Kara Liana Braxton (born February 18, 1983) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the New York Liberty of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).
 | |
| Free agent | |
|---|---|
| Position | Power forward / center |
| Personal information | |
| Born | February 18, 1983 Jackson, Michigan, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Listed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Westview (Beaverton, Oregon) |
| College | Georgia (2002–2005) |
| WNBA draft | 2005: 1st round, 7th overall pick |
| Selected by the Detroit Shock | |
| Playing career | 2005–present |
| Career history | |
| 2005–2008 | Detroit Shock |
| 2010 | Tulsa Shock |
| 2010–2011 | Phoenix Mercury |
| 2011–2014 | New York Liberty |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Stats at WNBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Early life edit
Kara and her twin sister Kim grew up in a household with four other siblings in Jackson, Michigan. Her father also played basketball. She played her freshman season at Jackson High and then moved to Oregon. She and her twin sister later enrolled at Westview High School, in the Portland suburb of Beaverton.
Braxton attended the University of Georgia, and was freshman of the year. She was frequently late to practice and committed other unspecified violations of team rules, and after three suspensions during the 2002–03 season, on February 20, 2004, coach Andy Landers dismissed Braxton from the team.[1] She graduated in 2005.
Georgia statistics edit
Source[2]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | Points | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-02 | Georgia | 30 | 489 | 54.0 | 14.3 | 62.6 | 6.8 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 16.3 |
| 2002-03 | Georgia | 21 | 330 | 55.1 | 28.6 | 73.2 | 7.3 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 15.7 |
| 2003-04 | Georgia | 20 | 274 | 47.8 | 16.7 | 64.8 | 8.0 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 13.7 |
| Career | Georgia | 71 | 1582 | 52.6 | 20.0 | 65.9 | 7.3 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 15.4 |
The WNBA edit
On April 16, 2005, the Shock drafted Braxton in the first round as the seventh overall pick in the annual WNBA draft. She had given birth to a son, Jelani, in January 2005. Jelani's father is Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman.
Braxton was named to the WNBA's All-Rookie team in 2005 after averaging 6.9 points and 3.0 rebounds as a key reserve for the Shock. In 2006, she averaged fewer minutes and points than in her rookie season, but helped the Shock win the WNBA title that year.
In 2007, Braxton became Detroit's starting center after the Shock traded Ruth Riley to the San Antonio Stars. She averaged 6.0 ppg. Near the end of the 2007 regular season, the WNBA suspended Braxton for two games after she pled guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol. She was also suspended for the first six games of the 2009 season for a second DUI.
On May 28, 2014, the Liberty waived Braxton.
European career edit
- 2005–2006:
TS Wisla Can-Pack Krakow (champion) - 2006–2007:
Beşiktaş Cola Turka - 2007–2008: TS Wisla Can-Pack Krakow (champion)
- 2008–2009: Galatasaray
- 2009–2010:
Liaoning Hengye (MVP, champion) - 2010–2011: Liaoning Hengye
- 2011–2012: Optimum TED
- 2012–2013:
Nadezhda Orenburg
Statistics edit
- A two-time Class 4A player of the year.[where?]
References edit
- ^ Associated Press, "Georgia Dismisses Leading Scorer Braxton"[permanent dead link] February 20, 2004
- ^ "Women's Basketball Player stats". NCAA. Retrieved October 2, 2015.