Naima King
 | |
| No. 1 – Bangor Tides | |
|---|---|
| Position | Guard |
| Species | Orange-Bellied Trogon ( Trogonidae ) |
| Gender | Female |
| Nickname(s) | |
| Juice | |
| Personal information | |
| Born |
March 16, 1997 Orlando, FL |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Listed weight | 180 lb (82 kg) |
| Shoots | Right-handed |
| Career information | |
| School | Phoenix University |
| FBA draft | 2019 / Undrafted |
| Pro playing career | 2019–present |
| Career history | |
| 2019 - 2020 | Alaska Arctics |
| 2020-2021 | Baltimore Spirits |
| 2021-present | Bangor Tides |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Contract information | |
| Contract year | 2023 |
| 2026 Salary | $5 million |
| Player Contacts | |
| (IC) Agent | BladesDaRaccoon |
| (OOC) Creator | BladesDaRaccoon |
| (OOC) Actor | Unknown |
| (OOC) Usage | Ask me before any use |
Biography
Early Life
Naima was born as a twin with her brother Nolan, Even though she scantly remembers it as at merely a year old her parents seperated, her now living with her mother Mia in the city of Orlando, Florida. The two could hardly be much of a mismatch in the personality department her mother being very strict and straightlace and Naima as she grew up proved to be quite the free spirited wild card. One thing her mother could appreciate on little Naima was her love of sports...playing basketball and volleyball nearly every day that she could. It gave Mia an idea...maybe this could be used to get her in line.
At the age of 10, Mia enrolled Naima in a basketball summer camp and from there it seemed she took off, loving the sport. She had a clear knack for handles, being able to do basic crosses at her young age and loved to drive and finish at the rim. The thrill of the hunt, cutting through and between defenders...it was exhilarating to her. No surprise that when she returned home that little Naima was practically begging to go again.
Her mother was contented, it seemed that she had a healthy outlet for all her energy. She even went as far as to make basketball uniforms for her dolls. Maybe it was a little obsessive but Mia thought it was at least wholesome.
Indeed Naima did stay a very wholesome girl as she blossomed into a young woman...on the inside that is. After being benched freshman year in high school she began hitting the streetball scene to pick up some new tricks. She learned how to fake, new crossovers, bettering her jump shot to increase the weapons she had at her disposal. However she also began molding her personal style after the street scene, adding some distressed clothing to her wardrobe and even styling her hair in strange ways and coloring it pink.
Naturally the style alterations were a shock to Mia, worrying her daughter was becoming some hoodlum neer-do-well. It did start coming to a head, Naima and Mia getting into fights and the occasional shouting match. Eventually Mia broke down in tears, telling Naima she was only doing what she was because she was worried what the world might think of her. Naima seemed disappointed in her mother but at least she understood where she was coming from. Naima and Mia hugged it out and patched up their rocky relationship.
Things did get better as she approached senior year with Mia remarrying and even having a another child on the way. Naima seemed happy, eager to be a sister not knowing she was one already.
High School
Freshman year, Naima did survive the cuts but was seen as undersized and a bit of a one trick bird and was coming off the bench, lucky to see ten minutes a game. She still did get a respectable 6 points a game off the bench.
Sophomore and Junior year, thanks in large part to her streetball training she found herself promoted to the team's 6th fur, tooled as an offensive weapon off the bench. It showed how much her street lessons paid off, now putting 12 points a night, usually hitting two three point shots a night. her versatility took her from an afterthought to an asset, even being a key piece in the team's playoffs Sophomore year where they'd won the local championship.
Senior year did see Naima grow to 6'1"" and get the starting spot at the shooting guard spot. She could really light the court on fire even putting up a 25-5-5 game during the regular season which would clinch their playoff spot and Naima told the team to get on her back, carrying them back from a 15 point defecit. Naima was also sometimes put on the point, helping her develop into a combo guard. She did lead the team to a second local championship, helping her get onto the map and get tossed a few college offers.
College
Naima had to sift through the offers, most of which were less that great but she did have an offer or two offering her the spot of 6th Fur...one of which was Phoenix University which she had elected to attend. As for a major she didn't have much an idea...but then she remembered her dolls and the uniforms she'd designed for them...pushing her into fashion design and marketing.
Her first and second seasons saw her comfortable in her 6th fur spot, bounced between the 1 and 2 spots as an offensive weapon for scoring as needed. In her third and final college season she found herself in a starting slot and Phoenix university headed to the FCAA tourney and making it to the second round. Naima smiled looking back at her time in college, thinking she'd done some good. Soon enough Naima had officially declared for the draft, hitting the gym every day since and readying herself.
FBA Career
Rookie Year
Even with being embarassed at draft night, not hearing her name called. She still found herself getting a call from the Arctics. Naima was determined to play out of her mind, knowing well the contract was likely a Put up or Shut Up situation. And that she did, not only showing her scoring capabilities off the bench but in the modicum of starts she got showing she also had the playmaking touch many scouts thought she lacked. Even if she'd had the luck of getting to strut her stuff on a rebuilding team, it's fair to say she proved she woulda been worth using a pick on. She sure had been working to embrace the number 1 that adorned her jersey.
The cold was a far cry from her home state of Florida but if the team wanted her...she'd make due. "In a way...I kinda needed that situation. Getting that deal after goin' undrafted taught me ta' be greatful. To really appreciate what ya' handed in life." Not to mention how everything seemed to just fall into place after signing that deal, building friendships with the team, most notably with fellow undrafted guard Lady Black. Off the court she also wound up finding love in her boyfriend Vance.
2020-2021 Season: Rocky Road
Initially thought to be staying with Alaska, Naima would agree to a sign and trade to Baltimore as a thank you to the Arctics for giving her a shot when no one else would. And thus she'd gone from an undrafted afterthought to being a significant trade piece. And she'd keep on with showing her worth...
In a bit of a two-guard platoon, she really found her niche as a spark plug combo guard bringing the heat off the bench and hopping into the starting lineup when needed. And she'd come up big in some very key moments in the Spirits' deep playoff run. Even if it ended short at the hands of the eventual champion Voodoo...not a thing wrong with how things went.
Though questions would linger with her entering free agency. Between early season reports of her stating she'd wished she stayed in Alaska and other random ramblings of discontent among players led to question after question...ones she's kept fairly tight-beaked about.
Stories
2020-2021 Season
•Story:Signer's Remorse
•Story:Low Spirits