Steve Novak is a former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for over a decade. Novak was born on June 13, 1983, in Libertyville, Illinois, and attended Brown Deer High School in Wisconsin. He went on to play college basketball at Marquette University, where he was a standout player and earned All-Big East Conference honors.
Novak began his professional career in 2006 when he was drafted by the Houston Rockets in the second round of the NBA draft. He spent his first two seasons with the Rockets, where he played a limited role off the bench. In 2008, he was traded to the New Orleans Hornets, where he played for one season before being traded again to the Los Angeles Clippers.
It was with the Clippers that Novak began to establish himself as a three-point specialist. He set a franchise record for three-pointers made in a season with 135 during the 2010-2011 season. Novak's success from beyond the arc earned him a reputation as one of the best three-point shooters in the league.
In 2011, Novak signed with the New York Knicks, where he had the best season of his career. He set a career-high in points per game with 8.8 and led the league in three-point shooting percentage with an incredible 47.2%. Novak's sharpshooting helped the Knicks reach the playoffs that season, where they were eliminated in the first round.
Novak spent the next few seasons bouncing around the league, playing for the Toronto Raptors, the Utah Jazz, and the Oklahoma City Thunder. He continued to be a reliable three-point shooter, but his playing time was limited due to his defensive shortcomings.
Novak's career came to an end in 2017 when he was waived by the Milwaukee Bucks. He finished his career with averages of 4.7 points and 1.3 rebounds per game while shooting 43.0% from three-point range.
Off the court, Novak was known for his philanthropic work. He founded the Steve Novak Foundation, which focuses on improving the lives of children in the Milwaukee area. Novak was also a devout Christian and often spoke about the role his faith played in his life and career.
In conclusion, Steve Novak was a talented three-point shooter who played in the NBA for over a decade. He was known for his ability to knock down shots from beyond the arc and was one of the best three-point shooters in the league during his prime. Novak's career was defined by his ability to stretch the floor and provide spacing for his teammates.
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