Ronald William "Ron" Artest, Jr. (born November 13, 1979) is an American professional basketball player who is currently with the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. Artest gained a reputation as one of the league's premier defenders as he won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2004. He was also criticized for assaulting a fan in the Pacers–Pistons brawl.
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Thursday, July 30, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Hilton Armstrong
Hilton A. Armstrong, Jr. (born November 11, 1984, in Yonkers, New York) is an American professional basketball player for the NBA's New Orleans Hornets. A former forward/center for the University of Connecticut Huskies.
After graduating from Peekskill High School, Armstrong started off slowly as a college athlete, averaging less than 4 points in each of first 3 seasons at UConn. However, he greatly improved his senior year averaging 9.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.1 blocks, and shooting 61% from the field. He followed after his teammate Josh Boone and won the Big East Defensive Player of the Year in the 2005–06 season.
After graduating from Peekskill High School, Armstrong started off slowly as a college athlete, averaging less than 4 points in each of first 3 seasons at UConn. However, he greatly improved his senior year averaging 9.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.1 blocks, and shooting 61% from the field. He followed after his teammate Josh Boone and won the Big East Defensive Player of the Year in the 2005–06 season.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Trevor Ariza
Trevor Anthony Ariza (born June 30, 1985 in Miami, Florida) is an American basketball player in the National Basketball Association who is currently playing for the Houston Rockets. Primarily a small forward, he currently stands at 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) tall.
Biography
Ariza attended Westchester High School in Los Angeles, where, as a junior, he combined with teammates and fellow future NBA players Hassan Adams, Brandon Heath, Bobby Brown and Gabriel Pruitt to lead the Comets to the California State championship.
After one season at UCLA, Ariza was a second round draft choice (43rd overall) of the New York Knicks in the 2004 NBA Draft.
After one season at UCLA, Ariza was a second round draft choice (43rd overall) of the New York Knicks in the 2004 NBA Draft.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Gilbert Arenas
Gilbert Jay Arenas Jr. (born January 6, 1982, in Tampa, Florida) is an American professional basketball player in the NBA. He currently plays for the Washington Wizards.
Though born in Florida, Arenas moved to California with his father at a young age, and became one of the best young basketball players to ever come out of Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley. He attended Grant High School in Los Angeles, and accepted a scholarship offer to the University of Arizona late in his junior year. From the time of his entry into the league, Arenas' popularity soared. He transformed himself from being a relative unknown to being voted by fans as an All-Star starter for the Eastern Conference in 2007.
Arenas overcame a 213,000 vote deficit at one point to edge out Vince Carter by just over 3,000 votes for the second of the two starting guard spots, the other spot going to Dwyane Wade. Arenas was most often nicknamed "Agent Zero," but has increasingly been referred to as "Hibachi," a nod to the small Japanese heating device, which literally translates to "bowl of fire." Both names have quickly become fan favorites in the Washington area.
Though born in Florida, Arenas moved to California with his father at a young age, and became one of the best young basketball players to ever come out of Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley. He attended Grant High School in Los Angeles, and accepted a scholarship offer to the University of Arizona late in his junior year. From the time of his entry into the league, Arenas' popularity soared. He transformed himself from being a relative unknown to being voted by fans as an All-Star starter for the Eastern Conference in 2007.
Arenas overcame a 213,000 vote deficit at one point to edge out Vince Carter by just over 3,000 votes for the second of the two starting guard spots, the other spot going to Dwyane Wade. Arenas was most often nicknamed "Agent Zero," but has increasingly been referred to as "Hibachi," a nod to the small Japanese heating device, which literally translates to "bowl of fire." Both names have quickly become fan favorites in the Washington area.
Joel Anthony
Joel Vincent Anthony (born August 9, 1982, in Montreal, Quebec) is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the NBA, playing the center position.
Anthony attended Selwyn House School in Montreal from 1994 to 1997. He graduated from Emmanuel Christian School, class of '99. After Emmanuel, he attended Dawson College, where he was cut from the basketball squad.
By the time he graduated from Florida's Pensacola Junior College in 2004, however, he had come into his own on the court. He made the first team all-conference for 2003–04, averaging 9 points, 7 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game.
At the University of Nevada, Las Vegas he really made a name for himself, helping lead the Runnin' Rebels to a 30–7 season his senior year, being named Mountain West Conference defensive player of the year and finishing second in the NCAA in shot-blocking.
Anthony made his Canadian national men's basketball team debut in the summer of 2008. He made a tremendous impact on the court for the Canadians, by setting both scoring and block shot records for an individual game. Canada however failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympics.
Anthony attended Selwyn House School in Montreal from 1994 to 1997. He graduated from Emmanuel Christian School, class of '99. After Emmanuel, he attended Dawson College, where he was cut from the basketball squad.
By the time he graduated from Florida's Pensacola Junior College in 2004, however, he had come into his own on the court. He made the first team all-conference for 2003–04, averaging 9 points, 7 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game.
At the University of Nevada, Las Vegas he really made a name for himself, helping lead the Runnin' Rebels to a 30–7 season his senior year, being named Mountain West Conference defensive player of the year and finishing second in the NCAA in shot-blocking.
Anthony made his Canadian national men's basketball team debut in the summer of 2008. He made a tremendous impact on the court for the Canadians, by setting both scoring and block shot records for an individual game. Canada however failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympics.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Kiyan Anthony (born May 29, 1984) is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets, of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has also played with the United States national basketball team. He went to Towson Catholic for high school and decided to go to Syracuse for college. As a freshman in college, Anthony led Syracuse University to a 30–5 record and the school's first NCAA championship in men's basketball in 2003.
He was named the Most Outstanding Player (MOP) of the 2003 NCAA Final Four and MVP of NCAA East Regional. He was also named the consensus national Freshman of the Year and was a unanimous choice as the Big East Conference Freshman of the Year. Anthony was selected as the third pick in the 2003 NBA Draft and named the 2005 Rookie Challenge MVP.
He was named the Most Outstanding Player (MOP) of the 2003 NCAA Final Four and MVP of NCAA East Regional. He was also named the consensus national Freshman of the Year and was a unanimous choice as the Big East Conference Freshman of the Year. Anthony was selected as the third pick in the 2003 NBA Draft and named the 2005 Rookie Challenge MVP.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Ryan Anderson
Ryan James Anderson (born May 6, 1988, in Sacramento, California) is an American professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic. Anderson previously played the power forward position at California.
On April 3, 2008, Anderson declared himself eligible for the 2008 NBA Draft. He did not take an agent, leaving himself the option to return to Cal if he withdrew his name from the draft before June 16. On June 26, 2008 Anderson was drafted #21 overall by the New Jersey Nets in the first round of the NBA Draft.
On April 3, 2008, Anderson declared himself eligible for the 2008 NBA Draft. He did not take an agent, leaving himself the option to return to Cal if he withdrew his name from the draft before June 16. On June 26, 2008 Anderson was drafted #21 overall by the New Jersey Nets in the first round of the NBA Draft.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Chris Andersen
Chris Andersen (born July 7, 1978 in Long Beach, California), nicknamed Birdman is an American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association, currently a free agent. The 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m), 228 lb (103 kg; 16.3 st) center/power forward received a two year ban from the NBA in 2006 for violating the league's drug policy, but was reinstated on March 4, 2008 and re-signed by the Hornets the next day.
Andersen grew up in Iola, Texas and played one year at Blinn College. He went undrafted in the 1999 NBA Draft and began his professional career in the Chinese Basketball League, and has played in the NBA for the Denver Nuggets and the New Orleans Hornets.
Andersen grew up in Iola, Texas and played one year at Blinn College. He went undrafted in the 1999 NBA Draft and began his professional career in the Chinese Basketball League, and has played in the NBA for the Denver Nuggets and the New Orleans Hornets.
Louis Amundson
Louis Gabriel Amundson (born December 7, 1982 in Ventura, California) is an American professional basketball player, currently playing for the NBA's Phoenix Suns. He has also played in the NBA D-League and was named D-League Rookie of the Year in 2006. On August 14, 2008, Amundson signed a two-year contract with the Phoenix Suns.
Rafer Alston
Rafer Jamel "Skip to My Lou" Alston (born July 24, 1976 in Jamaica, Queens, New York City, New York) is an American professional basketball player currently with the NBA's New Jersey Nets.
Alston grew up in Jamaica Queens, New York and is widely regarded as one of the best streetball basketball players of all time. He is often referred to by his streetball nickname "Skip to My Lou", a name he received for skipping while he dribbled the ball.
He has been associated with shoe manufacturer And 1's "Mix Tape Tour" promotional streetball team. And 1 has become well known because of his tape, which is captured by his coach and sent to And 1. And 1 had printed 500,000 copies, and the tape was used as a free gift when their products were sold. Alston was a poster boy for the street league, and he carried his reputation into the National Basketball Association.
He played basketball under coach Ron Naclerio at Benjamin N. Cardozo High School in Bayside, Queens, New York.
Alston grew up in Jamaica Queens, New York and is widely regarded as one of the best streetball basketball players of all time. He is often referred to by his streetball nickname "Skip to My Lou", a name he received for skipping while he dribbled the ball.
He has been associated with shoe manufacturer And 1's "Mix Tape Tour" promotional streetball team. And 1 has become well known because of his tape, which is captured by his coach and sent to And 1. And 1 had printed 500,000 copies, and the tape was used as a free gift when their products were sold. Alston was a poster boy for the street league, and he carried his reputation into the National Basketball Association.
He played basketball under coach Ron Naclerio at Benjamin N. Cardozo High School in Bayside, Queens, New York.
Tony Allen
Anthony Allen (born January 11, 1982 in Chicago, Illinois), commonly referred to as Tony Allen, is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the NBA. A swingman, he can play as a guard or forward.
Ray Allen
Walter Ray Allen (born July 20, 1975), referred to as Ray Allen, is an American professional basketball player for the NBA's Boston Celtics at the position of shooting guard. He has also played professionally for two other organizations, the Milwaukee Bucks and Seattle SuperSonics, and collegiately at the University of Connecticut. One of the most accurate 3-point shooters in NBA history, he is a nine-time NBA All-Star and won an Olympic gold medal as a member of the 2000 United States Men's Basketball Team. Allen has also acted in two films, including a co-starring role in the 1998 Spike Lee film He Got Game.
Malik Allen
Malik Omar Allen (born June 27, 1978 in Willingboro, New Jersey) is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA.
After four years at Villanova University Allen went undrafted in the 2000 NBA Draft. He began his career in the ABA with the San Diego Wildfire and in the International Basketball League with Trenton in 2000–01 season. On July 20, 2001 he was signed by the Miami Heat of the NBA. He stayed with the Heat until he was traded on February 24, 2005 to the Charlotte Bobcats. The Chicago Bulls signed him to a two-year deal on September 2nd 2005. Over two seasons with the Bulls Allen played in 114 regular season games making 21 starts and averaged 4.5 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. On September 10th 2007 the New Jersey Nets signed Allen to a one-year contract worth US$964,636.
Allen appeared in 21 NBA Playoff games. He started all six playoff games for Chicago during '06 playoffs.
On February 19, 2008, he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks along with Jason Kidd and Antoine Wright in exchange for Keith Van Horn, Devin Harris, Trenton Hassell, DeSagana Diop, Maurice Ager, $3 million cash and 2008 and the Mavericks' 2010 first round draft pick.
On July 17, 2008, he, along with Tyronn Lue of the Dallas Mavericks, signed a contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.
After four years at Villanova University Allen went undrafted in the 2000 NBA Draft. He began his career in the ABA with the San Diego Wildfire and in the International Basketball League with Trenton in 2000–01 season. On July 20, 2001 he was signed by the Miami Heat of the NBA. He stayed with the Heat until he was traded on February 24, 2005 to the Charlotte Bobcats. The Chicago Bulls signed him to a two-year deal on September 2nd 2005. Over two seasons with the Bulls Allen played in 114 regular season games making 21 starts and averaged 4.5 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. On September 10th 2007 the New Jersey Nets signed Allen to a one-year contract worth US$964,636.
Allen appeared in 21 NBA Playoff games. He started all six playoff games for Chicago during '06 playoffs.
On February 19, 2008, he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks along with Jason Kidd and Antoine Wright in exchange for Keith Van Horn, Devin Harris, Trenton Hassell, DeSagana Diop, Maurice Ager, $3 million cash and 2008 and the Mavericks' 2010 first round draft pick.
On July 17, 2008, he, along with Tyronn Lue of the Dallas Mavericks, signed a contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Joe Alexander
Joe Alexander (born December 26, 1986) is an American professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA. Alexander, who at 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) and 230 lb (100 kg) plays both forward positions, was selected for the 2007 All-Big East squad during his collegiate career with West Virginia and was an All-American Honorable Mention. He was selected eighth overall in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. Though an expatriate, he is the first Taiwanese-born player to play in the NBA.
LaMarcus Aldridge
LaMarcus Nurae Aldridge (born July 19, 1985, in Dallas, Texas) is an American professional basketball player with the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers. He is a 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) power forward–center.
Playing career
Aldridge attended Seagoville High School, where he became a Parade All-American and Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) Class 4A Player of the Year prior to graduating in 2004 and attending the University of Texas at Austin. He declared for the 2004 NBA Draft but ultimately withdrew his name.
According to one report, Aldridge's initial decision to attend college rather than entering the pro ranks directly from high school was influenced by Shaquille O'Neal's personal advice that he should go to college and then evaluate his NBA prospects. However, in April 2006, near the end of his second year at UT, Aldridge announced that he would leave college to enter the 2006 NBA Draft.
According to one report, Aldridge's initial decision to attend college rather than entering the pro ranks directly from high school was influenced by Shaquille O'Neal's personal advice that he should go to college and then evaluate his NBA prospects. However, in April 2006, near the end of his second year at UT, Aldridge announced that he would leave college to enter the 2006 NBA Draft.
Rookie season
Aldridge missed the first seven games of the 2006–07 NBA season due to off-season shoulder surgery, but returned ahead of schedule due in part to an injury to fellow rookie teammate Brandon Roy. Aldridge made an immediate impact on offense, averaging 8.4 points on 54% shooting from the field through his first 14 games. After the loss of starting center Joel Przybilla in February 2007 to season-ending knee surgery, Aldridge was awarded the starting center position and improved his scoring to 14.7 points alongside 8.0 rebounds per game in the month of March.
This placed him second in the voting for the Western Conference Rookie of the Month to Roy. On March 31, 2007, in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers, Aldridge was taken to Providence Hospital in Portland for shortness of breath and irregular heartbeat. He was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome on April 9, 2007, and missed the remaining eight games of the 2006–07 season.
Aldridge was one of six players named to the 2007 NBA All-Rookie first team; he tied for fifth place along with Toronto Raptors player Jorge Garbajosa.
This placed him second in the voting for the Western Conference Rookie of the Month to Roy. On March 31, 2007, in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers, Aldridge was taken to Providence Hospital in Portland for shortness of breath and irregular heartbeat. He was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome on April 9, 2007, and missed the remaining eight games of the 2006–07 season.
Aldridge was one of six players named to the 2007 NBA All-Rookie first team; he tied for fifth place along with Toronto Raptors player Jorge Garbajosa.
Alexis Ajinca
Alexis Ajinça (born May 6, 1988 in Saint-Étienne, France) is a French professional basketball player. The 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m), 220 lb (100 kg; 16 st) center/power forward was selected 20th overall by the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2008 NBA Draft.
Maurice Ager
Maurice Darnell Ager (born February 9, 1984, in Detroit, Michigan) is an American professional basketball player in the NBA who is currently a free agent. Ager played for the Fort Worth Flyers of the D-League to whom he was assigned by the NBA's Dallas Mavericks after playing 15 games for them in the 2006–07 season, averaging 1.5 points in 4.3 minutes per game. He played collegiately for the Michigan State Spartans from 2002 until 2006. The 6' 5" (1.95 m) guard was best known for his athleticism and pure shooting.
Arron Afflalo
Arron Agustin Afflalo (born October 15, 1985) is an American professional basketball player, currently with the Detroit Pistons of the NBA. He completed a three-year career at University of California, Los Angeles in the Pacific Ten Conference of the NCAA as the starting shooting guard for the UCLA men's basketball team. On June 28, 2007, Afflalo was drafted with the 27th overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons.
Biography
Afflalo was born at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, only a few minutes' walk from Pauley Pavilion, where the UCLA Bruins play their home games. His parents are Benjamin Afflalo and Gwendolyn Washington. He has a younger sister named Paris. Afflalo majored in sociology at UCLA and was on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll for Spring 2005.
Afflalo declared for the 2006 NBA Draft, but pulled his name out before the deadline, opting to return to UCLA for his junior season. Afflalo has been one of the top players in the country as a junior earning a spot on the Associated Press All-America team. This honor makes Afflalo UCLA's first consensus All-American since Ed O'Bannon in the 1994–95 season. He was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the 1st round of the 2007 NBA Draft, making him the 27th pick overall.
Afflalo declared for the 2006 NBA Draft, but pulled his name out before the deadline, opting to return to UCLA for his junior season. Afflalo has been one of the top players in the country as a junior earning a spot on the Associated Press All-America team. This honor makes Afflalo UCLA's first consensus All-American since Ed O'Bannon in the 1994–95 season. He was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the 1st round of the 2007 NBA Draft, making him the 27th pick overall.
College career
Noted for being the first player recruited by current UCLA coach Ben Howland to play for Howland at UCLA, Afflalo, who helped lead Compton Centennial High School to a California Division-III title in 2003–2004, his senior year of high school, started 29 games the next season for the UCLA Bruins as a freshman, averaging 10.8 points per game and playing the role of a defensive stopper.
With the graduation of leading scorer Dijon Thompson, Afflalo shouldered more of the offensive load in his second year on the team, averaging a team-high 15.8 points per game. He also continued to guard some of the Bruins' opponents' top scorers.
His defensive dominance throughout the 2006–2007 season (one example being holding Cal's Ayinde Ubaka to zero points in one of the two teams' matchups), and his 17.4 ppg led to him being voted the Pac-10 Player of the Year by the other coaches in the conference. Commenting on the award, Afflalo said, "It is good that contributions on both ends of the floor are recognized ... If you truly have a love and passion for the game, then you should work at every aspect of it, not just the part that gives you (attention), that being scoring."
With the graduation of leading scorer Dijon Thompson, Afflalo shouldered more of the offensive load in his second year on the team, averaging a team-high 15.8 points per game. He also continued to guard some of the Bruins' opponents' top scorers.
His defensive dominance throughout the 2006–2007 season (one example being holding Cal's Ayinde Ubaka to zero points in one of the two teams' matchups), and his 17.4 ppg led to him being voted the Pac-10 Player of the Year by the other coaches in the conference. Commenting on the award, Afflalo said, "It is good that contributions on both ends of the floor are recognized ... If you truly have a love and passion for the game, then you should work at every aspect of it, not just the part that gives you (attention), that being scoring."
Alex Acker
Alex Maurice Acker (born January 21, 1983 in Compton, California) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Acker attended Pepperdine University and was selected by the Detroit Pistons with the last pick in the second round (60th overall) of the 2005 NBA Draft. He was assigned to the NBA Development League's Fayetteville Patriots on February 27, 2006.
From 2006 to 2008, Acker played for Olympiacos (2006-07) for whom he averaged 14.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists and for FC Barcelona, averaging 6.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 30 games.
On September 29, 2008 it was announced that Acker had signed a deal with his former team, the Detroit Pistons.
On February 16, 2009, Acker was traded by Detroit to the Los Angeles Clippers along with a second round draft pick in 2011 NBA Draft in exchange for a conditional second round draft pick in 2013 NBA Draft. This trade was completed primarily for the Pistons to clear salary cap space and to open a roster spot for trade flexibility.
In May 2009 Acker was featured in an AOL Sports report by NBA Correspondent Elie Seckbach sharing the story of his journey.
Acker attended Pepperdine University and was selected by the Detroit Pistons with the last pick in the second round (60th overall) of the 2005 NBA Draft. He was assigned to the NBA Development League's Fayetteville Patriots on February 27, 2006.
From 2006 to 2008, Acker played for Olympiacos (2006-07) for whom he averaged 14.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists and for FC Barcelona, averaging 6.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 30 games.
On September 29, 2008 it was announced that Acker had signed a deal with his former team, the Detroit Pistons.
On February 16, 2009, Acker was traded by Detroit to the Los Angeles Clippers along with a second round draft pick in 2011 NBA Draft in exchange for a conditional second round draft pick in 2013 NBA Draft. This trade was completed primarily for the Pistons to clear salary cap space and to open a roster spot for trade flexibility.
In May 2009 Acker was featured in an AOL Sports report by NBA Correspondent Elie Seckbach sharing the story of his journey.
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