It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. On Dec. 25, we all shared in a gift that is way better than any Christmas sweater or box of chocolates. Yep, professional basketball is back. To ring in the good times, we at The Back Page have set out to find the best NBA match for several of Harvard’s own ballers. Which NBA player is most like each Crimson star? Keep reading to find out.
Laurent Rivard — 10.2 PPG, 44.3% 3-pt percentage, 80.0% FT-percentage (2011-2012 season)
The championship mountain biker came to Cambridge last season as a freshman and brought a freakishly accurate three-point and free-throw shot. In his first campaign, Rivard shot 88.3% from the charity stripe and averaged 11 points per game. The Canadian returned to the court this year and has continued to do what he does best: knock down shots. He currently is third in program history in three-point shooting, boasting a percentage of 41.3 during his short career.
The sharpshooter has yet to start a game for the Crimson this year, but he has become increasingly valuable. Against Boston University on Dec. 10, Rivard tallied a career-high six treys, confirming that he is someone opponents need to keep an eye on. But if you wanted to see what Rivard would look like in the professional circuit, to whom would you turn your eye?
Jason Kapono, L.A. Lakers — 6.9 PPG, 43.7% 3-pt percentage, 83.4% FT-percentage (career)
Kapono has bounced around during his nine years in the league and now finds himself with his sixth NBA team, the Los Angeles Lakers. But while his jersey has changed often, one thing has remained the same: his silky smooth jump shot. When Kapono got significant playing time during a stint in Miami, he lit it up from deep, shooting 51.4 percent from beyond the arc. That year, he also knocked down 89.2 percent from the charity stripe. Like Rivard, the UCLA-grad is not his team’s top scorer, but his shooting ability makes him a key role player.
Honorable Mention: Daequan Cook (OKC), Anthony Morrow (NJN)
Check back tomorrow for the next Crimson Crossover.
