Kyle Korver
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Position | Small forward |
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League | NBA |
Height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
Weight | 211 lb (96 kg) |
Team | Philadelphia 76ers |
Nationality | United States |
Born | March 17, 1981 Lakewood, California |
College | Creighton |
Draft | 51th overall, 2003 New Jersey Nets |
Pro career | Philadelphia 76ers 2003 – present |
Kyle Elliot Korver (born March 17, 1981 in Lakewood, California) is a basketball player with the Philadelphia 76ers. He plays small forward and was drafted out of Creighton University by the New Jersey Nets in the second round (51st overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft.
His role on the Sixers is to be a 3-point shooter, often as the recipient of an outlet pass by Allen Iverson whenever Iverson is double-teamed. He competed in both the 2004 and 2005 Foot Locker Three-Point Shootouts, coming in third and second in those contests respectively. In the 2004-2005 season, Korver tied for first place in three-pointers made with Quentin Richardson who both had 226. His biggest weakness is widely considered to be his defensive ability. However, since he entered the league there have been signs of improvement with each passing year. Currently in his fourth season in the NBA, Korver is excelling in his sixth man role, averaging more points per game off the bench than he had as a starter, and improving his all-around game. Korver had a career high 31 points at Milwaukee on February 24, 2006.
Korver, a known 3-point specialist, did not participate in the 2006 Foot Locker 3-Point Shootout because Sixers' head coach Maurice Cheeks had removed him from the starting lineup midpoint in 2006, replacing him instead with John Salmons and Kevin Ollie. He declined the invitation to participate in the contest and said that he needed time to himself so he could adjust to his new role.
He is popular with Philadelphia fans for his vague resemblance to actor Ashton Kutcher. This led to Shaquille O'Neal not coming on to the court for a 2004 All-Star Game practice in Los Angeles because he thought he was about to be Punk'd.
A bobblehead modeled after Kyle Korver was created. Kyle Korver was not pleased with the bobblehead however. "I think it's terrible... I don't like the hair at all. Why can't they have fake hair and some real socks? It's all in good fun, and hopefully people will get a laugh out of it."[1]
Before going on to be Creighton University's fifth all-time scorer, he attended Pella High School in Pella, Iowa, where he recently had his number 25 jersey retired. [2]