Basketball: 5 favorite players 1

	Allen Iverson is by far one of the top players in the league. His speed and amazing crossover are only part of his skills. In college, Iverson dominated playing at Georgetown. He was named First Team All-American as a sophomore. Iverson established himself quickly in the NBA. He went to the Rookie All-Star Game and was invited to compete in the Nestle Crunch Slam Dunk Contest, but withdrew because of injury. In the 1998-99 season, he was named to the First Team All-American team. In the 1999-2000 season, he made it to the All-Star Game. He scored 50 points in one game in that season. The 2000-2001 season was great for Iverson. He was selected for the All-Star Game, he lead the 76ers to the NBA Finals but lost against the Lakers, and won the MVP. In the first half of the 2002-2003 season, he averaged 26.8 ppg and 2.51 spg. Allen Iverson is a legend in the making.
	Steve Francis is a player with great ability. Francis can hit a jumper from anywhere on the floor. Francis is only 6’3" but has amazing above the rim game. Francis went to Maryland for college. He was named Second Team All-American and first team All-ACC after his junior year. He was drafted by the Houston Rockets. He was named to the 1999-2000 All-Rookie First Team. He also shared the Rookie of the Year Award with Elton Brand. He played in the Rookie All-Star Game and finished 2^nd in the Slam Dunk Contest. In the 2000-2001 season, Francis averaged 19.9 ppg and 6.9 rpg. He led all guards in rebounds and was named All NBA First Team by Basketball Digest. In 2001-2002, he made it to and started in the All-Star Game. So for in the 2002-2003 season, Francis led the Rockets to a big win against the Lakers scoring 44 points. He also made it to the All-Star Game. This is just the start to Steve Francis’ great career.
	Tracy McGrady is a player with amazing talent. He has the shot and above the rim skills to prove it too. T-Mac was selected as USA Player-of-the-Year as the top high school player in the U.S. McGrady was drafted by the Toronto Raptors in 1997. In the 1998-1999 season, McGrady was able to play on the same team as his cousin Vince Carter. Then in the 1999-2000 season, McGrady emerged. He averaged 15.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg and 3.3 apg. He competed in the NBA.com Slam Dunk Contest and came in 3^rd. In the 2000-2001 season, McGrady played for Orlando. He averaged 26.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg, and 4.6 apg. He was named to the All-NBA Second Team and won the 2000-2001 NBA Most Improved Player Award. He also started for Eastern Conference at the 2001 NBA All-Star Game. So far in the 2002-2003 season, McGrady is averaging 30.4 ppg. McGrady and the Magic are a team to watch in the NBA.
	Vince Carter’s high-flying dunks have made him a top player in the NBA. Carter went to North Carolina for college. He averaged 12.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, and 1.9 apg in 103 games as a Tar Heel. Carter’s first season in the NBA was the 1998-1999 season. Carter easily won the Rookie of the Year Award and made All-Rookie-First Team. The 1999-2000 season is what put Carter’s name across the world. In the NBA.com Slam Dunk Contest, Carter amazed. He did amazing dunks that stunned everyone watching. He pulled off a 360 degree windmill, an elbow dunk where you hang on the rim with your elbow, and a between the legs slam. Carter was outstanding. In 2000-2001, Carter played in the All-Star Game and collected his 5000^th career point. For the 2001-2002 season, Carter averaged 24.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg and 4 apg. He also played the NBA-All Star Game. In the 2002-2003 season, Carter has mostly been hurt, but hopefully will be back to show us more amazing things.
	Is there anything Michael Jordan hasn’t done? He won the 1984-1985 Rookie of the Year Award, he has won the MVP award 5 times, he has won 6 NBA National Titles, been selected to 13 All Star Games, won 8 scoring titles, won the Slam Dunk Contest 2 times, played for Team USA in the Olympics, and has been selected to the NBA All First Team for offense and defense too many times to count. He has accomplished so many things. "His Airness" had such an amazing above the rim ability. His turn around jumper is a signature move for him. His talent is unbelievable. He played for North Carolina in college. He won the NCAA College Player of the Year in 1983 and 1984. He was a unanimous First Team All-American selection in 1983 and 1984. He was drafted 3^rd overall by the Bulls after his junior year. He played for the Bulls from 1984 to 1998. He came back in 2001 to play for the Washington Wizards. He scored his 30,000^th point vs. Chicago on January 4, 2002. So far in the 2002-2003 season, Jordan is the sixth man for the Wizards. He was selected to the All-Star game again. Jordan is by far, the best NBA player ever to play the game.
	Drew Gooden is playing his rookie season now in the 2002-2003 NBA season. He is a forward with great potential. He is nicknamed The Truth, because he says "My game is real – it doesn’t lie to you." Gooden played college ball or Kansas. He played 3 years in college. He is the 2^nd player in Jayhawks history to record at least 1,500 points, 900 rebounds, 100 blocks, and 100 steals. Gooden was named First Team All-American as a junior. He was named Big 12 Conference Player of the Year, ESPN the Magazine Power Forward of the Year, Basketball America Player of the Year, and has received many more awards in college. Gooden was drafted by Memphis. After the All-Star Break, he was traded to the Magic. Now Tracy McGrady has another player on the team to help him and the Magic do damage around the NBA. So far in the 2002-2003 season, Gooden averages 12.5 ppg, 6 rpg, and 1.2 apg. Drew Gooden is an amazing player to watch.
	Jason Kidd is one of the best passers in the NBA. He entered the NBA as the No. 2 overall pick after playing for 2 years in California for college. He was the first sophomore ever to win the Pac 10 Player of the Year. He was drafted by the Mavericks in 1994. That year, he led the league with 4 triple-doubles. Kidd made and started in the 1995-1996 All-Star Game. In the 1996-1997 season, Kidd played 22 games for the Mavs until being traded to the Suns. Kidd was sidelined for 21 games with an injury that year. Through 1998-2000 and 2001 season, Kidd played in 3 All-Star Games. Kidd played for the Nets in the 2001-2002 season. He once again made it to the All-Star Game. He led the Nets to the finals against the Lakers, but they lost. Kidd has also played for the U.S. Olympic Team. Kidd is a born leader and is the top player of the Nets.
	Darius Miles is a high flying player. His dunks are a crowd pleaser. Miles came to the NBA straight out of high school. He averaged 22.1 points, 12.4 rebounds, 7.2 blocks, 3.4 assists, and 2.4 steals during his senior year at East St. Louis High School. He was also named to the All-American High School First Team. He was drafted by the Clippers in 2000 and played great basketball. He played in the Schick Rookie Challenge and the Rookie All-Star Game. He played another great season before being traded to the Cavaliers before the 2002-2003 season. This is just a start to Miles' great career in the NBA.
	Baron Davis has brought the newly located New Orleans Hornets to life. He played for the Bruins in college. He was drafted by the then Charlotte Hornets. In his NBA debut he scored 9 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. He was a candidate for the Most Improved Player Award in 2000. In only his 3^rd season in the NBA, he recorded his 1,000^th career assist. He also was selected to the All-Star Game. Davis is on his way to NBA stardom.
	Stephen Marbury can do it all. He was drafted out of Georgia Tech after only one year of college ball. He was drafted by the Timberwolves. He made All-Team Rookie Honors. He was traded to the New Jersey Nets in the 1998-1999 season. He made the All-NBA Third Team in 1999-2000. He also made the same team in 2000-2001. He was traded to the Suns in 2001. He made his first All-Star appearance in the 2000-2001 season. He has been leading the Suns since 2001 and has made big play after big play.