A 6'9" power forward/center from Saint Joseph's University, Bantom won a silver medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics as a member ofthe United States national basketball team, who lost a controversial final game to the Soviet Union. He was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the eighth pick of the 1973 NBA draft, and he embarked upon a nine-year NBA (1973–82) career as a member of the Suns, Seattle SuperSonics, New York Nets, Indiana Pacers, and Philadelphia 76ers. He earned All-Rookie Team honors and ended his NBA career with 8,568 total points, 4,517 total rebounds, and 1,623 total assists. From 1982 until 1989, Bantom played professionally in Italy.
Since retiring as a player, Bantom has served as the licensing manager for NBA International, the NBA International director of marketing, the NBA senior vice president of player development, and the executive vice president of referee operations.
Bantom is a father of four children, three daughters and a son.
Clarence "Chucky" Brown Jr. (born February 29, 1968) was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the 1989 NBA draft. Brown shares (with Joe Smith, Tony Massenburg, Jim Jackson, and Ish Smith) the NBA record for the most teams played for during his NBA career — twelve: the Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, New Jersey Nets, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets (where he became champion in 1994–95), Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, San Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors, and Sacramento Kings. He retired with 4,125 career points.
In addition to the NBA teams, Brown had stints in the Continental Basketball Association and Italy's Panna Firenze. He played three games for Panna Firenze in 1992. The CBA saw Brown play for the Grand Rapids Hoops in 1993 and Yakima Sun Kings in 1994 and 1995. He became the second player to earn both an NBA ring and CBA ring in the same season.
Brown served as head coach of the World Basketball Association's Raleigh Knights during the summer of 2004, then served two seasons as an assistant coach for the Roanoke Dazzle of the NBA Development League. In 2006, Brown was named an assistant coach for the NBDL's Los Angeles D-Fenders,[2] and was then promoted to head coach for one season. Brown lives in Cary, North Carolina with his wife and three daughters.
Charles H. Smith, Jr. affectionately known as “Choo” was born to Brenda and Charles H. Smith Sr. on November 30,1970 in West Baltimore. Choo is a graduate of the prestigious City College High School and earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science from his beloved University of the District of Columbia (UDC).
Choo attended Bowie State University in Maryland where he progressed to be the starting Point Guard for the Bowie Bulldogs and after his first year was recruited by Mr. Will Jones, head coach of the UDC, Firebirds where he quickly earned the starting point guard position. The Firebirds went seven games over .500 for the first time in 10 years. Choo was honored for his exceptional basketball skills and finished his college career as the school’s all-time leader in Steals and Assists. During this time Choo was voted MVP of the team, he won The Pigskin Classic Award as the “Best Player” in the region and the Reslyn W. Henry Memorial Award. Charles “Choo” Smith graduated from the University of the District of Columbia with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science. Choo was inducted into the University of District of Columbia Athletic Hall of Fame in November 2015.
Choo played for world-renowned Original Harlem Globetrotters where he became a high-profile member of the team. As a member of the Globetrotters, he served as an Advance Ambassador. Choo has played in all 50 States, in 26 countries and was recognized as one of the greatest dribblers in the world. Choo carries the spirit of the Harlem Globetrotters in everything he does.
Choo Smith Youth Empowerment, Inc., a non-profit organization was founded in 2007. It focuses on Choo’s “4L” philosophy: “Love it, Learn it, Live it, Lead it.” It is from this organization that the Choo Smith Summer Basketball Camp was born and became the platform for many other initiatives under Choo Smith Youth Empowerment, Inc.
Choo’s ability to reach the youth is uncanny. He has the unique ability to reach youth on all levels; racial, socioeconomic background or gender and can generate results without compromising any of his beliefs. Choo is a man of ethics and his faith in Christ is applied in every aspect of his life.
Over the years Choo has been featured on both local and national levels and in all media outlets (print, radio, and TV). Choo has appeared on all major television networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, and Univision) and appeared on Good Fellas of Baltimore, a Fox reality show, and the new ABC Reality show “Ball Boys.”
As a humanitarian, Charles “Choo” Smith has and continues to touch the lives of youth throughout Maryland and across the world.
In the Summer of 2018 Choo became the Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Young 3 organization with retired NBA legend Jerome Williams. The Young 3 is the youth and community arm of the Big 3 Professional Basketball League founded by legendary rapper Ice Cube.
Choo has received numerous awards and recognitions for his work and service in the community with children and youth. Some of these awards and recognitions include:
- Requested to bring the Choo Smith Basketball Camp to the military bases throughout the US.
- Received the 2011 Presidential Volunteer Services Award
- Recipient of the 2012 Top 100 MBE Prestige Award
- Named Celebrity Spokesperson for International Rett Syndrome Foundation beginning in 2013.
- Current Education and Player Development Coordinator for Maryland District Amateur Athletic Association (2013 to present)
- Received the Community Hero Award from Dunkin Donuts (December,2013)
- Jersey Dedication Ceremony- Choo donated his official Harlem Globetrotter Jersey to his Alma Mater University of the District of Columbia (November 19, 2014) and Baltimore City College High School (2018)
- Inducted in the Class of 2015 University of the District of Columbia Athletic Hall of Fame
- 2015 William Donald Schaffer Helping Others Award presented by the State of Maryland Comptroller
- 2015 Inspiring Voices Award recipient presented by Community Law in Action organization
- 2015 Selected as one of the Spokespersons for Shooting for Peace
- One of the faces of the 2015-2017 and 2017-2019 Visit Baltimore Campaign
- Appointed to the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) Task Force 2016
- National Basketball Retired Players Association Activities
- Appointed to the NBRPA’S Governors Committee (2016)
- 2017-2018 NBRPA President Search Committee (2016)
- Appointed as the VP for the Retired Harlem Globetrotters Association
- The 2016 Key Influencer Award and selected to fly with the Blue Angels
- Awarded twenty plus acres of land in Baltimore City – The Choo Smith aRise Baltimore CommuniVersity is a mixed used $120M project development will be completed in 2026. The Choo Smith CommuniVersity will be designed in a manner that will give the look and feel of a college campus. The CommuniVersity will give the visitor a feeling of exclusivity, community, fun and serenity.
It’s not often, if at all, that one can claim success in three distinct areas—professional sports, business and politics. Yet, Dave Bing did just that when he was elected the 62nd Mayor of the City of Detroit in May 2009 as part of a special election. A native of Washington, D.C., Bing is a graduate of Syracuse University where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics, and was later bestowed an honorary Doctorate of Laws in 2006. He was also a standout basketball player and an All American in both high school and college.
Bing came to Detroit in 1966 when he was drafted by the Detroit Pistons as their No. 1 pick, and the second overall pick in the NBA draft that year. Unlike many first-year players, Bing’s transition to the NBA was an easy one. His 1,601 points earned him Rookie of the Year and further propelled him into NBA stardom.
Throughout his 12 seasons in the NBA, Bing averaged 20.3 points and 6 assists per game, appeared in seven All-Star Games and was named to the All-NBA First Team in 1968 and 1969. After spending the majority of his career with the Pistons, Bing did go on to play two years with the Washington Bullets and one year with the Boston Celtics. Bing hung up his sneakers at the conclusion of the 1977-78 season. He was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 1990, as well as the the Michigan Hall of Fame in 1984.
Bing turned his winning strategies from the basketball court to the boardroom as the founder of an automotive supply corporation, The Bing Group in 1980, where he served as President and Chairman until April 2009. Bing realized yet another level of success in this role, as The Bing Group has been recognized around the country as a premier supplier of quality and uncompromised products and service. Within a decade, The Bing Group was recognized as one of the nation’s top Minority-Owned Companies by Black Enterprise. In the summer of 1999, he partnered with Ford Motor Co. to build the Detroit Manufacturing Training Center, a nonprofit facility to help prepare unemployed and under-employed workers to obtain jobs in the auto supply industry.
Answering yet another call to serve, Bing decided to run for Mayor of Detroit to help rebuild a city that he has loved and been a part of for more than 40 years. Proving that the basics of good performance, integrity and business can be applied to any area or industry, Bing has brought a renewed sense of trust and hope to the City of Detroit.
Poised to make the tough decisions, he has already begun to lay the groundwork for solid city government by instituting the toughest ethics ordinance in the city’s history. He and his team of professionals are also carefully analyzing ways to restructure operations to improve efficiency, and to tackle the city’s systemic issues.
Bing is married to Yvette Bing, with whom he has shared more than 23 years. He is also the proud father of three, and grandfather of four. He still enjoys tennis and golf, as much as his now demanding schedule will allow.
Jerome Williams played in the NBA for nine seasons including with the Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, and the New York Knicks. Nicknamed the Junk Yard Dog (or JYD) in his early days as a Detroit Piston, he exemplified hard work and hustle on the court. After his playing days, Williams joined the NBA's "Basketball Without Borders" program, an effort to teach the game and bring resources to underdeveloped nations in Africa, Asia and elsewhere, and in 2006, Williams rejoined the Toronto Raptors as their community representative.
A former power forward/center in the National Basketball Association for the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets, Kupec was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 4th round of the 1975 NBA Draft and was also selected by the Spirits of St. Louis in the fifth round of the 1975 ABA Draft.
After playing in the NBA, Kupec was a member of Olimpia Billy Milano, BredaBAU Bellinzona, Squibb Cantù (won Euroleague/Cup of Champions 1982), SAV Bergamo, Viola Reggio Calabria, Mister Day Siena and Spondilatte Cremona teams in Europe. He played college basketball and football at the University of Michigan, where he won Big 10 championships in both sports. Kupec attended Oak Lawn Community High School, where he played center at six-foot-eight, played football and earned High School All-America honors.
Shawn Dwayne Marion (born May 7, 1978) is an American retired professional basketball player who played 16 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In a career that spanned five teams, Marion earned NBA All-Star honors four times and won an NBA championship in 2011. Nicknamed "The Matrix" by TNT analyst Kenny Smith during the pre-season of his rookie year, he was widely regarded as one of the most versatile players in the league because of his athleticism and ability to play and defend many positions. He was also known for his unorthodox shooting form.
EARLY LIFE
Marion was born in Waukegan, Illinois and played high school basketball in Clarksville, Tennessee at Clarksville High School, where he was a teammate of future NBA player Trenton Hassell.
After high school, he played collegiate basketball at Vincennes University, a junior college in Indiana, for two years before transferring to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1998. In his second year with Vincennes, Marion played 36 games and averaged 23.5 points and 13.1 rebounds. He was also the 1998 NJCAA Male Student Athlete of the Year.
NBA CAREER
Phoenix Suns
Shawn Marion played for the Phoenix Suns from 1999 to 2008.
Marion was selected by the Suns in the first round and ninth overall in the 1999 NBA draft. Showing explosive scoring potential and double-digit rebounding ability by his sophomore season, he was selected to the Western Conference All-Star team for the first time in 2002–03 season. In 2004 he was selected to the US Olympic men's basketball team.
In 2005, Marion was named a reserve on the Western Conference All-Star Team and selected to the 2004–05 All-NBA Third Team. That year he became the first player since David Robinson in 1991–92 to average in the top five in rebounding and steals since the league began tracking steals in 1973, a feat he repeated in 2005–06. During the 2005 All-Star Weekend, Marion teamed up with WNBA Rookie of the Year Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury, and Suns legend Dan Majerle in the RadioShack Shooting Stars to run away with the title. Marion was also selected as a Western Conference reserve on the 2006 All-Star team, and the 2007 All-Star team.
The 2005–06 NBA season was perhaps the best season of his career. He was the only player in the NBA ranked in the top 20 in points, rebounds, steals, blocks, field goal percentage and minutes. He finished the season leading the Suns in points per game (21.8), rebounds per game (11.8), blocks per game (1.7), and steals per game (2.0). Marion also ranked 3rd in efficiency. He helped fill in the void left by star Amar'e Stoudemire, who missed nearly the entire season due to injury. Marion also earned a spot in the NBA All-Star Game for the third time.
During the 2006–07 season, only Marion and superstar Kevin Garnett ranked in the top 40 in points per game, rebounds per game, field goal percentage, blocks per game, steals per game, and minutes per game. He was named to his fourth NBA All-Star Team and collected 18 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals in 22 minutes in his hometown of Las Vegas at the 2007 contest.
Following a summer filled with rumors and trade speculation involving possible deals with the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, and Utah Jazz, Marion requested a move. Citing the rumors and a refusal on the part of Phoenix management to negotiate a contract extension, Marion called his relationship with the Suns a "bad marriage", and stated in September 2007 it was time for him to leave Phoenix. By the start of the season, though, Marion continued to play well for the Suns.
Miami Heat
On February 6, 2008, the Phoenix Suns traded Shawn Marion and teammate Marcus Banks to the Miami Heat for center Shaquille O'Neal. His last basket with the Heat was a game-winning dunk against the Chicago Bulls.
Toronto Raptors
On February 13, 2009, Marion was traded to the Toronto Raptors along with Marcus Banks and cash considerations for Jermaine O'Neal, Jamario Moon and a future conditional draft pick.
Dallas Mavericks
On July 9, 2009, Marion signed a five-year $39 million contract and was immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks as part of a four-team swap among Raptors, Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic. He won the first championship of his career in the 2010–11 season when the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat 4–2 in the 2011 NBA Finals.
On April 13, 2011, Marion became the fifth man to compile 1,500 steals and 1,000 blocks in the NBA. He joined Hakeem Olajuwon, Karl Malone, Kevin Garnett and Julius Erving in the exclusive club.
In the 66 game 2011–12 season, Marion led Dallas in rebounding with 7.4 rebounds per game. Marion was the only player in the NBA 6-foot-7 or shorter to lead his team in rebounding in 2011–12. He also led Dallas in double-doubles with 12. Marion scored 29 points against his former team, the Phoenix Suns, on January 23, 2012, which tied his highest-scoring game as a Maverick. Marion moved into 100th place on the NBA's all-time scoring list on March 3.
Marion appeared in his 1,000th career regular-season game against the Suns on December 27, 2012. In January 2013, Marion was fined $25,000 by the NBA for publicly criticizing officiating. After an overtime loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, he said, "It's hard to beat anybody when you're playing five on eight." Marion passed Rod Strickland for 25th place on the NBA's all-time steals list on March 6, 2013. Marion led the Mavericks in rebounds again with 525 (7.8 per game).
On January 3, 2014, he passed the 17,000-point mark and joined Olajuwon, Malone and Garnett as the only players with at least 17,000 points, 9,000 rebounds, 1,500 steals and 1,000 blocks.
Cleveland Cavaliers
On September 9, 2014, Marion signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers. On December 26, 2014, he recorded his 10,000th career rebound in a 98-89 win over the Orlando Magic. In January 2015, Marion announced his intention to retire at the end of the 2014–15 season.
After missing 13 straight games with a strained left hip, Marion returned to action on March 16 against the Miami Heat. In eight minutes off the bench, he recorded five points and one rebound in the 92-106 loss.
Retirement
On June 18, 2015, following the Cavaliers' NBA Finals loss to the Golden State Warriors, Marion announced his retirement from the NBA after 16 seasons.
National Team Competition
Marion played for the senior United States national team in the 2002 FIBA World Championship and the 2004 Athens Olympics. He was named to the 2006 USA men's senior national team but he was forced to withdraw before the tournament began due to a knee injury. The squad finished third in the 2006 FIBA World Championship without him.
Nicknamed "Lady Magic", Nancy Lieberman is an American former professional basketball player and coach in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) who is currently a broadcaster for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA) as well as the head coach of Power, a team in the BIG3 which she led to its 2018 Championship. Lieberman is regarded as one of the greatest figures in American women's basketball.
In 2000, she was inducted into the Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame. Lieberman is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall ofFame, the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame the St. Louis Jewish Sports Hall ofFame, and the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.
In July 2015, she was hired by the Sacramento Kings as an assistant coach, becoming the second female assistant coach in NBA history. She took two leaves of absence to care for her ailing mother before leaving the Kings in 2017. After the Kings, she became a broadcaster with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Butler, an NBA Champion (2011) and two-time NBA All-Star (2007, 2008), recorded a career spanning 14 seasons, including stints with the Miami Heat (2002-04), Los Angeles Lakers (2004-05), Washington Wizards (2005-10), Dallas Mavericks (2010-11), Los Angeles Clippers (2011-13), Milwaukee Bucks (2013-14), Oklahoma City Thunder (2014), Detroit Pistons (2014-15) and Sacramento Kings (2015-16). Since retiring from the league, Butler has made regular appearances on NBA-TV, ESPN and Fox Sports. In addition to television broadcasting, he has continued to grow his personal brand, Tuff Juice, through a series of podcast and content offerings.
Hill, a seven-time NBA All-Star, played 18 seasons in the NBA where he averaged just over 16 points per game. Hill was a member of the All-NBA First or Second team five times and was also on the All-Rookie First team during the 1994-1995 season. Hill spent six seasons in Detroit before moving on to Orlando for six seasons and Phoenix for five more. Hill concluded his career playing one season for the Los Angeles Clippers.
There are few people who have been as heavily involved in the NBA as Johnny Davis. Coach Davis spent nearly four decades with the NBA as a player, front office executive, assistant and head coach.
A Detroit native, Davis attended high school at Murray-Wright and was coached by the Legendary George “Baby” Duncan and Paul Dean. He quickly earned a reputation as one of the finest guards in the Detroit area, earning All-City, All-State and All-American honors and was voted as one of the top 10 players of all time in the Detroit Public School League. Davis was recruited by more than 350 major basketball schools across the country.
After high school, Davis attended the University of Dayton in Ohio where he led the Flyers in scoring for three consecutive seasons and was selected as a member of the Pan American Games and Intercontinental Cup teams, both of which won Gold Medals. Davis was inducted into the University of Dayton’s Hall of Fame in 1993.
After his junior year of college, Davis was drafted in the second round (22nd) of the 1976 NBA draft by the Portland Trailblazers where he played for Hall of Fame Coach, Jack Ramsey. He played 10 seasons in the NBA and was a key member of the 1977 Championship team. His career also included stints in Indiana, Atlanta and Cleveland. Davis concluded his playing career with 9,710 points scored, 3,368 assists and 683 steals.
Following his retirement as a player, Davis accepted a front office executive position with the Atlanta Hawks as Director of Community Affairs. Davis quickly moved up the ranks and was promoted to Assistant to the President and eventually President of the Atlanta Hawks Foundation. During his appointment, Davis spearheaded a philanthropic initiative that raised $500,000 in support of Atlanta area homeless shelters.
After a three year stint with the Hawks, Davis returned to the court as a coach. He began his coaching career as an Assistant for the Atlanta Hawks and has since worked for the Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trailblazers, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, Minnesota Timber Wolves, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Lakers. To date, Davis has worked for over one third (11) of the 30 NBA teams.
Coach Davis has assisted many of the NBA’s most reputable and successful head coaches including Bob Weiss, John Calipari, Glenn “Doc” Rivers, Dwane Casey and Mike D’Antoni, and he has coached and mentored many noteworthy players. The expansive list includes many All-Star and Hall of Fame players including Dominique Wilkins, Dwight Howard, Kevin Garnett, Allen Iverson, Steve Nash, Tracy McGrady, Grant Hill, Kobe Bryant and many more.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Perkins attended Samuel J. Tilden High School. He later attended and graduated from Shaker High School in Latham, New York. He was named large-school player of the year (high school) by the New York State Sportswriters Association in 1980 and was also named to the 35 Greatest Boys McDonald's All Americans team.
Perkins attended college at the University of North Carolina and played basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels from 1980 to 1984. He was named ACC Rookie of the Year in 1981 and starred alongside future NBA Hall of Famers James Worthy and Michael Jordan on the Tar Heels' 1982 NCAA championship team. A three-time All-American, Perkins was the 1984 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year. Perkins finished his collegiate basketball career as the Tar Heels' all-time leader in rebounds and blocked shots and as the second-highest scorer in team history. He graduated from UNC in 1984.
Perkins was a co-captain of the gold-medal-winning 1984 U.S. men's Olympic basketball team.
Chosen by the Dallas Mavericks as the fourth overall pick in the 1984 NBA draft, Perkins went on to play as a power forward and center in the NBA from 1984 to 2001. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1985. Perkins played for the Dallas Mavericks, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Seattle SuperSonics, and the Indiana Pacers, respectively. He scored a career-high 45 points on April 12, 1990. Perkins tied an NBA record on January 15, 1997 by making eight three-pointers without a miss. He appeared in three NBA Finals: The 1991 NBA Finals (with the Lakers), the 1996 NBA Finals (with the SuperSonics), and the 2000 NBA Finals (with the Pacers). In Game One of the 1991 NBA Finals, Perkins made a game-winning three-point shot to defeat the Chicago Bulls. He was known by the nicknames "Sleepy Sam", "Big Smooth", and "The Big Easy".
Since his retirement in 2001, Perkins has been actively involved in a variety of charitable endeavors, including Special Olympics, Nothing But Nets in conjunction with the United Nations, Boys and Girls Clubs, Big Brothers, Carolina for Kibera, NBA Cares, Basketball Without Borders and Habitat for Humanity.
In 2002, Perkins was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary men's basketball team as one of the fifty greatest players in Atlantic Coast Conference history.
In 2008, Perkins was named vice president of player relations for the Indiana Pacers. That September, he was inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame.
In October 2011, Perkins traveled to South Sudan as a SportsUnited Sports Envoy for the U.S. Department of State, where he worked with Hall of Fame NBA center Dikembe Mutombo to lead a series of basketball clinics and team building exercises with youths, the South Sudanese Wheelchair Basketball Team, and 36 coaches.
Perkins was named to the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018.