Drew. Gordon
Just call him Lone Lamp
In the summer of 1998, Lone Lantern was invited to join the ABCD basketball training camp as one of the top 200 high school players of the year, and when he left the camp, his ranking had soared to the first place, and as a result, Lone Lantern received admission invitations from basketball schools such as Duke, Kansas, North Carolina, and Kentucky.
In 1999, Drew Lone Lantern entered the University of Kansas.
In his freshman year, Lone Lantern was nominated for the Associated Press's Best Team of the Big Twelve League and was elected the Best Rookie of the Big Twelve League. Averaging second on the team in points per game (10.6), he broke the eight double-doubles record set by Danny Manning in 1984-85 with nine double-doubles, becoming the rookie player with the most double-doubles in the history of the University of Kansas at the time.
In his sophomore season, Lone Lantern was named to the All-Twelfth League Team of the Associated Press, with 10 double-doubles and more than 10 points in 26 of 28 games.
In his junior season, Lone Lantern led the University of Kansas to its first Big Twelve League title since 1998 and reached the final four of the NCAA National Championship for the first time since 1993. In the Big Twelve League, it ranks first in scoring (19.8 points, 43rd in the country) and first in rebounds (11.4, fourth in the country). The season's 734 points and 423 rebounds rank sixth and second in the University of Kansas' single-season rankings, respectively. Set a record of 25 double-doubles at the University of Kansas and the Big Twelve Leagues. Lone Lantern's 1.8 steals ranked first on the team and third in the Big Twelve League. He was named The Big Twelve League Player of the Year (jointly selected by the Associated Press and the coaching staff), ESPN Magazine's Best Forward of the Year, American Basketball Player of the Year, NCAA's Midwest Outstanding Player, and was named to the Associated Press National College Team, the Big Twelve League All-American Team, the Sports News All-American Team, the Basketball Times All-American Team, and the Big Twelve League Best Defensive Team.
Lone Lantern is the second player in Kansas history after Danny Manning to have 1500 points, 900 rebounds, 100 blocks and 100 steals, and is the third-best in Kansas history with 44 double-doubles.
The world-famous potential super big forward is ready to come out!
Before the 2003 draft, Lone Lantern entered all the popular lists, almost all of which were in the top five, when it was rumored that LeBron would also participate in the draft, and it was also a hit, and some media commented on him as "Although he is only 17 years old, he has the magic passing skills and the shadow of Kobe Bryant in high school!"
For the lone lamp, in addition to the words of praise, most of the shortcomings have two worries, one is that the older rookies do not have much potential, and they are basically finished products; Second, although he can play the 3-5 position, he has not yet found a position that is really suitable for him. The former one did not come true, but the latter became a shackle restricting the development of the lone lamp by leaps and bounds.
Then, on the day of the 2002 Draft, lone lanterns were in Yao Ming/Jie. Williams/Dunllivi followed the 4th pick by the Grizzlies!
Now it seems that the team with the top 5 draft picks at that time, the most suitable for the lone light should be the 5th pick of the Nuggets, because the Nuggets lack of front-line talent, McDace withdrew from the first-line PF ranks after a major injury, and other teams had relatively sufficient frontcourt configuration and potential newcomers, such as the Rockets, who had a focus on the cultivation of the 2001 No. 7 show Eddie in the frontcourt. Griffin, the Bulls have high school double treasure and the 2000 No. 4 show heavy forward Faize, the Warriors have Jia Siye and Murphy, and the Grizzlies are the most crowded teams in the frontcourt, gasol/Battier/Swift are all the team's self-selected rising stars. Lone lamp came to Memphis, there are no more than two ways out, one is to stand firm with excellent performance, get the main position, squeeze out others; Or become a trading chip in exchange for quality resources for the Grizzlies.
A fait accompli, there is nothing to change, then leave it to fate.
The rising stars of 2002
On October 30, 2002, the new season began, the Grizzlies made a visit to Dallas to challenge the Mavericks, the lone light started, and Gasol formed a twin tower, the duo has height, flexibility, defensive coverage and three-dimensional rim, that is, the confrontation and ferocity may be a little worse, the point guard is white chocolate, and the other two starters are point guard, Michael. Dixon and Person, one good at breaking through a three-point accuracy. Such a lineup is a bit tailor-made for Dallas, specifically for the driver Nash Finley's little quick play, and it is very advanced, a bit of a passing now. LoneLy Lantern played 27 minutes, 8 of 12 shots, scored 16 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block, very comprehensive, mobile, is a good debut performance, showing his multi-faceted ability.
At that time, there were too many young players in the Grizzlies, and the coach also discharged a variety of formations according to needs, mainly training, so that the children could show their magic and form a healthy competition, so the frontcourt combination was sometimes center Wright sitting, the regular lineup of Gasol and Battier,Sometimes the big ball lineup of Wright, Gasol, and Lone Lantern, and sometimes the mobility lineup of Gasol, Lone Light, and Battier, no matter what, Lone Light fully showed itself at that time.
In Game 2 against the Pistons, the Grizzlies lost crisply, losing 86:109, playing 24 minutes on the bench, scoring 21 points and 5 rebounds on 9-of-15 shooting, including 15 points in the 4th quarter.
After the end of November 2002, Lone Lantern won the first month of the new season in the West's best rookie (the East is Cuarón. Butler), who averaged 15.1 points per game to top the rookie list and 6.4 rebounds, was a time when everything looked like a rising star.
On December 11, 2002, the Grizzlies narrowly defeated the Nuggets 96-93, the lone light started for 38 minutes, and center Wright and forward Gasol formed a "three-high" lineup, lone light cameo small forward position, 11 shots 5, including 4 three-point shots, 14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks, very comprehensive, of course, the ball-holding style of play also made his mistakes as many as 5 times, but the fledgling young people inevitably made mistakes, who have a growth process, and 4 three-pointers in a single game is also his career record.
However, the injury stop of the main number two Dixon made the Grizzlies' already weak outside ball-holding attack ability even worse, and the Magic's Mike. Miller entered the management's sight, can attack with the ball, or a quality shooter, simply not too good, and the Magic at that time the interior players are cool blue-collar, or white anti-aircraft guns, there is no technical comprehensive interior offensive point to share the pressure for Maddie, the lone light just meets these conditions, the two sides hit it off, the magic sent Mike. Miller and 2002 No. 19 pick Hamfrey, who got lonely lights from the Grizzlies and croatian shooter GiliSek, who was also rookie, were also rookies.
Leaving aside others, Maddie + Lone Lantern, if Lone Lantern grows healthily, this time it is a pair of young and energetic promising internal and external combinations, but it is said that Miller and Maddy have a good personal relationship, and Maddie is very unhappy about this transaction, which will definitely affect the future cooperation between LoneLydd and Maddy.
However, Miller's arrival did strengthen the Grizzlies' weakest link, becoming the best candidate for the Grizzlies to make the final shot, although he was a bit short-sighted, next season, the Grizzlies will usher in the first playoffs in team history, from this point of view, the lone lamp is a sacrifice of self, to complete Memphis.
Lone Lantern played 51 games for the Grizzlies, made 29 starts, averaged 12.1 points and 5.8 rebounds in 26 minutes per game, and he was the team's second and third rebounder, efficient, simple and cost-effective. After coming to the Magic, Lone Lantern participated in 19 games, all started, and sat firmly on the team's main big forward, averaging 13.6 points and 8.4 rebounds in 28.6 minutes per game, averaging 4.2 free throws per game second only to Maddy.
On February 28, 2003, the Magic lost to the Knicks in overtime, playing a career-high 47 minutes, scoring 20 points, 18 rebounds and 3 blocks, Maddie played 55 minutes, with 34 points, 8 rebounds and 13 assists; opposite the madman Spreeville played a triple-double, 28 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists and 5 steals, and the big spoon Witherspoon had 15 points and 24 rebounds
In the last moments of the fourth quarter, the lone lamp covered Alain. Houston's shot dragged the game into overtime; then he won consecutive defensive rebounds in the last moments of the first overtime, dragging the game into the second overtime, and in the second overtime, the New York Madman scored 10 points to take over the game.
Looking back, lone lights seem to be the only PF that Maddie has worked with that combines maneuverability and full offensive capabilities.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Magic challenged the East Side boss Pistons.
On April 19, 2003, the first game of the playoffs began, the Magic finally overturned the Pistons 99-94, regained home advantage, Maddy played 39 minutes, 28 shots 15, 43 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists, lone light 35 minutes, 16 shots 6, 6 free throws, 18 points, 14 rebounds and 2 blocks, the opponent's outside gun Cliff. Robinson limited to 7-of-18 shooting.
Maddie and Lone Lantern are the only players on the team to play more than 30 minutes, make more than 10 shots and score in double figures!
The ball is the best microcosm of Maddy's Magic career
In Game 4, the Magic won 100:92 and won the match point, lonely lights 6 of 13 shots, 8 of 11 free throws, and scored 20 points and 13 rebounds!
If magic was really "Black Eight" that year, maybe Maddie and Lone Lantern and the collaboration would last a long time.
It was also lonely lights' best-performing series, averaging 33 minutes per game and 14 points and 12.7 rebounds!
In Game 7, Lone Light played 34 minutes and grabbed the most 17 rebounds in his playoffs!
Lone Lantern and Xiaosi were the only players in the top 10 of the class of 2002 to participate in the playoffs!
At the end of the rookie year, Lone Lantern and Yao Ming, Xiao Si, Nene, butler together to form the best rookie lineup, the second team has Manu and Buze,
The class of 2002 suddenly became the big year of the interior players, and Lone Lantern and Xiaosi and Nene were all regarded as the future stars of the new generation of four positions!
Offseason, the heart of orlando to raise the obvious to do things, they got the Nuggets' top scorer Huo Second Uncle, from the Wizards to get TyroneLu, the media have predicted that the strength of the magic in the new season should be ranked in the top five in the East, especially the front line, the Magic choice is too much, if you play a big ball, let Uncle Huo play the third position, the lone lamp four position, if you play small ball, let Uncle Huo play the No. 5 position, the lone lamp No. 4 position...
However, the media overestimated the ability of the second uncle, but also ignored the laziness and slackness of a high-tech player, the result is that the Magic ushered in the worst season since the establishment of the team, the key is that the growth of young players is affected, in this case, the lone lamp actually has to play a substitute for the second uncle Huo, just like in a unit, the old comrades occupy the seat and do not work, the young people do not work well is the same, there will definitely be emotions, the performance of the lone lamp is as stable as ever, Averaging 11.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, but the Magic's locker room atmosphere has dropped to freezing points, and it's time to make a difference!
In the summer of 2004, Boozer betrayed the Cavaliers and became the anti-bone boy that everyone spurned, cleveland desperately needed a new number four to fill the gap, so he sent center Barty and two draft picks, from the Magic to get the lone lantern, Vallejo, and Steven. Hunter.
By the way, in the final year of the Magic, there was a rookie on the team, called Zaza.
Knight Anti-Bone Boy Buze
Coming to the Cavaliers, lone lights sat firmly in the position of the main big forward, and in the 2004-05 season, the cavaliers' five tiger generals: center Big Z, big forward Lone Lamp, small forward Newbe, point guard LeBron, point guard McGinnis, I don't know how many people remember.
In his third season, in Cleveland, which aims for the playoffs and is still orderly, Lone Lantern can finally calm down and play safely, and strictly demand himself by the standards of a good main power forward.
On November 10, 2004, the Cavaliers beat the Suns 114-109 in overtime, LeBron had 38 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks, and the lone light grabbed a career-high 21 rebounds, plus 16 points and 4 blocks
On January 30, 2005, LeBron was on a truce, but the Cavaliers still beat the Bucks 104-87, relying on the amazing performance of the lone lamp to score a career-high 33 points (17 points in the fourth quarter), which made 10 of 19 shots, 13 free throws, and 11 rebounds.
The Cavaliers were third in the East before the All-Star Game, and in the All-Star voting round, Lone Lantern ranked 9th in the Eastern Conference Forward Sequence, 8th prince Prince, and 10th rookie Howard. Unfortunately, Lone Lantern was not selected by the coaches to the bench, and it was Center Big Z who came to Denver with LeBron.
After the All-Star Game, the Cavaliers lacked stamina, coupled with the change of coach storm, and finally ushered in Carter's Nets cornering, squeezed out of the playoffs, but the lone light played the best season of his career, averaging 14.4 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, 753 rebounds ranked 12th in the league, and 546 rebounds in the 6th place.
For the next two years, Lone Lantern has been the Cavaliers' main seal forward, but the playing time has not exceeded 30 minutes, because there is also a big forward Marshall, that is, a horse-faced forward who has maintained a single-game three-point record with Kobe for many years, Marshall's range is farther, can transform into a fixed-point shooter to withstand LeBron's sudden points, expand the range of attack and defense, Lone Lantern can only regret that he patronized the practice of traditional big forward skills, ignoring the further development of three-point ability, after all, he is also 100% of the single game in the rookie season. The man who shot four three-pointers in the shooting rate, but he and Marshall complement each other, complement each other's styles, and jointly protect the emperor's great cause.
Marshall
In 2006, the Cavaliers finally made the playoffs, facing the Wizards led by the Generals in the first round, and in Game 2, the Cavaliers were all inaccurate under the Wizards' tight defense, LeBron shot 7 of 25, Hughes shot 5 of 16, big Z13 shot 2 of 2, only I Lights, 11 of 12 shots, a career-high 24 points, and 16 rebounds.
In the 2006–07 season, Lone Lantern's defensive contribution was 4.1, making him the only player in the Cavaliers to reach the top 20.
In the first round of the playoffs, it was the Wizards again, and it was Game 2, lonely lights 10 of 13 shooting, scored 24 points, equaling his playoff high of single-game points, and 14 rebounds.
In the Finals, although the Cavaliers were swept, he became james' second-place scorer, scoring 12.8 points and 8.3 rebounds with 50 percent shooting.
In February 2008, the Knights, who are not willing to change the status quo, brew a three-way deal, Lone Lantern and Larry. Hughes was sent to the Chicago Bulls, and after half a season with the new Corona Rose, he was traded to the Kings along with Nosioni in exchange for Salmons and Brad. Miller, but then he was cut by the Kings, signed for the Spurs, and played in the playoffs as Duncan's bench.
If you don't obey, come and fight with me!
At the end of the season, he didn't stay with the Spurs, he went to the Mavericks, but he didn't stay in Dallas for long, and on Valentine's Day 2010, happy to break up, he was sent to the Wizards in exchange for the Mavericks' winning puzzle piece in exchange for the future Mavericks' championship puzzle - center Heywood, shooting guard Stephenson. Four days later, the Wizards struck again, made a three-way deal, Lone Lantern was sent to the Clippers, and at the end of the season, the Clippers didn't leave him, and Lone Lantern officially became a free agent!
In just two years, 5 teams have changed, from the potential big forward of the year to the passer-by who is at disposal, which is lamentable, he is only 29 years old! Yao Ming and Xiao Si of the same year have become superstars; Neinai has also played for the Nuggets for many years and has a solid position; Boozer has been called "Postman II" in jazz, and our "hurricane" lights have become invisible.
In July 2010, the Bucks signed a 5-year contract with Lone Lantern.
Poor and thinking, the young and standing brother, began to consider playing like an old oil, no longer squandering his body, in the lack of real organization of the defender of the Bucks, he practiced the kung fu of the pass.
On April 9, 2011, the Bucks defeated the Cavaliers 108-101, and Denge played his first career triple-double, with 15 points, 13 rebounds and a career-high 13 assists
On March 14, 2012, still facing the Cavaliers, the Bucks won 115-105, and Brother Lantern played a triple-double again, with 15 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists
Career two triple-doubles, both against the Cavaliers to get! It was bloody revenge on the old lord, but alas, LeBron was long gone.
In July 2013, the Bucks pardoned Lone Lantern
In February 2014, the Wizards signed a 10-day short contract with Lone Lantern, then signed a second one, and then, renewed the contract until the end of the season, and at the Wizards, he played the role of an experienced veteran for the same year.
In Game 3 of the first round of the 2015 playoffs, the Wizards played at home against the Raptors, playing 18 minutes on the bench, shooting 3-of-6 from three-point range, scoring 12 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks, helping the Wizards win the game point.
In 2016, the lone light disappeared from the league. This year, people only remember kobe, Duncan, garnett retired, but did not pay attention to the 2002 class of three masters - small, lonely lamp, prince Prince Prince, but also the last appeared on the field, although did not announce the retirement, but never returned.
He is a dual citizen of the United States and Finland, and in 2014 he planned to represent Finland at the World Championships, but unfortunately did not make the trip.
If he had developed his three-point skills early, coupled with better movement and defense than Love, would he have become leBron's first outstanding spatial big forward?
The defense loves to lose its mind, otherwise how can it make the white mamba easily pass?