Diana Taurasi, a professional basketball player with the Women's National Basketball Association, is a pro basketball player. She plays for Phoenix Mercury. She was the first overall pick in the 2004 WNBA draft. She has seventy-nine thousand career points. Six straight seasons, she has averaged 600 points or more. 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 averaged 19.3 point per game throughout her career, more than any other league player. She is 482 points shy of the all-time WNBA scoring record held by Tina Thompson. Thompson's record could be broken by Thompson in the next year.
After a difficult season, Taurasi's latest achievement comes after a long and painful recovery. Taurasi missed eight games of the 2012-2013 season because she injured her hip flexor. Taurasi was able to play in the WNBA Finals, helping the Mercury win their first title since 1997. She was also the seventh player in WNBA lore to win NCAA.
Six consecutive years with 600 points or more
Diana Taurasi is an outstanding shooter with a wide range of shots. She is capable of hitting fadeaway jumpers from all over the court. She searches for large open areas and then pushes the ball towards her basket side. She bends forward to make more space and then hits her fadeaway jumper. Diana will usually shoot the fadeaway jumper in the low-post or to the side of the foul line if she doesn't have enough space.
Diana Taurasi's great passing abilities are also something that is well-known. She is the Phoenix Mercury's all-time top scorer. She is also the league's leader in assists. In 2015, she became the first player to ever earn the double-double of scoring and assists. She is the first player to ever win both the assists and scoring titles in WNBA history.
Similarity with Michael Jordan
When you compare Diana Taurasi to Michael Jordan, you need to take into account the similarities as well as differences between these two outstanding players. These two great basketball players are often compared, but what was their commonality in their respective careers? One of their most striking similarities is their 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. In the early '90s, she participated in a HORSE competition with Michael Jordan and missed a free throw. To win a pair Jordan shoes, she had to make the free throw. She exhibited the same competitive mindset as Jordan did not take handouts.
Diana Taurasi suffers from injuries
Diana Taurasi will be out of action for the remainder WNBA season due to an injury to her right quad. The WNBA's all time leading scorer was just one game away of her WNBA title, but her absence could spell doom for the Phoenix Mercury. The WNBA revealed that they had signed Yvonne Turner, a hardship contract, to fill Taurasi’s position on the roster.
Taurasi has only played in six regular season games this season, missing the first nine games due to a hamstring injury and back surgery. Taurasi returned to three games but was then injured again. She was unable to score again, which resulted in a single digit scoring total.
She has had an impact on Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury's impact of Diana Taurasi on it has been amazing. She turned 40 this Saturday, but she still led the Mercury in a victory over the Atlanta Dream by leading them to a win of 90-88. On her birthday, she tied a season record with 32 points and six 3-pointers. She is currently second on team scoring with 16.1 point per game.
Walker and Peddy are role players, but Taurasi is now a key part of the team’s offense. Only six points are needed to reach the 9,000-point plateau for the All-Star. Through her first four games, she averaged a team record 26% usage rate. This is remarkable for a player of her calibre. Walker and Peddy, the two All-Stars who will likely be given extra time.