Marcus Camby

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Camby's professional journey began when the Toronto Raptors selected him second overall in the 1996 NBA draft. After a standout rookie season where he made the All-Rookie First Team, he was traded to the New York Knicks in 1998 for Charles Oakley. In New York, he backed up Patrick Ewing and became a key figure during the Knicks' improbable run as an 8th seed to the 1999 NBA Finals. Following a suspension in January 2001 after an altercation involving coach Jeff Van Gundy, Camby was traded again in 2002, this time to the Denver Nuggets alongside Mark Jackson and Nenê for Antonio McDyess and Frank Williams.

In Their Own Story

During his tenure with the Denver Nuggets, which began in 2002, Camby established himself as an elite defensive force. He led the NBA in blocked shots four times: 1997–98, 2005–06, 2006–07, and 2007–08. In the 2006–07 season, he averaged 3.3 blocks per game to secure the Defensive Player of the Year award, receiving it from Commissioner David Stern on April 28, 2007. His dominance continued into the 2007–08 campaign, where he posted a triple-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 blocks against the Milwaukee Bucks on December 26, 2007. Just days later, he recorded 24 rebounds and 11 blocks against the Utah Jazz, becoming only the third player since 1973 to achieve such a feat.

Reader's Guide

Fans should note Camby's unique statistical milestones achieved while in Denver. On January 14, 2006, he scored a career-high 31 points against the Milwaukee Bucks with a perfect shooting line of 12-of-12 from the field and 7-of-7 from the free-throw line. This stands as the highest-scoring game in NBA history with a 100% shooting percentage from both areas. Additionally, on January 14, 2008, he became only the fourth player since 1990 to record at least 20 points, 20 rebounds, 6 assists, and 6 blocks in a single game against the Charlotte Bobcats. His consistency was evident as he led the league with 285 total blocks in the 2007–08 season.

Did You Know?

• Camby set an NCAA tournament record with 43 total blocked shots in 11 games during the 1996 season.
• He scored 37 points as a rookie on March 27, 1997, which accounted for 47% of the Toronto Raptors' total points in that game.
• Camby earned his college degree from UMass on May 12, 2017, after returning to school to take online courses.
• In January 2001, Camby accidentally head-butted coach Jeff Van Gundy while swinging at a player, requiring the coach to receive 15 stitches.