Marcus Camby

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Marcus Camby
Position Center
Height 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Weight 235 lb (107 kg)
League NBA
Team Denver Nuggets
Jersey #23
Born March 22, 1974 (1974-03-22) (age 34)
Hartford, Connecticut
Nationality American
College UMass
Draft 2nd overall, 1996
Toronto Raptors
Pro career 1996–present
Former teams Toronto Raptors (1996–1998)
New York Knicks (1998–2002)
Awards NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award (2006-07)
NBA All-Defensive First Team (2006-07, 2007-08)
NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2004-05, 2005-06)
NBA All-Rookie First Team (1996-97)
John R. Wooden Award (1995-96)
Naismith College Player of the Year Award (1995-96)
Oscar Robertson Trophy (1995-96)
The Sporting News College Player of the Year (1995-96)
Official profile Info Page

Marcus D. Camby (born March 22, 1974 in Hartford, Connecticut) is an American professional basketball player, who currently plays center for the Denver Nuggets of the NBA. He won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award during the 2006-07 NBA season, leading the league in blocked shots per game.[1]

Contents

[edit] College career

Camby played three seasons at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He is second all-time in total blocked shots (336) at UMass and the fourth-ever college player to have at least 300 total career blocked shots.[2] He had an NCAA freshman record 105 total rejections during his first year at UMass.[2]

Camby won the John R. Wooden Award and the Naismith College Player of the Year Award during the 1995-96 season. He led UMass to numerous #1 rankings and the 1996 NCAA Final Four. In the NCAA tournament, Camby set a tourney record of 43 total blocked shots in 11 games.[2] UMass' visit to the Final Four was later officially nullified by the NCAA because Camby had been found to have accepted $28,000 from two sports agents.[3][4] In 1996, he decided to forgo his senior year at UMass and enter the NBA Draft.

[edit] NBA career

Camby was selected second overall in the first round of the well-regarded 1996 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors. He played for the Raptors from 1996-1998, before being traded to the New York Knicks, in exchange for longtime Knick Charles Oakley. Camby played for the Knicks from 1998-2002, before being traded again, this time to the Denver Nuggets, in exchange for Antonio McDyess.[5]

Camby has led the NBA in blocked shots for several seasons; however, constant injuries have limited the impact of his career in the NBA. The 2005-06 season with the Nuggets was one of his most successful, as he had 12.0 rebounds per game, 9.6 defensive rebounds per game and 1.4 steals per game. He also averaged 12.8 points per game and led the league in blocks per game (3.3), while helping Denver earn a playoff berth by winning the Northwest Division.

On December 16, 2006, Camby was involved in the infamous Knicks-Nuggets brawl.[6] He was one of 10 players ejected from the game, but received no suspension.

On April 27, 2007, it was announced that Camby won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award for the 2006-07 season.[7] The honor was the first of Camby's career. He received the actual award from NBA commissioner David Stern during a pregame ceremony at the Nuggets first home 2006-07 playoff game, which was against the San Antonio Spurs on April 28, 2007.[8] During the 2006-07 season, Camby averaged 3.3 blocks per game (first in the league), 11.7 rebounds per game (fifth in the league), 9.3 defensive rebounds per game (second in the league) and 1.24 steals per game (second among centers).[9][10]

During the 2007-08 NBA season, Camby continued to make his mark as one of the best defensive players and centers in the game. He finished the season averaging 13.1 rebounds per game (second in the league), 18.1 rebounds per 48 minutes (first in the league), 10.2 defensive rebounds per game (second in the league), 14.1 defensive rebounds per 48 minutes (first in the league), 3.61 blocks per game (first in the league), 4.96 blocks per 48 minutes (first in the league), 285 total blocks (first in the league), 1.06 steals per game (third among centers) and 3.3 assists per game (second among centers).

On December 26, 2007, in a Nuggets' home win against the Milwaukee Bucks, Camby posted a triple-double, with 10 points (which included a three-pointer), 11 rebounds and 10 blocks. The triple-double was Camby's third of his career and the first since April 19, 1998, against the Philadelphia 76ers.[11]

On January 14, 2008, in a Nuggets' road loss against the Charlotte Bobcats, Camby had a statistically impressive and rare game of 20 points, 23 rebounds, 6 assists and 6 blocks. He became only the fourth player since 1990 to have at least 20 points, 20 rebounds, 6 assists and 6 blocks in one game.[12]

On January 17, 2008, in a Nuggets' home win against the Utah Jazz, Camby became just the third player since blocked shots became an official NBA stat in 1973-74 with at least 24 rebounds and 11 blocks in a game.[13]

On January 25, 2008, in a Nuggets home win against the New Jersey Nets, Camby blocked 4 shots - and in the process - recorded his 1,000th blocked shot as a member of the Nuggets.[14]

On March 16, 2008, in an historic 168-116 home win in regulation over the Seattle SuperSonics (the 168 points were the most points scored in franchise history - fourth most in NBA history - for a non-overtime game), Camby recorded his second triple-double of the 2007-08 NBA season when he had 13 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists.[15] The triple-double was accomplished in a NBA record-tying 27 minutes.

[edit] Statistics

[edit] Regular season

Year Team G GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG
1996-97 Toronto Raptors 63 38 30.1 0.482 0.143 0.693 2.1 4.2 6.3 1.5 1.0 2.1 2.13 3.40 14.8
1997-98 Toronto Raptors 63 58 31.8 0.412 0.000 0.611 3.2 4.2 7.4 1.8 1.1 3.7 2.13 3.20 12.1
1998-99 New York Knicks 46 0 20.5 0.521 0.000 0.553 2.2 3.3 5.5 0.3 0.6 1.6 0.85 2.80 7.2
1999-00 New York Knicks 59 11 26.2 0.480 0.500 0.670 2.9 4.9 7.8 0.8 0.7 2.0 1.22 3.50 10.2
2000-01 New York Knicks 63 63 33.8 0.524 0.125 0.667 3.1 8.4 11.5 0.8 1.0 2.2 1.00 3.30 12.0
2001-02 New York Knicks 29 29 34.7 0.448 0.000 0.626 3.1 8.0 11.1 1.1 1.2 1.7 1.45 3.70 11.1
2002-03 Denver Nuggets 29 9 21.2 0.410 0.400 0.660 2.6 4.6 7.2 1.6 0.7 1.4 0.93 2.40 7.6
2003-04 Denver Nuggets 72 72 30.0 0.477 0.000 0.721 2.9 7.2 10.1 1.8 1.2 2.6 1.36 3.30 8.6
2004-05 Denver Nuggets 66 66 30.5 0.465 0.000 0.723 2.0 8.0 10.0 2.3 0.9 3.0 1.56 2.70 10.3
2005-06 Denver Nuggets 56 54 33.2 0.465 0.091 0.712 2.4 9.6 11.9 2.1 1.4 3.3 1.64 2.80 12.8
2006-07 Denver Nuggets 70 70 33.8 0.473 0.000 0.729 2.3 9.3 11.7 3.2 1.2 3.3 1.74 2.60 11.2
2007-08 Denver Nuggets 79 79 34.9 0.450 0.300 0.708 2.9 10.2 13.1 3.3 1.1 3.6 1.49 2.70 9.1
Totals: 695 549 30.6 0.467 0.183 0.678 2.6 7.0 9.7 1.8 1.0 2.6 1.50 3.00 10.7

[edit] Playoffs

Year Team G GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG
1998-99 New York Knicks 20 3 25.5 0.566 0.000 0.616 2.6 5.1 7.7 0.3 1.2 1.9 0.75 3.80 10.4
1999-00 New York Knicks 16 0 24.1 0.337 0.000 0.613 2.2 4.8 7.0 0.4 0.5 1.4 0.75 3.20 4.8
2000-01 New York Knicks 4 4 35.3 0.385 0.000 0.385 1.0 7.0 8.0 1.8 0.5 2.2 0.50 4.50 6.3
2003-04 Denver Nuggets 5 5 38.8 0.491 0.500 0.571 2.8 8.6 11.4 2.4 0.8 1.4 1.20 4.20 12.6
2004-05 Denver Nuggets 5 5 36.8 0.415 0.000 0.630 0.8 10.4 11.2 1.8 0.6 3.2 2.20 3.60 10.2
2005-06 Denver Nuggets 5 5 35.0 0.419 0.000 0.556 2.6 8.4 11.0 2.2 0.8 2.8 0.80 2.80 11.4
2006-07 Denver Nuggets 5 5 36.8 0.378 0.000 0.667 2.4 12.4 14.8 2.0 0.8 3.2 2.00 2.80 7.6
2007-08 Denver Nuggets 4 4 31.0 0.238 1.000 0.333 2.8 10.5 13.3 3.0 1.0 3.0 2.50 2.50 3.3
Totals: 64 31 29.7 0.443 0.400 0.587 2.3 7.0 9.3 1.1 0.8 2.1 1.09 3.50 8.3

[edit] Awards and honors

[edit] Off the court

On June 14, 1997, Camby was arrested on charges of marijuana possession in South Windsor, Connecticut, after police stopped him for a driving offense.[16] On July 1, 1997, he agreed to a plea deal that required him to complete 16 hours of community service, in exchange for dismissal of the drug charge. Charges against Camby were dropped after he fulfilled the community service.

Camby received attention in 2005 for making comments regarding the NBA's dress code, implemented during the 2005-2006 season, saying that "I don't see it happening unless every NBA player is given a stipend to buy clothes." He was highly criticized for that quote, in large part because he was scheduled to make $7.5 million that season.[17]

On April 23, 2001, Camby's mother and two sisters were taken hostage in their own home by Hartford resident Troy Crooms. Crooms, who was charged with kidnapping, first-degree sexual assault, burglary and possession of a weapon, allegedly held the women at knife-point over an eight-hour long stand-off with police.[18]

In 1996, Camby established the Cambyland Foundation, a non-profit organization.[19] Cambyland partners with school and community organizations to provide opportunities for young people.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Spears, Marc J.; "Camby to win defensive award", The Denver Post, April 27, 2007
  2. ^ a b c NBA.com : Marcus Camby Bio Page
  3. ^ Decourcy, Mike; "An asterisk can't ruin UMass' Final Four dream", "The Sporting News", June 9, 1997
  4. ^ Vatour, Mark, "Remembering the magical Final Four season: Players and coaches reflect 10 years later" The Daily Hampshire Gazette, November 24, 2005.
  5. ^ Knicks Acquire NBA All-Star Antonio McDyess
  6. ^ ESPN - Denver vs. New York - Recap - December 16, 2006
  7. ^ Camby second Nugget to win top defensive award, published April 28, 2007
  8. ^ ESPN - San Antonio vs. Denver - Recap - April 28, 2007
  9. ^ Camby unable to join team due to family matter posted May 17, 2007
  10. ^ 2007 Award Winners
  11. ^ ESPN - Milwaukee vs. Denver - Recap - December 26, 2007
  12. ^ ESPN - Denver vs. Charlotte - Recap - January 14, 2008
  13. ^ ESPN - Utah vs. Denver - Recap - January 17, 2008
  14. ^ ESPN - New Jersey vs. Denver - Recap - January 25, 2008
  15. ^ ESPN - Seattle vs. Denver - Recap - March 16, 2008
  16. ^ Camby Arrested - New York Times
  17. ^ Stern sure players will comply with dress code
  18. ^ Mother and Sisters of Knicks Star Held Hostage for Hours - New York Times
  19. ^ http://www.cambyland.com/educate02.html

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Joe Smith		 Naismith College Player of the Year Award Winners - Men
1995-96		 Succeeded by
Tim Duncan
Preceded by
Ed O'Bannon		 John R. Wooden Award Winners - Men
1995-96		 Succeeded by
Tim Duncan
Preceded by
Ben Wallace		 NBA Defensive Player of the Year
2006-07		 Succeeded by
Kevin Garnett
v • d • e
Denver Nuggets current roster

0 Green | 1 Smith | 3 Iverson | 4 Martin | 5 Diawara | 11 Jones | 12 Atkins | 15 Anthony | 21 Najera | 23 Camby | 25 Carter | 31 Nenê | 43 Kleiza | 45 Hunter | Coach Karl
v • d • e
1996 NBA Draft
Draft Templates
83 • 84 • 85 • 86 • 87 • 88 • 89 • 90 • 91 • 92 • 93 • 94 • 95 • 96 • 97 • 98 • 99 • 00 • 01 • 02 • 03 • 04 • 05 • 06 • 07 • 08
v • d • e
NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award
1983: Moncrief | 1984: Moncrief | 1985: Eaton | 1986: Robertson | 1987: Cooper | 1988: Jordan | 1989: Eaton | 1990: Rodman | 1991: Rodman | 1992: Robinson | 1993: Olajuwon | 1994: Olajuwon | 1995: Mutombo | 1996: Payton | 1997: Mutombo | 1998: Mutombo | 1999: Mourning | 2000: Mourning | 2001: Mutombo | 2002: Wallace | 2003: Wallace | 2004: Artest | 2005: Wallace | 2006: Wallace | 2007: Camby | 2008: Garnett