RAJON RONDO BIOGRAPHY
Rajon Rondo was born February 22, 1986 in Louisville, Kentucky. An NBA Champion, two-time All Star and three-time NBA Defensive Team selection, his signature breakaway speed and amazing court vision have made Rondo one of the most entertaining and talented young players in the league.
Rondo’s high school career started at Louisville ‘s Eastern High School. As a junior, he averaged 27.6 ppg, 10.0 rpg and 7.5 apg, earning All-State honors and was named the 7th Region Player of the Year. In his senior year, Rondo transferred to Virginia ‘s Oak Hill Academy where he averaged 21.0 ppg, 3.0 rbg and 12.0 apg.
In 2004, Rondo was named to the McDonald’s All-American Team and played in the Jordan Capital Classic Game.
Rondo attended the University of Kentucky (UK) for his freshman and sophomore seasons before declaring himself eligible for the NBA Draft. Named to the SEC All-Freshmen Team, Rondo set the University of Kentucky single-season record for steals, totaling 87, making at least one steal in every game. Rondo set a UK record for most rebounds in a game by a guard, grabbing 19 rebounds against Iowa. He was named to the 2005 USA Men’s Under-21 World Championship Team and brought home a gold medal in the FIBA World Championships.
Drafted 21st overall in the 2006 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, Rondo was then traded to the Boston Celtics, where he has become an integral factor in the Celtics’ success. Rondo found his rhythm amongst his three veteran teammates during the 2007-08 season and helped the Celtics capture an NBA World Championship. The future is bright for a player such as Rajon, and with success on the court he is sure to be a perennial All Star and premier point guard in the NBA for many years to come.
In 2011, Rondo launched the Rajon Rondo Foundation to provide children living in low-income areas with safe, reliable resources and hope for the future.
For Rondo's career stats, go to:
http://www.nba.com/playerfile/rajon_rondo/career_stats.html
Rondo’s high school career started at Louisville ‘s Eastern High School. As a junior, he averaged 27.6 ppg, 10.0 rpg and 7.5 apg, earning All-State honors and was named the 7th Region Player of the Year. In his senior year, Rondo transferred to Virginia ‘s Oak Hill Academy where he averaged 21.0 ppg, 3.0 rbg and 12.0 apg.
In 2004, Rondo was named to the McDonald’s All-American Team and played in the Jordan Capital Classic Game.
Rondo attended the University of Kentucky (UK) for his freshman and sophomore seasons before declaring himself eligible for the NBA Draft. Named to the SEC All-Freshmen Team, Rondo set the University of Kentucky single-season record for steals, totaling 87, making at least one steal in every game. Rondo set a UK record for most rebounds in a game by a guard, grabbing 19 rebounds against Iowa. He was named to the 2005 USA Men’s Under-21 World Championship Team and brought home a gold medal in the FIBA World Championships.
Drafted 21st overall in the 2006 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, Rondo was then traded to the Boston Celtics, where he has become an integral factor in the Celtics’ success. Rondo found his rhythm amongst his three veteran teammates during the 2007-08 season and helped the Celtics capture an NBA World Championship. The future is bright for a player such as Rajon, and with success on the court he is sure to be a perennial All Star and premier point guard in the NBA for many years to come.
In 2011, Rondo launched the Rajon Rondo Foundation to provide children living in low-income areas with safe, reliable resources and hope for the future.
For Rondo's career stats, go to:
http://www.nba.com/playerfile/rajon_rondo/career_stats.html
MICHAEL JORDAN BIOGRAPHY
Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born in Brookyln, New York on February 17, 1963. He was the fourth of five children born to James and Deloris. James Jordan was a mechanic and Deloris Jordan was a bank teller. Soon after Michael's birth, James and Deloris felt that the streets of Brooklyn were unsafe to raise a family, so they moved the family to Wilmington, North Carolina.
As a youngster, Michael immediately became interested in sports. However, it was baseball not basketball that was his first love. He would play catch in the yard with his father, who loved baseball. He soon started to play basketball to try and follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Larry, whom he idolized growing up.
At Laney High School, as a sophomore, he decided to try out for the varsity team but was cut because he was raw and undersized. The following summer, he grew four inches and practiced tirelessly. The hard work paid off as he averaged 25 points per game in his last two years and was selected to the McDonald's All-American Team as a senior.
Following high school, he earned a basketball scholarship from North Carolina University where he would play under legendary coach Dean Smith. In his first year, he was named ACC Freshman of the Year. He would help lead the Tarheels to the 1982 NCAA Championship, making the game-winning shot.
After winning the Naismith College Player of the Year award in 1984, Jordan decided to leave North Carolina to enter the NBA draft. Although he decided to leave college early, he would later return to the university in 1986 to complete his degree in geography.
In the 1984 NBA draft, he was selected with the third overall pick by the Chicago Bulls. As a rookie for the Bulls, he made an immediate impact, averaging an amazing 28.2 points a game, including six games where he scored 40+ points. He was selected to the NBA All-Star Game and named Rookie of the Year. This would just be the beginning of a career filled with awards and accolades. In the upcoming years, he would go on to win five regular season MVP awards, six NBA championships, six NBA finals MVP awards, three All-Star game MVP awards, and a defensive player of the year award.
In 1993, tragedy struck Jordan's seemingly perfect life. On July 23, 1993, his father, James, was murdered off Interstate 95 in North Carolina. Two locals had robbed him, shot him in the chest and threw his body in a swamp.
Three months later on October 6, 1993, following a run of three consecutive NBA championships, Jordan announced his retirement from basketball citing that "he no longer had the desire to play." Now "retired" at age 33, it was uncertain what Jordan would do next. Would he take a year off out of the public eye to grieve and then come back to the Bulls? Would he go out and look for a white collar job in the field of geography, his college major? Or would he take up a completely different hobby like golf?
In early 1994, Jordan decided to take up a new hobby alright. However, it wasn't golf. It was baseball. Despite not playing baseball since high school some 13 years ago, he signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox in 1994. He played one unspectacular season for the Double-A Birmingham Barons.
On March 18, 1995, Jordan, a man of few words since his retirement, sent two important words to media sources everywhere: "I'm Back". He celebrated his return to the NBA by doing what he always did best: winning. Although the Bulls would lose in the playoffs to the Orlando Magic, it was obvious that Jordan was still the same superstar player. He would go on to lead the Bulls to three more consecutive NBA championships and etch his place in the history as the "NBA's greatest player of all-time".
On January 13, 1999, Jordan re-announced his retirement, saying that "he was 99.9 percent sure that he would never play again". Soon after, Jordan became part owner of the Washington Wizards.
Near the start of the 2001-02 season, there were hints that Jordan may try another comeback to the NBA. On September 25, 2001, Jordan confirmed those rumors, announcing that he would once again return to the NBA as a member of the Wizards. His two seasons in Washington were mediocre at best. His statistics were solid and he showed some flashes of his old self but he could not lead the Wizards to the playoffs and missed several games due to injury. He retired for good following the 2002-03 season and was subsequently dismissed as president of the Washington Wizards.
In June 2006, he became part owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. Later that year, he filed for divorce from Juanita, his wife of 17 years. They have three children together
As a youngster, Michael immediately became interested in sports. However, it was baseball not basketball that was his first love. He would play catch in the yard with his father, who loved baseball. He soon started to play basketball to try and follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Larry, whom he idolized growing up.
At Laney High School, as a sophomore, he decided to try out for the varsity team but was cut because he was raw and undersized. The following summer, he grew four inches and practiced tirelessly. The hard work paid off as he averaged 25 points per game in his last two years and was selected to the McDonald's All-American Team as a senior.
Following high school, he earned a basketball scholarship from North Carolina University where he would play under legendary coach Dean Smith. In his first year, he was named ACC Freshman of the Year. He would help lead the Tarheels to the 1982 NCAA Championship, making the game-winning shot.
After winning the Naismith College Player of the Year award in 1984, Jordan decided to leave North Carolina to enter the NBA draft. Although he decided to leave college early, he would later return to the university in 1986 to complete his degree in geography.
In the 1984 NBA draft, he was selected with the third overall pick by the Chicago Bulls. As a rookie for the Bulls, he made an immediate impact, averaging an amazing 28.2 points a game, including six games where he scored 40+ points. He was selected to the NBA All-Star Game and named Rookie of the Year. This would just be the beginning of a career filled with awards and accolades. In the upcoming years, he would go on to win five regular season MVP awards, six NBA championships, six NBA finals MVP awards, three All-Star game MVP awards, and a defensive player of the year award.
In 1993, tragedy struck Jordan's seemingly perfect life. On July 23, 1993, his father, James, was murdered off Interstate 95 in North Carolina. Two locals had robbed him, shot him in the chest and threw his body in a swamp.
Three months later on October 6, 1993, following a run of three consecutive NBA championships, Jordan announced his retirement from basketball citing that "he no longer had the desire to play." Now "retired" at age 33, it was uncertain what Jordan would do next. Would he take a year off out of the public eye to grieve and then come back to the Bulls? Would he go out and look for a white collar job in the field of geography, his college major? Or would he take up a completely different hobby like golf?
In early 1994, Jordan decided to take up a new hobby alright. However, it wasn't golf. It was baseball. Despite not playing baseball since high school some 13 years ago, he signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox in 1994. He played one unspectacular season for the Double-A Birmingham Barons.
On March 18, 1995, Jordan, a man of few words since his retirement, sent two important words to media sources everywhere: "I'm Back". He celebrated his return to the NBA by doing what he always did best: winning. Although the Bulls would lose in the playoffs to the Orlando Magic, it was obvious that Jordan was still the same superstar player. He would go on to lead the Bulls to three more consecutive NBA championships and etch his place in the history as the "NBA's greatest player of all-time".
On January 13, 1999, Jordan re-announced his retirement, saying that "he was 99.9 percent sure that he would never play again". Soon after, Jordan became part owner of the Washington Wizards.
Near the start of the 2001-02 season, there were hints that Jordan may try another comeback to the NBA. On September 25, 2001, Jordan confirmed those rumors, announcing that he would once again return to the NBA as a member of the Wizards. His two seasons in Washington were mediocre at best. His statistics were solid and he showed some flashes of his old self but he could not lead the Wizards to the playoffs and missed several games due to injury. He retired for good following the 2002-03 season and was subsequently dismissed as president of the Washington Wizards.
In June 2006, he became part owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. Later that year, he filed for divorce from Juanita, his wife of 17 years. They have three children together
LARRY BIRD BIOGRAPHY
Larry Bird graduated from Springs Valley High School in French Lick, Indiana in 1974. He attended Indiana University briefly, then transferred to Indiana State University in Terre Haute. He then embarked on an outstanding basketball career, establishing himself as one of the best shooting forwards in the history of the game. The Boston Celtics made him their first round selection in 1978 (the sixth pick overall), but Bird had another year of eligibility left and decided to play one more year at ISU. He led the Sycamores to the 1979 NCAA Title Game versus Michigan State that year, and his battle in that game with MSU's Magic Johnson touched off the best basketball rivalry of the 1980s. Bird joined the Celtics in the fall of 1979 and played with them his entire career. He led the Celtics to five NBA Finals appearances, winning championships in 1981, 1984 and 1986. Bird won three straight league MVPs (1984-86), two NBA Finals MVPs (1984, 86), NBA Rookie of the Year (1980), and was selected as a first team NBA all star nine times. Back injuries forced him to retire in 1992, and his number 33 was promptly retired by the Celtics.
He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. in 1998.
Spouse Dinah Mattingly (30 September 1989 - present) 2 children Janet Condra (8 November 1975 - 31 Ocotober 1976) (divorced) 1 child
Trivia Inducted into to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998.
Named Coach of the Year in the NBA 1997-1998 Season.
Considered one of, if not the, greatest basketball players of all time. Played for the Boston Celtics from 1979 - 1992 and became coach of the Indiana Pacers in 1997.
Is twice-married, and the father of 3 children.
All-NBA Second Team (1990). NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1982-1984). Twelve- time NBA All-Star (1980-1988, 1990-1992). NBA All-Star Game MVP (1982). Long Distance Shootout Winner (1986-1988). Led the NBA in free throw shooting (1984, 1986, 1990). NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team (1996). Member of gold medal- winning U.S. Olympic Team (1992).
The Sporting News College Player of the Year (1979). Naismith Award winner (1979). John R. Wooden Award winner (1979). The Sporting News All-America First Team (1978, 1979). Holds 30 Indiana State records, including most points (2,850), steals (240) and rebounds (1,247).
The only non-center to win 3 consecutive NBA MVP awards. (2 June 1986)
Announces retirement. (18 August 1992)
Named NBA Coach of the Year after leading the Indiana Pacers to a 58-24 record, the best in franchise history. (12 May 1998)
Signed the then-largest rookie contract in NBA history - 5 years, $3,250,000 - with the Boston Celtics. (8 June 1979)
Ex-wife, Janet Condra, was his childhood sweetheart.
Indiana State University, BA (Physical Education) 1979
Children: Corrie Bird by ex-wife Janet Condra; adopted son Connor and daughter Mariah with wife Dinah.
After dropping out of Indiana University, he hitch-hiked back home to French Lick, worked for a year, and then enrolled at Indiana State University.
Drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1978 as a junior-eligible, but didn't join them until 1979. Led the Celtics to what was then the greatest single-season turnaround in NBA history (from 20 wins to 61) and to the conference finals in the 1979-1980 season.
Originally went to Indiana University on a basketball scholarship to play for the legendary Bobby Knight, but dropped out before his first season and never played for the Hoosiers.
Boston Celtics All-Time Turnovers Leader (2,816).
Boston Celtics All-Time Steals Leader (1,556).
Known for his shooting abilities, Bird had a career free throw shooting accuracy of 89% and a career three point shooting accuracy of 38%.
Led the Indiana State Sycamores to an undefeated season, and on to the national championship where they lost to Michigan State. Their star player was Magic Johnson.
On June 27, 2012, a day before the 2012 NBA Draft, Bird and the Pacers parted ways. Bird said health issues were among the reasons for his leaving.
Personal Quotes A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals.
(to his fellow competitors before the 1987 Three Point Competition) "All right, who's coming in second place today?"
Where Are They Now (July 2003) The Indiana Pacers announced that Bird will become president of basketball operations.
(June 2012) On June 27, 2012, a day before the 2012 NBA Draft, Bird and the Pacers parted ways. Bird said health issues were among the reasons for his leaving.
He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. in 1998.
Spouse Dinah Mattingly (30 September 1989 - present) 2 children Janet Condra (8 November 1975 - 31 Ocotober 1976) (divorced) 1 child
Trivia Inducted into to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998.
Named Coach of the Year in the NBA 1997-1998 Season.
Considered one of, if not the, greatest basketball players of all time. Played for the Boston Celtics from 1979 - 1992 and became coach of the Indiana Pacers in 1997.
Is twice-married, and the father of 3 children.
All-NBA Second Team (1990). NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1982-1984). Twelve- time NBA All-Star (1980-1988, 1990-1992). NBA All-Star Game MVP (1982). Long Distance Shootout Winner (1986-1988). Led the NBA in free throw shooting (1984, 1986, 1990). NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team (1996). Member of gold medal- winning U.S. Olympic Team (1992).
The Sporting News College Player of the Year (1979). Naismith Award winner (1979). John R. Wooden Award winner (1979). The Sporting News All-America First Team (1978, 1979). Holds 30 Indiana State records, including most points (2,850), steals (240) and rebounds (1,247).
The only non-center to win 3 consecutive NBA MVP awards. (2 June 1986)
Announces retirement. (18 August 1992)
Named NBA Coach of the Year after leading the Indiana Pacers to a 58-24 record, the best in franchise history. (12 May 1998)
Signed the then-largest rookie contract in NBA history - 5 years, $3,250,000 - with the Boston Celtics. (8 June 1979)
Ex-wife, Janet Condra, was his childhood sweetheart.
Indiana State University, BA (Physical Education) 1979
Children: Corrie Bird by ex-wife Janet Condra; adopted son Connor and daughter Mariah with wife Dinah.
After dropping out of Indiana University, he hitch-hiked back home to French Lick, worked for a year, and then enrolled at Indiana State University.
Drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1978 as a junior-eligible, but didn't join them until 1979. Led the Celtics to what was then the greatest single-season turnaround in NBA history (from 20 wins to 61) and to the conference finals in the 1979-1980 season.
Originally went to Indiana University on a basketball scholarship to play for the legendary Bobby Knight, but dropped out before his first season and never played for the Hoosiers.
Boston Celtics All-Time Turnovers Leader (2,816).
Boston Celtics All-Time Steals Leader (1,556).
Known for his shooting abilities, Bird had a career free throw shooting accuracy of 89% and a career three point shooting accuracy of 38%.
Led the Indiana State Sycamores to an undefeated season, and on to the national championship where they lost to Michigan State. Their star player was Magic Johnson.
On June 27, 2012, a day before the 2012 NBA Draft, Bird and the Pacers parted ways. Bird said health issues were among the reasons for his leaving.
Personal Quotes A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals.
(to his fellow competitors before the 1987 Three Point Competition) "All right, who's coming in second place today?"
Where Are They Now (July 2003) The Indiana Pacers announced that Bird will become president of basketball operations.
(June 2012) On June 27, 2012, a day before the 2012 NBA Draft, Bird and the Pacers parted ways. Bird said health issues were among the reasons for his leaving.