Earl Boykins

Earl Boykins has overcome such an obstacle that he has earned his name. He is also known as a future Hall Of Famer. He was born on June 2,1976 in Cleavlend, Ohio. He played college basketball at Eastern Michigan and later played in the CBA. Which is a minor basketball league for men trying to get to the NBA. His 5'5 133 pound image makes it hard to imagine that he can hang with the "big boys". He can bench press over 300 pounds and has been said to max out at 320 pounds. He has overcome so many obstacles having to do with his height instead of his skills on the court. He is dedicated and is known to work the hardest because of destructive critisism.

He has helped others with his short support program. He has made over ten donations to charties. He has also helped others that are looked upon to be too short to play basketball be encouraged to never give up. He is known as one of the best back up point guards in the league. Playing limited minutes and having a huge disadvantage with size, he still manages to squeeze out 12.4 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. He also set some career highs and NBA records this year. On January 18, 2005 he set a NBA record for the most points in overtime with 15. He has bounced around quite a bit but, he keeps his head held high and I would find that hard to do if I had been through five different teams. And this year against the Philadelphia 76ers he had a career high 5 rebounds. Now I know that doesn't seem like much but let's not forget he is the shortest player in the NBA. And also the second shortest player to play in the NBA behind Muggsy Bouges. Is it me or is it a coincidence that the two shortest men to ever play in the NBA both at some point in time played for the Golden State Warriors. I wonder who will be compared to Earl Boykins and Muggsy Bogues next?

Earl Boykins had to go through alot with people not believing in him because of his height. People used to tell me the same thing but I just told them that "All things are possible throgh Christ." They laughed and told me that I was going to have my dreams crushed. Then one day I turned to a basketball game and saw little Earl Boykins playing in the NBA, and hearing the annoncer discuss his 5'5 image over and over. I mean everytime he touched the ball it seemed like they had nothing else to talk about.

Every since thst day he has been one of my inspirations. Check out his toy soldier-like body including his extra cut calves. Check out his comparison to the tallest guy in the NBA.

He has also made a contribution to the "Earl Boykins Skills Camp." He has continued to show his love for the game, and the kids that look up to him or any other man in the NBA. He is teased about how he has to shop in the kids section for shoes and clothes. That's kind of odd huh! A grown rich man that shops in the same section as most kids in middle school. He asked to respond about the situation and he said, "It's all in harmless fun, so I don't let it get to me. If I was six foot two and knew a person in my position, I'd probably make jokes too." He has guarded everyone from Allen Iverson to Yao Ming at one point in time in the NBA. And did I mention that he was undrafted coming out of college.

This is why Earl Boykins is my hero because he is not only a basketbll player, but he is an awsome and caring giver. Like I said he has made numerous donations and has done a few camps. He puts his money towards a good cause. He has knocked down barriers that only one other guy by the name of Muggsy Bogues has beat him at. There are others that have to do the same such as Pooh Richardson which is the third shortest player in history. Without pride and self-esteem you wouldn't be able to do such a thing. He a free agent getting paid somewhere in the 500K rang but was just offered a contract by the team he helped lead to the playoffs, the Denver Nuggets.