Earl Boykins

Earl Antoine Boykins (born June 2 1976 in Cleveland, Ohio) is currently a point guard for the Denver Nuggets in the National Basketball Association.

Related Topics:
June 2 - 1976 - Cleveland - Ohio - Point guard - Denver Nuggets - National Basketball Association

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He played collegiately at Eastern Michigan University from 1995 to 1998. He earned All-Mid-American Conference first team honors in his junior and senior year. He holds the career record for assists at his alma mater.

Related Topics:
Eastern Michigan University - 1995 - 1998 - Mid-American Conference - Assist - Alma mater

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Boykins has played in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers, New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, as well as Nuggets. He also spent two years in the CBA. At 5'5" (1.65 m), Boykins is the shortest active NBA player and the second shortest player in NBA history behind Muggsy Bogues, who was 5'3". Earl Boykins weighs only 135 pounds, and it is rumored that he can bench press an extreme amount of weight. Some have said 515 pounds (which is obviously outlandish) but more commonly 300 pounds is what gets passed around in rumors.

Related Topics:
Cleveland Cavaliers - New Jersey Nets - Orlando Magic - Los Angeles Clippers - Golden State Warriors - CBA - Muggsy Bogues

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Despite his lack of height, Boykins finally earned a guaranteed contract after bouncing around with various teams around the league and getting few playing minutes, often coming off the bench to inject energy into his team's offense. He is one of the quickest guards in the league, and he has even quicker shooting trigger, often taking shots in clutch last-second situations, and making them under extreme confidence. On January 18 2005, Boykins set an NBA record for scoring in overtime when he tallied 15 points.

Related Topics:
January 18 - 2005 - Overtime

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Boykins' NBA career has solidified in recent years in part due to the recent change in rules allowing zone defense, as many teams earlier feared playing Boykins (since he was so small) should opponents try to post him up. But with zone defense, very few situations arise where Boykins is isolated alone defending a taller player in the paint area. And since other taller point guards in the league rarely have post-up moves in their offensive repertoire, the belief that at 5'5" Boykins is a defensive liability has been shown to be false.

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Boykins has one son, Earl, Jr.

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