Kevin Garnett Also Known As KG

Standing 6' 11" and born May, 19 1976 in South Carolina, Kevin Garnett is regarded as one of the best all-around basketball players in the NBA. Kevin attended Farragut Career Academy and was the fifth player drafted in 1995 he also became the first NBA player drafted out of High School. With names like "The Big Ticket, "KG", "Go-Go Gadget Arms", "The Kid" and "The Franchise" Kevin enjoys entertaining his fans and does a great job getting the crowd hyped.

With his signature chalk slapping Kevin Garnett is a champion on and off the court, In November 2005, Garnett donated $1.2 million to Oprah's Angel Network to help with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Garnett married long time girlfriend Brandi Padilla during a private ceremony in California. The wedding was the reason he did not take part in the Olympic games.

In 1995 Kevin was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves and was the first player to be drafted right out of High School since Moses Malone in 1974. Kevin gave the struggling Timberwolves the boost they need to become a contending team. Although the Timberwolves improved immensely they could not reach championship status.T

The Heart of the Miami Heat

Dwyane Wade was drafted by the Miami Heat in 2003 where he quickly emerged as a solid player averaging 16 points per game with a 46% shooting average and around 4 assists per game all in his rookie year. While improving his game with outstanding performances in the playoffs he fell short to the selection of the 2004 NBA All-Rookie Team, placing his third in rookie of the year voting just behind Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James.
In the 2005-2006 Wade led his second All-Star Game with game winning performances to lead the East over the West 122-120. In the 2006 NBA playoffs, Wade resurrected his team to stardom while enduring some injuries while facing off with the Detroit Pistons. When the Miami heat faced off with the Dallas Mavericks, Wade made some of his most memorable plays to date finishing with 42 points (tying his career playoff high) and a career high of 13 rebounds. The Heat went on to win Game 6, taking the series 4-2, and Wade was presented the honorable Final MVP trophy. Dwyane Wade's career achievements include: 2006 NBA Champion and NBA Finals MVP, 4-time NBA All-Star (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008), 3 Time All-NBA (2005, 2006, 2007), 2005 All-Defense, 2004 NBA All-Rookie Team,
and NBA All-Star Skills Challenge Champion (2006, 2007).

Yao Ming Treasures

Mick Kupchak was reduced to tears today as Yao Ming signed a 5-year, 75 million dollar deal with the Houston Rockets. But this isn’t about Mitch Kupchak at all. Yao Ming is one of the top centers in basketball(mainly a reflection of the declining quality of centers in the NBA), and is now paid like one. Just by looking at a list of NBA salaries, Yao Ming’s annual average salary of 15 million would rank 4th next season, right behind Kevin Garnett. Is Yao Ming anywhere near as good as Kevin Garnett? The answer right now is no, but to be fair, they do play different positions.

Despite his lack of game-changing skill, the Rockets had to lock up Yao Ming to a large deal. If he had hit the open market, someone would have paid him more. Why pay this much money to someone who didn’t even average a double double last season? There are a variety of factors:

So, essentially, despite the fact that he is not and may never be an inside force like Shaq or the Alonzo Mourning of old, Yao Ming is still a very good center, and above all, is important to the Rockets franchise. He will be a cornerstone of this team for years to come, and will be a perennial all-star in the West.

Nowitzki Goes Nowhere

Five time NBA All-Star, six-time All-NBA member and the only player in NBA history to register 150 three-point field goals and 100 blocks in a season.

All of this and the poor guy is barely recognized in his home land of Germany, because some soccer player is king of the public.

Dirk Nowitzki was the first Dallas Mavericks player to be named to an All-NBA team in 2000-01. He is also the first Maverick to ever be selected to an All-NBA First Team while putting up career numbers in 2004-05 and 2005-06.

Despite all of these accomplishments in the U.S. and just recently being named Europe’s Player of the Year, Nowitzki still plays second fiddle to soccer player Michael Ballack in Germany.

That’s not to say Nowitzki is complaining, however, as he is considered a superstar in Dallas and for Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

Nowitzki’s style of play has been compared to Boston Celtic great Larry Bird. He is obviously considered a big man at 7’0”, who can play a physical game down low in the paint. But he also has the shooting range that could nail a 3-pointer from behind the arc, making him multi threat every time he steps onto the court.

Started Wearing Lakers Jerseys Pau Gasol

Pau Gasol, who turned 28 this July, was born in Barcelona Spain. Paul is a 7'0 forward/center for the Los Angeles Lakers. As a youngster growing up in Spain, Pau played basketball with his two brothers, Marc and Adria. Marc is also a professional basketball player. In High School Pau played with his team called "Llor", and after that signed with C.B. Cornella. By the age of 16, Pau was playing for the Barcelona Junior National Team. He played in Europe from 1997-199, where his final season he averaged over 11 points and 5 rebounds playing in just 24 minutes a game.

Pau entered the 2001 NBA draft, and was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks, who immediately traded his rights to Memphis, for Shareef Abdur-Rahim. As a Grizzles star for seven seasons, he still today holds the franchise record for games played, minutes played, field goals made- and attempted, free throws made and attempted. He also leads in offensive-defensive- and total rebounds, blocked shots, turnovers and points. Pretty much every stat in the Grizzles record book belongs to Gasol.This past February Gasol was given one of the Lakers Jerseys, in a trade the Lakers Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, Marc Gasol and first round picks in 2008 and 2010. Pau decided to continue to wear his #16 jersey with the Lakers. He has worn that number his entire professional career. In his first start with the Lakers Gasol poured in 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Gasol played a month with the Lakers before rolling his ankle causing him to miss nearly a month of action. When Gasol returned, he played the last few games before starting the playoffs with the Lakers. Gasol was able to win his first career playoff game, and also advance to the NBA Finals- falling to the Boston Celtics.

Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard. Young. Strong. Athletic. At his young age Dwight Howard already dominates the league through his athleticness and power. Despite his strong attributes like dunking or rebounding the ball this young player still have so much room for improvement. Being the best dunk and rebounder of the league last year he still has great flaws to this game. Dwight Howard doesn't have a good jumpshot. He has too much turnovers. The turnovers will decrease with being more experienced in future. But him learning how to shoot the ball from 5 to 7 feet is a harder task for him to master. Being able to shoot the ball is uncharacteristic
He also shines through his humor and good sportsmanship. Both of these features are great for becoming a great player in future.

Rare Athlete To Respect Shaquille O'Neal

O'Neal is interesting for other reasons, though. Despite all of his wealth, he has a desire to do good in life. Perhaps it is due to his mother and stepfather, a military man named Phil Harrison, that have guided him. Shaq always refers to Harrison as his father without a blink. In reality that is so since Harrison did all the heavy-lifting in terms of raising a family.
Shaquille married his longtime girlfriend with whom he has children. That may not sound like a big deal but it sends a message. This is particularly true for the black community since the out-of-wedlock birthrate is an astounding 70%. Marriage sends a positive message instead of the view of another athlete just running around impregnating anything that moves.
O'Neal also went back and got his college degree. A cynic would say, "Why bother?" but it is an accomplishment for him and a promise to his mother. It also says college is important since virtually nobody will become an NBA player despite the marketing of it everywhere. You have a better chance of getting hit by lightning.