Sam Cassell
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Position | Point guard |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Sam I am |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Team | Los Angeles Clippers |
| Nationality | USA |
| Born | November 18 1969 Baltimore, Maryland |
| College | Florida State |
| Draft | 24th overall, 1993 Houston Rockets |
| Pro career | 1993–present |
| Former teams | Houston Rockets (1993–96) Phoenix Suns (1996) Dallas Mavericks (1996–97) New Jersey Nets (1997–99) Milwaukee Bucks (1999–2003) Minnesota Timberwolves (2003–05) |
| Awards | 2003-04 All-Star 2003-04 All-NBA Second Team |
Samuel (Sam) James Cassell (born November 18, 1969 in Baltimore, Maryland) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays point guard for the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers. He was voted into the NBA All-Star and All-NBA Teams once (both in the 2003-04 NBA season) and won two NBA championships in his stint with the Houston Rockets, his first NBA station. A journeyman, he afterwards played for the Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey Nets, Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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[edit] Professional biography
Cassell was selected 24th overall by the Houston Rockets in the 1993 NBA Draft out of Florida State University. He helped them win two NBA Championships in 1994 and 1995. After the 1995-96 season, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns, but his tenure there was brief.
He was soon traded again, along with Michael Finley, A.C. Green and a draft pick to the Dallas Mavericks for Jason Kidd, Tony Dumas, and Loren Meyer on December 26, 1996. The next year, he was traded along with Chris Gatling, Jim Jackson, George McCloud and Eric Montross to the New Jersey Nets for Shawn Bradley, Ed O'Bannon, Robert Pack and Khalid Reeves.
Two years later, he was dealt in a three-way trade, which sent him to the Milwaukee Bucks along with Brian Evans, Chris Gatling, and two future draft choices. On June 27, 2003, the Bucks traded him and Ervin Johnson to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Joe Smith and Anthony Peeler. On August 12, 2005, the Timberwolves traded Cassell and a draft pick to the Clippers for Marko Jaric and Lionel Chalmers.
Cassell appears to have found a home with the Los Angeles Clippers; the NBA veteran led them into the Western Conference semi-finals in the 2006 playoffs with home court advantage in the first round. They beat Denver in five games but would eventually fall to the Phoenix Suns in 7.
Cassell is known for his feistiness and outgoing personality. [1] He was one of the Milwaukee Bucks' "big three" alongside Ray Allen and Glenn Robinson that reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 2001. In Minnesota, he was an integral part of the Timberwolves. He and his teammates were led by 2003-04 MVP Kevin Garnett to the 2004 Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history. In 2006, the Los Angeles Clippers reached an agreement with Cassell on a $13,000,000 two-year deal. Cassell was tempted to take a $15,000,000 two-year offer from the Hawks, but decided against it. He confirmed his agreement with the Clippers on July 2. The deal was officially completed on July 12th, when the NBA Free Agency period began.
[edit] Media appearances
Cassell appeared in the NBA Fundamentals series, hosted by TNT, in which basketball players describe certain aspects of the game. He was chosen to illustrate the "mid-range game", i.e. shooting from the area around the free-throw line, the paint, the wings and the baseline. In this clip, Cassell explains how to post up against opposing guards, shoot pull-up jumpshots and how to hit buzzer beaters. He also states his admiration for retired NBA players Terrell Brandon and Jeff Hornacek, two prolific midrange shooters after whom he modeled his game.
[edit] In popular culture
Some commentators have suggested that Cassell resembles popular media depictions of extraterrestrial aliens. He has been nicknamed "alien head" as a result. [2] [3] Washington Wizards assistant coach Johnny Bach has been quoted as saying "I love Sam Cassell. Maybe he came from Mars, but he plays with passion. We don't have that a lot anymore."[4]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Cassell's page at NBA.com
- Sam Cassell Pictures @ Clippers Topbuzz
- ClutchFans.net Sam Cassell Profile - Houston Rocket Fan Site
Houston Rockets 1993-94 NBA Champions |
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Houston Rockets 1994-95 NBA Champions |
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Categories: 1969 births | Living people | Florida State University alumni | American basketball players | African American sportspeople | Florida State Seminoles men's basketball players | Dallas Mavericks players | Houston Rockets players | Los Angeles Clippers players | Milwaukee Bucks players | Minnesota Timberwolves players | New Jersey Nets players | Phoenix Suns players | People from Baltimore, Maryland | Point guards
