I sent clutch my $50. after all this, i'm still amazed at SAR's feat. its the reverse Brett Favre. Imagine that, he plays less, they win more. hmm. We need to hire Rick Adelman! At last After 10 years, Kings' Abdur-Rahim gets playoff date Posted: Monday April 17, 2006 7:32PM; Updated: Monday April 17, 2006 7:32PM SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- After 744 games, four teams and nine early summers in a career he thought might be cursed, Shareef Abdur-Rahim is about to get his first taste of the postseason. The Sacramento Kings' popular forward is headed to the playoffs for the first time in his decade in the NBA, ending the second-longest career with no postseason experience in league history. Sacramento clinched its spot with an easy win over the New Orleans Hornets on Sunday night, and the celebrating Kings razzed Abdur-Rahim as much as they congratulated him. "We were all in there just now trying to explain to Shareef what this is all about," Kings coach Rick Adelman said after emerging from the locker room. "We told him, 'You know, you get some extra money for this, too.' I'm really happy for him, and so is everybody in that room." After the Kings finish the regular season against Seattle on Tuesday night, Abdur-Rahim will no longer be his generation's prototypical good player on a bad team. His playoff absence is second only to that of 1970s star Tom Van Arsdale, who played in 929 games over a 12-year career without appearing in the postseason. Abdur-Rahim took a huge pay cut and joined the Kings last August mainly because of their winning tradition, which included seven straight postseason trips under Adelman. They finally clinched the eighth after a tumultuous season in which Abdur-Rahim wondered whether his career-long losing malaise had followed him to Sacramento. "It's great to finally get a chance to compete on the highest level, because that's why I play this game," Abdur-Rahim said. "But more than anything, I'm just glad I won't have to answer those questions any more. I was tired of that. [The media] has got to find some more stories now. You all probably won't talk to me any more." Abdur-Rahim will be thrilled to pass the dubious honor of his streak among active players to Golden State Warriors center Adonal Foyle, who's expected to play his 593rd game on Wednesday night without a taste of the postseason. Abdur-Rahim averaged 19.9 points and 8.1 rebounds in his first nine seasons with Vancouver, Atlanta and Portland. He made one All-Star team and annually racked up impressive statistics -- but his responsibilities overshadowed his abilities, and he was asked to carry too many teammates through too many tough stretches. "He's been a great player in this league for a long time, but it's never just about one player," said Bonzi Wells, who's never missed the playoffs in eight NBA seasons with three teams. Abdur-Rahim, who had a 3.5 GPA at California, is no dummy: He knew there's more to basketball than numbers, particularly after his big-money contract expired in Portland last year. He decided team success was his fondest desire as a free agent last summer. "I think I've got some nice memories about my career already," he said. "I've had good times, but that's one thing I wouldn't like to keep on my resume, not making the playoffs." Spurning bigger offers from lousier teams, he first signed with the talented New Jersey Nets last August -- but they curiously voided the deal over injury concerns. He quickly joined the Kings, agreeing to a five-year contract for the midlevel salary-cap exception -- about $9 million less than he made in Portland last season. Once he got into Sacramento's rotation, his sacrifices weren't finished. The longtime starter swallowed his pride and accepted a backup role behind Kenny Thomas and his fragile ego, agreeing it would be better for the team. And then for a while, Abdur-Rahim could barely swallow at all. He broke his jaw in a collision with Portland's Zach Randolph in December, and the resulting surgery left him with his mouth wired shut. The Kings estimated he would be out for two months, but Abdur-Rahim returned just 3 1/2 weeks after the surgery, valiantly playing with the wires still in place. It was difficult to breathe or drink water on the bench, but his return sparked his teammates. Then Ron Artest arrived in a trade with Indiana for Peja Stojakovic, and the Kings' turnaround began. Sacramento went from an 18-24 start to an outstanding finish, including eight wins in their last 10 games. "When my jaw got broken, that really got to me," Abdur-Rahim said. "We were struggling as a team already, and now this. It feels good as a team to fight through all that and make the playoffs, and it feels even better because of the injury, and because of our slow start and all the distractions we fought through."
dude, the article proved that he sucks. if he has to come off the bench and play less minutes, then he's not the great freaking player you claim him to be. Freaking KENNY THOMAS IS AHEAD OF HIM. And this guy was a top 10 pick? besides, why are you arguing? Kelly was man enough to put money where his mouth is. I guess you can only bet a bag of cheetos. JUWAN > SAR I wouldn't HESITATE to choose JUWAN over this dude. 744 games, and going to the bench and getting an all-star to join to the team so they can get whipped by the SPURS.
Everybody knows that the Willis Reed NBA finals game was more of an inspirational performance. He didn't even play one quarter in that game. Besides, Willis Reed could AT LEAST open his mouth.
BIG FREAKING DEAL!!! Getting Elbowed to the Jaw??? PLEASE!! KENNY THOMAS GOT BITTEN BY A DOG!!! Big Dog Bites: KT out of Summer League action Kenny Thomas not accustomed to "ruff" play as coach Boylen's dog bites KT in the face MONDAY, JULY 9, 2001 7:04 PM CST By Clutch Copyright 2001 ClutchFans.net Big Dog Bites: KT out of Summer League action According to Channel 11 News in Houston, Kenny Thomas will not be playing in the LA Summer Pro League because he was bit in the face by a dog today. According to the report, assistant coach Jim Boylen brought his dog to the airport today, and KT got too close for comfort. Apparently Thomas leaned in to Boylen's car to say goodbye to his family when the dog, a Boston terrier, bit him in the face. It was more serious than intially thought: KT was taken to the hospital and required plastic surgery and the dog was put to sleep. We hope Kenny is OK and wish him well in his recovery.
SAR is a class act. It's nice to see one of the good guys in te NBA, along with Elton Brand making it into the playoffs. SAR/Elton will shine in the playoffs, in my opinion.
1st -- a Boston Terrier -- i'd be more impressed if were a poodle. 2nd -- He sat out the entire summer league because of a little bite. 3rd -- 2001!? What have you done for us lately KT? 4th -- No one here is dissing KT -- personally I wish we still had him. Sir Shareef would have bit the dog back and been on his merry way.
Dude, KT had to have PLASTIC SURGERY. Dont you remember what he looked like before the attack? before: after:
