Kara Braxton
Free agent
PositionPower forward / center
Personal information
Born (1983-02-18) February 18, 1983
Jackson, Michigan, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High schoolWestview (Beaverton, Oregon)
CollegeGeorgia (2002–2005)
WNBA draft2005: 1st round, 7th overall pick
Selected by the Detroit Shock
Playing career2005–present
Career history
2005–2008Detroit Shock
2010Tulsa Shock
2010–2011Phoenix Mercury
2011–2014New York Liberty
Career highlights and awards
Stats at WNBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Kara Liana Braxton (born February 18, 1983) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the New York Liberty of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).

Early life

Kara and her twin sister Kim grew up in a household with four other siblings in Jackson, Michigan. Her father also played basketball. She played her freshman season at Jackson High and then moved to Oregon. She and her twin sister later enrolled at Westview High School, in the Portland suburb of Beaverton.

Braxton attended the University of Georgia, and was freshman of the year. She was frequently late to practice and committed other unspecified violations of team rules, and after three suspensions during the 2002–03 season, on February 20, 2004, coach Andy Landers dismissed Braxton from the team.[1] She graduated in 2005.

Georgia statistics

Source[2]

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
Year Team GP Points FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2001-02 Georgia 30 489 54.0 14.3 62.6 6.8 2.3 1.8 2.0 16.3
2002-03 Georgia 21 330 55.1 28.6 73.2 7.3 2.5 1.4 2.0 15.7
2003-04 Georgia 20 274 47.8 16.7 64.8 8.0 1.2 1.4 1.3 13.7
Career Georgia 71 1582 52.6 20.0 65.9 7.3 2.0 1.6 1.8 15.4

The WNBA

On April 16, 2005, the Shock drafted Braxton in the first round as the seventh overall pick in the annual WNBA draft. She had given birth to a son, Jelani, in January 2005. Jelani's father is Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman.

Braxton was named to the WNBA's All-Rookie team in 2005 after averaging 6.9 points and 3.0 rebounds as a key reserve for the Shock. In 2006, she averaged fewer minutes and points than in her rookie season, but helped the Shock win the WNBA title that year.

In 2007, Braxton became Detroit's starting center after the Shock traded Ruth Riley to the San Antonio Stars. She averaged 6.0 ppg. Near the end of the 2007 regular season, the WNBA suspended Braxton for two games after she pled guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol. She was also suspended for the first six games of the 2009 season for a second DUI.

On May 28, 2014, the Liberty waived Braxton.

European career

Statistics

  • A two-time Class 4A player of the year.

References

  1. ↑ Associated Press, "Georgia Dismisses Leading Scorer Braxton" February 20, 2004
  2. ↑ "Women's Basketball Player stats". NCAA. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
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