Virtus Bologna gets shorter, more selfish...

by Andrew Feinstein on Aug 6, 2008 9:23 AM MDT

Former Nugget Earl Boykins hasn't gotten a lot of run on this blog, so I thought it'd be worth mentioning that he's making some news by signing a $3.5 million deal with Italy's Virtus Bologna. Boykins will go down in history as one of the most fascinating NBA players - and Nuggets - ever. At just 5-foot-5, Boykins could really play. He had guts, was lightning quick and believe it or not, averaged more than 11 points, about 4 assists and a steal per game in his 25 minutes of playing time as a Nugget. And of course, his diminutive size endeared him to the fans (especially my mother who - in sync with all the other women in the stands - could be heard yelling out: "he's so cute!").

But looking beyond the numbers and the marvel that Boykins is as a person and player, watching Boykins play basketball drove me crazy. He was a black hole and a chucker who never met a shot he wouldn't shoot. I'm sure after enduring years and years of people telling him he couldn't play from high school through the NBA, he figured "if I get on the court, I'm shooting." Which was evident by his 11+ field goal attempts per game and 41% shooting, accompanied by a two-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio as a Nugget.

That being said, I wish Boykins all the best in Italy. I'm glad he scored a big contract after his agent misled him / screwed him into opting out of his contract with the Bucks last year.

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I've always been a pretty big Earl fan (I have a jersey, even). He was undrafted. Bounced around for a couple years and played as a pretty good 6th man for the Nugs for a while. And while his height gives him some obvious deficiencies in defense, and he chucked a little too much, he was great at wearing out opposing players and pushing the pace and never made any real stupid mistakes.

by Denverson on Aug 6, 2008 11:01 AM MDT reply actions

hope no one on his team wants to shoot.

by K-Diddy on Aug 6, 2008 12:42 PM MDT reply actions

The consummate ball hog.

When he got hot we all loved him no doubt (I still remember that OT game against I think Seattle where he set a record for points in an overtime) but overall he was terrible.

SLAM had a great line about him, I wish I could remember it. It was something about how astonishing it was that he was such an unapologetic ballhog. I loved it.

by Chris C. on Aug 6, 2008 6:33 PM MDT reply actions

I kinda liked "lil Earl" when he was w/the team, but no way was he going to be anything more than a shooter, and a volume one at that. Good on him that he found a team willing to pay him to hoist up shot after shot. Just glad it wasn't the Nuggets.

by AlexRidesBikes on Aug 7, 2008 5:04 PM MDT reply actions

I think if you make it in the NBA as a 5-5 Player you should be able to shoot the ball as much as you want when your on the court!!! Earl hog the ball its ok. You deserve it.

by Anonymous on Aug 7, 2008 5:42 PM MDT reply actions

Earl the squirrel was massive defesive liabilty, so I guess he fit in perfect on the nuggs

by Anonymous on Aug 7, 2008 7:35 PM MDT reply actions

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