Raef LaFrentz
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| Player information | ||
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| Full name | Raef Andrew LaFrentz | |
| birthday | May 29, 1976 | |
| place of birth | Hampton , United States | |
| size | 211 cm | |
| position | Power Forward / Center | |
| college | Kansas | |
| NBA draft | 1998 , 3rd pick, Denver Nuggets | |
| Clubs as active | ||
1998–2002 Denver Nuggets 2002–2003 Dallas Mavericks 2003–2006 Boston Celtics 2006–2008 Portland Trail Blazers
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| National team 1 | ||
| 2002 | United States | 9 games |
| 1 As at: 09/08/2009 | ||
Raef Andrew LaFrentz (born May 29, 1976 in Hampton , Iowa , United States ) is a retired American basketball player. The 2.11 meter tall Lafrentz played mostly power forward , but could also center play.
Career
LaFrentz was a standout high school and college player in his youth , scoring both over 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in all four years of college at the University of Kansas . He was particularly impressive with his shot blocking and his safe three-point throw.
In the 1998 NBA draft, LaFrentz was signed by the Denver Nuggets in third place, and immediately became the starting center until he tore his Achilles tendon in his 12th game and was out the rest of the season. LaFrentz established himself as a solid role-player after his comeback, so that he signed a lucrative six-year contract for almost $ 60 million with the Dallas Mavericks in 2002 . At the side of Dirk Nowitzki , LaFrentz reached the playoffs twice. In 2004 he was exchanged for combo forward Antoine Walker from the Boston Celtics , but suffered a serious knee injury there again. After two unremarkable years, LaFrentz was transferred to the Portland Trail Blazers , where he sustained his third serious knee injury. With the Blazers he was hardly used after that and ended his career after the 2007-8 season.
International career
In 2002 LaFrentz was part of the US team, which in the same year only took a disappointing 6th place as a top favorite at the Basketball World Cup in their own country.
Private life
LaFrentz came from a basketball family. His father Andrew was an amateur basketball player and coach for Northern Iowa, similar to Raef's sister Ann. LaFrentz also chose his long-time jersey number 45 because his father had worn it before.
His parents gave LaFrentz the rather unusual first name "Raef" according to his nba.com page, based on the character of "Rafe Copeley" from the movie Home from the Hill .
Web links
- Raef LaFrentz - player profile on NBA.com
- Raef LaFrentz - player profile on basketball-reference.com
Individual evidence
- ↑ usabasketball.com - All-Time USA Basketball Men's Roster // L ( Memento from July 25, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | LaFrentz, Raef |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | LaFrentz, Raef Andrew (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American basketball player |
| DATE OF BIRTH | May 29, 1976 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Hampton , Iowa |