Famous basketball player Birthdays, Today, Celebrity Birthdays

Kobe Bryant is one of the most popular and successful basketball players of recent times. His father is a retired professional basketball player of America and his father is probably the inspiration behind his fondness for this game. He started playing from an early age and even represented his school in many matches. He helped his school register a victory after fifty-three years which was a great moment for the school and Bryant both. After completing high school, this player decided to pursue a career in basketball and did not continue further studies. He was one of few players who were inducted into the ˜NBA' directly from high school. He was made a member of his long-time favourite team ˜Lakers' and since then this talented player has never looked back. His performance improved with every game and he added a new feather to his crown. He has experienced many upheavals during his career like injuries and allegations, but this sports personality faced every challenge that came his way and emerged successful. He has set several records and even broke many old records. He has apparently, turned into an asset to his team, the ˜Los Angeles Lakers'. To know more about his life and works read on.

Lebron James is an American professional basketball player. He had a difficult childhood but showed tremendous talent early in his life. As a freshman at St. Vincent-St. Mary's High School he was pivotal in leading his team to two consecutive Division III State championships. He began attracting national attention for his basketball skills and was equally good at football in which he garnered All-state honors. He was taken as the number one overall pick in the NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He became the youngest person in NBA history to score 40 points in a game and became the youngest person to win the Rookie of the Year award. He was universally praised for his versatility, as he was used as a point guard, shooting guard, and small forward. His highlight-reel dunks and no-look passes thrilled his fans. In his third season, he led the Cavaliers to the playoffs. In his fifth season, he nearly single-handedly led the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals, only to be swept in four games by the San Antonio Spurs.

Stephen Curry is an American professional basketball player who represents the Golden State Warriors in NBA. The first child of one of the best 3-point shooters in NBA history, Dell Curry, he has been named the greatest shooter by many players, as well as analysts. He has won the 'NBA Most Valuable Player Award' twice in a row, including one unanimous win, a first in NBA history. He led the Warriors to their first championship in four decades, and also helped his team break the record for the most wins in an NBA season. He earned the Southern Conference 'Player of the Year' title twice by setting the all-time scoring record for both Davidson and the Southern Conference. He also set the NCAA record for most three-pointers made in a season during his second year in college. Renowned for his shooting skills, he holds the NBA record for most three-pointers made in a regular season, a record that he himself broke twice. He and his teammate, Klay Thompson, are known by the nickname "Splash Brothers" for their record breaking combined three-pointers in a season.

Popularly known as "His Airness", or "Air Jordan", Michael Jordan has won the hearts of millions of fans with his famous dunk shot. The basketball legend, showed a knack for the game, from the time he was in school. Having won several awards in college for his prowess, he decided to compete in the 'NBA Championships' at the age of twenty-one. Though not chosen on the best 'NBA' teams, this talented player gave it his all as a member of the 'Chicago Bulls'. This athlete proved to be a match-turner, changing the fate of his team with his talent. From a losing team, 'Chicago Bulls' began winning most of their matches, and finally emerged victorious for six consecutive championships. This remarkable player is considered a treat to watch, and though he retired on two occasions, every time he returned, it was to mesmerise the spectators. From 'Chicago Bulls', he moved on to the 'Washington Wizards', first serving as President of Operations, and then as a player. After his final retirement, he took over the 'Charlotte Bobcats' as a part-owner, with a majority hold in stakes. From then on, he has gone on to be the only billionaire athlete in history. To know more about his life and works read on

Kevin Wayne Durant is a professional American basketball player who currently plays for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association. The winner of an NBA Most Valuable Player Award, he has also won two Olympic gold medals. Born in Washington DC in the United States, Durant was enthusiastic about basketball from his childhood. During his teenage years, he used to travel around the country for basketball tournaments along with his father. He was also quite active in basketball in the schools he studied. After he entered the University of Texas, his brilliant skills in the sport earned him the Oscar Robertson award and the Adolph F Rupp awards, making him the first person to earn both honors as a freshman. Because of his incredible talents, he became eligible for the NBA draft after just one year of playing in college. As a professional basketball player, Durant's biggest achievement came at the 2012 Olympics where he not only set the record for total points scored in an Olympic basketball tournament, but also helped the national team earn a gold medal. He rejoined the team for the 2016 Olympics, where the team earned a gold medal once again.

Kyrie Andrew Irving is an American professional basketball player who plays for the NBA team Cleveland Cavaliers. As a young boy, Irving was inspired by his father who was a professional basketball player himself. Having received both help and inspiration from his father, Irving was very active in sports during his high school days. He studied in Montclair Kimberley Academy and later, St. Patrick High School, being a brilliant player in both schools. His proficiency in basketball got him selected with the first overall pick in the 2011 NBA drafts. Over the course of his career, he has won an NBA championship and has also played for the United States national team, helping the team win the gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Other than sports, Irving has also made a few television appearances. He made a guest appearance in an episode of ˜Kickin' It', a martial arts inspired comedy TV series that aired on Disney XD from 2011 to 2015. Irving kindled controversy in February 2017 after he stated that the Earth is flat, contrary to what most people believe and what modern science claims. Later in an interview, he was less aggressive, and encouraged people to do more research into the topic themselves.

Lonzo Ball is a well-known American basketball player. He is a basketball genius and his accuracy in throwing the ball remains unmatched. Lonzo is also known for the energy he brings to the game. He played with the ˜UCLA Bruins' in college before he was selected for the ˜Los Angeles Lakers' of the ˜National Basketball Association.' He was selected in the ˜2017 NBA draft.' He was the second overall pick. He was also selected for the ˜2017 NFL.' He was the third pick for the ˜Lakers' after D ˜Angelo Rusello and Brandon Ingram. Currently, he is the point guard in the ˜Lakers.' Amongst his numerous awards and honors, he won ˜Mr. Basketball USA' in 2016. He was also awarded ˜Wayman Tisdale Award' for being America's top freshman of 2016. As a freshman, he broke the ˜UCLA's old record of most assists in a season. He also endorses various sports brands, including ˜Nike,' Adidas,' and ˜Under Armour.'

Russell Westbrook III is a prolific American basketball player who plays for the NBA team ˜Oklahoma City Thunder'. Hailing from a sports family, he started exhibiting his skills while he was just a kid. From winning biggest honours while playing in college, to becoming one of the most looked up to NBA stars of present times, Russell has come a very long way. He began his NBA career in 2008 when he was drafted by ˜Seattle SuperSonics', which was later renamed to ˜Oklahoma City Thunder' a few days later, and the extremely successful association continues to this day. Trained strenuously by his father, Russell Westbrook Sr., Russell Jr. dedicated most part of his childhood to the game and in the gyms shaping up for the future. Russell's talent made him an integral part of the American basketball team and he represented the United States in 2010 FIBA world championship and the 2012 Olympics. In both these tournaments, the team won gold. In 2017, Westbrook became the second player in basketball history for securing the most number of triple doubles in a particular NBA season. As his explosive form continues to hit the opponents out of the tournaments, Russell has also launched an eye-gear brand, and continues his involvement with the fashion world.

7-foot center commonly known as Shaq who was a 3-time NBA Finals MVP, 15-time All-Star selection and 4-time NBA Champion. He was drafted 1st overall by the Orlando Magic in 1992, then went on to win the NBA MVP Award with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000 as well as three straight NBA Championships before helping the Miami Heat win the franchise's first ever NBA Championship in 2006.

Klay Alexander Thompson is an American professional basketball player, who plays for Golden State Warriors in the NBA (National Basketball Association) league. The sport runs in Thompson's blood. Born to a basketball champion father, he was introduced to the sport at an early age. His mother also came from the sporting field and thus supported Thompson in his athletic endeavours. Before beginning his professional career, Thompson played college basketball for three seasons at Washington State University, where he was a two-time first-team all-conference selection in the Pac-10. He was selected in the first round of the 2011 NBA draft by Golden State with the 11th overall pick. His excellence at the game can be judged by the fact that Thompson has charted numerous records over the course of his career. He has to his credit the NBA regular season record for most points scored in a quarter and most three-pointers made in a single playoff. He also has the NBA playoff record for most three-pointers made in a game. In 2015, he led the Warriors to their first NBA championship since 1975. Together with fellow teammate <a title='Stephen Curry' href='/famous/stephen-curry.htm'>Stephen Curry</a>, he set a NBA record of 525 three-pointers in March 2015.

James Harden is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the ˜Houston Rockets.' The ˜National Basketball Association' (NBA) third seed started his professional career with the ˜Oklahoma City Thunder' in 2009, before he was signed by the ˜Rockets' in 2012. James is known for his impeccable skills and his ability to score high points that often help his team win crucial matches. His stellar skills and dedication toward the sport have earned him various accolades, such as the ˜NBA Most Valuable Player' (MVP) and the ˜PAC Player of the Year.' He has also been part of the ˜All-NBA Team' and the ˜NBA All-Star' team. James's facial hair has impressed his fans all over the world and has become his trademark. He became famous for his beard in 2009 and has not shaved it since. He has been nicknamed The Beard, and his beard often appears in various songs and on T-shirts. James is also the first ˜NBA' player to score 60 points while scoring a triple-double. He achieved the feat in 2018 and broke the previous record of 57 points made by Calvin Murphy. He also played for the national team at the 2012 ˜Olympics,' where the team won the gold, and at the 2014 ˜FIBA Basketball World Cup.' He mostly plays at the shooting guard position.

Dwyane Wade is an American star basketball player who plays for the Chicago Bulls of NBA (National Basketball Association). He started his professional career playing for Miami Heat after getting drafted in 2003, and was named in the All*Rookie team in the very first season. From being one of the most well known basketball players in the world, Wade has been through a tough and long journey. Countless hours he had spent on the basketball court in college and school got him honours such as 2006 NBA MVP and NBA scoring title. In his third season playing for Miami Heat, he brought the underrated team to a much respectable position and the team got to their very first championship title since the start of the franchise. In the 2008 Summer Olympics held in Beijing, Wade represented his national team and played a major role in earning his team the gold medal. The spirit of Miami Heat team was always up whenever Wade was in form and he led his team to enter four consecutive finals in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 in the NBA league. As Wade was a poor student, he was not able to get admission in prestigious universities, but strong willed Wade took whatever chances life threw at him with his hard work and dedication, and emerged as one of the brightest shining stars in NBA's sky.

Derrick Martell Rose is a popular American basketball player who currently plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association. Born and raised in Chicago in the US, Rose has been involved with basketball since his high school days. Shortly after his talent in the sport became apparent, he rose to become one of the best high school players in the country. Later, he played college basketball for the University of Memphis Tigers, where his outstanding skills were quite appreciated. He was drafted into the NBA in 2008 by the Chicago Bulls. Being tall and well-built, he rose to become one of the finest athletes in the history of the NBA. In the year 2011, he became the youngest player to win the NBA Most Valuable Player Award at just the age of 22. Along with being a sportsman, he is also a co-owner of Giordano's Pizzeria. The popular athlete is also signed with corporations such as Adidas and Wilson Sporting Goods. Along with popular NBA players Kevin Durant and Blake Griffin, he was a cover athlete of a popular video game based on basketball named ˜NBA 2K13'. He is estimated to have an annual income of $1.5 million and has a net worth of around $85 million.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, nicknamed the ˜Greek Freak', is a Greek basketball playe,r who also represents the NBA basketball team, ˜Milwaukee Bucks'. He started his professional career by signing up to play for the junior squad of the Filathlitikos B.C., a Greek professional basketball club. Soon after, he became a member of Filathlitikos's senior squad. Antetokounmpo excelled in all departments of the sport, including rebounds, assists, and blocks. His unusual and extraordinary sporting skills attracted the attention of topnotch clubs in Europe. ˜CAI Zaragoza', a Spanish club, contracted him for 4 years at € 4, 00,000 per year. However, Antetokounmpo did not get the opportunity to play for Zaragoza as he was picked up by Milwaukee Bucks as a preliminary draft just when he would have taken the field for the Spanish squad. Since his contract with Zaragoza incorporated a default escape condition, he qualified to play for Milwaukee Bucks. He was the integral playmaker for Milwaukee Bucks' in his third year with the NBA team. In the following year, he was adjudged as Milwaukee Bucks' star player.

Chris Emmanuel Paul is a popular American basketball player who currently plays for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association. The point guard, who began his professional career playing for the New Orleans Hornets, has also played for the United States men's basketball team and helped them win two Gold medals at the Olympics. Born in Lewisville, North Carolina, in the US, Paul was a sports enthusiast from his childhood. Although initially he was more interested in football, later his passion turned towards basketball. Needless to say, he was a brilliant player in high school. He attended the Wake Forest University for two years where he achieved excellence in college basketball and helped the Demon Deacons successfully reach the number one ranking for the first time. Soon, he was drafted into the NBA by New Orleans Hornets. He played for the team for a total of six seasons, after which he joined the Los Angeles Clippers. From the past few years, he has also been serving as the president of the National Basketball Players Association, a labor union which represents all NBA players. Despite being one of the most successful and highly paid basketball players, Paul is of humble nature and has stated that he is grateful to God for all his achievements.

Tristan Thompson is a Canadian basketball player who currently plays for the ˜Cleveland Cavaliers' of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also plays for Canada on the international level. Born in Toronto, Thompson started showing brilliance in basketball during his school days. He was sought by the top basketball programs of the nation due to his outstanding skills. He played college basketball for a season for the University of Texas before he was picked by the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2011 NBA draft. He performed quite well in the first season, becoming the first Canadian ever to earn All-Rookie team honors in the NBA. He played brilliantly in the ensuing years as well and won several awards and honors. He was honored with the Wayman Tisdale Award in 2011 and was named the 2016 NBA champion. He is currently engaged to Khloe Kardashian, sister of the famous American TV personality Kim Kardashian.

LiAngelo Robert Ball is an American professional basketball player currently affiliated with Vytautas Prienai“BirÅ¡tonas, a team from the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL). A shooting guard, he is a naturally gifted player with an impressive 6-foot-5, 216-pound stature. Born in a family of athletes, Ball grew up playing with older opponents. He began training and working out when he was four years old and two years later, he first played alongside his brothers. In August 2011, he and his brothers participated in the Junior Phenom Camp, where he was ranked the 12th best player in his class. Ball then started playing for Chino Hills High School in Chino Hills, California and soon gained a national reputation for leading his team in scoring for multiple seasons, averaging a state-high 33.8 points per game as a senior, and earning All-Area and All-State honours several times. His stellar performance at the school level brought him the chance to represent UCLA Bruins as a three-star recruit. However, he later had to withdraw following his suspension for shoplifting in China. Despite not being regarded as an NBA prospect, Ball was prepared for the 2018 draft by his father. In December 2017, Ball joined BC Prienai as their new shooting guard.

Kawhi Leonard is an American professional basketball player. He is currently playing for the team, ˜Toronto Raptors,' of the ˜National Basketball Association.' He is one of the most valuable players of the ˜NBA.' Leonard was interested in playing basketball, from his school days. In his senior year in school, he won the title of ˜California Mr. Basketball.' Leonard started his amateur career with the ˜San Diego State University' basketball team, ˜Aztecs.' He gave an exceptional performance, and was selected as the 15th overall pick in the ˜2011 NBA Draft,' by the ˜Indiana Pacers.' Later, he was traded to the ˜San Antonio Spurs,' and remained with the team, for a long time. Leonard was selected to the ˜NBA All-Rookie First Team,' in the first year of his professional career. He was named as the ˜NBA Finals Most Valuable Player,' and also won the title of ˜NBA Defensive Player of the Year,' in two consecutive years. After some tremendous performances, Leonard's game was shadowed by some injuries. He suffered an injury to his quadriceps, and missed some games. Leonard was traded to ˜Toronto Raptors,' and is currently playing for the team.

Younger brother of <a title='Stephen Curry' href='/famous/stephen-curry.htm'>Stephen Curry</a> who was a member of Duke University's basketball team from 2010 to 2012. He began his NBA career with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2013 and signed with the Dallas Mavericks in 2016. 

At 6ft 8inches height with sturdy arms and a bird's vision, Carmelo Anthony is undoubtedly one of the most prolific basketball players of all times. A child prodigy, he was destined to make it big in the game of basketball, given his excellent understanding of the sport, characteristic instinct and deep-seated desire to attain the No.1 position. His fearsome competitor's spirit, a guard's vision and scorer's touch made him a key player since his high school years. Excelling at the game in Towson Catholic High School and Oak Hill Academy, he attended the Syracuse University wherein his basketball skills helped lead the university to its first ever National Championship. No sooner, his spirited performance brought him under international limelight. He turned professional in 2003 being drafted by Denver Nuggets as their key player. Game after game, he broke all records to emerge as the top NBA player. His ability to dominate the game from the opening tip was an unheard and unseen affair for someone of his age in basketball. After his years of collaboration with the Nuggets, he was traded to the New York Knicks. This apart, he has made his presence felt at the Olympics as well, winning two gold and one bronze medal in the same. To know more about his life and childhood, read on.

Larry Joe Bird is an American former iconic basketball player who played for NBA's ˜Boston Celtics'. He is a legend in the NBA scene as he holds many records and brilliant career stats. No wonder he is also addressed as ˜Larry Legend'. With an extensive list of achievements, Larry is one of the most popular NBA players of all time. He has won three NBA tournaments and has been awarded the Most Valuable Player on five occasions. With 12 NBA All-Star honors and nine All-NBA First Team honors, Larry is regarded as the deadliest shooter, the master intimidator and an excellent scorer of all time. He has had a successful post-retirement career as well and has been honored with Best Coach and NBA Executive of the Year awards. While his high self-confidence has helped him to achieve many wonderful things on the court, it has also defamed him to some extent as he is labeled as a big time trash talker.

Magic Johnson is a retired American professional basketball player, counted among the greatest basketball players of all time. He played professional basketball for 13 seasons, all of them with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A tall, well-built man, he is famous for his powerful arms, agility and speed that helped him become one of the most formidable players in the world during the 1980s. Magic Johnson grew up in a big family with several siblings and developed an early love for basketball. His father, though not a professional basketball player, was an athletic man who had played the sport during his high school days. His mother too encouraged his passion for the game. He proved to be a wonderful player, playing for the school team in Everett High School, and finished his high school career with two All-State selections, and was considered at the time to be the best high school player ever to emerge from Michigan. He then went to study at the Michigan State University where he continued playing the sport. After college he was recruited by the Los Angeles Lakers with whom he spent his entire career. Diagnosed to be HIV-positive, he is also known for his HIV activism and philanthropic activities

Draymond Jamal Green Sr. is a well-known American professional basketball player. At present, he plays for the ˜Golden State Warriors' of the ˜National Basketball Association' (NBA). Green is known for playing at the power forward position for the NBA ˜All-Defensive Team' even though, at a height of 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m), he is technically considered undersized for that role. Green has been repeatedly chosen for this position as he has consistently proved his versatile defending skills to protect all five positions both as an interior and perimeter defender. Green closely studies his opponents for game preparation to boost his play. He banks on his lower-body strength to fetch rebounds, steals, and blocks. Green briefly dabbled with football at Michigan State University, before recognizing his basketball calling. He practiced with the Michigan State Spartans football team and had two plays during the 2011 Green-White spring football game. Green exhibits an emerging NBA trend of versatile frontcourt players who defend multiple positions with equal ease. Green is also good at attack. His impulsive and aggressive play often incurs penalty and technical fouls. He has had ugly run-ins with ˜Oklahoma City' centre Steven Adams; ˜Washington Wizards' guard Bradley Beal and ˜Cleveland Cavalier's' LeBron.

Benjamin David Simmons is an Australian professional basketball player who currently plays as a forward for the ˜Philadelphia 76ers' of ˜National Basketball Association (NBA).' He is also on the ˜Australian National Basketball Team.' He was born and raised in Australia and now holds dual citizenship of Australia and the US. While growing up in New South Wales, Australia, he played in under-12 team at the age of 7. He also participated in Australian rule football and rugby. During high school, he won some prestigious awards for basketball. He played for Australia in ˜2013 FIBA Oceania Championship' and helped win gold medal. He was invited to some of the prominent basketball camps in the USA that present best high school players in the world. After playing college basketball at ˜Louisiana State University' for one year, he was selected first overall in the ˜2016 NBA Draft' by ˜Philadelphia 76ers.' Due to a foot injury during training camp, he could not play for his first NBA season, but by the end of his debut season, Simmons won ˜NBA Rookie of the Year.'