Muggsy Bogues was a member of one of the Raptors’ most entertaining teams ever, alongside Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady.
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The diminutive 5’3″ point guard is the shortest player in NBA history by a significant margin. Despite his extreme short height, Bogues had brutish strength relative to his frame and was an able defender.
Bogues played in the league for 14 seasons despite being severely disadvantaged by his height. The very fact that he had such a long and productive career serves as an inspiration for basketball fans worldwide.
His best days came with the Charlotte Hornets, with whom he spent over 9 seasons. Bogues was a starter in the league for the majority of his career. Muggsy was able to rank among the league’s top steal-getters for many years.
Bogues’ major advantage on the court was his lightning speed and his ability to maneuver through tightly packed areas. He used this ability of his to great effect, ranking among the league leaders in assists for many years as well. He topped out in the assists charts at 10.7 per game in 2 separate seasons with Charlotte.
Vince Carter talks about how tenacious Muggsy Bogues was defensively even in his Raptors years
By the time Bogues got to Toronto, his career had slowed down because of injury concerns and ageing. But he was still a crucial member of this Raptors team, still considered one of the most entertaining NBA rosters ever.
Even at 36, however, Bogues seemed to be a terror on defense during practices. Vince Carter was in the commentary booth for Team USA’s game against Czech Republic yesterday, and he dropped this amazing nugget:
“We had a Muggsy Bogues rule. if you dont see him on the court, pick the ball up because that means he’s right behind you and about to steal it.”
As they say, form is temporary, but class is permanent. And that’s indeed the case with Bogues.
