Name: Joe Johnson

Team: Atlanta Hawks

Position: Shooting Guard

NBA Statistics: 21.5 (points), 4.7 (rebounds), 4.7 (assists)

Background: Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Joe fulfilled his childhood dream of playing for the Arkansas Razorbacks passing up scholarship opportunities to play for reputable basketball colleges Duke and Connecticut.

He made his time at Arkansas count as he became the first freshman in school history to lead the school in both scoring (16 points) and rebounding (5.7).

After two years at the University of Arkansas he declared himself eligible for the NBA draft and was selected by the Boston Celtics as the 10th overall pick in 2001. Though starting in 33 of Celtics' first 38 games, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns midway the season as the Celtics saw him as surplus to requirements in their quest to make the playoffs. His prowess began to ignite at the Suns as he averaged 15.2 points per game and became revered for his jumpshot and his three-point shooting.

The summer of 2005 saw Joe determined to leave the Suns and though they were willing to match the US$70 million offer by the Atlanta Hawks, he asked them not to so that he could assume an even greater role with the franchise.

In his first season he averaged 20.2 points and 6.5 assists making him one of five players to do so for the season.

During the 2005 NBA Play-offs with the Suns Joe received an injury while dunking and as a result was forced to wear a face mask, but he battled the odds and improved his performances after injury. In January of 2009, he joined an elite list of players to record over 10,000 points.

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