Larry Bird born in West Baiden, Indiana
Larry Bird is born in West Baiden, Indiana to Joe and Georgia Bird and is the fourth of six children. Bird and his brothers would play every sport including baseball and softball, and did not settle on basketball as his primary sport until he was in high school. He began to practice day and night.
I played when I was cold and my body was aching and I was so tired. I don’t know why, I just kept playing and playing.… I guess I always wanted to make the most out of it.
Kobe Bryant born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Kobe Bryant is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father “Jellybean Joe” Bryant was a playground legend in Philly, and also played in the NBA and overseas.
Kobe grows up eating, sleeping, and breathing basketball, and scored 2883 points in high school which shattered the Pennsylvania schoolboy record set four decades earlier by Wilt Chamberlain. He has two sisters.
Michael Jordan born in Brooklyn, NY
Michael Jeffery Jordan is born in Brooklyn, New York and is one of James and Deloris Jordan’s five children. The family moved to Wilmington, North Carolina while Michael was very young. Michael loves sports, his sophomore year in high school he was cut from the basketball team, but by the end of his senior season had a scholarship offer from the University of North Carolina to play under Dean Smith.
Kevin Love born in Santa Monica, California
Kevin Wesley Love is born in Santa Monica, California and his father is 1970’s NBA forward Stan Lane. Stan decided to move the family to Oregon, where Kevin attended Lake Oswego High School and graduated in 2007.
Kevin is the all-time leading scorer in Oregon boys basketball history with 2,628 points.
Kevin Durant born in Washington, D.C.
Kevin Durant is born in Washington, D.C. and has one brother, and was raised by his Mother and Grandmother. Kevin and his brother are very competitive, and love to play sports, which emerged to Kevin working on basketball drills eight hours of the day. After his freshman year, he shot up five inches to 6′ 8″.
Earvin “Magic” Johnson Born in Lansing, Michigan
Earvin “Magic” Johnson is born in Lansing, Michigan and is the fourth child of seven. He works several jobs as a young man, but his first love is basketball, which evolved into a state championship in high school. His passing and ball-handling skills win him the nickname “Magic”.
LeBron James born in Akron, Ohio
LeBron James is born in Akron, Ohio. Lebron is moved from apartment to apartment while his Mother, Gloria James struggles as a single parent, but even with Gloria’s hardships, she buys LeBron a miniature hoop, and ball as an infant, and where he plays for hours.
Wins #1 draft pick again
The Cavaliers win the rights to the #1 pick in the 2014 NBA draft. This is the second year in a row that the team have had the #1 pick, and the third time in 4 years. Cavaliers GM David Griffin says:
It’s a really defining moment for us