In 1996, aftergraduatingfromhighschooloutsidePhiladelphia, heelectedtoskipcollegeandgostraighttotheNBA, wherehewasdrafted 13thoverallbytheCharlotteHornetsandimmediatelytradedtotheLosAngelesLakers, wherehequicklybecame a star.
Helaunched a venturecapitalfirm, published a seriesofyoungadultfantasynovels, andevenwonanacademyawardforananimatedshortfilmcalled "DearBasketball", anodetohisloveforthegame.