Aug
28
2008
The sharpshooter from beyond the arc J.R. Smith received a 3 year contract worth a guaranteed 16.5 million dollars from the Denver Nuggets. The 22 year old Smith averaged just over 12 points a game and a shooting percentage from three point territory of 40% last season, in only 19.2 minutes average game time.
J.R. Smith was drafted 18th back in 2004 by the New Orleans Hornets and was acquired by Denver from the Chicago Bulls in 2006 in exchange for Howard Eisley and two second round draft picks.
As a shooting guard, Smith has great talent at driving into the lane or stopping on a dime with a spot-up shot. He is a valuable asset to the team that brings enthusiasm to the game and a spark off the bench.
Aug
27
2008
The 6′9″ 250 pound power forward out of Louisiana Tech college achieved phenomenal success in the NBA. Although “The Mailman” never got the top prize of a championship ring, he will go down in history as one of the greatest power forwards to play the game.
Malone played his first 18 seasons with the Utah Jazz. He missed less than 15 total games during his career with the Jazz. That alone is an amazing accomplishment. Having his eye on the prize which had eluded him, Karl left for L.A. to play with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal taking a huge pay cut and signing for 2 years with the Lakers. Unbelievably, Malone got a serious knee injury by another baller falling on his leg, less than halfway through the season. Karl who only played 42 games with the Lakers, just couldn’t heal in time to have any effect in the championships. Malone decided to step down after his first season with L.A. and retire.
Karl Malone’s career averages in the NBA.
| Field Goal Percentage |
51.6% |
| 3 Pointer Percentage |
27.4% |
| Free Throw Percentage |
74.2% |
| Rebounds Per Game |
10.1 |
| Points Per Game |
25.0 |
Karl Malone’s career ranking in the NBA.
| Total Points Scored |
36,928 |
2nd |
| Total Minutes Played |
54,852 |
2nd |
| Total Games Played |
1,476 |
4th |
| Total Rebounds |
14,968 |
6th |
Aug
26
2008
Hakeem Olajuwon the two time world champion center for the Houston Rockets in 1994 and 1995 is at the top of the leaderboard for the most blocks ever in the NBA. He led the league in shot blocking three times in 1990, 1991 and 1993.
The list below contains the Top 10 all time leaders for total blocks during there careers.
| 1 |
3,830 |
Hakeem Olajuwon |
| 2 |
3,278 |
Dikembe Mutombo |
| 3 |
3,189 |
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
| 4 |
3,064 |
Mark Eaton |
| 5 |
2,954 |
David Robinson |
| 6 |
2,894 |
Patrick Ewing |
| 7 |
2,542 |
Tree Rollins |
| 8 |
2,520 |
Shaquille O’Neal |
| 9 |
2,361 |
Robert Parish |
| 10 |
2,356 |
Alonzo Mourning |
Look how dominant Hakeem was guarding the basket. There is no one even close to him in total blocks. He was truly a defensive machine.
Just outside the Top 10 are Tim Duncan, Ben Wallace and Marcus Camby. Shaq will probably end up in the 7th spot before his career is over.
