Kelvin Cato is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for nine seasons. He was born on August 26, 1974, in Atlanta, Texas, and attended the University of South Alabama, where he played college basketball.
Cato was selected by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the 1997 NBA draft but was immediately traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. He played for the Trail Blazers for two seasons before being traded to the Houston Rockets in 1999. It was with the Rockets that Cato had his most successful years in the NBA.
Cato was known for his defensive skills and shot-blocking ability. He was a key player for the Rockets during the 2000-2001 season when they reached the NBA playoffs. Cato's performance in the playoffs was particularly impressive, as he averaged 2.3 blocks per game and helped the Rockets reach the second round.
After four seasons with the Rockets, Cato was traded to the Orlando Magic in 2003. He played for the Magic for two seasons before being traded to the Detroit Pistons in 2005. Cato's time with the Pistons was short-lived, as he was traded to the New York Knicks in 2006. He played his final season in the NBA with the Knicks before retiring in 2007.
Throughout his career, Cato was known for his defensive skills and shot-blocking ability. He was a solid rebounder and a reliable scorer, averaging 6.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game over his career. Cato was also known for his durability, as he played in 76 or more games in five of his nine seasons in the NBA.
After retiring from basketball, Cato returned to his hometown of Atlanta, Texas, where he became involved in the community. He started the Kelvin Cato Foundation, which provides scholarships and other resources to students in the Atlanta Independent School District. Cato also worked as a basketball coach, helping to develop young players in the area.
In conclusion, Kelvin Cato was a solid NBA player known for his defensive skills and shot-blocking ability. He played for nine seasons in the NBA, spending the majority of his career with the Houston Rockets. After retiring from basketball, Cato returned to his hometown and became involved in the community, starting a foundation and coaching young players.
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