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Kareem Rush

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Kareem Rush
Rush with the Clippers in October 2009
Personal information
Born (1980-10-30) October 30, 1980 (age 44)
Kansas City, Missouri
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High schoolPembroke Hill
(Kansas City, Missouri)
CollegeMissouri (1999–2002)
NBA draft2002: 1st round, 20th overall pick
Selected by the Toronto Raptors
Playing career2002–2018
PositionShooting guard
Number21, 4
Career history
2002–2004Los Angeles Lakers
2004–2006Charlotte Bobcats
2006–2007Lietuvos rytas
2007–2008Indiana Pacers
2008–2009Philadelphia 76ers
2009–2010Los Angeles Clippers
2012Los Angeles D-Fenders
2012–2013Los Angeles Slam
2013–2014Los Angeles D-Fenders
2018Kansas City Tornados
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points2,213 (6.4 ppg)
Rebounds572 (1.7 rpg)
Assists353 (1.0 apg)
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Kareem Lamar Rush (born October 30, 1980) is an American former professional basketball player. Rush's younger brother, Brandon, last played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, while older brother JaRon played college basketball for UCLA.[1]

College career

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After graduating from Pembroke Hill School in Kansas City, Rush attended the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri, where he was a standout guard on the basketball team. Rush averaged 19.8 points per game as a junior, leading the Tigers to the Western Regional finals in the NCAA tournament, where they lost to Oklahoma. As a sophomore in 2000–01, he led the Big 12 in scoring, averaging 21.1 points per game. During this time, Rush worked with world-renowned conditioning coach Istvan Javorek.

Professional career

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Rush handling the ball for the Charlotte Bobcats

Los Angeles Lakers (2002–2004)

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Rush entered the 2002 NBA draft after his junior season and was selected with the 20th pick overall by the Toronto Raptors, who immediately traded his rights to the Los Angeles Lakers. Rush was projected to be a top 10 pick, but much like what happened to Kareem's elder brother JaRon—a former UCLA star—Kareem slipped down much further than anticipated. At the 2000 draft, JaRon, who left the Bruins after his sophomore season, was not selected. "No one wants to see something like that happen to his brother", JaRon said, weeping. "I mean, I knew he was going to get drafted eventually, but it was still hard."

Over his first two seasons, he played a limited, back-up role on the Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant-led club. However, due to his three-point shooting accuracy, he would become a more frequently used reserve player in the 2003–2004 playoffs for coach Phil Jackson. Although the Lakers would lose to the Pistons in the NBA Finals, Rush was able to make somewhat of a name for himself as a sharpshooter, averaging 14 minutes per game and hitting 40% of his three-point shots in the playoffs. He was a major contributor in helping the Lakers clinch the Western Conference Finals against Kevin Garnett and the Minnesota Timberwolves, when he scored 18 points in the sixth and final game, all from 3-point range, where he was 6 for 7.[2]

Charlotte Bobcats (2004–2006)

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Fourteen games into the 2004–05 season, the Lakers traded Rush to the Charlotte Bobcats for two future second-round draft picks. In Charlotte, Rush found a larger role, often starting and averaging more than 25 minutes and 11.5 points per game. He set a then-Bobcats franchise record by scoring 35 points against the Indiana Pacers. His season ended March 2 when he strained his MCL during a game in New Orleans.[3]

Seattle SuperSonics (2006)

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During the 2006–07 offseason, Rush signed with the Seattle SuperSonics,[4] but recovered slowly from a groin injury. In November 2006, the club waived him to make room for a replacement for two frontcourt players who had sustained injuries.[5]

Lithuania (2006–2007)

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Rush spent the next season playing in Lithuania. On December 21, 2006, he signed with ULEB Cup participant Lietuvos rytas from Vilnius. He was chosen by the Slovenian coach Zmago Sagadin and led his team to the cup final. On February 24, 2007, Rush was named the MVP of the 2007 LKL All-Star Game. On April 21, Rush's team became the champion of the Baltic Basketball League; he was named the Final Four MVP.

Indiana Pacers (2007–2008)

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On July 3, 2007, Rush signed with the Indiana Pacers, who cited their need for a shooter.[6]

Philadelphia 76ers (2008–2009)

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On July 28, 2008, Rush signed a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.[7]

Los Angeles Clippers (2009–2010)

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Rush eventually signed for the Los Angeles Clippers, because of injuries to other players on the roster.[8] However, Rush himself suffered an ACL tear in his right knee on November 18, 2009.[9] The day before his ACL tear would end up being his final NBA game ever. On November 17, 2009, the Clippers would lose to the New Orleans Hornets 102 - 110 with Rush only playing for less than 2 minutes and recording no stats.

Rush was waived by the Clippers on January 22, 2010.[10]

Los Angeles D-Fenders (2012)

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On March 12, 2012, Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA D-League acquired Rush.[11]

Los Angeles Slam (2012–2013)

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For the 2012–13 season, Rush played for the Los Angeles Slam of the ABA.

Los Angeles D-Fenders (2013–2014)

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In November 2013, he was re-acquired by the Los Angeles D-Fenders.[12]

On January 22, 2014, Rush left the D-Fenders, citing his desire to formally retire from basketball.

BIG3 Basketball (2017)

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In 2017, Rush joined the BIG3 basketball league, playing on a talent-stacked 3 Headed Monsters roster, highlighted by head coach (and NBA Hall of Famer) Gary Payton, as well as Kwame Brown (the first ever directly-from-high-school player to go #1 overall in the NBA draft), Rashard Lewis, Jason Williams, and Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf.

North American Premier Basketball (2018–present)

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In January 2018, he signed with the Kansas City Tornados of the first-year North American Premier Basketball.[13]

NBA career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2002–03 L.A. Lakers 76 0 11.5 .393 .279 .696 1.2 .9 .1 .1 3.0
2003–04 L.A. Lakers 72 15 17.3 .440 .348 .596 1.3 .8 .5 .3 6.4
2004–05 L.A. Lakers 14 0 6.5 .200 .200 1.000 .7 .2 .1 .1 .9
2004–05 Charlotte 34 22 25.8 .396 .386 .761 2.3 1.9 .5 .2 11.5
2005–06 Charlotte 47 25 23.6 .386 .348 .714 2.2 1.1 .8 .3 10.1
2007–08 Indiana 71 15 21.2 .401 .389 .714 2.4 1.3 .6 .3 8.3
2008–09 Philadelphia 25 1 8.0 .345 .303 1.000 .6 .6 .2 .0 2.2
2009–10 L.A. Clippers 7 0 8.3 .364 .333 .000 .9 .6 .3 .4 1.3
Career 346 78 17.2 .400 .358 .703 1.7 1.0 .4 .2 6.4

Playoffs

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2003 L.A. Lakers 9 0 7.1 .379 .364 1.000 .3 .2 .1 .0 3.3
2004 L.A. Lakers 22 0 14.3 .385 .400 .667 .7 .8 .5 .1 3.7
Career 31 0 12.2 .383 .393 .857 .6 .6 .4 .1 3.6

Personal life

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Rush's younger brother Brandon also played in the NBA.

In 2010, Rush embarked on an R&B singing career, releasing his debut single "Hold You Down".[14]

References

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  1. ^ Where Brothers Faltered, Rush Hopes to Carry On
  2. ^ Kareem Rush Statistics - Basketball-Reference.com
  3. ^ "Kareem Rush Bio Page". NBA.com. Archived from the original on May 15, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  4. ^ KUsports.com - Sonics add ex-Tiger Rush
  5. ^ "Sonics sign Glyniadakis, adding depth to thin frontcourt". Associated Press. November 5, 2006. Retrieved July 6, 2007.
  6. ^ Brunt, Cliff (July 3, 2007). "Pacers sign former first-round pick Kareem Rush". Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 1, 2010. Retrieved July 6, 2007.
  7. ^ Fagan, Kate (July 28, 2008). "76ers come to terms with Kareem Rush". Inquirer.com. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  8. ^ Dillman, Lisa (October 4, 2009). "Ready or not, let the games begin for Clippers". The Los Angeles Times.
  9. ^ "Clippers' G Rush tears his right ACL against the Hornets". Associated Press. November 18, 2009. Retrieved on November 19, 2009.
  10. ^ "Clippers sign JamesOn Curry to 10-day contract". LA Times Blogs – Sports Now. January 22, 2010. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
  11. ^ "D-Fenders Acquire Kareem Rush". NBA.com. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
  12. ^ 2013-14 Training Camp Roster Archived June 10, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ "Tornados in a 'Rush' as former Missouri Tiger star joins NAPB squad". NAPB. January 22, 2018. Archived from the original on January 24, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  14. ^ "Kareem Rush Will "Hold You Down"". Yardbarker. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
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