Diana Taurasi, a professional basketball player with the Women's National Basketball Association, is a pro basketball player. She is a member of the Phoenix Mercury. In 2004, the team selected her as the first overall selection in the WNBA draft. She has accumulated seven thousand points in her career and six seasons of 600 or higher points. You can read on for more information about Taurasi and the similarities she shares with Michael Jordan.
7,000 career points
Diana Taurasi reached the 7,000-point milestone quicker than any other player in 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.
This is her latest achievement after a season that was plagued by injuries. Taurasi missed eight games of the 2012-2013 season because she injured her hip flexor. She was able return to action at the WNBA finals and helped the Mercury to their first title in 1997. She also became only the seventh player in WNBA history to win the NCAA title.
Six consecutive seasons of 600 or more points
Diana Taurasi is a great shooter, with an impressive range of shots. She can hit fadeaway jumpers from any part of the court. She searches for large open areas and then pushes the ball towards her basket side. She then uses her elbows to create space. If there isn't enough space, Diana will usually shoot the jumper in the low post or on the side of the foul line.
Diana Taurasi is also well-known for her exceptional passing skills. She is the Phoenix Mercury's all time leading scorer. She also leads the league 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
You have to compare Diana Taurasi and Michael Jordan in order to see the similarities and differences. These two great basketball players are often compared, but what was their commonality in their respective careers? One of the most striking similarities between the two players is their competitive spirit. Both players have a competitive spirit that drives them to succeed.
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 shoes, she had to make the free throw. Jordan didn't take handouts.
Diana Taurasi suffers from injuries
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 leading scorer was still one game away from her WNBA championship title. But her absence could be disastrous 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 missed the first nine games of regular season due to injury to her hamstring and back. She was able to return to play in three of the remaining games, but she suffered another injury. She was unable to score again, which resulted in a single digit scoring total.
Phoenix Mercury has seen the positive impact she had
The Phoenix Mercury's impact on Diana Taurasi is amazing. She turned 40 years on Saturday. However, she was able to lead the Mercury to a victory of 90-88 over the Atlanta Dream. 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. Six points shy of the 9,000-point plateau, the All-Star is only six short. 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 will be granted the extra minutes.