Curated playlist
2006 FIBA World Championship players
- Dwyane WadeDwyane Wade's sister tricked him into a car ride at age eight. She said movies but took him to live with their father.
- LeBron JamesLeBron James led Cleveland back from a 3-1 Finals deficit, a first in NBA history. It ended a 52-year title wait.
- Dirk NowitzkiDirk Nowitzki hit a winning Finals basket while carrying a 101-degree fever.
- Pau GasolPau Gasol first wanted to be a doctor and cure AIDS. Magic Johnson's 1991 announcement changed the boy's plans.
- Manu GinóbiliManu Ginóbili was picked 57th in the NBA draft and still reached the Hall of Fame.
- Leandro BarbosaLeandro Barbosa won a Sixth Man of the Year Award without starting most nights.
- Chris BoshBlood clots ended Chris Bosh's NBA career after two straight championships with Miami.
- Yi JianlianYi Jianlian's own agent warned the Bucks not to draft him. Milwaukee took him sixth overall in 2007 anyway.
- Yao MingYao Ming scored the first basket of China's home Olympics in 2008, a three-pointer.
- Andrew BogutAndrew Bogut was cut from a junior state team at fifteen. He became the first Australian picked first in the NBA draft.