Raef LaFrentz
A stretch big before his time, LaFrentz combined perimeter shooting with elite shot blocking.
Raef Andrew LaFrentz (born May 29, 1976) is an American former professional basketball power forward and center who played for the Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics, and Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born and raised in Iowa, LaFrentz attended the University of Kansas and was drafted in 1998 by the Denver Nuggets. He was known for his perimeter shooting and his shot blocking abilities. In 2019–20 LaFrentz became an assistant basketball coach at Decorah High School in Decorah, Iowa.
Quick Facts
- Draft class
- 1998
Lore & Background
Raef LaFrentz attended MFL MarMac High School in Monona, Iowa, where his father Ron was an assistant coach. He was named to the USA Today All-USA 1st Team in 1994 and was a McDonald's All-American. At Kansas, he played with future NBA Hall of Famer Paul Pierce and Scot Pollard. He was a four-year starter and an All-American in his junior and senior seasons. He joined Tim Duncan and Shaquille O'Neal as players in the 1990s to earn first team AP All-America honors twice. He compiled career averages of 15.8 ppg and 9.1 rpg while shooting 55.5 percent from the floor, finishing second all-time at Kansas in points (2,066) and rebounds (1,186), trailing only Danny Manning. His senior class won more games over four years than any class in KU history. He was named Big 12 Conference Player of the Year by the A.P. in 1997 and 1998. As a senior, he averaged a double-double (19.8 ppg, 11.4 rpg), the first KU player in 27 years to do so over an entire season. In the NBA, he was the third overall pick by the Nuggets in 1998. He played in the 2000 NBA All-Star Weekend Rookie Challenge. He was on the receiving end of Jason Williams' 'elbow pass' at that event. He holds the NBA record for most games with at least five 3-pointers and five blocked shots in a career. He played for the US national team in the 2002 FIBA World Championship. On November 13, 2005, he became the first NBA player to have a perfect 7–7 three-point shooting half.
Reader's Guide
Raef LaFrentz played for the Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics, and Portland Trail Blazers. He was known for his perimeter shooting and shot blocking. He was a four-year starter at Kansas and a two-time AP All-American. He holds the NBA record for most games with at least five 3-pointers and five blocked shots. He was the first player to shoot 7-for-7 on three-pointers in a half.
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