This Is Our Team: Carlos Boozer
01 July 2008
His fierce determination got him from the wilds of Alaska to the world’s stage. But will it be enough to get him to the top of that podium?
He’s one of the biggest threats in the NBA. His left hand is as powerful as his right, his strength equal to his size, and his shooting deadly in almost every situation. But what is it that turns a man like Boozer into such a dominating force on the court?
According to Carlos, it was his father.
Growing up in Alaska, Carlos’ father was a dedicated coach, driving him to an outdoor court every day after school to practice. Rain, sleet or snow, they developed his raw talent into natural instinct, overcoming difficulties with a tireless determination. His dad made sure there were no weak spots in his game – even going so far as to tie down his right hand, turning his weak left into a major weapon.
All through high school, Carlos forced himself to work through the cold Alaskan seasons. Before long, his physical and mental game grew incredibly tough, able to withstand anything his opponents – or mother nature – could throw at him. By his senior year, Carlos was an aggressive force that few had ever seen, and ready to take the world by storm.
Soon, colleges around the country were battling it out for his attention. After much discussion with his father, it was Coach Krzyzewski at Duke – currently the head coach of Team USA – who was entrusted with Carlos’ future. And the pairing paid off quickly: the Blue Devils won the National title that year, and he decided to declare for the 2002 NBA Draft.
Boozer spent two seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, steadily growing alongside LeBron James. But it wasn’t until 2004, when he joined the Utah Jazz, that he truly came into his own, establishing himself as one of the best power forwards in the league. Fans, teammates, and coaches started to realize just how big a threat he was – and how far he could potentially go.
By the 2007-08 season, Boozer was showing signs of a budding NBA legend. He was voted an NBA All-Star two years in a row, named the Western Conference Player of the Month, and was among the league’s top five performers in scoring, rebounding, and field goal percentage.
On top of all that, his incredible dexterity has made him one of the NBA’s most threatening post players – something that can be attributed to those cold afternoons in Juneau.
This year, as the Summer Games draw near, Team USA will need to rely on Boozer’s toughness on the court. His physical size and strength, coupled with his mental fierceness, will be enough to tackle any opponent – but for Carlos, he was taught early on that it takes more than that to win.
“You can do whatever you want to do,” said Carlos, “if you have the heart and passion to go after it.”
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