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Juaquin Hawkins
Personal information
Born (1973-07-02) July 2, 1973 (age 52)
Lynwood, California
Nationality American
High school Lynwood (Lynwood, California)
Listed height 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight 205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
College Long Beach State (1993–1996)
NBA Draft 1996 / Undrafted
Pro career 1996–2013
Career history
1996–1997 Hung Fu Rams
1998 Long Island Surf
1999–2000 Fort Wayne Fury
2000–2001 Toyota Alvark
2001 San Miguel Beermen
2001–2002 Southern California Surf
2002–2003 Houston Rockets
2003–2004 Long Beach Jam
2004–2005 Orange County Crush
2005 Long Beach Jam
2005 Sioux Falls Skyforce
2005–2006 Matsushita Electric Panasonic Kangaroos
2006–2007 Hitachi SunRockers
2007–2008 Gold Coast Blaze
2009–2010 Los Angeles Lightning
2011–2012 Los Angeles Slam
2012 Los Angeles Lightning
2012–2013 Los Angeles Slam
Career highlights and awards
  • ABA champion (2004)
  • CBA champion (2005)
  • IBL champion (2009)

Juaquin Hawkins (born July 2, 1973) is an American former professional basketball player. He played as a small forward. Juaquin is best known for playing with the Houston Rockets during the 2002–03 NBA season.

Juaquin Hawkins' Basketball Journey

Juaquin Hawkins played college basketball for Long Beach State from 1993 to 1996. After college, he hoped to join the NBA. He was not chosen in the 1996 NBA draft.

Starting a Professional Career

Even though he wasn't drafted, Juaquin worked hard to become a professional player. He signed a contract to play with the Los Angeles Lakers. He even practiced with famous players like Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. However, he was one of the last players cut from the team before the season started.

After that, Juaquin played for teams around the world. He played for the Hung Fu Rams in Taiwan. He also played for the Long Island Surf in the United States Basketball League (USBL). In 1998, he tried out for the Los Angeles Clippers but was again one of the last players cut.

Playing with Famous Teams

Juaquin even played with the famous Harlem Globetrotters in 1998 and 1999. This team is known for its amazing basketball tricks and entertainment. After that, he played for the Fort Wayne Fury in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). He also played for Toyota Alvark in Japan.

He later joined the Southern California Surf in the ABA. Juaquin kept working towards his dream of playing in the NBA.

Time with the Houston Rockets

Juaquin Hawkins finally made it to the NBA! He signed with the Houston Rockets on September 30, 2002. At that time, he was one of the oldest rookies in the NBA. This shows that it's never too late to achieve your goals.

Making an Impact

During the 2002–03 NBA season, Juaquin played in all 82 games for the Rockets. This means he was a very reliable player for the team. He even started 10 games that year, showing his coaches trusted him.

On November 22, 2002, Juaquin had one of his best games. He scored 14 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and made 5 assists against the Washington Wizards. These are great stats for a player! The Rockets just barely missed the playoffs that season.

Continuing His Career

After his time with the Rockets, Juaquin continued to play professional basketball for many years. He played for various teams in different leagues. He even won championships with some of these teams, including:

  • ABA champion (2004)
  • CBA champion (2005)
  • IBL champion (2009)

Juaquin Hawkins retired from professional basketball in 2013. His career shows how dedication and hard work can lead to a long and successful journey in sports.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Juaquin Hawkins para niños

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