Eddy Curry

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Eddy Curry
Image:Eddycurry2.JPG
Position	Center
Height	6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Weight	485 lb (220 kg)
Team	New York Knicks
Nationality	USA
Born	December 5 1982 (1982-12-05) (age 26) Image:Flag of Illinois.svg Harvey, Illinois^[1]
High school	Thornwood
College	None
Draft	4^th overall, 2001 Chicago Bulls
Pro career	2001–present
Former teams	Chicago Bulls (2000–05)

Eddy Curry Jr. (born December 5 1982, in Harvey, Illinois^[1]) is an American professional basketball player in the NBA currently with the New York Knicks. He grew up in Calumet City, Illinois.^[1]

1 High school
2 NBA Draft
3 Professional career
4 Cardiac problems
5 Awards and accomplishments
- 5.1 NBA
- 5.2 High school and college
6 Notes
7 External links

[edit] High school

Prior to becoming considered one of the best high school basketball players in the nation as a senior at Thornwood High School in South Holland, Illinois, Curry aspired to be a gymnast and did not pick up basketball until the 7th grade when he reluctantly went out for the school team. According to his father, Eddy Curry Sr., "For a long time, Eddy hated basketball. Being a gymnast was his backyard dream, I guess."^{[citation needed]} In 2001, Curry led his team to second place in the IHSA State Playoffs. Curry is one of three current professional athletes who call Thornwood their alma matter, the others being St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Mark Mulder, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays outfielder Cliff Floyd.

[edit] NBA Draft

Curry had signed a letter of intent to play at DePaul University but declared himself eligible for the 2001 NBA Draft in which the Chicago Bulls made him the fourth overall pick. The decision to draft Curry and pair him alongside fellow rookie Tyson Chandler was a major surprise to many basketball fans given that both players were high school seniors. In trying to rebuild from the Michael Jordan era, both Curry and Chandler wore uniform numbers that when put together read 23; Curry wore number 2, and Chandler number 3.

[edit] Professional career

Curry's contribution was limited during his rookie year due to limited minutes. Curry did improve in his second year, leading the NBA in field goal percentage (58.5%) and becoming the first Bull to lead the league in a major statistical category since Michael Jordan in 1998. His 2002-03 season was widely considered a disappointment as he failed to live up to expectations after a strong finish to the previous year. In the 2004-05 season the Bulls improved by 28 wins and made the playoffs as the 22-year-old Curry led the team in scoring before being hospitalized with an irregular heartbeat. This caused him to miss the last 13 games of the regular season and the entire playoffs. On June 24, 2005, heart specialists cleared Curry to resume practice. On October 3, 2005, after refusing on privacy grounds to submit to a DNA test, as requested by Bulls management to assess whether he has a congenital heart condition, Curry was traded to the New York Knicks. The trade included the Bulls' Antonio Davis, as well as the Knicks' Mike Sweetney, Tim Thomas, and Jermaine Jackson. First round draft picks were also exchanged in the trade - which later came back to haunt the Knicks as they had a poor 2005-06 season in which Curry averaged 13.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game (numbers that were significantly down from the previous season). Curry's inability to defend and rebound was a source of frustration for former coaches Scott Skiles and Larry Brown. When asked by a reporter in 2003 what Curry needed to do to become a better rebounder, Skiles simply replied: "Jump."^[2] The 2006-07 season has seen a resurgence in Curry's performance under new coach Isiah Thomas, with Curry anointed the team's primary offensive option, averaging career highs in points (19.6), rebounds (7.1), and minutes (34.9) per game. On April 7, 2007 Curry scored a career-best 43 points in an overtime win over the Milwaukee Bucks; his first three-pointer of the season forcing the game into the extra period.^[3] Curry is 2 for 2 from three-point range in his NBA career.^[3]

[edit] Cardiac problems

Several prominent cardiologists cleared Curry to play, but Barry Maron, a world-renowned specialist in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, suggested the DNA test.^[4] During the team's media day, Bulls General Manager John Paxson said he understood the privacy issues involved but insisted the Bulls did not have an ulterior motive; they simply do not want a situation similar to those of former Boston Celtics guard Reggie Lewis or Loyola Marymount star Hank Gathers -- players with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who collapsed and died.

[edit] Awards and accomplishments

[edit] NBA

Led league in field goal percentage, 2002-03
Has made the two three point field goals attempted in his NBA career.

[edit] High school and college

USA Today First Team All-American
PARADE Magazine High School Player of the Year
Earned Illinois Mr. Basketball honors
MVP of the McDonald's All-American game after scoring 28 points with 8 rebounds and 4 blocked shots in leading the West to a 131-125 victory
Led Thornwood High School to the Illinois State Championship game, averaging 22.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 6.0 blocked shots, shooting .640 from the floor, including 25.0 points and 10.0 rebounds in the state tournament. ... Averaged 24.6 points and 11.2 rebounds, along with 4.8 blocks, as a junior.