Flashback Friday: Shareef Abdur-Rahim

  Shareef Abdur-Rahim was drafted no.3 overall in the 1996 NBA draft by the Vancouver (now Memphis) Grizzlies. Abdur-Rahim spent his first five years with the Grizzlies before being traded to the Atlanta Hawks in 2001, which helped land the Grizzlies current NBA all-pro Pau Gasol. In 2000, Abdur-Rahim was on the U.S. Olympic team that took home the Gold medal in Sydney, Australia.

Abdur -Rahim played 12 seasons in the NBA and was named to the NBA all-star team in the 2001-02 season. He also did a little acting through his NBA career, playing a role as himself on the popular sitcom 'The Jamie Foxx Show'. Adbur-Rahim had a very impressive career averaging 18 points per game and 7.5 rebounds; six seasons he averaged over 20 points per game ('98-'02 & '04).

After leaving the Atlanta Hawks in '02, Abdur-Rahim had a small stint with the Portland Trailblazers - '03-'05 - before joining the Sacramento Kings, where he would spend his three final seasons as a player. His career would end after suffering numerous injuries and after the '07-'08 season he would decide to hang up his basketball shoes for good. He didn't have a hall-of-fame career, no, but his style of play during that time was something that teams had trouble guarding and his mid-range shooting ability was one thing that made him such a special big man.

Looking back, I can honestly say that him being drafted no.3 in the 1996 draft speaks volumes for the type of skills that he had and displayed.

Notable players he was drafted ahead of: Ray Allen, Stephon Marbury, Antoine Walker, Kobe Bryant, Peja Stojakavic, Steve Nash, Jermaine O'Neal.