Everyone just seems to love those old school throwback videos of NBA superstars as high school ballers or from an earlier part of their career. We, here at TheHoopDoctors.com even have made them into a feature called Vintage Video, where we show you some classic footage of NBA players from the early parts of their career.
But what if we went back even further, like…elementary school age. What? Wait, let me explain. We’ll give you some very early pics of current NBA stars, along with a few hints, and you try and guess who the NBA superstar is:
#1
Former NCAA All American 1st Teamer at Kansas
Former 1st Team All American at Kansas
#10 Pick in the 1998 NBA Draft(Boston)
9 Time NBA All Star
2008 NBA Champion and Finals MVP
1 of only 3 players to score 20,000 points in a Celtics uniform and nicknamed “The Truth”
#2
Recorded only the 4th triple-double in NCAA Tournament history w/ Marquette(‘03)
#5 Pick in the 2003 NBA Draft(Miami) and nicknamed “Flash”
7 Time NBA All Star
2 Time All NBA 1st Team Selection
2006 NBA Champion and Finals MVP
#3
1994 PAC-10 POY and NCAA All American 1st Teamer at Cal
#2 Pick in 1994 NBA Draft(Dallas)
10 Time NBA All Star
5 Time All NBA First Team
2nd All Time in NBA Assists and 2 Time Olympic Gold Medalist
#4
Nicknamed “J-Smoove”
Starred at Famed Oak Hill Academy and named McDonald’s All American in HS
Skipped College and Picked #17 in 2004 NBA Draft(Atlanta)
Won 2005 NBA Slam Dunk Contest
In 2010, Became the Youngest Player(24 years old) to block 1000 shots for career
#5
Won 4 National POY Awards as a junior and is 1 of 7 players to have their jersey retired at UNC(‘98)
#4 Pick in the 1998 NBA Draft(Toronto)
Scored a career high 51 points in consecutive games with Golden State Warriors(‘00)
2 Time NBA All Star
Has Played for 4 NBA Franchises including Warriors, Mavericks, Wizards, and Cavaliers
#6
Nicknamed “Iggy” and “A.I. Version 2“ is one of the game’s best defenders and dunkers
Joined Jason Kidd as the only PAC-10 players to tally multiple triple doubles in a season at Arizona(‘04)
#9 Pick in the 2004 NBA Draft(Philadelphia)
Finished 2nd to Nate Robinson in the 2006 NBA Slam Dunk Contest
Won Gold Medal at 2010 FIBA World Championships
#7
Nicknamed “Mississippi Bullet”
Once scored 72 points in a HS game
Skipped college and was Picked #40 in the 2005 NBA Draft(Golden State)
Selected as 2007 NBA Most Improved Player
Including this season, he has averaged 20+ppg in 3 of the last 4 seasons
#8
Was once a promising swimmer and still holds a US record in the 50m as a youth
Named 2003 Minnesota Mr Basketball and McDonald’s All American
Turned down scholarship from Duke to attend University of Minnesota
#14 Pick in 2004 NBA Draft(Utah)
Currently dating reality star Kim Kardashian
Answers:
1) Paul Pierce, 2) Dwyane Wade, 3) Jason Kidd, 4) Josh Smith, 5) Antawn Jamison, 6) Andre Iguodala, 7) Monta Ellis, 8 ) Kris Humphries
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen also provides content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
