Why do i collect the player (s) i collect ..... long story.....
Patrick Ewing - started collecting him not long after i started collecting basketball in 1995. Had a friend who was really into Shawn Kemp so i thought "okay, i can do that." I approached it, initially as an analytical prospect. Who did i have the most cards for, who was a good scorer and who was listed regularly in the beckett but not overly expensive. Answer - Patrick Ewing. In collecting his cards (and a few other things), i've come to find out a lot about the man himself and have a lot of respect for him - as a person.
Jalen Rose - Shortly after starting my Ewing Collection, i decided to collect a rookie from 1994-95 season and settled on Jalen because - like me - he's a southpaw (left-handed). And i just had a feeling ....
Kevin Garnett - When i got his first card (1995-96 Collector's Choice Rookie), i read the back (as you do) and one line hooked me in - "He has an inside/outside game reminiscent of Patrick Ewing". What could i say? What could i do?
LaMarcus Aldridge - Like with Ewing, it was a matter of who did i have enough cards for and who was affordable. Plus, a feeling he was going to be a good player.
Jeff Green - He went to Georgetown (same almer mater as Ewing) and i had enough cards to start a collection.
Detlef Schrempf - resurrected collection. Initially collected him because my girlfriend at the time was German. Resurrected the collection because the fact is, he was a solid and under-rated player.
John Wallace - Another resurrected collection. I know he didn't do a lot, but i just liked the guy in general. He always put team ahead of himself.
Gerald Wallace - my initial card of his was his 2001-02 Topps Rookie. I held on to a dupe of it mainly because i just had that feeling. Later, when i had enough cards from breaks, i decided to collect him.
Patty Mills - He's a local boy. 'Nuff said.
Lamond Murray - a much later edition. Needed a small forward to fill out my team.
Charlie Ward - see Lamond murray.
Mario Bennett - resurrected. Admittedly a bad decision based on bad advice. But ... he has only a small number of cards, is affordable and fills in a slot on my cardboard team.