Basketball Daily Card Press
From the court to your collection - the complete story of basketball greatness!
ROOKIE SENSATION BREAKS RECORDS
The rich got even richer, as the Warriors landed Durant in the offseason. After spending his entire career with the Thunder, Durant joins a franchise that's reached the NBA Finals the past two seasons. "We try to get better every day we wake up." Warriors general manager Bob Myers said, "You never expect to get this much better."
The NBA borrowed the Slam-Dunk Championship from the ABA, recycling the event in 1984. However, it wasn't until Michael Jordan burst onto the scene in 1985 that the competition was elevated to its current level of popularity. Jordan claimed his first title in 1987, and the next year, he became the only player ever to win back-to-back contests. With a 50 on his final dunk after taking off from the free throw line with his body fully extended until the one-handed finish, Jordan bested Dominique Wilkins in 1988.
The Magic began play in the NBA in 1989-90, but many people will point to the 1992 NBA Draft as the team's jumping-off point. The addition of superstar center Shaquille O'Neal with the first overall pick brought the franchise instant respectability and delivered the club to a new level of competitiveness. DID YOU KNOW?
On the strength of its best start ever (8-3), the Magic ended the season's opening month in first place in the Atlantic Division for the first time ever. With Matt Guokas at the helm since 1989, the Magic are the only NBA team that has never made a coaching change. SCORECARD. Guokas earned his 200th career win December 19, 1992, as Orlando beat the Hawks 125-84 for the largest margin of victory in franchise history.
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Dan could become the most exciting player on the Pacers' roster. Very few players anywhere possess the raw ability he does. An amazing physical specimen, he has a vertical jump of 11'3" and can get up and down the floor on the fast break faster than many guards. Dan averaged 11.0 in 1976 ABA Playoffs.
BASKETBALL TRIVIA
Q: What was the highest point total ever attained by the Rockets?
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Q: What was name of NBA's '46-47 Pittsburgh franchise?
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The second player selected in the ABA College Draft of 1974, Marvin enjoyed a sensational rookie campaign with the Spirits of St. Louis by being named as league's Rookie of the Year and being a starter on the All-Star Team. Marvin was an All-State selection in high school on team which had record of 48-0.
Basketball Signals: Illegal use of hands - Signal foul - strike wrist
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
16.2 points
In 2020, a pair of college teammates were selected with the top two picks for the fourth time in WNBA history. After Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu went No. 1 overall to New York, Sabally headed to Dallas as the second selection. The forward averaged 16.2 points and 6.9 rebounds during her final season with the Ducks.
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VINTAGE SPOTLIGHT
New York Nets Coach Lou Carnesecca rates Bill "a comer." "I see a fine future for him in the pros." As a senior, in helping the St. John's Red men reach the National Invitation Tournament as the team's starting center, Bill averaged 15.5 points per game as well as 14.5 rebounds per game. He also tied the St. John's school record of 25 rebounds in a game set by Leroy Ellis.
One of Elgin's many records is for most points in one game by a Laker, 71, against the Knicks in 1960. He's been in 11 All-Star games.
Agent 23 is one of the most-effective scorers in the league. With his specially designed shoes, he can sky and fly over any obstacle, putting the ball in the hoop with ultimate authority. His ball-control forearm pads are designed to keep the ball in his hands while he dodges the evil Droids who constantly try to keep him down. Not to worry. Agent 23 need only throw the switch of his APS and the Droids are reduced to a pile of useless, twitching scrap metal.
A 1st round draft choice of Bulls in 1967, Clem averaged only 8.9 as a rookie but then enjoyed seasons of 17.2 and 20.3 in succession. An outstanding free throw shooter, he had .853 percentage in 1971-72.
Them call him "Clem the Gem".
THROWBACK
An All-Star each year he's been in the NBA, Elvin is one of the game's super talents. He can play either forward or center spots.
The Lakers' second round draft choice in 1969, Dick enjoyed a brilliant rookie season in the NBA. He was named to the All-Rookie team and started in the Los Angeles backcourt with Jerry West. A college teammate of the Knicks' Walt Frazier, he played with the 1967 Southern Illinois team that won the NIT championship. He's a great offensive threat whether shooting or setting up a teammate.
Coleman went right from Syracuse to the Nets in 1990/91 without missing a beat. Coleman led all rookies in scoring and rebounding while capturing the Rookie-of-the-Year award. Coleman's 10.3 rebounds per game placed him eighth in the NBA.
One of the steadiest performers in pro basketball, Zeimo underwent knee surgery for the sixth time in ten seasons last February. Even with his problems he managed to score 16 Points and average 10 Rebounds.
Utah fans call Zelmo "Big Z".
MODERN ERA
"Penny's" game is so well rounded, he has some experts comparing him to Magic Johnson. He slashes with the ball, creates for his teammates and surprises with the graceful ease and overwhelming power of his drives.
Had 10 blocked shots in one game, 1972. Led Pacers with 132 blocked shots, 1974-75. Drafted: #1-1971 by Indiana.
First draft choice for the Rockets after a coin flip, the Big E walked off with the NBA scoring championship in his first pro season. He canned 2,327 for 28.4 avg. and was 4th in rebounding with 1,406 (17.1).
Elvin had his choice of forty colleges and chose Houston.
80s-90s ERA
Selected by Dallas (24th) in the first round of the 1995 NBA Draft...Started off by averaging 22.3 points and 9.5 rebounds in first 12 games of junior year... Scored 15 points against Rasheed Wallace and the Tar Heels in the 1995 NCAA Tournament...Hit for career-high 36 points vs. Charleston Southern as a junior.
Cats and dogs don't always get along, but that's not stopping the Lynx from loading up on former Huskies. In 2022, Westbrook became the latest to leap from UConn into the WNBA kingdom with Minnesota, joining former Storrs standouts Napheesa Collier and Moriah Jefferson on the roster.
The 18th pick in the 1999 NBA Draft, James surprised a lot of people as a rookie. He found ways to score and led Denver in steals, earning a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. In '00-01, James improved as a rebounder, averaging 5.3 boards per game. He started all 82 contests while shooting .816 at the free throw line.
James can jump out of sight.
One of the strongest players in the NBA, Len gained consensus All-American honors in his senior year at Wake Forest. He scored 2,165 points during his college career, averaging 30.1 points per game as a senior, and was the 1st draft pick of the Syracuse Nationals in '62.
The 76ers traded Len to the Knicks after only one game in 1963.
CLASSIC vs. MODERN
CLASSIC ERA
After spot duty as an LA rookie and an injury curtailed soph season, John started earning his pay in earnest the first full chance he could. No. 3 man in SD's offense with 15.3 average and 703 rebounds last season.
John manages a coffee-house in the off-season.
MODERN ERA
As a rookie in '00-01, Hidayet showed signs of becoming a dangerous scorer in the NBA. On November 25 vs. Seattle, he tallied 17 points in the fourth quarter alone. Hidayet's professional career began in '96-97 in Turkey, when he was just a teenager. In '99-00, he made 42 of his 81 three-point attempts for a .519 percentage. That long-range shooting stroke convinced the Kings to take him with the 16th pick of the '00 NBA Draft.
Hidayet had a .569 field goal pct. in Turkey.
The heart of the Bullets, Wes literally turned the team around in his rookie year, lifting the Bullets from last place to first by providing the ignition to the fastbreak. A master of the outlet pass, he won MVP and Rookie of the Year honors in the same season, 1968-69.
Wes is on the board of directors of a hospital.