Earl Antoine Boykins, an American professional basketball player, was bornon June 2, 1976 in Cleveland, Ohio.
Boykins plays for the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA. Boykins height is 5 feet, 5 inches (1.65 m), he is the second shortest player in NBA history. The first shortest man is Muggsy Bogues, who is 5 feet, 3 inches tall. His listed weight is 133 pounds (60 kg), but he can bench press 315 pounds despite his light weight. He is currently playing at point quard position and wears No. 11 shirt.
Boykins studied at Cleveland Central Catholic High School. From 1994 to 1998 he played his college basketball at Eastern Michigan University. in his junior and senior year Boykins earned All-Mid-American Conference first-team honors, and during his senior season, he was second in the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship, with an average of 26.8 points per game.
At his college Boykins holds the career record for total assists (624). On February, 2011, Boykins’ was raised to the rafters in a ceremony at the Eastern Michigan University Convocation Center.
Boykins was signed to short-term contracts by various NBA teams, but was never drafted by any NBA team. With the Denver Nuggets he spent the most of time, and he played for them from the 2003-04 season to about midway through the 2006-07 season. On November, 2004, Boykins scored 32 points in a 117-109 Nuggets’ home win, making him the shortest player in NBA history to score 30 or more points during a game.
Following the 2007–08 NBA season, Boykins decided to play basketball in Europe. With Virtus Bologna of the Italian A League he signed a one-year, $3.5 million net income contract.
This contract deal made Boykins the highest-paid basketball player in the Italian League. On December, 2008, it was announced by Virtus general manager that Boykins was cut from the club due to behavioral issues. However, a few days later it was announced that Boykins was staying with the club. he was released by Virtus in June 2009.
Boykins made his return to the National Basketball Association by signingwith the Washington Wizards in November 2009. A game against the Milwaukee Bucks in December, 2009, Boykins sank two free throws to clinch the Wizards’ victory.
Career information of Boykins showed during college he played for Eastern Michigan, his Pro career from 1998–present and League NBA. Career history highlights of Boykins are, he played for Rockford Lightning (CBA) (1998–1999), New Jersey Nets (1999), Cleveland Cavaliers (1999), Orlando Magic (1999), Los Angeles Clippers (2001–2002), Golden State Warriors (2002–2003), Denver Nuggets (2003–2007), Milwaukee Bucks (2007, 2010–present), Charlotte Bobcats (2008), Virtus Bologna (Italy) (2008–2009) and for Washington Wizards (2009–2010).
Important achievements and awards won by Boykins during his career are, he won Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award and Led Western Conference in Free throw percentage (2004-05).