Born: January 9, 1965. Baltimore, MarylandHigh School: Dunbar High School (Bob Wade)
College: Wake Forest University
Drafted: Washington Bullets, 1987 1st Round, 12th Overall
Muggsy Bogues is the shortest to ever play in the NBA and may be the shortest there will ever be. Not sure if you can find another person with a bigger heart then him. They say that there will never be another Michael Jordan. But there probably won't be another Muggsy Bogues.
In a game where height is the determining factor in choosing to play the sport. Muggsy would totally ignore the fact that the game is played above the rim, he would find a new way to play. Below the rim. Swiping the ball away from opponents would be his thing, especially after rebou
nds.
In a game in 1993 he had a huge highlight when he blocked 7 ft center Patrick Ewing's shot.
Muggsy had grown up in proverty, where there were daily failures. He grew up in a tough neighborhood where gang violence and drugs were a daily occasion. Dispite of these obstacles and temptations he would turn to basketball as his focus. Making the Dunbar basketball team to national championships. Never losing a single game in his high school career. At Dunbar he was grouped with NBA greats David Wingate, Reggie Lewis and Reggie Williams.
Muggsy faced many obstacles in his life when he was in High School his father was arrested into prison and days were tough for him. He was also discrimated many times as a child due to his height, but he used his weakness and turned it into motivation to take give a lesson that they made a mistake.
Of course Muggsy was recruited to college and he had selected Wake Forest University where he struggled the first two years. Where he had faced a bit of racism since the school was mostly white and at times he wanted to quit. But luckily in his junior year they had switched coaches which adapted to more of his playing style. During his last two years he would lead the ACC in Assists and Steals. Eventually earning a spot on the team USA team in 1986 and winning the gold medal.
After a successful colllege career where his #14 jersey was eventually retired. He was drafted into the NBA in the first round, 12 pick overall. He would eventually play for the Bullets, Hornets, Warriors and Raptors for 13 seasons.
Muggsy's storied career demonstrates that with hard work and determination, you can beat the odds and accomplish your goals. As he once told the children's magazine Highlights for Children, "You can't dwell on what people think you can't do."
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