It takes a lot of hard work and determination to be a basketball player, but to be a pro- basketball player is even harder work. Karl Malone and Larry Johnson are two men who are living proof that it can be done. From their college careers up until their present professional career, these two player’s statistics and awards received have proved their determination to many people. Not only are both men exemplary athletes, they have been great role models for aspiring young people everywhere. Karl Malone was born on July 24, 1963. As soon as he arrived at college, Malone began playing ball at Louisiana Tech where his influence was indelible. He left that university with a .566 career field-goal percentage and career averages of 18.7points …show more content…
After a fine rookie campaign, Malone began a string of seasons virtually unmatched by power forwards in NBA annals. For six seasons, beginning in 1987-88 his scoring averages were 27.7, 29.1, 31.9, 29.0, 28.0, and 27.0 points per game, respectively, and his rebounding averages ranged between 10.7 and 12.4 boards per contest. In 1989 he started a streak of 10 consecutive berths on the All-NBA First Team. Karl “the Mailman” Malone is one of the great power forwards of all time and has been one of the mainstays of the Utah Jazz for more than a decade. In 1996-97 he was the NBA’s Most Valuable Player leading the Jazz to a franchise-record 64 wins and the Western Conference Championship. In 1998-99 he won his second MVP trophy after leading the team to the best record in the NBA at 37-13. He hasn’t averaged below 21.7 points or 9.8 rebounds in any season since his rookie year, and he is a perennial All-Star and All-NBA selection. Malone was a member of the original Dream Team that won the gold medal at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, and he reprised that role on the Dream Team that struck gold at the Atlanta Olympics …show more content…
Johnson formed part of a powerhouse UNLV squad which captured the 1990 NCAA Championship. In two seasons with the Runnin’ Revels, Johnson averaged better than 20 points and 10 rebounds each year. As a senior in 1990-91 he was The Sporting News College Player of the Year and the winner of both the Naismith and Wooden Awards. The Charlotte Hornets selected him with the first overall pick in the 1991 NBA Draft. Johnson burst onto the NBA scene as the 1992 Rookie of the Year. He entered the league as a power player but has developed into an all-around performer. The NBA Rookie of the Year in 1992, he finished 11 th in the league in rebounding and averaged 19.2 points. Johnson led the Hornets to their first playoff berth ever and set a Charlotte franchise record by pouring in 1.810 points. He finished 12 th in the league in scoring and 13 th in rebounding. A starter in the 1993 All- Star Game, he ended the season as a member of the All-NBA Second Team. Johnson also led the league in minutes played and appeared in all 82 games for the second straight season. After a stint on the Dream Team at the World Championship of Baseball, he played in 81 games and averaged 18.8 points and 7.2 revbounds in nearly 40 minutes per game. He added a reliable
...e rookie along slowly. Through the first half of the season, Hardaway started at the off guard slot while veteran Scott Skiles started at the point. But by midseason Hill felt Hardaway was ready, and on February 6 Penny became the Magic's starting point guard for the rest of the year. The multitalented rookie had a phenomenal first season, finishing a close second to Webber for the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. Hardaway played and started in all 82 games, averaging 16.0 points, 6.6 assists and 5.4 rebounds. He also set a club record with 190 steals, and his average of 2.32 steals per game ranked sixth in the NBA. Hardaway was named NBA Rookie of the Month for January after averaging 20.5 points, 7.0 assists, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.33 steals over 15 games. In February, Hardaway was named the MVP of the NBA Rookie Game during All-Star Weekend in Minneapolis. He scored 22 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the floor. Bolstered by Hardaway's contributions, the Magic set a franchise record with 50 victories and advanced to the playoffs for the first time ever. Orlando lost in the first round to the Indiana Pacers, but many felt that, for the Magic and for Hardaway, the best was yet to come.
Some player's wish of winning a NBA Title but 'Larry Legend' won 3. Being the 5th overall pick in the 1978 NBA Draft Larry Bird played 13 seasons as a Boston Celtic, winning 3 NBA Championships in 1981, '84, and '86. He was Finals MVP twice in 1984, and '86, NBA MVP 3 straight years in 1984, ?85, and ?86, NBA All- Star for 9 straight years 1980- '89, elected to the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in 1998, Nine- time All NBA 1st Team 1980- '88, and Olympic Gold Medalist in 1992 with the 'Dream Team'.
He was also selected to be an NBA all-star as he averaged 30 to 40 points per game. While when it came to Michael’s second year in the NBA he broke his foot early in the season and was forced to sit out. While having his year off from the game, he decided to go back to school to finish his final year of college. His 3rd year wasn’t all so great either as the Bulls had another losing season, but they still made it to the playoffs. Michael would also score 63 points to set an NBA playoffs record.
Everybody had high expectations about him, they were seeing in him a new leader, a new beginning for the Pistons. He didn’t prove anybody wrong. He started at the 1995 all-star game after becoming the first rookie ever to lead all players in fan voting. Along with Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks, were co-voted as the Rookie Players of the Year. In the next four seasons, he started in all all-star games and averaged 23.2 Points Per Game, 7.6 Rebounds Per Game and 6.7 Assist Per Game.
All eyes were on him when he went on the court, because that just how good he was at the game of basketball. Michael Jordan is one of the greatest players in NBA history, maybe even the greatest of all time. Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born February 17, 1963 in Brooklyn, New York. As a freshman in college, he was a member of the Tar Heels’ national championship team in 1982. Jordan was drafted as the 3rd overall draft pick by the Chicago bulls just two years later.
As the years flew by at Michigan State, Johnsons’ dedication to the game began to pay off and was now suspected to be a future great in the NBA. After college, Johnson was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. He had finally made it, and was ecstatic to get the chance. “I l...
...r_stats.html). Ray Allen was drafted out of Connecticut by the Seattle Supersonics in the 96-97 season. He started81 games and played 82 games, and in that season he averaged 13.4 points per game ("NBA.com." Web. 11 Jan 2010. http://www.nba.com/playerfile/ray_allen/carrer_stats.html). Kevin Durrant was drafted out of Texas by the Seattle Supersonics in the 07-08 season. He started 82 games and played 82 games, and in his rookie season he averaged 20.3 points per game. ("NBA.com." Web. 11 Jan 2010. http://www.nba.com/playerfile/kevin_durrant/carrer_stats.html). Michael Jordan was drafted out of North Carolina by the Chicago Bulls in the 84-85 season. He started 82 games and played in 82 games, during his rookie year he averaged 28.2 points per game ("Basketball-Refrence.com." Web. 11 Jan 2010. http://www.basketball-refrence.com/players/j/jordanmi01.html).
In his first season with the Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan averaged 28 points a game and voted to the All-Star game, because of all the attention Jordan received his teammates refused to pass him the ball. Instead of letting the freeze-out during the All-Star game deter him he went on to win Rookie of the Year. The following season he would break his foot causing him to miss the rest of the regular season. He would return for the playoffs where in the second game of the series against the Boston Celtics he set the record for most points in a playoff game with 63; however the Celtics would win the series and would later on lose to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Since its creation in 1893, the sport of basketball has been one of the most popular sports in the United States. One wouldn’t have to search long to find a basketball court and a pickup game in most American cities. Many people around the world look up to the stars of the National Basketball Association as role models.
He then won another Championship beating the Sonics as his 4th. He also was the star in the movie Space Jam. The next year he scored an average of 30.4 points per game with 72-82 record that season and won his 5th championship against Utah Jazz. He again won the same as the following year 1997-1998 winning again to make his 6th and final championship. He then joined the Washington wizards. Then, he retired from basketball (Biography.com Editors.).
It was not until the year 2002 that the NBA was able to find someone to match Jordan’s dazzling acrobatic style of play. His name is Lebron James. Lebron, who plays shooting guard and small forward, stands at an athletic six-eight. James, however, never played in the NCAA. He was drafted straight out of high school in the 2003-04 season, by the Cleveland Cavaliers. James is already on the road to success by achieving co-rookie of the year, and he appeared in the Olympics. James is expected to be a champion, but he may not have what it takes to become a real champion such as Michael Jordan was. Before Jordan or James can be categorized as a champion, they have to be able to handle pressure, fame, and maintain a positive relationship with their team. When comparing Jordan and James’ clutch capabilities, or their ab...
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During his career, Michael Jordan earned beautiful stats on offense as well as defense due to his scoring abilities, teamwork, and respect for other players in the NBA. On offense, Michael Jordan successfully made an astounding 32,292 point during his career after making 12,192 Field Goals, but attempted 24,537. Michael Jordan was unable to hone in his shot beyond the three point line, which caused him to only make 581 3-Point Field Goals out of his 1,778 attempts, earning him a .327 3-Point Field Goal percentage. This was not the case when it came to his free throw shooting abilities, making a remarkable 7,327 goals out of 8,772 attempts which earned him a .835 free throw percentage. Michael Jordan continued with his offensive skills which allowed him to attain 6,672 assists, and 1,668 offensive rebounds, but regrettably Michael allowed 2,924
As a 5’9” sophomore in high school in Wilmington, North Carolina, he tried out for his school’s basketball team but wasn’t good enough, neither tall enough, to make it. He then practiced throughout the year and came back as a 6’3” junior to try out. With his improved skills and After graduating from high school, he accepted a basketball scholarship to the University of North Carolina. In his first season at Carolina, he became the second Tarheel player to start in every game as a freshman and was named Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year (1982). At the end of his freshman year, he made the game-winning shot against Georgetown University for the championship of the NCAA. The Sporting News named him college player of the year in 1983 and in 1984. He left North Caro...
In 1981, Michael Jordan stepped foot on North Carolina’s campus as a top-recruited freshman and was soon to be one of only four freshmen to ever earn a starting spot under Coach Dean Smith. The University of North Carolina was where Michael Jordan’s legacy started, and as of now, it will not end anytime soon. In his playing days, Michael was a second overall draft pick, Nike client, six-time NBA champ, six-time NBA finals MVP, five-time NBA MVP, and a fourteen-time all-star. After his playing days were over, Jordan’s impact on the game and on the fans never died. He is a role model to many people, spanning all generations from old to young.