Marcus Camby

Marcus Camby is a power forward for the Portland Trail Blazers. He is widely regarded as one of the premiere defensive players in the game with a NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2007. In college, at the University of Massachusetts Amherst he won the John R. Wooden Award and the Naismith College Player of the Year Award.

Marcus Camby was born in Hartford, Connecticut on March 22, 1974. He attended college at the University of Massachusetts Amherst where he held the record for most blocks by a freshman in the NCAA. Camby is the fourth player in NCAA history to record 300 blocks for his career. In 1995 he won the Naismith College Player of the Year Award and the John R. Wooden Award. Camby led the Minutemen to the final four in 1996. This tournament saw him block 43 shots. He would leave college before his senior year and declare himself eligible for the NBA Draft.

Camby was drafted by the Toronto Raptors with the second pick in the 1996 NBA draft. As a rookie, Camby averaged 14.8 points a game, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks. His second season saw him lead the league in blocked shots per game with 3.7. Toronto traded him to the New York Knicks for Charles Oakley. As a knick, Camby continued to draw praise for his play. He contributed to the New York team which as an 8 seed worked itself to the NBA finals in 1998. Camby was traded to Denver in 2002. As a Nugget, Camby won a definsive player of the year award, in 2006. He stayed a Nugget until 2008, and being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. Two seasons later, Camby arrived as a Blazer.

He found a new home as a Trailblazer, after signing a two year deal with the team. His defensive prowness was felt by the Blazers immediately. He helped bring Portland to the playoffs and another fifty win season. After the Blazers lost Joel Pryzbilla and Greg Oden, they were in dire need of a center. Camby was this man after being traded to Portland for Steve Blake and Travis Outlaw. In one of the final games of the regular season, Camby scored 30 points and 13 rebounds versus Oklahoma City.