Basketball

Famous Sports Stars

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Biography - Childhood Of A Big Man, Spiritual Journeys, Chronology, Kareem Abdul-jabbar, Professional Big Man - CONTACT INFORMATION, SELECTED WRITINGS BY ABDUL-JABBAR:

1947- American basketball player More than a decade after his retirement, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at 7-feet-2-inches tall remains one of the tallest men ever to play professional basketball. Despite his 267-pound frame, he was never awkward and was known in fact for his grace and flexibility—a rare talent among very large men. Powerful yet smooth in his playing style, he left his mark on the ga…

1 minute read

Arnold "Red" Auerbach Biography - Born In Brooklyn, Boston Era Begins, Celtics Mystique, Russell First Black Coach, Abrasive Personality

1917- American basketball coach As a coach and executive, Arnold "Red" Auerbach has directed the Boston Celtics to sixteen National Basketball Association (NBA) championships, the third most in North American professional team sports. Auerbach, inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, coached the Celtics to nine titles, including eight straight from 1959-66, and oversaw seven other…

1 minute read

Charles Barkley Biography - Growing Up, Dominant Rebounder, Chronology, Awards And Accomplishments, Heads To Phoenix, Reluctantly Retires

1963- American basketball player During a sixteen-year career in the National Basketball Association (NBA), forward Charles Barkley proved himself to be one of best basketball players of all Charles Barkley time, as well as one of the more controversial. An excellent rebounder despite his generous girth and unexceptional height, he was dubbed "The Round Mound of Rebound" while…

less than 1 minute read

Larry Bird Biography - "hoosier Hysteria", Standout Player At Indiana State, Chronology, Awards And Accomplishments, Signs With Boston Celtics

1956- American basketball player By the time he joined the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1979, Larry Bird was already a basketball hero in his home state of Indiana. Larry Bird After a brief stay at Indiana University, he transferred to Indiana State University (ISU) and led the men's basketball team to thirty-three consecutive wins in his senior year…

1 minute read

Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues Biography - City Kid, College Recruit, College Draft, Expansion Draft, Career Statistics, Other Points Of Interest - SELECTED WRITINGS BY BOGUES:

1965- American basketball player Finding his niche and filling it remarkably well is what made point guard Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues a dominant player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). A superior athlete, he left his mark in the NBA, ranking among the top 20 players in career assists. He was easily recognizable on the court because he stood more than two feet shorter than ot…

1 minute read

Bill Bradley Biography - Privileged Childhood, Picks Princeton, Chronology, Highly-paid Rookie, Senator Bradley, Presidential Candidate - CONTACT INFORMATION

1943- American basketball player Bill Bradley has found fame in two very different careers, one on the basketball court and one in politics, by applying similarly high levels of determination and skill. Having opted not to play for a basketball powerhouse because of his academic interests, he made headlines as a standout on the Princeton team. As a dazzling shooter and deft freethrower, he led the…

less than 1 minute read

Kobe Bryant - Went Pro After High School, Chronology, Awards And Accomplishments, Related Biography: Basketball Player Joe "jellybean" Bryant

1978- American basketball player One of basketball's biggest talents, Kobe Bryant rose to fame as a guard for the Los Angeles Lakers in the Kobe Bryant late 1990s and early 2000s. Together with his superstar teammate, the center Shaquille O'Neal, Bryant led the Lakers to their consecutive 2000, 2001, and 2002 National Basketball Association (NBA) Championship titles. One of th…

1 minute read

Vince Carter Biography - Born In Daytona Beach, Florida, Picked Fifth Overall In Nba Draft, Chronology, Emerges Into Ranks Of Nba Stardom - CONTACT INFORMATION

1977- American basketball player One of the brightest young stars in professional basketball, Vince Carter has helped to popularize basketball in a country that long has focused the bulk of its sports interests on hockey during the fall and winter months. In only his second season with the Toronto Raptors, he led the young franchise to its first-ever appearance in the National Basketball Associati…

1 minute read

Wilt Chamberlain Biography - A Giant At An Early Age, Recruited By Kansas, From The Jayhawks To The Globetrotters To The Warriors - SELECTED WRITINGS BY CHAMBERLAIN:

1936-1999 American basketball player In a 14-year professional career studded with superla-tives, Wilt Chamberlain established the centrality of court dominance in basketball, and thus changed the game forever. At seven feet, one inch tall, he was a towering figure, nicknamed "Wilt the Stilt"—a moniker he is said to have despised. Chamberlain was not simply a Goliath, however;…

1 minute read

Julius Erving Biography - In The Beginning, The Aba, The Greatest Game In Basketball History, Chronology, Awards And Accomplishments

1950- American basketball player Julius Erving Julius Erving, commonly referred to as Dr. J, made his mark in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the grace he displayed on and off the court and by playing an instrumental role in the creation of the league as it's known today. As the lone superstar of the ABA, the professional basketball league in direct competition with th…

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John Havlicek Biography - The Young Ohio Athlete, Wooed By Three Sports, Chronology, Clutch Player, Career Statistics - SELECTED WRITINGS BY HAVLICEK:

1940- American basketball player John "Hondo" Havlicek is considered by some observers to have been the most well-rounded player in the history of professional basketball. Havlicek was never a flashy player. However, his remarkable physical John Havlicek conditioning, his careful study of the game of basketball and of opposing players, and his skills at both forward and a guar…

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Chamique Holdsclaw Biography - Chronology, Contact Information, Career Statistics, Awards And Accomplishments, Further Information - SELECTED WRITINGS BY HOLDSCLAW:

1977- American basketball player Chamique Holdsclaw's story is one of courage. She struggled against imposing odds to escape the inner city of Queens, New York, becoming Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) Rookie of the Year in 1999. Setting milestones all along the way, Holdsclaw set all-time scoring and rebound records in high school and college. In 1999 when Sports Illu…

5 minute read

Phil Jackson - Chronology, Related Biography: Basketball Coach Tex Winter, Selected Writings By Jackson:, Career Statistics - CONTACT INFORMATION

1945- American basketball coach Phil Jackson's preeminence as a National Basketball Association (NBA) coach is evidenced by his top-ranking winning percentage and nine championship rings. During the 1990s he coached the Chicago Bulls to six NBA titles. While star player Michael Jordan was given considerable credit for the Bulls' unprecedented pair of "three-peats," it i…

6 minute read

Magic Johnson Biography - From "june Bug" To "magic", Chronology, Taking Off, Awards And Accomplishments - CONTACT INFORMATION

1959- American basketball player Had Earvin Johnson's earliest nickname stuck with him, he would be known today as "June Bug" rather than "Magic." A reference to his childhood proclivity for bouncing from basketball court to basketball court in search of a game, Johnson's later nickname gained preference when, as a high school player, his superior skills b…

1 minute read

Michael Jordan - Cut From His High School Team, "that Boy Is Devastating", Chronology, Related Biography: Father James Jordan

1963- American basketball player Michael Jordan is considered by many to be the greatest basketball player in the history of the game, even by some to be the greatest player of any sport. As Jerry Sloan, the coach of the Utah Jazz told the Daily News of Jordan, "I think everybody knows how he should be remembered, as the greatest player that has ever played." A two-time Olympic gold …

1 minute read

Shawn Kemp Biography - Career Statistics, Chronology, Awards And Accomplishments, Further Information - CONTACT INFORMATION

1969- American basketball player Shawn Kemp When Shawn Kemp was drafted by the Seattle Supersonics in 1989, he became the fifth player to go directly to the NBA from high school. His exceptional talent and fierce presence on the court drew comparisons to Michael Jordan, but Kemp's youth was seen as a serious obstacle to his ever reaching superstar status. In a few years the young for…

5 minute read

Jason Kidd Biography - Born In San Francisco, Drafted By The Dallas Mavericks, Leads Nba In Assists, Chronology - CONTACT INFORMATION

1973- American basketball player When Jason Kidd was traded from the powerhouse Phoenix Suns to the woebegone New Jersey Nets in June 2001, many seasoned basketball observers predicted the move would be the beginning of the end for Kidd's career on the court. Kidd proved them all wrong, when he reinvigorated the Nets, powering the team's march to the NBA championship game in 2002. Qu…

1 minute read

Bobby Knight Biography - Growing Up, Youngest College Coach, The Hoosier Era, Chronology, Knight The Enigma, Pan Am Mishap - SELECTED WRITINGS BY KNIGHT:

1940- American college basketball coach Pete Axthelm of Newsweek has called Bobby Knight a "boiling blend of brilliance and loyalty, fanaticism and temper." And in fact, there isn't a college coach who can incite more debate and who can get the blood of fans boiling more (both his fans and those of opposing teams). Knight is one of those people about whom the phrase "ei…

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Meadowlark Lemon Biography - Inspired By Globetrotters As Child, Excelled At Football, Basketball, Chronology, Tries Out For Globetrotters - CONTACT INFORMATION, SELECTED WRITINGS BY LEMON:

1932- American basketball player Like a crazed captain at the helm of a ship, Meadowlark Lemon could take over a court and steer a crowd into the throes of laughter. During his 23 seasons with the Harlem Globetrotters, Lemon proved he was more than just a basketball player. Full of wisecracks and wise moves, Lemon became the "Clown Prince of Basketball," and night after night, year a…

1 minute read

Ann Meyers Biography - Athletic As An Adolescent, Broke Gender Barriers, Chronology, Sports Career Played To Conclusion, Awards And Accomplishments - CONTACT INFORMATION

1955- American basketball player Basketball trailblazer Ann Meyers takes her hall-of-fame distinction to new limits, with eight enshrinements—including the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, California Youth Organization High School Hall of Fame, Orange County Hall of Fame, California High School Hall of Fame, National High School Hall of Fame, University of California at Los Angele…

1 minute read

George Mikan - The Path To Basketball, College Ball, The First Basketball Dynasty, Chronology, Related Biography: Basketball Coach Ray Meyer - CONTACT INFORMATION

1924- American basketball player Destined to become one of the first of basketball's most talented big men, as a young man George Mikan was discouraged from seriously pursuing basketball because of his ungainly height and his acute nearsightedness, conditions that most coaches during the early 1940s believed would leave Mikan hopelessly clumsy. At 6 foot, 10 inches, he towered over other pl…

less than 1 minute read

Reggie Miller Biography - Perfected Basketball Skills To Beat Sister, Drafted By Indiana Pacers, Known For 'trash-talking' On Court - SELECTED WRITINGS BY MILLER:

1965- American basketball player In the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA), there's never been a three-point shooter like Indiana Pacers guard Reggie Miller, undoubtedly the most persistent and productive three-point prodigy of all time. Miller was the first NBA player to sink 2,200 three-pointers and also holds the NBA record for most consecutive seasons with at least 100…

1 minute read

Shaquille O'Neal Biography - Can't Stop Growing, Chronology, Nba Bound, Athletes And Music, Awards And Accomplishments - CONTACT INFORMATION, SELECTED WRITINGS BY O'NEAL:

1972- American basketball player Shaquille O'Neal represents professional basketball in the third millennium. At seven-feet-one-inch tall and 335 pounds, he dominates a basketball court with little effort. His combination of size, strength, height, and speed is rare. His hulking presence is distinctive and unmistakable even among his peers, the so-called big men of basketball. A giant of a …

2 minute read

Scottie Pippen Biography - Chronology, Awards And Accomplishments, Career Statistics, Further Information - CONTACT INFORMATION

1965- American basketball player Scottie Pippen Considered one of the top basketball players of all time, point forward Scottie Pippen made news both on and off the court throughout his decades-long career as a professional athlete. Beginning in 1987 with the Chicago Bulls, Pippen has gone on to demonstrate his multiple talents in shooting, passing, blocking, and rebounding, as well as in d…

10 minute read

Pat Riley Biography - A Family Of Athletes, From Basketball Player To Coach, Chronology, A Winning Philosophy, Active Beyond Baseball

1945- American basketball coach Currently president and head coach for the Miami Heat basketball team, Pat Riley has been an NBA coach for more than 20 years. He started as a coach for the Los Angeles Lakers before moving to the New York Knicks, and finally to the Miami Heat. His NBA regular season win-loss record in 2002 stood at a remarkable 1,085-502. Those 1,085 wins were second only to coach …

1 minute read

Oscar Robertson Biography - Defying The Odds, Chronology, On To Cincinnati, Olympic And Nba Star, Moves To Milwaukee - SELECTED WRITINGS BY ROBERTSON:

1938- American basketball player Oscar Robertson Oscar Robertson is known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. A standout at the University of Cincinnati, he went on to become a star National Basketball Association (NBA) player for the Cincinnati Royals (now the Sacramento Kings) and the Milwaukee Bucks, and a co-captain of an Olympic team considered by some to be the grea…

1 minute read

Glenn Robinson Biography - Not A Natural, Sits Out Freshman Year, Chronology, Big Dog With The Bucks, Career Statistics - CONTACT INFORMATION

1973- American basketball player The odds may not have looked good for NBA star Glenn Robinson. Born January 10, 1973, to Christine Bridgeman, an unmarried teenager, Robinson had little contact with his father, who often found himself in trouble with the law. Robinson's neighborhood in Gary, Indiana, was riddled with crime and drugs, but under Bridgeman's guidance, Robinson stayed st…

less than 1 minute read

Bill Russell Biography - Growing Up, College Champion, Chronology, Awards And Accomplishments, Celtics Star, Civil Rights Advocate

1934- American basketball player Bill Russell, the Boston Celtics' Hall of Fame center who almost single-handedly redefined the game of basketball, was, in the words of Basketball's Big Men by David Klein, "the standard against whom all others will be judged." A big man who specialized in defense rather than scoring, Russell was the ultimate winner. After winning two Na…

1 minute read

Dolph Schayes Biography - Career Statistics, Chronology, Awards And Accomplishments, Further Information

1928- American basketball player Dolph Schayes is generally credited with being the first modern basketball forward. His career began in 1948, before the formation of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1949. His playing career totaled 16 years with the Syracuse Nationals, which became the Philadelphia 76ers in 1964. He played for the Nationals from 1948 to 1964, and during that time, he …

5 minute read

Sheryl Swoopes Biography - Big Star In Texas, Sneaker Deal, Wnba And Baby, Chronology, "ultimate Star", Career Statistics - SELECTED WRITINGS BY SWOOPES:

1971- American basketball player Sheryl Swoopes has played on college, professional and Olympic championship basketball teams. She has won all sorts of individual awards, owns countless records and even had a sneaker named after her. She has also played one-on-one against the redoubtable Michael Jordan. And, she has rebounded from serious knee injuries to earn league honors. But perhaps her most n…

1 minute read

Jerry Tarkanian Biography - Helps Coach High School Team, Success At Long Beach State, Chronology, Awards And Accomplishments

1930- American college basketball coach Followed by controversy throughout much of his coaching career, Jerry Tarkanian put together one of the most enviable records in college basketball. Known by admirers and detractors alike as Tark the Shark, Tarkanian led his teams to four appearances in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Final Four and one national championship duri…

2 minute read

Isiah Thomas Biography - Grew Up In Grinding Poverty, Chronology, Delivered Hoosiers A National Championship, Helped Pistons Rebound Into Winning Team - CONTACT INFORMATION

1961- American basketball player When Isiah Thomas joined the Detroit Pistons in 1981, they were among the worst in the league, a disheartened group of guys struggling through each season. Thomas, however, transformed them into a proud, poised cohesive team. Under Thomas's direction—and attitude—the Pistons became known as the "Bad Boys" of the NBA. As their imag…

1 minute read

Ora Washington Biography - Chronology, Awards And Accomplishments, American Tennis Association, Further Information

1898-1971 American tennis and basketball player Before Serena Williams and Venus Williams, before the Women's National Basketball Association, and before civil rights created equity on the tennis and basketball courts across the United States, there was Ora Washington. Washington was a talented athlete who flourished in her chosen sports of tennis and basketball. She was the reigning champi…

6 minute read

Spud Webb Biography - Born In Dallas, Texas, Enrolls At Midland Junior College, Spends Hours Training, Chronology - SELECTED WRITINGS BY WEBB:

1963- American basketball player Spud Webb Standing only five feet, seven inches tall, Spud Webb was one of the shortest players in National Basketball Association (NBA) history. Despite his diminutive size, Webb enjoyed superstardom as a small man in a big man's game. In what was perhaps the crowning achievement of his twelve-year career in professional basketball, Webb won the NBA …

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Jerry West Biography - Born In Cheylan, West Virginia, Picked By Lakers In Nba Draft, Chronology, Shines In Playoffs - SELECTED WRITINGS BY WEST:

1938- American basketball player One of the best shooting guards in professional basketball history, Jerry West went on to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to basketball dominance during the last quarter of the twentieth century as first a coach and later general manager and executive vice president. After nearly four decades with the Lakers organization, West stepped down in 2000, but it did not take …

1 minute read

Lenny Wilkens Biography - Born In Brooklyn, Player-coach, Signs On As Head Coach Of Cavaliers, Honored As One Of Nba's Top Players And Coaches - CONTACT INFORMATION, SELECTED WRITINGS BY WILKENS:

1937- American basketball coach With 1,268 victories in his first twenty-nine seasons as an National Basketball Association (NBA) coach, Lenny Wilkens is clearly the winningest coach in professional basketball history. Wilkens began his coaching career more than three decades ago in Seattle where he served as player-coach for the Super Sonics from 1969 until 1972. He pulled the same double duty wi…

1 minute read

Dominique Wilkins Biography - Born In Paris, France, Leads The Nba In Scoring, Named Nba All-star For Sixth Time - CONTACT INFORMATION

1960- American basketball player One of the most outstanding basketball players in National Basketball Association (NBA) history, Dominique Wilkins retired as a player after the 1998-99 season. At the time of his retirement, Wilkins ranked eighth on the all-time NBA scoring list with 26,668 points and 10th in career scoring average with 24.8 points per game. Wilkins did not stay away from the game…

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