Shareef Abdur-Rahim facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Shareef Abdur-Rahim

Abdur-Rahim on Sister Circle in 2019
Personal information
Born	(1976-12-11) December 11, 1976 (age 48) Marietta, Georgia, U.S.
High school	Joseph Wheeler (Marietta, Georgia)
Listed height	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight	225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
College	California (1995–1996)
NBA Draft	1996 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3rd overall
Selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies
Pro career	1996–2008
Coaching career	2008–2010
Career history
As player:
1996–2001	Vancouver Grizzlies
2001–2004	Atlanta Hawks
2004–2005	Portland Trail Blazers
2005–2008	Sacramento Kings
As coach:
2008–2010	Sacramento Kings (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
NBA All-Star (2002) NBA All-Rookie First Team (1997) Third-team All-American – AP, NABC (1996) Pac-10 Player of the Year (1996) First-team All-Pac-10 (1996) Pac-10 Freshman of the Year (1996) First-team Parade All-American (1995) 2× Mr. Georgia Basketball (1994, 1995)
Career NBA statistics
Points	15,028 (18.1 ppg)
Rebounds	6,239 (7.5 rpg)
Assists	2,109 (2.5 apg)
Medals Men's basketball Representing  United States Summer Olympics Gold 2000 Sydney Team FIBA Americas U18 Championship Gold 1994 Santa Rosa Team

Julius Shareef Abdur-Rahim (born December 11, 1976) is an American former professional basketball player. He is currently the president of the NBA G League, which is like the minor league for the NBA. People often called him Reef.

Before becoming president, he worked for the Sacramento Kings in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was also the general manager for the Reno Bighorns, a team linked to the Kings. Shareef played as a forward and sometimes as a center during his career. He was a top player in high school and college. He was picked third in the 1996 NBA draft by the Vancouver Grizzlies.

Shareef won a gold medal with the United States men's national basketball team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He played in the NBA All-Star game once during the 2001–02 season with the Atlanta Hawks. He later played for the Portland Trail Blazers and the Sacramento Kings. Shareef played many games in the NBA. He finally made it to the playoffs in 2006, which was his only time. He retired in 2008 because of knee injuries. He also holds a record for a specific basketball statistic called "plus-minus."

Early Life and College Basketball

Shareef Abdur-Rahim is one of twelve children. His first name means "noble," and his last name means "Servant of the Most Merciful One." He is a Muslim and says his parents taught him to stay humble. Many of his family members played basketball. His brothers, Muhammad and Amir, both played in college.

Shareef started playing basketball at Joseph Wheeler High School in Marietta, Georgia. He was named "Mr. Basketball" twice. He led his school to a state championship in 1994. In his last year of high school, he averaged 31 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 4 blocks per game.

He then went to the University of California, Berkeley. He was a great student with a high GPA. In college, he averaged 21.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. He was the first freshman in Pac-10 history to be named Conference Player of the Year. He also set new records for freshmen at his college. After one year, he decided to join the NBA.

Professional Basketball Career

Playing for the Vancouver Grizzlies

The Vancouver Grizzlies picked Shareef third in the 1996 NBA Draft. He quickly became the team's best scorer. In his first year, he averaged 18.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. He was one of the top rookies and was chosen for the All-Rookie First Team.

Shareef continued to be the main player for the Grizzlies for several seasons. He averaged over 20 points per game for four years. In one game in 1999, he scored 39 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Even with his strong play, the Grizzlies struggled as a team.

Joining the Atlanta Hawks

In 2001, Shareef was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. This was exciting because it meant he was returning to his hometown. He played very well for the Hawks. In the 2001–02 season, he scored a career-high 50 points in one game. His great performance earned him a spot in the NBA All-Star game.

In his second year with the Hawks, Shareef reached 10,000 career points. He was one of the youngest players in NBA history to do so. He, Glenn Robinson, and Jason Terry were a high-scoring trio for the Hawks. However, the team still did not make the playoffs.

Time with the Portland Trail Blazers

Shareef was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in 2004. His scoring and rebounding averages were a bit lower with the Trail Blazers. After two seasons, he became a free agent.

He almost joined the New Jersey Nets in 2005. However, a trade was canceled because of an old knee injury. Shareef said his knee had never caused him to miss a game.

Playing for the Sacramento Kings

Abdur-Rahim with the Sacramento Kings in 2006

In 2005, Shareef signed with the Sacramento Kings. In his first season with them, he started in 30 games. He averaged 16.0 points and 6.2 rebounds. The Kings made it to the playoffs that year. This was Shareef's first and only time playing in the NBA playoffs. He had played more games than almost anyone else without making the playoffs before this.

In his second season with the Kings, he often came off the bench as a "sixth man." The Kings did not make the playoffs that year. The 2007–08 season was his last. He played only six games because of his knee injury. Shareef announced his retirement from playing basketball in September 2008.

National Team Career

Before joining the NBA, Shareef played for the USA national team. He was the top scorer and rebounder at a tournament in Argentina in 1994. He helped the team win a gold medal. He also played in the Hoop Summit Game in 1995.

In 2000, Shareef was chosen to join the USA Men's basketball team for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. The team, which included other NBA stars, won the gold medal.

NBA Career Statistics

Regular Season Stats

Playoff Stats

Life After Playing Basketball

Coaching and Management Roles

After retiring as a player, Shareef became an assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings in 2008. In 2010, he became the Kings' assistant general manager. He later worked as the team's director of player personnel.

In 2013, Shareef was named the general manager of the Reno Bighorns. This team was a minor-league affiliate of the Kings. He left the Kings organization in 2014.

Working for the NBA G League

Shareef also worked as the associate vice president of basketball operations for the NBA. In December 2018, he was named the president of the NBA G League. He took over this role in January 2019.

Personal Life and Education

Shareef Abdur-Rahim is married to Delicia, and they have two children, a son named Jabri and a daughter named Samiyah. His son, Jabri Abdur-Rahim, is also a basketball player. He played for the Virginia Cavaliers, then the University of Georgia, and now the Providence Friars.

Shareef started a charity called the Future Foundation. It helps young people in Atlanta with after-school programs and other support. He also appeared on an episode of The Jamie Foxx Show. After retiring from basketball, Shareef went back to college. He earned a degree in sociology from U.C. Berkeley in 2012. He later earned an MBA from the University of Southern California in 2016.

Shareef's younger brother, Amir, passed away in October 2024. Amir was a basketball coach for the USF Bulls men's basketball team.

See also

In Spanish: Shareef Abdur-Rahim para niños