It's not often that professional athletes make significant impacts by entering their leagues quietly. Most are drafted by teams after being heavily scouted and, in many cases, showered with media attention. But there are exceptions. Some impact players are drafted in very late rounds while others are not drafted at all. Jamario Moon is an example of the latter. After attending Meridian Community College in Meridian, Mississippi for one year, Moon decided to chase his dream and declared himself eligible for the 2001 NBA draft. He went undrafted in the class that featured future all-stars Tony Parker and Gilbert Arenas. This began a journey that would last for six years and see him play for a handful of teams in various leagues and attend more than his share of NBA summer leagues.
Everyone Has to Start Somewhere
Before Jamario Moon was a starter for the NBA's Toronto Raptors he was playing for the United States Basketball League's (USBL) Gary Steelheads. Before that, he was playing for the Continental Basketball Association's (CBA) Albany Patroons. And, before that he played for Fuerza Regia, a Mexican basketball team to which Dennis Rodman was once signed to play three games. He also played for teams in the World Basketball Association (WBA), National Basketball Development League (NBDL), American Basketball Association (ABA), and once even suited up for the Harlem Globetrotters.
Moon Shakes Up the Minors
While Moon dreamed of playing in the NBA he continued to ply his trade and earn accolades in the less notable leagues. While with the Gary Steelheads he averaged 16.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. The season before, while playing for the Albany Patroons, he won the CBA's Defensive Player of the Year award and first-team All-CBA honors. And before that, Moon led the WBA's Rome Gladiators to the league championship. Moon was gaining a positive reputation as a solid basketball player as his scouting report can attest to. One word that was consistently used to describe him was "athletic." The problem was that Moon wasn't showcasing this athleticism on a large enough stage and he needed another platform to play on. He had been given chances before to impress the brass of such NBA teams as the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns, all to no avail. Then he was given what could have been the last chance for a 27-year-old basketball journeyman.
Moon Takes Full Advantage of His Opportunity
Moon entered the 2007 free-agent camp of the Toronto Raptors as a virtual unknown to most in the NBA. The anonymity didn't last long as he dominated the two-day tryouts and was eventually signed to a two-year contract with the reigning Atlantic Division champions. Moon had finally cracked an NBA roster, but no one anticipated what would happen next. While coming off the bench as a reserve for the Raptors Moon continued to impress them, and now their fans, with his athleticism and basketball IQ. What memory was left of ex-Raptor Vince Carter and his high-flying abilities dissipated with each jaw-dropping play by Moon. Less than a month into the season he would find himself in the Raptors' starting line-up and is being talked about as one of the most impressive rookies of this young season. He is averaging 8.7 points per game and leads the Raptors in blocks and steals. He also has his own Facebook fan club and appears in several highlight reels on Youtube. The season may have only begun but the early signs show great promise for the Raptors' number 33. One can only imagine if he were able to achieve half of the success that his idol Scottie Pippen, also number 33, did with the Chicago Bulls. But, as Moon proved, dreams can come true.
