RealGM

Just two and a half seasons (including an All-Star appearance) with the Hawks, but any fun memories of the ATL-area native, 2000 Dream Team gold-medalist and Wheeler High grad to share? A class act in my book, and he'll serve the Kings well in whatever capacity they put him in. Still influential here at home with his Reef House after-school program, and the Future Foundation for underserved adolescents in East Point and College Park.

My fave Hawks basketball memory of Reef, telling of the state of the Hawks at the time, was late in 2003 when he made a lucky, off-balance, turnaround shot-put at the buzzer in front of a packed house to beat the Wizards in overtime, with less than a half-second to go.

And the reaction from the capacity crowd at Philips Arena?

"BOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

That game happened to be the final NBA appearance in Atlanta for Michael Jordan, whose Wizards were vying for a playoff spot with about a week to go in the season. The crowd had so many camera-snapping MJ fans and DC transplants you could count the Hawks fans there on one hand.

~lw3

great offensive player, good defender...... absolutly horrible in passing out or turning away from the double team, and thus couldn't make his teammates better.

anyway, still a good player, but with some flaws.

Reef was a 20/10 player here in ATL, making the all-star team. I really enjoyed watching here. He's got a very awkward but effective way to move to score. That turn around jump shot against MJ's Wizards was sensational. I was shocked when the Hawks traded him along with Ratlif to the Blazers for R. Wallace. You can't do much when you play along with JT and Big Dog. Anyway, I wish him the best, very good player and incredible person. THANKS REEF !

Man, I actually went to High School with Shareef at Wheeler High School many moons ago.

He was a Senior my Freshman year. There was so much fanfare and high expectations for this kid. Sadly, things never really fell in his favor after that. Bad franchises (Grizzlies, Hawks), bad coaches, injuries all prevented his long-term success in the league. But he was a solid player, an all-star and a great citizen.

We were proud of him back in '95 as a Freshman heading off to Cal. And I'm just as proud of him now as he leaves the the league and enters the next phase of his life.

Best of luck to you in your future endeavours, Shareef.

Jamaal Oliver c/o '98

Great player, but even better person. Wish him the best in his coaching career.. Go Reef!

Shareef Abdur-Rahim is now on the Kings coaching staff as an assistant.