Rashard Lewis is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 16 seasons. He was born on August 8, 1979, in Pineville, Louisiana, and attended Alief Elsik High School in Houston, Texas. Lewis was a standout basketball player in high school and was named the Texas Class 5A Player of the Year in 1997.
After high school, Lewis decided to skip college and enter the NBA draft. He was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics in the second round of the 1998 NBA draft. Lewis spent his first nine seasons in the NBA with the SuperSonics, where he established himself as one of the league's top three-point shooters. He was named an NBA All-Star in 2005 and 2009 and helped lead the SuperSonics to the playoffs in 2005.
In 2007, Lewis signed a six-year, $118 million contract with the Orlando Magic, which was at the time the largest contract in NBA history. He played four seasons with the Magic, where he continued to be a reliable scorer and three-point shooter. Lewis helped lead the Magic to the NBA Finals in 2009, where they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers.
After his time with the Magic, Lewis played for several other NBA teams, including the Washington Wizards, Miami Heat, and Dallas Mavericks. He retired from the NBA in 2014 with career averages of 14.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game.
Throughout his career, Lewis was known for his versatility as a player. He was a skilled scorer who could shoot from the outside and also had the ability to drive to the basket. He was also a solid rebounder and defender, making him a valuable asset to any team he played for.
Off the court, Lewis was involved in several charitable organizations, including the Rashard Lewis Foundation, which focused on providing educational opportunities for underprivileged youth. He was also a spokesperson for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and was involved in several other community outreach programs.
Overall, Rashard Lewis had a successful career in the NBA, earning two All-Star selections and helping lead his teams to the playoffs multiple times. He was a reliable scorer and versatile player who was respected by his teammates and opponents alike.
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