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Throwback Thursday - Marcus Camby

Camby was No. 2 draft pick for the Raptors and soon became NBA Defensive Player of the Year  
5 minute read

 

Marcus D. Camby, born March 22, 1974, was named Defensive Player of the Year during the 2006–07 NBA season, leading the league in blocked shots per game.  Camby is also a four-time member of the NBA All-Defensive Team. He is the 12th all time leader of career blocks.

Toronto Raptors (1996–1998)
Camby was selected second overall in the first round of the 1996 NBA draft by the Toronto Raptors. In his rookie season, he made the NBA All-Rookie First Team, averaging 14.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game. In the following season, Camby led the league in blocked shots with 3.7 per game.
New York Knicks (1998–2002)

Camby was traded to the New York Knicks in exchange for Charles Oakley; after which the Knicks became the first 8th seed to make it to the NBA Finals during the 1998–99 NBA season.

During a game against the San Antonio Spurs in January 2001, Camby took a roundhouse swing at Spurs' forward Danny Ferry after he was hit in the eye on a box-out. The punch missed Ferry because Knicks' head coach Jeff Van Gundy stepped in at the last second, resulting in him being headbutted by Camby. Van Gundy required 15 stitches to close a gash above his left eye. Camby, who ended up with scratches on his face from both incidents, was suspended for five games and fined $25,000. Ferry was suspended for one game and fined $7,500 for the initial foul.

Denver Nuggets (2002–2008)
Camby played for the Knicks from 1998–2002, before being traded to the Denver Nuggets, in exchange for Antonio McDyess.

Camby led the NBA in blocked shots for several seasons. During the 2005–06 season with the Nuggets he had 12.0 rebounds per game, 9.6 defensive rebounds per game and 1.4 steals per game. He also averaged 12.8 points per game and led the league in blocks per game (3.3), while helping Denver earn a playoff berth by winning the Northwest Division.

On December 16, 2006, Camby was involved in the infamous Knicks–Nuggets brawl. He was one of 10 players ejected from the game, but received no suspension.

Camby won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award for the 2006–07 season. The honor was the first of Camby's career. He received the actual award from NBA commissioner David Stern during a pregame ceremony at the Nuggets first home 2006–07 playoff game, which was against the San Antonio Spurs on April 28, 2007. During the 2006–07 season, Camby averaged 3.3 blocks per game (first in the league), 11.7 rebounds per game (fifth in the league), 9.3 defensive rebounds per game (second in the league) and 1.24 steals per game (second among centers).

During the 2007–08 NBA season, Camby continued to make his mark as one of the best defensive players and centers in the game. He finished the season averaging 13.1 rebounds per game (second in the league), 18.1 rebounds per 48 minutes (first in the league), 10.2 defensive rebounds per game (second in the league), 14.1 defensive rebounds per 48 minutes (first in the league), 3.61 blocks per game (first in the league), 4.96 blocks per 48 minutes (first in the league), 285 total blocks (first in the league), 1.06 steals per game (third among centers) and 3.3 assists per game (second among centers). On December 26, 2007, in a Nuggets' home win against the Milwaukee Bucks, Camby posted a triple-double, with 10 points (which included a three-pointer), 11 rebounds and 10 blocks. The triple-double was Camby's third of his career and the first since April 19, 1998, against the Philadelphia 76ers. On January 14, 2008, in a Nuggets' road loss against the Charlotte Bobcats, Camby had a statistically impressive and rare game of 20 points, 23 rebounds, 6 assists and 6 blocks. He became only the fourth player since 1990 to have at least 20 points, 20 rebounds, 6 assists and 6 blocks in one game. On January 17, 2008, in a Nuggets' home win against the Utah Jazz, Camby became just the third player since blocked shots became an official NBA stat in 1973–74 with at least 24 rebounds and 11 blocks in a game. On January 25, 2008, in a Nuggets home win against the New Jersey Nets, Camby blocked 4 shots—and in the process—recorded his 1,000th blocked shot as a member of the Nuggets. On March 16, 2008, in an historic 168–116 home win in regulation over the Seattle SuperSonics (the 168 points were the most points scored in franchise history - fourth most in NBA history - for a non-overtime game), Camby recorded his second triple-double of the 2007–08 NBA season when he had 13 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists.[26] The triple-double was accomplished in a NBA record-tying 27 minutes.
Los Angeles Clippers (2008–2010)

Camby with the Clippers

On July 15, 2008, Camby was traded from the Nuggets to the Los Angeles Clippers. In exchange, the Clippers gave Denver the option to swap second-round draft picks in the 2010 NBA draft. In the first part of the 2008–09 NBA season, he started at power forward, with Chris Kaman remaining as the starting center. Then, an injury that occurred to Kaman and the arrival of forward Zach Randolph brought Camby back to the starting center position. Camby said that he was unhappy that he was traded from the Nuggets, essentially being made the scapegoat for their lack of post-season success.

On December 17, 2008, Camby pulled down a career-high 27 rebounds in a 109–115 overtime loss against the Chicago Bulls. He also had 19 points, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 4 blocks.

Portland Trail Blazers (2010–2012)

On February 16, 2010, Camby was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers for Steve Blake, Travis Outlaw, and 1.5 million dollars in cash.

Camby played in 23 games for the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2009-2010 season. With injuries to fellow centers Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla, Camby helped the team secure a playoff berth as the Western Conference's six seed. On April 12, 2010 in a game in Portland against the Oklahoma City Thunder Camby led the team in scoring with 30 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. On April 20, 2010, he signed a two-year contract extension to stay with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Houston Rockets (2012)

Camby was traded at the deadline on March 15, 2012 to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Jonny Flynn and Hasheem Thabeet as well as a second round draft pick.[30]
Return to the New York Knicks (2012–2013)

On July 11, 2012, Camby was traded to the New York Knicks in a sign-and-trade deal that also involved Toney Douglas, Josh Harrellson, Jerome Jordan, and two future draft picks going to the Rockets. He missed most of the 2012–13 season with a strained plantar fascia in his left foot, playing only 24 games.

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