Drew Gooden facts for kids
Gooden with the Washington Wizards in 2014
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 24, 1981 Oakland, California, U.S. |
| High school | El Cerrito (El Cerrito, California) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Listed weight | 250 lb (113 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Kansas (1999–2002) |
| NBA Draft | 2002 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4th overall |
| Selected by the Memphis Grizzlies | |
| Pro career | 2002–2016 |
| Career history | |
| 2002–2003 | Memphis Grizzlies |
| 2003–2004 | Orlando Magic |
| 2004–2008 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2008–2009 | Chicago Bulls |
| 2009 | Sacramento Kings |
| 2009 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2009–2010 | Dallas Mavericks |
| 2010 | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 2010–2013 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2014–2016 | Washington Wizards |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 8,653 (11.0 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 5,618 (7.1 rpg) |
| Assists | 896 (1.1 apg) |
Andrew "Drew" Melvin Gooden III (born September 24, 1981) is a former professional basketball player from the United States. He played for 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Today, he works as a sports broadcaster for Monumental Sports Network.
Drew Gooden was a power forward, known for his strong play near the basket. Before joining the NBA, he played college basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks. In 2002, he was named a top college player, earning "All-American" honors. The Memphis Grizzlies picked him as the fourth overall player in the 2002 NBA draft. He was also named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in his first year.
Contents
Early Life and High School Basketball
Drew Gooden grew up in Oakland, California. He went to El Cerrito High School in El Cerrito, California. In his senior year, 1999, he led his high school team, the Gauchos, to the championship game. They played in the California Interscholastic Federation Boys' Division III final. However, they lost to Washington Union High School, whose team included future NBA player DeShawn Stevenson. The final score was 77–71.
College Basketball Career
In 1999, Gooden started playing college basketball at the University of Kansas. He joined other talented freshmen like Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich. At first, Drew found it a bit tough to get used to coach Roy Williams's style. But he soon adjusted and became a key player.
In his first year, the Jayhawks had a great season, winning 24 games and losing 10. They made it to the NCAA tournament but lost to Duke in the second round. The next season, they continued to play well, with a 26–7 record. They reached the "Sweet Sixteen" in the 2001 NCAA tournament before losing to Illinois.
The 2002 season was a huge year for Drew Gooden. He led all college players in rebounding. He was also named the NABC national player of the year. The Jayhawks had an amazing record of 33 wins and only 4 losses. They won every single game in their conference, going 16–0 in Big 12 Conference play. This was Kansas's first conference championship since 1998. The team then reached the Final Four in the 2002 NCAA tournament, which was their first time since 1993. They played against Maryland in the semifinal but lost to the team that eventually won the national championship.
Because of his outstanding performance and being named NABC Player of the Year in 2002, Kansas honored Drew Gooden. In 2003, they retired his jersey number, 0. This special ceremony happened during a Kansas home game. It was a big moment, even though Drew had decided to leave college early to play in the NBA.
Professional Basketball Journey
Drew Gooden decided to enter the NBA draft after his junior year of college. In the 2002 NBA draft, the Memphis Grizzlies chose him as the 4th player overall. This was the start of his long career in the NBA.
Moving Between Teams
Drew Gooden played for many teams during his 14 years in the NBA. He started with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2002. In 2003, he was traded to the Orlando Magic. He then moved to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2004. He played some of his best seasons there, averaging 11.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in the 2006–07 season. He even scored a career-high 33 points in a game in 2005.
In 2008, Drew was part of a big trade that sent him to the Chicago Bulls. Over the next few years, he played for several more teams, including the Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, and Los Angeles Clippers. It was a busy time, as he sometimes played for multiple teams in a single season!
Milwaukee Bucks and Return to Wizards
In 2010, Drew Gooden signed a five-year contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. This was his ninth team in nine seasons. While with the Bucks, he achieved his first "triple-double" in 2011. A triple-double means a player gets at least 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in one game. He had another triple-double in 2012.
In 2014, Gooden returned to the Washington Wizards, where he played until 2016. His final NBA game was on April 13, 2016. After his NBA career, Drew Gooden joined the BIG3 basketball league in 2018.
Life Outside Basketball
Drew Gooden has an interesting family background. His mother, Ulla, is Finnish. His father, Andrew Gooden, met her while playing professional basketball in Finland. Drew's parents later divorced, and he grew up with his father in California. In 2014, Drew tried to get Finnish citizenship. He wanted to play for Finland's national basketball team, but it didn't work out in time for the 2014 World Cup.
Drew also enjoys playing the piano. In 2012, he opened his own Wingstop restaurant in Florida. After his basketball career, Drew went back to college. In 2016, he earned his degree in communications from the University of Kansas.
See also
In Spanish: Drew Gooden para niños
