Shareef Abdur-Rahim Grizzlies 22pts 14rebs 5asts vs Raptors (2000)

March 5 2000

Another forgotten player due to time, Shareef Abdur-Rahim has a great all around game in a game he kept the Vancouver Grizzlies close against the Toronto Raptors in the battle of Canada. Abdur-Rahim would finish with 22 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 assists as well as a little skirmish with Raptors star Vince Carter, in what he called in a halftime interview as two guys competin'.

Abdur-Rahim is the current president of the NBA G-League, a lofty position for a former pro. He retired at 31 due to persistent knee injuries-partially to blame to why he is forgotten nowadays-which jumpstarted his coaching and executive career, first as assistant GM of the Kings, then the GM of their G-League squad, next as vice president of basketball operations for the NBA (a position held by Rod Thorn back in the day), and now as president of the G-League.

Shareef was the second of 12 children in his family. In a family filled with basketball talent-one brother played at the University of Detroit, another at Southeastern Louisiana University-Shareef was quite the talent in high school, being awarded Mr. Basketball of the state of Georgia twice, capturing a state title, and averaging 31 points, 12.4 rebounds and 4 blocks a game his senior year. He attended UC-Berkley, where he was the first freshman in PAC-10 history to win Conference Player of the Year, while maintaining a 3.5 GPA at one of the most prestigious academic schools in the country. He declared for the draft after his freshman season, and was selected third overall in the 1996 NBA Draft.