NBA player puzzle

[QuikSand]

Okay, not really a puzzle -- but I need some help.

I met an NBA player a day or two ago, and didn't actually catch his name. Really nice guy, we chatted a bit -- there just wasn't an easy chance for me to just pop in with "dude, what's you name?" So, I came away with a few clues... and though I'd be able to figure out who he is. However, I did a little searching, and came up empty.

So, here are the clues that I gathered while playing cards with this guy:


-When asked, he said that he played for the LA Clippers, but followed up by saying that he was currently a free agent

-He's not particularly tall -- I'd guess maybe 6 feet even, give or take an inch or two. I reckon that means he'd list at 6'6" in the NBA?

-He looked fairly young to me, but at one point I asked him jokingly if we'd be reading about him signing a new "Michael Redd contract" and he chuckled and said two things: "Naw, I'm too old for that" and "I'm a one year kind of guy." So I assume he's more or less a journeyman roster filler type.

-He's an African-american with very well-groomer short black hair and a small dark moustache, at least as he appeared lately.

-For what it's worth, I have the sense that this is a rather smart guy (I can testify he's a pretty good poker player) -- so I have been thinking point guard, but there's nothing more to that hunch other than apparent size and smarts.


I looked at the Clippers roster on nba.com and looked at all the pictures -- nobody seemed like a good match. Visually, he looked a bit like Corey Maggette (he has what I might call a somewhat "roundish" head), but his answer to the contract question seemed to rule that out.


Anyone care to take a stab? If you can post a pic, I can probably confirm or deny...

[Suicane75]

Kenyon Dooling?

[sovereignstar]

Yeah, Bobby Simmons isn't old at all. Turkey punk.

[sovereignstar]

Shit, my sarcasm needs a little work.

[QuikSand]

That picture looks a lot more like the guy I met than the other picture of Bobby Simmons I previously found. That's probably him.

(When I look at the other pic, I can't see much resemblance... and I guess it's at least possible that I mis-heard him talking about being "old")

[sovereignstar]

Bobby Simmons just signed a pretty hefty contract.

[sovereignstar]

5 years, 47 million. Honestly, how can you not recognize a guy from a photo?

[Suicane75]

Originally Posted by sovereignstar

Bobby Simmons just signed a pretty hefty contract.

With who?

And.....I WON!!!

Does this mean I have to start the next puzzle?

[sovereignstar]

Originally Posted by Suicane75

With who?

And.....I WON!!!

Yeah, the clues seemed to have made perfect sense with this one.

[QuikSand]

Unless he signed the contyract within the last 36 hours, that's not the guy. The guy I met seemed fairly circumspect about his contract situation... didn't sound like a big money guy to me.

[QuikSand]

I'm seeing Bobby Ssimmons's height listed from 6-6 to 6-8... and the guy I met coouldn't possibly be any taller than about 6-2. Even for NBA standards, I think that's a miss.

[Suicane75]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

I'm seeing Bobby Ssimmons's height listed from 6-6 to 6-8... and the guy I met coouldn't possibly be any taller than about 6-2. Even for NBA standards, I think that's a miss.

You motherfucker.

[QuikSand]

Well, the fact that they list his weight at 265 lbs is another clue -- the guy I met couldn't possibly be over 200, though I'm not a great judge of such things, I'm pretty confident in that.

[sovereignstar]

Probably Kenny Anderson.

[cthomer5000]

Kerry Kittles?

[sovereignstar]

[sovereignstar]

Originally Posted by cthomer5000

Kerry Kittles?

Seriously, you guys.

[panerd]

Sounds a lot like Keyon Dooling. (What am I saying, a lot? I should say he matches all your clues) Didn't play for LA last year, but did for every other year so he may consider himself a Clipper. I also know a few guys that were good friends with him at Mizzou and he was a big poker guy and not really a big partier.

[sovereignstar]

Let's see. Keyon is 25 and not a free agent.

[Suicane75]

This thread is closed, i am teh werewolf!

[panerd]

Originally Posted by sovereignstar

Let's see. Keyon is 25 and not a free agent.

I am pretty sure he is a free agent, he only signed a one year deal to back-up Wade. A really big Miami fan is free to come in and correct me, but I try to really keep a close eye on Mizzou guys. So I would think he would consider himself a free agent.

[QuikSand]

Keyon Dooling is a much better fit. He didn't drink at the poker table, either... and if he's a confirmed poker player, that makes plenty of sense. Your pic (above) is a pretty good match, a bit better than the one at nba.com -- but I think that must be the guy.

[cthomer5000]

Keyon Dooling opted out of a $807,546 final year in Miami and was flattered by the attention the Nets showed.
-- New York Post

So sov isn't entirely wrong (or the mistake is at least understandable). He did sign a two year deal last year, but just opted out of year two.

edit: and this all appears to have happened a matter of days ago... like probably early last week.

double edit: and the fact that he only played one year with Miami would probably help build the self-described "one year guy" image

[21C]

Rick Brunson? He's listed as 6-4.

[sovereignstar]

Dooling is waiting for his option to be picked up currently. He signed a 1-year deal with the Heat last year with a player option. He would consider himself a member of the Heat. Seriously, how could you not recognize a guy you spoke face-to-face with?

[sovereignstar]

Originally Posted by cthomer5000

Keyon Dooling opted out of a $807,546 final year in Miami and was flattered by the attention the Nets showed.
-- New York Post

So sov isn't entirely wrong (or the mistake is at least understandable). He did sign a two year deal last year, but just opted out of year two.

edit: and this all appears to have happened a matter of days ago... like probably early last week.

double edit: and the fact that he only played one year with Miami would probably help build the self-described "one year guy" image

Bah, I quit. I don't see how you wouldn't recognize a guy.

[panerd]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Keyon Dooling is a much better fit. He didn't drink at the poker table, either... and if he's a confirmed poker player, that makes plenty of sense. Your pic (above) is a pretty good match, a bit better than the one at nba.com -- but I think that must be the guy.

Yeah, I mean I don't know that he is that a big poker player as much he stayed under the radar and away from the big parties and other things that most college athletes seem to have a lot of trouble with at Missouri. As far as student-athletes go he is one that you were kind of glad went to your school.

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by sovereignstar

Seriously, how could you not recognize a guy you spoke face-to-face with?

I'm not trying to be difficult... none of these pictures looks exactly like the guy I played with. The pic of Dooling is awfully close, and very well could be him, but when I saw it I did not say "oh, absolutely!" I am sorry that this upsets you so much. I really didn't mean to cause any harm with this exercise.

[cthomer5000]

Originally Posted by sovereignstar

Bah, I quit. I don't see how you wouldn't recognize a guy.

Well, I can see where Quik might be coming from. I'm terrible with faces, names, everything. I'm a self-centered bastard at heart.

[Suicane75]

I get it, "they" all look alike to you.


That was a joke, please dont let me be banned.

[sovereignstar]

Originally Posted by Suicane75

I get it, "they" all look alike to you.


That was a joke, please dont let me be banned.

Fuck, I was about ready to say the same thing.

[QuikSand]

FWIW, there are certain things that I do remember about the guy I met. He had very slightly enlarged front teeth -- nothing ridiculous or laughable, but just prominent. If I saw a picture where he was smiling or laughing, that might be distinctive. He also had a particularly neatly-trimmer moustache -- and if I saw it in a pic the same way, I might reocgnize that. However, it isn't the same moustache shape -- which doesn't rule him out, but also makes it a bit tougher to match him up.

The pictures I have found of Dooling look generally like the guy I met (eyes look similar, and the shape pof his head seems right) so I'm inclined to think that the superficial changes (like momentary grooming differences) are the only thing keeping me from being certain.

Again, sorry.

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by Suicane75

I get it, "they" all look alike to you.

I can't believe it took you that long.

Thanks.

[sovereignstar]

Daddy?

[cthomer5000]

?

[Suicane75]

Was it this guy?



Or perhaps this dude?


Or it might have been this gent,



It may have been this guy, but i think he just signed an offer sheet with Utah,

[sovereignstar]

[Suicane75]

Dude 2nd from the right?

[panerd]

I think it has to be Dooling. You are from the DC area, right? I would assume he would be the type of player that Washington would look for to try and help fill the hole caused by the loss of Hughes. So maybe he was in town interviewing or whatever NBA players do.

Forget what people are saying about the pictures too. It's not like you can't identify a black guy, you can't identify a black athlete basketball player. It would be like meeting a white guy with a gottee at a party that is a major league pitcher. You could find 25 guys that look exactly the same.

I also can't believe how much time I am spending trying to confirm it's Dooling, like he is some good friend of mine or something.

[QuikSand]

FWIW, this happened in Las Vegas. I'm guessing that Dooling still lives in LA after playing several years with the Clippers.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by cthomer5000

Well, I can see where Quik might be coming from. I'm terrible with faces, names, everything. I'm a self-centered bastard at heart.

What really makes it tough for me is seeing it out of context. After Royals games, you can always hang around near the player's parking lot for autographs. And there are guys that I've seen lots of times up at bat or in the field- who I can identify in an instant if I see them on tv. But in street clothes, away from their expected surrounding and look, it becomes much more difficult.


SI

[Raven]

QS, this might help your search.

Keyon Dooling is listed as 6'3 - 196. Drafted by the Clippers in 2000 1st round, career average is just under 6 PPG, which fits the "1 year kind of guy" comment.

But he was born in 1980, so that doesn't fit the "i'm too old for that" comment.



I'm not an NBA fan, so I don't know who you are looking for. From your comments though, I'd imagine he would average around 6 PPG, but probably be 27 or so.

[stevew]

Rick Brunson?

[korme]

Originally Posted by Suicane75

Kenyon Dooling?

Idiot, you didn't win shit. Anyone who remotely follows the NBA knows that is KEYON Dooling.

The only other FA canidates are Marko Jaric (not black), and Bobby Simmons (not short).

[korme]

From reading the thread, I bet it is Rick Brunson. Knick-Bull-Clipper teh last 3 years, fitting the "1 year player" type, unlike Dooling who has only been a Clipper and Heat player.

[korme]

Wrong, the Blazers and Raptos have been stints in between the years I mentioned. This makes it even more sensible, Brunson was born in 72 making him 33. Old ass NBA player even though to me it feels like he is young.

 

 Year Ag Tm  Lg     G   MP   FG  FGA  3P  3PA   FT  FTA  ORB  DRB  TRB  AST STL BLK  TO  PF  PTS
+---------------+----+----+----+----+---+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+---+---+---+---+----+
 1998 25 POR NBA   38 16.4  1.3  3.7 0.6  1.6  1.1  1.6  0.4  1.1  1.5  2.6 0.7 0.1 1.4 1.4  4.3
 1999 26 NYK NBA   17  5.6  0.4  1.2 0.0  0.3  0.3  1.1  0.2  0.4  0.6  1.1 0.5 0.0 0.7 0.5  1.0
 2000 27 NYK NBA   37  7.8  0.8  1.9 0.1  0.4  0.3  0.5  0.1  0.6  0.7  1.3 0.2 0.0 0.8 0.9  1.9
 2001 28 BOS NBA    7 20.3  1.4  5.0 0.3  1.6  0.6  1.3  0.3  1.0  1.3  3.4 1.0 0.1 1.3 2.3  3.7
         NYK NBA   15  4.4  0.5  1.3 0.0  0.2  0.3  0.4  0.2  0.6  0.8  0.5 0.1 0.0 0.5 0.3  1.3
         TOT NBA   22  9.5  0.8  2.5 0.1  0.6  0.4  0.7  0.2  0.7  1.0  1.4 0.4 0.0 0.8 1.0  2.1
 2002 29 POR NBA   59  8.8  0.8  1.9 0.1  0.2  0.5  0.7  0.4  0.8  1.2  1.9 0.4 0.0 0.8 0.9  2.1
 2003 30 CHI NBA   17 11.5  1.4  2.9 0.2  0.4  0.6  0.7  0.2  0.9  1.1  2.1 0.6 0.2 1.0 1.2  3.5
 2004 31 TOR NBA    3  3.3  0.7  1.3 0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0  0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0  1.3
         CHI NBA   37 10.9  1.0  2.7 0.3  0.6  0.7  0.8  0.2  0.8  1.0  2.2 0.7 0.1 0.9 1.2  3.1
         TOT NBA   40 10.3  1.0  2.6 0.3  0.6  0.7  0.8  0.2  0.7  0.9  2.1 0.6 0.1 0.8 1.1  3.0
 2005 32 LAC NBA   80 24.3  2.1  5.5 0.6  1.6  0.7  0.9  0.3  2.1  2.3  5.1 1.0 0.1 1.6 1.3  5.5
+---------------+----+----+----+----+---+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+---+---+---+---+----+
  8 Seasons       310 13.8  1.2  3.2 0.3  0.8  0.6  0.9  0.3  1.1  1.4  2.7 0.6 0.1 1.1 1.1  3.3
+---------------+----+----+----+----+---+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+---+---+---+---+----+

[Neuqua]

If I had gotten into the thread earlier I would almost surely have said Rick Brunson but Quik seems to think Keyon looks a lot like the fellow he talked to and Keyon and Rick don't really look all that alike.

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by sovereignstar

Dooling is waiting for his option to be picked up currently. He signed a 1-year deal with the Heat last year with a player option. He would consider himself a member of the Heat. Seriously, how could you not recognize a guy you spoke face-to-face with?

Quik probably just forgot to mention that he was wearing those stupid glasses that cover your eyes!

[WSUCougar]

With some merciless editing, this thread could be a classic.

[sovereignstar]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

Quik probably just forgot to mention that he was wearing those stupid glasses that cover your eyes!

You trying to be funny only leads to faggotry and problems. I'd advise against it.