Diana Taurasi is a professional basketball player in the Women's National Basketball Association. She plays for the Phoenix Mercury. The team selected her second overall in the 2004 WNBA Draft. She has accumulated seven thousand points in her career and six seasons of 600 or higher points. Read on to learn more about Taurasi's impressive career and her similarities to Michael Jordan.
7,000 career points
Diana Taurasi was the fastest player to reach the 7,000-point milestone in the WNBA. Taurasi has averaged 19.3 points per game over her career, more than any other player in the league. She is 482 point shy of Tina Thompson’s all-time WNBA scoring mark. But she could surpass Thompson as early as this year.
After a difficult season, Taurasi's latest achievement comes after a long and painful recovery. Due to a strained hipflexor, Taurasi missed eight matches in the 2012-2013 campaign. She returned to action at the WNBA Finals to assist the Mercury in their first title win since 1997. She is also the only WNBA player to have won the NCAA title.
Six consecutive years with 600 points or more
Diana Taurasi is an outstanding shooter with a wide range of shots. She is able to hit fadeaway jumpers all over the court. When she gets the ball, she looks for a large open area and gets the ball to the basket side of her body. She then bends down to create more space and hits the fadeaway jumping shot. Diana will normally shoot the jumper on the side or low post if there isn't sufficient space.
Diana Taurasi's great passing abilities are also something that is well-known. She is the all-time leading scorer for the Phoenix Mercury. She also leads in assists. In 2015, she became the first player to ever earn the double-double of scoring and assists. She is the only player to have both the scoring and assists titles in WNBA history.
Similarity with Michael Jordan
If you want to compare Diana Taurasi with Michael Jordan, it is important to look at the similarities and differences that these two great players have in common. The two are considered the greatest basketball players of all time, but what made them similar in their careers? One of the most striking similarities is the competitive spirit. Both players are driven to succeed, and their desire to win and succeed drives them to achieve greatness.
Diana Taurasi's competitive streak dates back to two decades. She was a participant in a HORSE competition that Michael Jordan hosted in the early '90s. However, she missed a free throwing opportunity. To win a pair Jordan sneakers, she had make that free throw. She exhibited the same competitive mindset as Jordan did not take handouts.
Diana Taurasi: An injury-prone season
Diana Taurasi, despite her high score average, is likely to miss the rest of the WNBA season following an injury in her right quad. The WNBA's alltime leader scorer was just one win away from her WNBA Championship title. However, her absence could spell trouble for the Phoenix Mercury. The WNBA has signed Yvonne Turner as a hardship contract to replace Taurasi.
Taurasi missed nine regular season games because of a hamstring injury. She was able to return to play in three of the remaining games, but she suffered another injury. She was unable scoring this time, so her total score was only one-digit.
She has had an impact on Phoenix Mercury
Amazing is the impact Diana Taurasi had on Phoenix Mercury. She was 40 years old when she led the Mercury's victory over the Atlanta Dream to 90-88. She tied a season-high with 32 points scored and six 3-pointers made on her birthday. She is currently second on the team in scoring with 16.1 points per game.
Walker and Peddy have roles, but Taurasi has taken over the offense. The All-Star is six points short of the 9,000-point plateau. Through her first four games, she averaged a team record 26% usage rate. This is remarkable for a player of her calibre. The extra minutes will most likely be given to the other two All-Stars, Walker and Peddy.