TEAM AKSHAY/SYRIAN
PG - Chris Paul, John Wall
SG - Kobe Bryant, Jimmy Butler
SF - James Worthy, Andre Iguodala
PF - Dirk Nowitzki, Paul Millsap
Center - Dikembe Mutombo, Ben Wallace
Chris Paul, CP3
- 7 time All Defensive First Team and 9 time All Star
- Led the NBA in assists 4 times and in steals 6 times
- Averages almost 10 assists with only 2.4 turnovers per game
- Can drive to the basket, score from mid-range or beyond the arc
- One of the best perimeter defenders
Kobe Bryant
- Most Valuable Player of the Year 2008 and 18 All-Star appearances
- One of the NBA's most dangerous scorers, having led the league in points twice
- Lockdown defense, especially come playoffs time, making the All Defensive First Team 9 times
- Clutch player, leading the Lakers to rings with finals MVP performances in 2009 and 2010
James Worthy aka 'Big Game James'
- Hall of Famer and 7 time All Star (1986-1992)
- The 'third wheel' of the Showtime Lakers, supporting Magic Johnson and Abdul-Jabbar
- Blazingly fast player who was devastating on quick breaks
- Strong post player, with good spins and a deadly turnaround mid-range jumper
- Versatile defender who was sometimes used to contain the opponent's best SG e.g. Drexler
- Clutch player who always took his game up another level in the playoffs, including a finals MVP performance in 1988
Dirk Nowitzki
- Most Valuable Player of the Year 2007 with .502 - .416 - .904 shooting percentages to join the 50-40-90 club
- 13 All-Star appearances
- 7 footer with the ability to shoot and drive the basketball and play as a stretch 4
- Always raised his game for the playoffs, with higher point production and rebounding in the post season
- Led the Mavericks to their franchise's only championship with a finals MVP performance in 2011
Dikembe Mutombo
- Four time Defensive Player of the Year and 8 time All Star
- One of the best interior defenders of all time
- Outstanding blocker and rebounder
- Always averaged around or above 10ppg in his seasons as a starter
Bench
John Wall is a quick and athletic 4 time All Star who averaged over 10 assists for the past 3 seasons
Jimmy Butler is a quality two way player who can come in for either Kobe or Worthy
Andre Iguodala is another swingman who can contribute in a big way, as in his 2015 Finals MVP performance
Paul Millsap can come in for either forward, and is a versatile scorer and defensive leader
Ben Wallace is four time Defensive Player of the Year and will keep our defense solid when Mutombo steps out
Match-Ups
Kobe Bryant will guard Kawhi Leonard, while James Worthy will guard Klay Thompson
Mutombo will guard Yao, and CP3 will guard Stockton
Nowitzki will guard Garnett, whose Mavericks swept Garnett's Timberwolves in 2002 in their only playoff meeting with Nowitzki outperforming Garnett
We think both first units are relatively equal, but our big game players and superior bench will give us the edge
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Gilbert Arenas - Runs the offense for the second unit.
Drazen Petrovic - Shooter coming off the bench.
Grant Hill - Elite scoring two way option off the bench.
Marcus Camby - Lockdown defender.
Chris Webber - Stretch 4 to go small, elite scoring and rebounding option from the bench.
PLAYER PROFILES & CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
John Stockton
Perhaps the best passer in NBA history, he left the game holding a mass of assists records, including the career mark (15,806). He led the league in steals twice and retired as the all-time leader with 3,265. And as a testament to his durablity, his team made the playoffs in each of his 19 seasons and he played in all 82 games for 17 of those seasons.
Klay Thompson
On offense, Thompson is one of the best catch-and-shoot guys in the entire league. Curling off a screen, there’s not many players you’d put more confidence in to knock down the jumper. Thompson is a huge reason the Warriors have been successful over the last few seasons. He takes on much more defensive responsibility than Curry, usually drawing the other team’s best perimeter player. In the last two seasons he has made over 250 3s.
Kawhi Leonard
The best two-way player in the league and a hybrid forward with terrific length. He has a high motor and plays the game with a lot of energy. Spends majority of the time on the perimeter, but occasionally shows the ability to play with his back to the basket. Uses an effective turnaround jumper inside when posting up. An agile athlete, his strides are extremely long and he covers a lot of space when running the floor.
Kevin Garnett
A prototypical modern day power forward. Able to create his own shot with ease from the high post with great jab-steps and nifty ball-handling skills, and even handle the ball and ignite the offense in the open floor. Has an outstanding pull-up jumper. Terrific touch on his mid-range jumper, complete with a high release point that makes it impossible to block. Has streaky range all the way out the NBA 3-point line. Also a terrific presence in the post. Has an outstanding right-handed jump-hook shot. Slithers his shot off thanks to quickness and terrific feel. Too quick, tall and fluid for most power forwards to handle. Very explosive off feet. One of the best finishers in the NBA. A fantastic passer as wellmakes lightning quick decisions with ball in hands and has terrific court vision while seeing the entire floor. Particularly notable for his post-entry passing. Basketball IQ is generally extremely high.
Possesses amazing physical tools and combines that with unrivaled intensity. Size and length gives him an incredible advantage contesting shots inside the post and on the perimeter, and agility and quickness allow him to maneuver around the floor with ease. Hedges screens and recovers effectively thanks to his excellent footwork. Takes an incredible amount of pride in shutting his matchup down, and is a huge presence as a team defender as well. Infectious energy makes it impossible for teammates not to compete just as hard alongside him. Sometimes lets his emotions get the best of him.
Yao Ming
Never has a combination of awesome size and skills come together in one package, what makes this combination odd is that it comes from far East, not exactly a hotbed for basketball prospects. But there he stands, 7-5 and 300lbs, a better shooter than most point guards and definitely a lot more skilled than most centers.
Grant Hill
One of the best players of his generation between the years 1995 and 2000 or so. Was once arguably the most explosive offensive player in the NBA. Was incredibly fluid, agile, and made his fair share of highlight-reel plays above the rim. No longer able to take over a game with his athleticism. Has good size and strength for a small forward. Still athletic for his age, but all those ankle surgeries have slowed him significantly. Overcame a number of major setbacks and remains a very good NBA player. Plays a very savvy offensive game, and still extremely skilled and efficient. Has good versatility on both ends. Not athletic enough to be the defender he once was, but is still solid due to a strong work ethic and great court sense. Won two NCAA Titles during his four years at Duke. Was named Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year as a senior. Won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 1995. Was even more dominant in the NBA than he was in college. Instantly became one of the games most promising young talents. Fulfilled his potential to an extent, but was cut down by serious injuries in his prime. Seven time All-Star. A great leader on and off the floor. Offers a great presence in the locker room for younger players to emulate. Shows a very placid demeanor for the most part, but is a fierce competitor. A true professional who could have been one of the all time greats.
Chris Webber
Through his first five seasons with the team, Webber averaged more than 23 points per game and was the team’s star. Playing alongside the likes of Vlade Divac, Doug Christie and Jason Williams, the Kings forward brought a new level of success to the organization - reaching its pinnacle in a 2002 Western Conference Finals series against the L.A. Lakers.
With Webber on the team, Sacramento appeared in six straight Playoffs. On a personal level, Webber’s best statistical season came in 2000-01 when he averaged more than 27 points and 11 rebounds per game. Over the course of his career, he averaged a double-double for a total of six seasons and five consecutive years in Sacramento.
Drazen Petrovic
Gilbert Arenas
The former 2001 2nd round pick, (32nd overall) has established himself as one of the premier scorers in the league. The quirky guard is famous (amongst many other things) for the implementation of the Gilbert Arenas Rule present in the CBA. This rule allows teams to match any offer a 2nd round pick may receive from another team. Arenas is an outstanding shooter, capable of taking over games with an array of jump shots. He also gets to the free throw line at a fantastic clip.
Marcus Camby
A long, athletic center who is a productive defender, an outstanding rebounder and a just-decent offensive player. Has a huge wingspan and good height for a center, but is extremely lanky. Very fluid for a five, but not super quick or explosive. Relies more on his incredible length and timing more so than freakish athleticism. Shows very good lateral quickness, but doesnt have the bulk to dominate the block. Has some decent offensive tools. Uses his athleticism to find some easy opportunities. Not a horrible outside shooter, especially for a center. Can finish at the rim, but not efficiently. One of the best shot blockers in the game. Rebounds at an extremely high rate. Developed into one of the best players in college basketball over his three year career at UMass. Won every player of the year award as a junior. Carried his team to the Final Four. Sent his stock through the roof, setting the NCAA tournament record for blocks without making it to the final. Had a very nice rookie year in Toronto. Improved his rebounding and defense over time, but never became a featured offensive player. Was not able to stay healthy early in his career. Played more games in the last two seasons than in any other pair of seasons in his entire careerpossibly due to a contract clause which forced him to. Two time NBA All-Defensive First Team member. Won the defensive player of the year award in 2007 for the Nuggets, probably the worst defensive team in the League that year. Plays hard. Still has a few years of productivity left.
PG - Chris Paul, John Wall
SG - Kobe Bryant, Jimmy Butler
SF - James Worthy, Andre Iguodala
PF - Dirk Nowitzki, Paul Millsap
Center - Dikembe Mutombo, Ben Wallace
Chris Paul, CP3
- 7 time All Defensive First Team and 9 time All Star
- Led the NBA in assists 4 times and in steals 6 times
- Averages almost 10 assists with only 2.4 turnovers per game
- Can drive to the basket, score from mid-range or beyond the arc
- One of the best perimeter defenders
Kobe Bryant
- Most Valuable Player of the Year 2008 and 18 All-Star appearances
- One of the NBA's most dangerous scorers, having led the league in points twice
- Lockdown defense, especially come playoffs time, making the All Defensive First Team 9 times
- Clutch player, leading the Lakers to rings with finals MVP performances in 2009 and 2010
James Worthy aka 'Big Game James'
- Hall of Famer and 7 time All Star (1986-1992)
- The 'third wheel' of the Showtime Lakers, supporting Magic Johnson and Abdul-Jabbar
- Blazingly fast player who was devastating on quick breaks
- Strong post player, with good spins and a deadly turnaround mid-range jumper
- Versatile defender who was sometimes used to contain the opponent's best SG e.g. Drexler
- Clutch player who always took his game up another level in the playoffs, including a finals MVP performance in 1988
Dirk Nowitzki
- Most Valuable Player of the Year 2007 with .502 - .416 - .904 shooting percentages to join the 50-40-90 club
- 13 All-Star appearances
- 7 footer with the ability to shoot and drive the basketball and play as a stretch 4
- Always raised his game for the playoffs, with higher point production and rebounding in the post season
- Led the Mavericks to their franchise's only championship with a finals MVP performance in 2011
Dikembe Mutombo
- Four time Defensive Player of the Year and 8 time All Star
- One of the best interior defenders of all time
- Outstanding blocker and rebounder
- Always averaged around or above 10ppg in his seasons as a starter
Bench
John Wall is a quick and athletic 4 time All Star who averaged over 10 assists for the past 3 seasons
Jimmy Butler is a quality two way player who can come in for either Kobe or Worthy
Andre Iguodala is another swingman who can contribute in a big way, as in his 2015 Finals MVP performance
Paul Millsap can come in for either forward, and is a versatile scorer and defensive leader
Ben Wallace is four time Defensive Player of the Year and will keep our defense solid when Mutombo steps out
Match-Ups
Kobe Bryant will guard Kawhi Leonard, while James Worthy will guard Klay Thompson
Mutombo will guard Yao, and CP3 will guard Stockton
Nowitzki will guard Garnett, whose Mavericks swept Garnett's Timberwolves in 2002 in their only playoff meeting with Nowitzki outperforming Garnett
We think both first units are relatively equal, but our big game players and superior bench will give us the edge
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TEAM MOBY STARTING FIVE
#1 Point Guard - John Stockton
#2 Shooting Guard - Klay Thompson
#3 Small Forward - Kawhi Leonard
#4 Power Forward - Kevin Garnett
#5 Center - Yao Ming
BENCH
#1 Point Guard - John Stockton
#2 Shooting Guard - Klay Thompson
#3 Small Forward - Kawhi Leonard
#4 Power Forward - Kevin Garnett
#5 Center - Yao Ming
Gilbert Arenas - Runs the offense for the second unit.
Drazen Petrovic - Shooter coming off the bench.
Grant Hill - Elite scoring two way option off the bench.
Marcus Camby - Lockdown defender.
Chris Webber - Stretch 4 to go small, elite scoring and rebounding option from the bench.
PLAYER PROFILES & CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
John Stockton
Perhaps the best passer in NBA history, he left the game holding a mass of assists records, including the career mark (15,806). He led the league in steals twice and retired as the all-time leader with 3,265. And as a testament to his durablity, his team made the playoffs in each of his 19 seasons and he played in all 82 games for 17 of those seasons.
Klay Thompson
On offense, Thompson is one of the best catch-and-shoot guys in the entire league. Curling off a screen, there’s not many players you’d put more confidence in to knock down the jumper. Thompson is a huge reason the Warriors have been successful over the last few seasons. He takes on much more defensive responsibility than Curry, usually drawing the other team’s best perimeter player. In the last two seasons he has made over 250 3s.
Kawhi Leonard
The best two-way player in the league and a hybrid forward with terrific length. He has a high motor and plays the game with a lot of energy. Spends majority of the time on the perimeter, but occasionally shows the ability to play with his back to the basket. Uses an effective turnaround jumper inside when posting up. An agile athlete, his strides are extremely long and he covers a lot of space when running the floor.
Kevin Garnett
A prototypical modern day power forward. Able to create his own shot with ease from the high post with great jab-steps and nifty ball-handling skills, and even handle the ball and ignite the offense in the open floor. Has an outstanding pull-up jumper. Terrific touch on his mid-range jumper, complete with a high release point that makes it impossible to block. Has streaky range all the way out the NBA 3-point line. Also a terrific presence in the post. Has an outstanding right-handed jump-hook shot. Slithers his shot off thanks to quickness and terrific feel. Too quick, tall and fluid for most power forwards to handle. Very explosive off feet. One of the best finishers in the NBA. A fantastic passer as wellmakes lightning quick decisions with ball in hands and has terrific court vision while seeing the entire floor. Particularly notable for his post-entry passing. Basketball IQ is generally extremely high.
Possesses amazing physical tools and combines that with unrivaled intensity. Size and length gives him an incredible advantage contesting shots inside the post and on the perimeter, and agility and quickness allow him to maneuver around the floor with ease. Hedges screens and recovers effectively thanks to his excellent footwork. Takes an incredible amount of pride in shutting his matchup down, and is a huge presence as a team defender as well. Infectious energy makes it impossible for teammates not to compete just as hard alongside him. Sometimes lets his emotions get the best of him.
Yao Ming
Never has a combination of awesome size and skills come together in one package, what makes this combination odd is that it comes from far East, not exactly a hotbed for basketball prospects. But there he stands, 7-5 and 300lbs, a better shooter than most point guards and definitely a lot more skilled than most centers.
Grant Hill
One of the best players of his generation between the years 1995 and 2000 or so. Was once arguably the most explosive offensive player in the NBA. Was incredibly fluid, agile, and made his fair share of highlight-reel plays above the rim. No longer able to take over a game with his athleticism. Has good size and strength for a small forward. Still athletic for his age, but all those ankle surgeries have slowed him significantly. Overcame a number of major setbacks and remains a very good NBA player. Plays a very savvy offensive game, and still extremely skilled and efficient. Has good versatility on both ends. Not athletic enough to be the defender he once was, but is still solid due to a strong work ethic and great court sense. Won two NCAA Titles during his four years at Duke. Was named Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year as a senior. Won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 1995. Was even more dominant in the NBA than he was in college. Instantly became one of the games most promising young talents. Fulfilled his potential to an extent, but was cut down by serious injuries in his prime. Seven time All-Star. A great leader on and off the floor. Offers a great presence in the locker room for younger players to emulate. Shows a very placid demeanor for the most part, but is a fierce competitor. A true professional who could have been one of the all time greats.
Chris Webber
Through his first five seasons with the team, Webber averaged more than 23 points per game and was the team’s star. Playing alongside the likes of Vlade Divac, Doug Christie and Jason Williams, the Kings forward brought a new level of success to the organization - reaching its pinnacle in a 2002 Western Conference Finals series against the L.A. Lakers.
With Webber on the team, Sacramento appeared in six straight Playoffs. On a personal level, Webber’s best statistical season came in 2000-01 when he averaged more than 27 points and 11 rebounds per game. Over the course of his career, he averaged a double-double for a total of six seasons and five consecutive years in Sacramento.
Drazen Petrovic
When you talk about some of the greatest NBA players of all time, one name that usually isn't mentioned is Drazen Petrovic. This is not because of his lack of talent, effort or will to win, but because of a tragedy.
Petrovic was born on October 22, 1964, in Sibenik, Croatia. His initial interest in basketball came from his eagerness be just like his older brother.
It started as an act of idolization but turned into Petrovic's passion, as he would play in pickup games at a local court on a regular basis and spent time alone improving his game. He had a dedication and determination to develop his skills that made him admired and more importantly respected.
Clyde Drexler reminisced on Petrovic by saying, "Drazen and I were very good friends. I was one of those people who welcomed him toPortland when he came from Europe. We talked about his family a lot in his restaurant, and he enjoyed his friends and he enjoyed the game of basketball. I really respect him because he worked very, very hard.
Each and every day in practice he would be the first guy to come and the last guy to leave the gym. So anybody with that kind of dedication...you have to have a lot of respect for him."
Nobody put more pressure on him or had higher expectations for him than Petrovic himself.
"I'll remember Drazen as a cheerful guy who was always smiling," New Jersey Nets coach Chuck Daly said. His genuine smile acted as a disguise or a mask for his serious manner in basketball.
His desire to be the best basketball player he could be turned into him being a leader and artist. Petrovic was given the nickname "The Croatian Mozart" because of the art form that made basketball.
He began breaking through and becoming a star in Europe, when he played on Croatian teams KK Sibenka and KK Cibona.
Petrovic was drafted by the Portland Trailblazers in 1986 as the 60th pick. He would eventual take his talents to the United States for the 1989-90 NBA season.
Petrovic immediately experienced a lack of playing time in Portland because he was stuck behind players like Drexler. In his time with the Blazers, he averaged 11.5 minutes per game and just under seven points per game.
Eighteen games into the 1990-91 season, Petrovic requested a trade out of Portland because of his lack of playing time. The Trailblazers met his wishes and, in a three-team deal, sent him to the New Jersey Nets.
Petrovic joined the Nets in the middle of the 1990-91 season and received immediate playing time he was more satisfied with. He joined a team that missed the postseason for a few years, but had some solid talent with players like Derrick Coleman and Kenny Anderson.
"Petro" started to truly get recognized by NBA fans and the league his next season. He received 36.9 minutes per game of playing time and responded by averaging 26.6 points per game.
The "Basketball Amadeus" became a leader on the team in his first full season and was easily the most valuable player behind his impressive 51 percent field goal percentage and appearance in all 82 games.
Petrovic was popular for his incredible three-point shooting ability. In the 1991-92 season, he was an impressive 44.4 percent three-point shooter.
In what would sadly be his final NBA season, Petrovic increased his field goal percentage, three-point field goal percentage and his points per game during throughout the 1992-93 season. He ended the season 11th in the league in points per game and third in three-point field goal percentage by shooting 45 percent behind the arc.
He did not, however, make the All-Star game, which made Petrovic seemingly feel as if he was getting a lack of recognition and even considered leaving the NBA.
In the 1992 Olympic Games, Petrovic led the Croatian national team all the way to the gold medal game against the USA's "Dream Team." Croatia failed to beat the Dream Team, but being in the game was a feat all in itself.
Petrovic outscored all other players on the court that night. He even had some words with Michael Jordan after MJ told Petrovic, "I'll drain one in your face." Petro replied, "I'll do it, too."
Like Jordan, Petrovic wasn't afraid to do a little chatting on the court. And also like Jordan, he was able to back it up. That's a reason why Jordan loved and hated playing against him.
After receiving the Drazen Petrovic Trophy, Jordan described his experience as Petrovic's opponent. "It was a thrill to play against Drazen. Every time we competed, he competed with an aggressive attitude. He wasn't nervous. He came at me as hard as I came at him. So, we've had some great battles in the past and unfortunately, they were short battles."
On June 7, 1993, a tragedy struck that would take the life of an NBA player on the verge of becoming a star and top player in the league. On that day, on a highway in Ingolstadt, Germany, Drazen Petrovic was killed in a car accident.
Following a meeting with the Croatian national team, which had a qualification tournament for the 1993 Eurobasket approaching, Petrovic chose to drive back to Croatia with his girlfriend instead of taking a plane. While on the Autobahn 9, a semi-trailer truck driver lost control and cut off the car Petrovic was a passenger in.
At the age of 28, Petrovic passed away. The incident on that day took the life of a player who was entering his prime in a sport that he had worked so hard to master. Petrovic was becoming one of the best scorers in the entire NBA.
There is a legitimate belief that he would have continued to improve and become one of the most popular players in the league.
Petrovic was the first international player to come to the United States and make a meaningful impact in the NBA, serving as a trailblazer and innovator for all future international players.
"Drazen Petrovic was an extraordinary young man, and a true pioneer in the global sports of basketball," NBA commissioner David Stern said of Petrovic's importance to the NBA. "I know that a lasting part of his athletic legacy will be that he paved the way for other international players to compete successfully in the NBA. His contributions to the sport of basketball were enormous. We are all proud of the fact we knew him."
The tragedy of Petrovic's death left people around the world speechless and wondering what could have come if his life was not cut short. Petrovic could have gone on to be one of the league leaders or even the leading scorer in the league for years to come. Petrovic may have gotten the Nets that NBA title that they are still searching for today.
His legacy left was massive as he was both an international hero and an NBA rising star. Petrovic's No. 3 jersey is retired by the Nets organization.
At only 28 years old, Petrovic was able to accomplish so much. Unfortunately we will never know how much more Petrovic could have accomplished and how much brighter his star could have shined.
Petrovic was born on October 22, 1964, in Sibenik, Croatia. His initial interest in basketball came from his eagerness be just like his older brother.
It started as an act of idolization but turned into Petrovic's passion, as he would play in pickup games at a local court on a regular basis and spent time alone improving his game. He had a dedication and determination to develop his skills that made him admired and more importantly respected.
Clyde Drexler reminisced on Petrovic by saying, "Drazen and I were very good friends. I was one of those people who welcomed him toPortland when he came from Europe. We talked about his family a lot in his restaurant, and he enjoyed his friends and he enjoyed the game of basketball. I really respect him because he worked very, very hard.
Each and every day in practice he would be the first guy to come and the last guy to leave the gym. So anybody with that kind of dedication...you have to have a lot of respect for him."
Nobody put more pressure on him or had higher expectations for him than Petrovic himself.
"I'll remember Drazen as a cheerful guy who was always smiling," New Jersey Nets coach Chuck Daly said. His genuine smile acted as a disguise or a mask for his serious manner in basketball.
His desire to be the best basketball player he could be turned into him being a leader and artist. Petrovic was given the nickname "The Croatian Mozart" because of the art form that made basketball.
He began breaking through and becoming a star in Europe, when he played on Croatian teams KK Sibenka and KK Cibona.
Petrovic was drafted by the Portland Trailblazers in 1986 as the 60th pick. He would eventual take his talents to the United States for the 1989-90 NBA season.
Petrovic immediately experienced a lack of playing time in Portland because he was stuck behind players like Drexler. In his time with the Blazers, he averaged 11.5 minutes per game and just under seven points per game.
Eighteen games into the 1990-91 season, Petrovic requested a trade out of Portland because of his lack of playing time. The Trailblazers met his wishes and, in a three-team deal, sent him to the New Jersey Nets.
Petrovic joined the Nets in the middle of the 1990-91 season and received immediate playing time he was more satisfied with. He joined a team that missed the postseason for a few years, but had some solid talent with players like Derrick Coleman and Kenny Anderson.
"Petro" started to truly get recognized by NBA fans and the league his next season. He received 36.9 minutes per game of playing time and responded by averaging 26.6 points per game.
The "Basketball Amadeus" became a leader on the team in his first full season and was easily the most valuable player behind his impressive 51 percent field goal percentage and appearance in all 82 games.
Petrovic was popular for his incredible three-point shooting ability. In the 1991-92 season, he was an impressive 44.4 percent three-point shooter.
In what would sadly be his final NBA season, Petrovic increased his field goal percentage, three-point field goal percentage and his points per game during throughout the 1992-93 season. He ended the season 11th in the league in points per game and third in three-point field goal percentage by shooting 45 percent behind the arc.
He did not, however, make the All-Star game, which made Petrovic seemingly feel as if he was getting a lack of recognition and even considered leaving the NBA.
In the 1992 Olympic Games, Petrovic led the Croatian national team all the way to the gold medal game against the USA's "Dream Team." Croatia failed to beat the Dream Team, but being in the game was a feat all in itself.
Petrovic outscored all other players on the court that night. He even had some words with Michael Jordan after MJ told Petrovic, "I'll drain one in your face." Petro replied, "I'll do it, too."
Like Jordan, Petrovic wasn't afraid to do a little chatting on the court. And also like Jordan, he was able to back it up. That's a reason why Jordan loved and hated playing against him.
After receiving the Drazen Petrovic Trophy, Jordan described his experience as Petrovic's opponent. "It was a thrill to play against Drazen. Every time we competed, he competed with an aggressive attitude. He wasn't nervous. He came at me as hard as I came at him. So, we've had some great battles in the past and unfortunately, they were short battles."
On June 7, 1993, a tragedy struck that would take the life of an NBA player on the verge of becoming a star and top player in the league. On that day, on a highway in Ingolstadt, Germany, Drazen Petrovic was killed in a car accident.
Following a meeting with the Croatian national team, which had a qualification tournament for the 1993 Eurobasket approaching, Petrovic chose to drive back to Croatia with his girlfriend instead of taking a plane. While on the Autobahn 9, a semi-trailer truck driver lost control and cut off the car Petrovic was a passenger in.
At the age of 28, Petrovic passed away. The incident on that day took the life of a player who was entering his prime in a sport that he had worked so hard to master. Petrovic was becoming one of the best scorers in the entire NBA.
There is a legitimate belief that he would have continued to improve and become one of the most popular players in the league.
Petrovic was the first international player to come to the United States and make a meaningful impact in the NBA, serving as a trailblazer and innovator for all future international players.
"Drazen Petrovic was an extraordinary young man, and a true pioneer in the global sports of basketball," NBA commissioner David Stern said of Petrovic's importance to the NBA. "I know that a lasting part of his athletic legacy will be that he paved the way for other international players to compete successfully in the NBA. His contributions to the sport of basketball were enormous. We are all proud of the fact we knew him."
The tragedy of Petrovic's death left people around the world speechless and wondering what could have come if his life was not cut short. Petrovic could have gone on to be one of the league leaders or even the leading scorer in the league for years to come. Petrovic may have gotten the Nets that NBA title that they are still searching for today.
His legacy left was massive as he was both an international hero and an NBA rising star. Petrovic's No. 3 jersey is retired by the Nets organization.
At only 28 years old, Petrovic was able to accomplish so much. Unfortunately we will never know how much more Petrovic could have accomplished and how much brighter his star could have shined.
Gilbert Arenas
The former 2001 2nd round pick, (32nd overall) has established himself as one of the premier scorers in the league. The quirky guard is famous (amongst many other things) for the implementation of the Gilbert Arenas Rule present in the CBA. This rule allows teams to match any offer a 2nd round pick may receive from another team. Arenas is an outstanding shooter, capable of taking over games with an array of jump shots. He also gets to the free throw line at a fantastic clip.
Marcus Camby
A long, athletic center who is a productive defender, an outstanding rebounder and a just-decent offensive player. Has a huge wingspan and good height for a center, but is extremely lanky. Very fluid for a five, but not super quick or explosive. Relies more on his incredible length and timing more so than freakish athleticism. Shows very good lateral quickness, but doesnt have the bulk to dominate the block. Has some decent offensive tools. Uses his athleticism to find some easy opportunities. Not a horrible outside shooter, especially for a center. Can finish at the rim, but not efficiently. One of the best shot blockers in the game. Rebounds at an extremely high rate. Developed into one of the best players in college basketball over his three year career at UMass. Won every player of the year award as a junior. Carried his team to the Final Four. Sent his stock through the roof, setting the NCAA tournament record for blocks without making it to the final. Had a very nice rookie year in Toronto. Improved his rebounding and defense over time, but never became a featured offensive player. Was not able to stay healthy early in his career. Played more games in the last two seasons than in any other pair of seasons in his entire careerpossibly due to a contract clause which forced him to. Two time NBA All-Defensive First Team member. Won the defensive player of the year award in 2007 for the Nuggets, probably the worst defensive team in the League that year. Plays hard. Still has a few years of productivity left.
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