Tim Duncan, originally from the U.S. Virgin Islands, took the NBA by storm as the top draft pick in 1997. He joined the Spurs and helped them to win two NBA championships in his first six seasons. As well as being a powerhouse basketball player, Duncan is also very active with charities and the community. He and his wife formed the Tim Duncan Foundation, which focuses on causes that benefit breast and prostate cancer research, as well as community needs.
When Kobe Bryant went straight from high school to join the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1996, he was the youngest player in the league. That same year, Kobe became the youngest player to ever start in an All-Star Game, and he was just getting started. With five NBA championships and the league Most Valuable Player award for the 2007–2008 season, Kobe dominated the competition. Learn more about one of the NBA’s all-time greats.
Maria Sharapova won the Wimbledon tennis championship when she was just 17 years old. When she won the French Open eight years later, Maria became the tenth woman in history to complete a career Grand Slam by winning all four major tennis tournaments. She also won a silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England. Maria's movie-star looks have helped make her one of the most popular sports figures in the world. But she's proven time after time that she's more than just a pretty face. Learn more about this stylish star at the top of her game.
When Eli Manning joined the NFL after being chosen with the first pick in the 2004 draft, many people compared him to his older brother Peyton. After Eli led his New York Giants to victory in the 2007-2008 Super Bowl, people stopped wondering if he was as good as his brother. When Eli was named Super Bowl MVP and the Giants won the big game again in 2011-2012, people began comparing him to football's all-time great quarterbacks.
Soccer superstar David Beckham is one of the biggest celebrities in the world. Born in Great Britain, David was playing for England's top soccer team by the age of twenty. David moved to the United States in 2007 and joined the Los Angeles Galaxy. In 2011, David led the Galaxy to victory in the Major League Soccer (MLS) championship. Learn more about the life of one of sports' biggest stars.
Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki didn't grow up with a basketball in his hands. Dirk was born in Wurzburg, Germany, where soccer is the most popular sport. But as a teenager, Dirk discovered that he was a natural basketball player. After being selected in the 1998 NBA draft, the powerful 7'0" forward quickly proved that he is more than just a tall player. In 2011 Dirk was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the NBA Finals as Dallas beat the Miami Heat to become world champions. Learn more about Dirk's unusual journey to the top of the basketball world.
On snowboarder Shaun White's first run on the halfpipe at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada, he set the high score and secured the gold medal. On his second run, which people called a "victory lap," Shaun set an even higher score to destroy the competition. But Shaun is more than a two-time Olympic snowboarding champion. He's also a world-class skateboarder. As the first person to compete in both the Summer and Winter X Games, Shaun is the biggest star in two sports. Learn more about his high-flying skills and unique personality.
Pitchers feel nervous when Philadelphia Phillies slugger Ryan Howard steps to the plate. When he hits a baseball, it often flies over the outfield fence. Ryan proved that he was one of the game's best players when he led his team to victory in the 2008 World Series. In 2011, he helped the Phillies to the best record in Major League Baseball. Find out more about Ryan's amazing journey.
Think you know all there is to know about Tom Brady? Well, did you know that: He was drafted by baseball’s Montreal Expos after high school? He was the youngest starting quarterback ever to win the Super Bowl? He and New England Patriots’ receiver Randy Moss set an NFL record for the most touchdown passes between a passer and a receiver in a single season? Tom Brady excelled in sports from an early age, playing both baseball and football in high school. His dream of playing professional football led him to join the University of Michigan Wolverines. He spent a lot of time on the sidelines during his first three years there, so he studied the game and prepared himself for bigger things. He eventually joined the New England Patriots as a third-string quarterback. But by early in his second season, he was the starter and became an instant celebrity after leading the team to Super Bowl victory. All of the attention was distracting, but Tom stayed grounded. Tom’s life is evidence that with hard work and determination anyone can realize their lifelong dreams. Read all the Sports Heroes and Legends books!
Nicknamed the “World’s Fastest Human,” Jesse Owens grew up in a poor farming community. A sickly child, he went on to become one of history’s most talented track athletes. The first man to win four gold medals in a single Olympics, Owens set six World Records and discredited Nazi leader Adolph Hitler’s racist beliefs by showing his superior athletic skills at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. From his childhood in Alabama through his death in Arizona, this book follows the spectacular life of this incredible athlete.
