40
SHANDON ANDERSON
Guard/Forward
Height: 6-6; Weight: 210
College: Georgia '96
Born: December 31, 1973 in Atlanta, Georgia
High School: Crim (Georgia)
Pro Experience: 5th NBA Season
How Acquired: Signed as a free agent on September 29, 1999
1999-2000
Averaged career highs of 12.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and
1.17 steals in 82 starts ... was the only Rockets player to start
every game, making 74 starts at shooting guard and eight starts at
small forward ... ranked second on the team in total assists,
steals and minutes and finished third on the team in field goals
made and attempted, free throws made and attempted, and total
points and increased his scoring average every month of the season
... led or tied for the team lead in points 12 times, as the
Rockets went 9-3 with him as their leading scorer ... also led or
tied for the team lead in rebounds and assists six times each ...
scored in double figures 50 times ... reached 20 points 14 times
and 30 points four times ... had four double-doubles ... scored a
career-high and Rockets individual season-high-tying 35 points on
March 24 at Orlando and April 18 at Phoenix and set a career high
and tied a Rockets individual season high with six 3-pointers in
his 35-point effort vs. the Suns and grabbed a career-high 13
rebounds vs. Denver on Jan. 20 ... delivered a career-high eight
assists vs. Chicago on March 26 ... set a career high and tied a
Rockets individual season high with six steals Jan. 11 at Golden
State.
As a Professional
Holds career averages of 9.0 points and 3.3 rebounds in 279 games
with Utah and Houston and has increased his scoring average every
season and has not missed a game over the last three seasons and
served as a valuable reserve during Utah's runs to the 1997 and
1998 NBA Finals and averaged 7.6 points and 2.7 rebounds in 197
games with the Jazz ... after being selected 54th overall in the
1996 NBA Draft, scored 5.9 points in 16.4 minutes in 65 games as a
rookie and set a career high with a 3-point percentage of .511 his
first year and came off the bench in 80 of 82 games in his second
season, contributing 8.3 points in 19.5 minutes per game and his
field goal percentage of .538 placed him second on the Jazz in his
second year and in his third and final season with Utah, averaged
8.5 points in 21.4 minutes, as he appeared in all 50 games.
In the Playoffs
Has averaged 6.6 points and 3.1 rebounds in 49 playoff games with
Utah and has increased his scoring and rebounding average in his
three years of participation and helped the Jazz reach the NBA
Finals in each of his first two seasons and assigned to guard
Michael Jordan in the Finals series with Chicago and has improved
postseason scoring average by at least two points per season,
raising his 4.6 points per game average as a rookie to 9.5 points
per game in 1999 ... in the 1999 NBA Playoffs, he scored seven of
his playoff-career-high 16 points in overtime of Game Five vs.
Sacramento to help the Jazz advance to the Western Conference
Semifinals and matched this scoring output vs. Portland in Game Two
of the 1999 Western Conference Semifinals.
As a Collegian
Played four seasons at the University of Georgia and is the only
player in school history to accumulate 1,500 points, 500 rebounds
and 300 assists and ranks seventh on Georgia's career scoring list
with 1,517 points and averaged 12.9 points (on .498 shooting) and
5.0 rebounds in 118 career games at Georgia and named Third Team
All-Southeastern Conference following his junior and senior seasons
and as a senior, scored 14.9 points per game (on .538 shooting)
while tying for first in the SEC in steals and named to the
All-NCAA West Regional team following a Sweet Sixteen appearance as
a senior.
Personal
Full name is Shandon Rodriguez Anderson and has one daughter, Kori
and brother, Willie, played nine NBA seasons, seven with San
Antonio and enjoys tennis and football and his favorite vacation
spot is the Bahamas.
Career Transactions
Selected by Utah in the second round of the 1996 NBA Draft (54th
pick overall). Re-signed with Utah on July 10, 1997. Signed with
Houston on Sept. 29, 1999.
50
MATT BULLARD
Forward
Height: 6-10; Weight: 235
College: Iowa '90
Born: June 5, 1967 in West Des Moines, Iowa
High School: Valley (Iowa)
Pro Experience: 10th NBA Season
How Acquired: Signed as a free agent on October 1, 1996
1999-2000
Averaged 6.8 points and 2.5 rebounds in 56 games (27 starts) ...
set a franchise single-season record with career-best 3-point
percentage of .446, ranking him third in the NBA and reached double
digits in scoring 15 times and the 20-point mark twice ... led the
team in points once, scoring a season-high 24 points on a Rockets
individual season-high-tying six 3-pointers on Jan. 23 vs. Miami
... grabbed a season-high eight rebounds at San Antonio on Nov. 15
... on the injured list from Nov. 2-19 with left knee tendinitis
and from March 2-22 with back spasms.
As a Professional
Has averaged 5.4 points and 2.0 rebounds in 523 NBA games with
Houston and Atlanta ... began career with the Rockets in 1990-91
... has played eight years with the Rockets, including the 1993-94
championship season ... is fifth on the Rockets all-time list in
3-point percentage at .386 (471-of-1219) ... ranks third in Rockets
history in 3-pointers made and attempted ... played during the
1994-95 season in Greece for PAOK Thessalonika ... averaged 18.5
points and 11.5 rebounds a game during his tour in Greece.
In the Playoffs
Has participated in the playoffs six times in his NBA career ...
career averages of 3.5 points and 1.4 rebounds in 35 career playoff
games ... stands first in Rockets playoff history in 3-point
percentage, eighth in 3-pointers made and 10th in 3-pointers
attempted ... saw action in 10 games during the Rockets run to the
NBA World Championship in 1994 ... scored a playoff career-high 12
points vs. the Clippers on May 1, 1993.
As a Collegian
Averaged 12.7 points (on .533 shooting) and 6.8 rebounds in 94
games with Colorado and Iowa ... scored a season-high 23 points vs.
Ohio State in first game back from knee injury during senior season
... played for U.S. team at the World University Games in 1987 and
1989 ... participated in the 1988 Olympic Trials ... UPI All-Big
Eight freshman team selection ... transferred from Colorado
following sophomore season.
Personal
Full name is Matthew Gordon Bullard ... he and his wife, Paula,
have a daughter, Sara, and a son, A.J. ... spends his summers
providing color commentary on KPRC radio for Houston Comets home
games ... writes a column entitled "Shooting the Bull" on the
Rockets Web site, www.rockets.com ... sister, Laura, graduated from
Iowa State ... father, Charles, was the bureau chief for the Des
Moines Register ... mother, Ann, is an office manager for a
financial institution ... his favorite actor is Chevy Chase ... is
an avid bass fisherman and enjoys playing the drums.
Career Transactions
Signed with Houston on August 22, 1990. Re-signed with Houston on
Oct. 11, 1991. Re-signed with Houston on Sept. 30, 1992. Signed
with Atlanta on Oct. 5, 1995. Signed with Houston on Oct. 1, 1996.
Re-signed with Houston on Sept. 8, 1997. Re-signed with Houston on
Jan. 23, 1999.
13
KELVIN CATO
Center
Height: 6-11; Weight: 255
College: Iowa State '97
Born: August 26, 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia
High School: Lithonia (Georgia)
Pro Experience: 4th NBA Season
How Acquired: Traded from Portland on October 2, 19991999-2000
Averaged career highs of 8.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and a
team-leading 1.91 blocked shots in 65 games (32 starts) ... also
set a career high with a field goal percentage of .537 ... finished
the season ranked 12th in the NBA in blocks per game and ranked
first on the team in total blocked shots and third in total
rebounds and had eight double-doubles ... scored 20 or more points
five times ... reached double figures in points 21 times and
rebounds 10 times ... led or tied for the team lead in points four
times and rebounds 17 times ... set a career high with 27 points
vs. Boston on Dec. 18 ... grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds on
April 1 vs. Atlanta ... set a season high and tied a Rockets
individual season high with six blocked shots at Washington Dec. 26
and registered five blocked shots on three other occasions ...
missed nine games from Jan. 4-22 with a sprained right wrist ...
also on the injured list from Feb. 20-March 1 with a right ankle
sprain.
As a Professional
Has career averages of 5.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.51 blocks in
182 NBA games with Portland and Houston and averaged 3.8 points,
3.4 rebounds and a team-leading 1.27 blocks in 13.7 minutes per
game as a Blazers rookie during the 1997-98 season and his total of
94 blocked shots was the third-highest total ever by a Blazers
rookie and recorded 14 points, nine rebounds and seven blocked
shots in his first career start vs. Philadelphia on Dec. 30, 1997
and blocked a career-high eight shots vs. Utah on Dec. 5, 1997 and
scored nine points in the Schick Rookie Game during the 1998 NBA
All-Star Weekend in New York ... averaged 3.5 points, 3.5 rebounds
and a team-leading 1.30 blocked shots in his second season with
Portland and tied for second in the NBA in shot block efficiency,
rejecting 4.9 shots over a 48-minute projection in his second
year.
In the Playoffs
Played in the postseason in each of his first two NBA seasons and
holds career averages of 2.7 points and 1.6 rebounds in 12 playoff
games with Portland and made his NBA Playoffs debut in 1998,
scoring 6.5 points on .529 shooting in four games vs. the LA Lakers
and also averaged 3.0 rebounds and 1.75 blocked shots in 14.5
minutes per game and played in eight playoff games in his second
year, averaging 0.8 points in 5.4 minutes per game.
As a Collegian
Played one year at South Alabama before transferring to Iowa State
for his junior and senior seasons and set the Iowa State career
blocked shots record with 189 blocks in 55 games (a 3.44 average)
and was named Third Team All-Big 12 Conference as a senior after
averaging 11.3 points and a team-high 8.4 rebounds and his
team-leading 4.21 blocks per game ranked him fifth in NCAA Division
I and as a senior, set the school single-season blocked shots
record with 118, including a school single-game record 11 blocked
shots against Texas-Pan American and named MVP of the Nike Desert
Classic his senior season.
Personal
Full name is Kelvin T. Cato and wrote the children's books
"h.o.o.p." and "t.e.a.m.w.o.r.k." and parents are Donald and
Carolyn Cato.
Career Transactions
Selected by Dallas in the first round of the 1997 NBA Draft (15th
pick overall). Draft rights traded to Portland on June 25, 1997,
for the draft rights to Chris Antsey and cash considerations.
Traded to Houston along with Stacey Augmon, Ed Gray, Carlos Rogers,
Brian Shaw and Walt Williams on Oct. 2, 1999 for Scottie Pippen.
Signed a contract extension with Houston on Oct. 28, 1999.
3
STEVE FRANCIS
Guard
Height: 6-3; Weight: 193
College: Maryland '99
Born: February 21, 1977 in Silver Spring, Maryland
High School: Montgomery Blair (Maryland)
Pro Experience: 2nd NBA Season
How Acquired: Traded from Vancouver on August 27, 1999
1999-2000
Named the 1999-2000 Schick NBA Co-Rookie of the Year, sharing
honors with Chicago's Elton Brand ... led the Rockets with averages
of 18.0 points, 6.6 assists and 1.53 steals in 77 starts ... became
the first rookie and the fourth player to lead the Rockets in each
of these categories in the same year ... led the Rockets in
minutes, field goals made and attempted, 3-pointers made and
attempted, free throws attempted and offensive rebounds as well ...
also averaged 5.3 rebounds to become just the seventh rookie in NBA
history to average 15 points, five rebounds and five assists,
joining Oscar Robertson (1961), Alvan Adams (1976), Magic Johnson
(1980), Michael Jordan (1985), Anfernee Hardaway (1994) and Grant
Hill (1995) ... joined Brand as a unanimous selection on 1999-2000
Schick All-Rookie First Team ... led the rookie class in assists
and 3-pointers made and attempted ... ranked second in scoring
among newcomers ... held the distinction of being the only rookie
to rank among the top five in his class in all nine statistical
categories charted by the NBA and became the first player in
franchise history to register 400 rebounds and 500 assists in the
same season, reaching both of these marks on April 18 at Phoenix
... trailed only Gary Payton among Western Conference point guards
in scoring and led all NBA guards in offensive rebounds, while his
rebounding total trailed only Payton and Kobe Bryant among guards
... averaged 26.8 points (on .565 shooting and .500 3-point
shooting), 6.5 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.83 steals in six games
vs. 1999-2000 NBA All-Defensive Team point guards Jason Kidd and
Payton and set the Rockets rookie record for assists in a season
and also set or tied Rockets single-game rookie records for
assists, free throws made, free throw percentage, 3-pointers
attempted and 3-point percentage ... tied the NBA rookie individual
season high for assists, steals and 3-pointers in a game and
reached the 20-point mark 30 times and 30-point mark six times ...
led the team in points 35 times, rebounds seven times and assists
58 times ... scored a career-high 34 points with a Rockets
rookie-record-tying and career-high-tying 14 assists on March 23
vs. the LA Clippers ... had a team-leading 17 double-doubles ...
compiled his first career triple-double by scoring 25 points and
setting career highs of 17 rebounds and 14 assists vs. Golden State
on Jan. 27 - in NBA history, only Oscar Robertson, Wilt
Chamberlain, Larry Bird and Elgin Baylor had ever reached all of
these marks in one game and missed triple-doubles by one rebound
Nov. 29 at Vancouver, Jan. 28 at Denver and March 23 vs. the LA
Clippers ... set a career high and tied a Rockets individual season
high with six 3-pointers vs. Phoenix on March 7 and set a career
high and tied a Rockets individual season high with six steals at
Washington on Dec. 26 ... enjoyed his finest month in January, when
he averaged 21.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 8.1 assists ... named the
Schick Rookie of the Month for December, March and April (sharing
the final month's honors with Brand) ... on Jan. 24 became the
first rookie in franchise history to win NBA Player of the Week ...
finished as the runner-up to Vince Carter in the NBA.com Slam Dunk
Contest, following his performances in the Schick Rookie Challenge
and Sony 2ball competition during the All-Star Weekend ... missed
three games with a left ankle sprain and two games with a right
knee sprain.
As a Collegian
Named Second Team All-America by The Associated Press as a junior
at Maryland and also received First Team All-America honors from
Sports Illustrated following his only season of Division I
competition and earned First Team All-ACC recognition after leading
Maryland with 17.0 points and 2.8 steals per game as a junior and
also averaged 4.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists and guided Maryland to a
school record 28 wins and an NCAA Sweet Sixteen berth and his 95
steals led the ACC and were the second-highest single-season total
in Maryland history and before arriving at Maryland, he became the
first player to take two unbeaten teams into the National Junior
College Championship tournament, accomplishing this with San
Jacinto (Tx.) in 1997 and Allegany (Md.) in 1998 and earned First
Team NJCAA All-American honors at Allegany as a sophomore,
averaging 25.3 points, 8.7 assists, 7.1 rebounds and 5.3 steals and
named First Team NJCAA All-Region IV at San Jacinto his freshman
year, as he averaged 12.5 points, 7.5 assists and 7.5 rebounds.
Personal
Full name is Steve De'Shawn Francis and has the most admiration for
his grandmother, Mabel Wilson, and his late mother, Brenda Wilson
... enjoys bowling and received the nickname "Wink" as a child ...
started one game during his high school career, as he played just
his sophomore season and Randall Cunningham was his sports hero as
a youth and has two older brothers, Jeff Jr. and Terry, and a
younger sister, Tiffany.
Career Transactions
Selected by Vancouver in the first round of the 1999 NBA Draft
(second pick overall). Traded to Houston on Aug. 27, 1999, along
with Tony Massenburg as part of three-way deal, in which Vancouver
received Antoine Carr, Michael Dickerson, Othella Harrington, Brent
Price and a future first-round draft choice from Houston and a
future second-round draft choice from Orlando, Houston received Don
MacLean and a future first-round draft choice from Orlando, and
Orlando received Michael Smith, Rodrick Rhodes, Lee Mayberry and
Makhtar Ndiaye from Vancouver. Signed with Houston on Sept. 1,
1999.
More Rockets ...