NBA Notes - NBA ALL-STAR SATURDAY NIGHT FEATURES HIGH SCHOOL TO NBA WINNER - February 2007

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

Miami Heat coach Pat Riley should put on a happy face as two of his players walked away with titles in two of the events - International star Dirk Nowitzki failed in his attempt to defend his 3-point shooting title - High School to NBA Players list

Saturday February 17, 2007

NBA All-Star Saturday Night

The results are in for the NBA All-Star Saturday events, skill, 3-point shooting and Slam Dunk competitions.

Miami Heat coach Pat Riley should put on a happy face as two of his players walked away with titles in two of the events. Dwyane Wade won the skills challenge for the second straight year.

This was only the fifth year of the event that was previously won by Jason Kidd (2003), Baron Davis (2004) and Steve Nash (2005).

International star Dirk Nowitzki failed in his bid to defend his 3-point shooting title. Nowitzki made it to the final round but fell by the wayside as Jason Kapono buried a record tying 24 points including all five final of five racks of balls that count for two points each.

The pressure was on Nowitzki as Kapono shot first. The Dallas Mavericks star became unglued finishing with a surprisingly low 9 points. Two balls were disallowed because he stepped on the line.

This was 22nd 3-point competition since it began ion 1986.

TRIVIA QUESTION

Who are the only three peat champions of the 3-point shooting competition?

SLAM DUNK

This competition was borrowed from the old ABA (American Basketball Association) when they tried to challenge the NBA with their upstart league before merging with the NBA. They wanted more pizzazz. The ABA was also the league that started counting long shots for 3 points.

The NBA adopted the event in 1984. One of the most unfamiliar names to an NBA fan today won the competition. Who is he? (answer below)

This year the title went to one of the last of the High School to NBA players. Gerald Green of the Boston Celtics took the title from defending champion Nate Robinson of the New York Knicks.

Robinson had problems making a dunk in the final round but finally did in his tenth try. By that time he was too pooped to pop thus turning his title over to Green.

Last season the NBA ruled that a player could not be drafted out of high school into the league. At that time there were the final 32 high school to NBA players in the league.

The list includes… but first as we read let us bow our heads and pray for these are that last as we know them.

32 HIGH SCHOOL TO NBA PLAYERS IN LEAGUE

Boston Celtics

Gerald Green G-F 6-8 200 01/26/1986 Gulf Shores Academy (TX) R

Al Jefferson F 6-10 265 01/04/1985 Prentiss HS (MS) 1

Kendrick Perkins C 6-10 280 11/10/1984 Clifton J. Ozen HS (TX) 2

New Yourk Knicks

Jackie Butler C 6-10 260 03/10/1985 Coastal Christian Academy (VA) 1

Eddy Curry C-F 6-11 285 12/05/1982 Thornwood HS (IL) 4

Phiadelphia 76ers

Louis Williams G 6-1 175 10/27/1986 South Gwinnett HS (Snellville, GA) R

New Orleans Hornets

Tyson Chandler C 7-1 235 10/02/1982 Dominguez HS (CA) 4

J.R. Smith G 6-6 220 09/09/1985 St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, NJ) 1

Cleveland Cavaliers

LeBron James F 6-8 240 12/30/1984 St. Vincent-St. Mary HS (OH) 2

Detroit Pistons

Amir Johnson F 6-9 210 05/01/1987 Westchester HS (Los Angeles, CA) R

Indiana Pacers

Jermaine O'Neal C-F 6-11 260 10/13/1978 Eau Claire HS (SC) 9

Atlanta Hawks

Josh Smith F 6-9 225 12/05/1985 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, VA) 1

Orlando Magic

Dwight Howard F-C 6-11 265 12/08/1985 SW Atlanta Christian Academy (GA) 1

DeShawn Stevenson G 6-5 210 04/03/1981 Washington Union HS (CA) 5

Washington Wizards

Andray Blatche F 6-11 235 08/22/1986 South Kent Prep (CT) R

Dallas Mavericks

DeSagana Diop C 7-0 280 01/30/1982 Oak Hill Academy HS (VA) 4

Houston Rockets

Tracy McGrady - C F-G 6-8 210 05/24/1979 Mount Zion Christian Acad. HS (NC) '97 8

Minn Timberwolves

Kevin Garnett F 6-11 220 05/19/1976 Farragut Academy HS (IL) 10

Portland Trail Blazers

Darius Miles F-G 6-9 210 10/09/1981 East St. Louis HS (IL) 5

Travis Outlaw F 6-8 220 09/18/1984 Starkville HS (MS) 2

Sebastian Telfair G 6-0 160 06/09/1985 Abraham Lincoln HS (Brooklyn, NY) 1

Martell Webster G-F 6-7 210 12/04/1986 Seattle Prep HS (WA) R

Seattle Sonics

Rashard Lewis - C F 6-10 215 08/08/1979 Alief Elsik HS (TX) '98 7

Robert Swift C 7-0 245 12/03/1985 Bakersfield HS (CA) 1

Utah Jazz

C.J. Miles G 6-6 210 03/18/1987 Skyline HS (Dallas, TX) R

Golden State Warriors

Al Harrington F 6-9 245 02/17/1980 St. Patrick's HS (NJ) 7

Monta Ellis G 6-3 177 10/26/1985 Lanier HS (Jackson, MS) R

Los Angeles Clippers

Shaun Livingston G 6-7 182 09/11/1985 Peoria Central HS (IL) 1

Los Angles Lakers

Kwame Brown F-C 6-11 248 03/10/1982 Glynn Academy HS (GA) 4

Kobe Bryant - C G 6-6 220 08/23/1978 Lower Merion HS (PA) 9

Andrew Bynum C 7-0 275 10/27/1987 St. Joseph HS (NJ) R

Phoenix Suns

Amare Stoudemire C 6-10 245 11/16/1982 Cypress Creek (Orlando, FL) '02 3

TRIVIA 3-POINT ANSWERS:

Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics - 1986-87-88

Craig Hodges of the Chicago Bulls - 1990-91-92

TRIVIA SLAM DUNK ANSWER

Larry Nance of the Phoenix Suns

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