Drew Gooden is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 14 seasons. He was born on September 24, 1981, in Oakland, California, and attended El Cerrito High School, where he played basketball and was named California's Mr. Basketball in 1999.
Gooden played college basketball at the University of Kansas, where he was a standout player for the Jayhawks. He was named the Big 12 Conference Player of the Year in 2002 and was a consensus second-team All-American in 2002 and 2003. Gooden was also a member of the United States men's national basketball team that won the gold medal at the 2001 Goodwill Games.
Gooden was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies with the fourth overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft. He played for the Grizzlies for two seasons before being traded to the Orlando Magic in 2004. Gooden played for the Magic for one season before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2005.
Gooden played for the Cavaliers for three seasons and was a key player on the team that reached the NBA Finals in 2007. He was then traded to the Chicago Bulls in 2008 and played for the team for two seasons before being traded to the Sacramento Kings in 2010.
Gooden played for the Kings for one season before being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2010. He played for the Bucks for four seasons and was a key player on the team that reached the playoffs in 2013. Gooden then played for the Washington Wizards, the Memphis Grizzlies, and the Dallas Mavericks before retiring in 2016.
Throughout his career, Gooden was known for his versatility and his ability to play multiple positions. He was also known for his rebounding and his ability to score both inside and outside. Gooden was a solid player who was respected by his teammates and coaches for his work ethic and his professionalism.
In conclusion, Drew Gooden had a successful basketball career that spanned 14 seasons in the NBA. He was a standout player in college and was a key player on several NBA teams throughout his career. Gooden was known for his versatility, his rebounding, and his ability to score both inside and outside. He retired in 2016 and is now a basketball analyst for NBC Sports Washington.
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