA DRAFT: 2004 - 1st round (1st pick) by the Philadelphia 76ers

Highlights:
1997 Rookie of the Year
1 time Season MVP (2001)
2 times All-Star MVP (2001, 05)
3 times All-NBA First Team
4 times NBA scoring leader
(1999, 2001, 2002, 2005)
3 times NBA steals leader
(2001, 2002, 2003)

  

The man Allen Iverson once called The Answer was the last player announced. The arena lights were turned off, and a spotlight revealed Allen Iverson.

It was easy to see he really was Allen Iverson. The braided hair, the shooting sleeve, the headband. The swagger. Everything I remembered about Iverson was evident. But yesterday was different than I was used to with Iverson. The crowd treated it like a celebration, but this was sad. Iverson was playing in Turkey, for some team called Besiktas. Things weren’t supposed to turn out this way.

This was a former NBA MVP. A 10-time All-Star, 11 if you count last season when the fans voted him in. A four-time scoring champ. This was The Answer. The hero who carried Aaron McKie, Eric Snow, Dikembe Mutombo, George Lynch, Tyrone Hill, Jumaine Jones and Todd MacCulloch to the NBA Finals. Who stepped over Tyron Lue in the midst of a 48-point explosion, in the NBA Finals, against Kobe, Shaq and the Lakers. Who scored at least 40 points 79 times, who scored at least 50 points 11 times, and who is one of only 20 players to score 60 points in a single game. Who helped carry the NBA into the hip hop era, who didn’t care if he was misunderstood. Who played as hard as anyone, who never stopped scrapping.

This was Allen Iverson. The man who didn’t want to talk about practice. Who reminded fans of another gritty Philly overachiever, Rocky. Who was beloved enough to make people buy Reeboks. Who, even at 6-0 tall (in heels, I bet), even at 165 pounds (soaking wet, most likely)managed to physically domiAllen Iversonnate the world’s best athletes. Who brought the killer crossover to new heights. Who sacrificed his body, game in and game out, to lead his teams to victory.

Now I am forced to watch Iverson on ATDHE.net, with the live (and probably illegal) video stream temporarily pausing every minute or so due to poor connection. Is this really what it has come to, a Hall of Famer shamed into playing overseas, with no NBA team willing to offer a contract? Is this really what it has come to, Iverson’s struggles forcing us to squint just to remember his transcendent greatness?

Few legends age gracefully. Few leave on top. I’m not sure why. Maybe most legends understand they aren’t good enough to remain superstars, but can’t bear to give up the game. Maybe most legends have so much pride and confidence they still believe they can rule the game. I don’t know. I was never much of a legend in my playing days. More like a scrub.

But I didn’t have to be a stud myself to see how most NBA legends leave the game — as shells of themselves. Larry Bird hobbled around with a back that wouldn’t cooperate and Magic Johnson was never the same after an HIV-induced semi-retirement. Karl Malone tried to piggyback his way to a title in Los Angeles. Gary Payton hung on a few years too long. Patrick Ewing ended his career playing only 13.9 minutes per game — for the Orlando Magic. Stars rarely, if ever, leave the game on top.

Michael Jordan was just about the only superstar who did, and then he ruined it when he came out of retirement to play for the Wizards. When Jordan finally left the game for good, he wasn’t the Michael Jordan we’d known for so long. He averaged 20 points per game for a 37-45 team based in Washington. Perhaps David Robinson had it right. He wasn’t an All-Star when he left the NBA, or even close to it, but he retired after his team won an NBA championship. Of course, that was more a testament to Tim Duncan’s ability than Robinson’s perfect timing.

Bill Russell was probably the player who left the game as close to the top as anyone before or since. (Forgive me if I’ve missed someone.) Russell left the game a champion, and he left it a starter averaging 19.3 rebounds per game. But he was the exception, not the rule. And even Russell averaged a career-low in points during that final season, pouring in fewer than double digits for the first time in his career.

All these stars were severely diminished by the time they left the NBA, yet there was something admirable about the way they aged. There was something about Ewing hanging on until he could barely lace his sneakers anymore. We could see how badly he loved basketball, how much the game meant to him. Same with Bird and his troublesome back. Bird couldn’t even sit on the bench; he had to lie down instead. But he battled through it, doing whatever he could to help his team win ballgames. Bird’s back could sometimes keep him from standing up straight, but it couldn’t hold back his competitive spirit.

And NBA stars have almost always aged in the public eye. We could turn on the TV and watch Michael Jordan in the waning years of his career. He wasn’t always the Jordan we loved and admired, but there were flashes. Every once in a while he’d execute that fadeaway jumper, and all the memories came flooding back into our minds. Or remember the time he pinned Ron Mercer’s shot off the backboard with two hands, then caught the ball right out of Mercer’s hands?

Legends aren’t always the same as they grow older, but once in a while they offer glimpses into the past. It’s almost like the nicotine patch. You don’t normally quit legends cold turkey. You usually get a smaller dose of them each and every year, until finally they’re gone. And when they leave, it’s normally with a retirement ceremony in front of a loving crowd.

But not with Allen Iverson. His demise was quick, his fall furious. We didn’t even get a chance to cherish what we suspect were his last moments in an NBA uniform. One second he was starting for the 76ers, playing 31.9 minutes per game and averaging 13.9 points per game. The next he had quit, noting his daughter’s illness as the reason. Iverson’s final game in the NBA was played on February 20, 2010, against the Chicago Bulls. The lead in the game’s AP recap wasn’t Iverson’s retirement, but Taj Gibson’s double-double.

How could the AP recap possibly discuss Iverson’s retirement? We didn’t know we would probably never get to see Iverson play in the NBA again.