9781422274651

P R O B A S K E T B A L L ’ S B E S T P L A Y E R S

P R O B A S K E T B A L L ’ S B E S T P L A Y E R S

Chris Paul Giannis Antetokounmpo

James Harden Kevin Durant Lebron James Paul George RussellWestbrook Stephen Curry

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HARDWOOD GREATS: PRO BASKETBALL’S BEST PLAYERS

P R O B A S K E T B A L L ’ S B E S T P L A Y E R S

Donald Parker

MASON CREST PHILADELPHIA MIAMI

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Mason Crest 450 Parkway Drive, Suite D Broomall, Pennsylvania 19008 (866) MCP-BOOK (toll-free) www.masoncrest.com

Copyright © 2020 by Mason Crest, an imprint of National Highlights, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the publisher.

First printing 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

ISBN (hardback) 978-1-4222-4350-3 ISBN (series) 978-1-4222- 4344-2 ISBN (ebook) 978-1-4222- 7465-1

Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file with the Library of Congress

Developed and Produced by National Highlights Inc. Editor: Andrew Luke Interior and cover design: Annalisa Gumbrecht, Studio Gumbrecht Production: Michelle Luke

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HARDWOOD GREATS: PRO BASKETBALL’S BEST PLAYERS

CONTENTS

Series Glossary of KEY Terms 74 Further Reading & INTERNET RESOURCES 76 Index 77 AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY & CREDITS 80

Chapter 1: Greatest Moments 7 Chapter 2: The Road to the Top. 23 Chapter 3: On the COURT 39 Chapter 4: Words Count 53 Chapter 5: Off the COURT 65

KEY ICONS TO LOOK FOR:

Words to Understand: These words with their easy-to-understand definitions will increase the reader’s understanding of the text while building vocabulary skills. Sidebars: This boxed material within the main text allows readers to build knowledge, gain insights, explore possibilities, and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Educational Videos: Readers can view videos by scanning our QR codes, providing themwith additional educational content to supplement the text. Examples include news coverage, moments in history, speeches, iconic sportsmoments, andmuchmore! Text-Dependent Questions: These questions send the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. Research Projects: Readers are pointed toward areas of further inquiry connected to each chapter. Suggestions are provided for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. Series Glossary of Key Terms: This back-of-the-book glossary contains terminology used throughout this series. Words found here increase the reader’s ability to read and comprehend higher-level books and articles in this field.

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CONTENTS

WORDS TO UNDERSTAND milestone: A significant event or stage in the life, progress, development (or the like) of a person, nation, etc. plateau: A level of attainment or achievement strike: A work stoppage by a body of workers to enforce compliance with demands made on an employer truncated: Shortened as if by having a part cut off; cut short

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Chapter 1

GREATESTMOMENTS PAUL GEORGE’S NBA CAREER Paul George had to come a long way in his career to be considered one of the best in the league. He is six feet nine inches (2.06 m) tall, weighs 220 pounds (100 kg), and can play both small forward and shooting guard. George has helped lead both the Indiana Pacers of the Eastern Conference and the Oklahoma City Thunder of the Western Conference to multiple playoff appearances. This includes consecutive conference finals appearances as part of playoff appearances in each of his nine seasons, except for the 2014–2015 (which was truncated by a serious leg injury). The Indiana Pacers selected George with the 10th pick of the 2010 NBA (National Basketball Association) draft, which is where he was projected to

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George became a star in Indiana, where he played his first seven seasons with the Pacers.

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HARDWOOD GREATS: PRO BASKETBALL’S BEST PLAYERS

be taken. George rewarded the team’s faith in him by earning his way into the starting lineup (he started a total of 19 games in 2010–2011 and played in 61) and added 476 points, 62 steals, and 224 total rebounds. George was named to the NBA’s All-Rookie second team. His successful rookie year served as a foundation for him to build on as he turned himself into a premier player in the NBA. Since being traded to Oklahoma City in 2017, George has paired with point guard Russell Westbrook to become master ball thieves—displaying a talent they both share for stealing the basketball from their opponents. He joined the 10,000 career points club during the 2018–2019 season and has established himself as a force on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. George’s ability to steal the ball makes him a lethal defender on the floor, and he is considered one of the best two-way players in the NBA. George is respected not only for his three-point shooting ability and unselfish play on the offensive side of the basketball, but also for his defensive skill and the pure athleticism he brings every night to the floor. George was not highly sought after as a high school player. He did play for a few Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) teams, however, and managed to raise his profile enough to receive a recruiting offer from California State University at Fresno, also referred to as Fresno State (nickname: “Bulldogs”). Two years of college basketball were enough for NBA scouts to notice him and give him an opportunity to play at the professional level. George was an important piece to Indiana’s winning formula, helping lead the team to the playoffs in all but one of his seven seasons. He is an important part of the Thunder’s playoff ambitions and his addition to the squad has raised its prospects for the future!

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CHAPTER 1: GREATEST MOMENTS

PAUL GEORGE’S Greatest Career Moments

Here is a list of some of the career firsts and greatest achievements during his time in the NBA:

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HARDWOOD GREATS: PRO BASKETBALL’S BEST PLAYERS

George led Indiana to the playoffs in six of his seven seasons with the Pacers.

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CHAPTER 1: GREATEST MOMENTS

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10,000 Points Scored in a Career George reached the 10,000 career points scored milestone in the 2018– 2019 NBA season. On November 2, 2018, during a game against fellow 2010 NBA draft pick John Wall (number one overall) of the Washington Wizards, George put up 17 points to go along with seven assists and four rebounds. His effort was more than enough to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 134–111 victory. The 17 points that he notched in the game put him over the 10,000 points scored mark for his NBA career.

A November 2, 2018, victory over the Wizards saw George contribute 17 points in the game and reach the 10,000 points plateau in career scoring.

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HARDWOOD GREATS: PRO BASKETBALL’S BEST PLAYERS

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41 Points Scored in the All-Star Game George was named a starter for the Eastern Conference All-Star team in the 2015–2016 season as a member of the Indiana Pacers. Playing alongside LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and former 2010 number-one draft selection John Wall of the Washington Wizards, George scored a game- high 41 points. Although the East All-Stars came up short against the West in a 196–173 loss, the 41 points were the highest point total he has had in any of his All-Star appearances.

George puts up a 41-point total in a February 14, 2016, All-Star appearance at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario (Canada).

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CHAPTER 1: GREATEST MOMENTS

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First Career Triple-Double In the 2012–2013 season George recorded his first career triple-double in points, assists, and total rebounds. On February 13, 2013, in a game against the Charlotte Bobcats, George put up 23 points (leading all scorers in the game), grabbed 12 rebounds, including 11 on the defensive boards, and dished out 12 assists in nearly 39 minutes of play. His efforts led the Pacers to a dominant 101–77 blowout victory over the Bobcats.

George scored 23 points and contributed heavily to the Pacers’ win over the Bobcats in a February 2013 game that marked his first NBA career triple-double.

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HARDWOOD GREATS: PRO BASKETBALL’S BEST PLAYERS

:

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Named to 2017 NBA All-Defensive Second Team George received tremendous recognition for his defensive skills when he was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive second team in 2013. He was also named to the All-NBA third team that season. The All-Defensive team honors, given since the 1968–1969 NBA season, go to the 10 best defensive players in the league, divided into the first and second teams. For that season, he finished in the top 20 in steals (sixth with 143) and defensive rebounds (15th with 515). He has since made the All-Defensive first team twice (2014, 2019), and was again be named to the NBA All-Defensive second team in 2016.

Highlights of George in the 2012–2013 NBA season doing what he does best—blocking shots, grabbing defensive boards, and accumulating ball steals, all of which led to his first All-Defensive team selection.

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CHAPTER 1: GREATEST MOMENTS

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Forty-eight Points Scored in a Game George had scored 40 points or more in a game a few times in his career prior to the December 5, 2015, matchup against the Utah Jazz. In the game, in which his Indiana Pacers lost by the score of 122–119, he dropped 48 points, pulled down eight rebounds, and dished out three assists to go with three steals. The 48 points scored were the most that he has ever scored in a game in his NBA career.

Highlights showing George scoring 48 points in a close loss to the Utah Jazz in December 2015.

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HARDWOOD GREATS: PRO BASKETBALL’S BEST PLAYERS