Link Abrams Explained

Link Abrams
Height Cm:198
Weight Kg:109
Nationality:American / New Zealand
Birth Date:1973 7, df=yes
Birth Place:Little Rock, Arkansas
College:
Draft Year:1996
Career Start:1998
Career End:2013
Career Position:Power forward
Years1:1998–2002
Team1:Taranaki Stormers
Years2:2003–2013
Team2:Taranaki Mountainairs
Highlights:

Lincoln "Link" Abrams (born 11 July 1973) is an American-New Zealand former basketball player. He played college basketball in the United States for New Mexico Military Institute and Centenary College. He debuted in the New Zealand National Basketball League (NBL) in 2003 and played his final NBL season in 2013, playing his entire career with the Taranaki Mountainairs.

Early life

Abrams was born in Little Rock, Arkansas.[1]

Playing career

College and early years after

Abrams first played college basketball at New Mexico Military Institute[2] before transferring to Centenary College.[3] As a junior at Centenary in 1994–95, he averaged 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 blocks in 27 games. As a senior in 1995–96, he averaged 18.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.1 blocks in 27 games.[4]

After graduating from college, Abrams attempted to play in Spain[5] and had a stint in Bolivia with Ingenieros.

Taranaki Stormers (1998–2002)

In 1998, Abrams moved to New Zealand to play for the Taranaki Stormers in the Conference Basketball League (CBL), the national second division competition. For the next two years, he split his year between his hometown of Little Rock and New Plymouth. He stayed on in 2001 and remained in New Zealand for the rest of his playing career.[6]

In 2001, Abrams helped the Stormers win the CBL Central Conference[7] and was named to the CBL Finals All-Star Five.[8] In 2002, he led the Stormers to a perfect 18–0 season[9] while winning the CBL Central Conference[10] and the CBL championship. The Stormers defeated the Kaikoura Whale Riders 85–81 in the final, with Abrams recording 18 points and 17 rebounds. He was subsequently named to the CBL playoff tournament team.[11]

Taranaki Mountainairs (2003–2013)

Abrams made his National Basketball League (NBL) debut with the Taranaki Mountainairs in 2003 and proved he could play as an undersized power player at the higher level.[12] In his first NBL season, he averaged 28.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per game[13] and earned league All-Star Five honours. Following the 2003 season, Abrams gained New Zealand citizenship and attended the Tall Blacks' Olympic trials.

In his fourth season with the Mountainairs in 2007, Abrams was named Co-Kiwi MVP, Most Outstanding Forward, Most Outstanding Kiwi Forward/Centre and All-Star Five.[14] He averaged 20.4 points and a league-leading 11.5 rebounds per game,[15] earning him the Garry Pettis Memorial Trophy for being the rebounding champion.

In 2008, Abrams was twice named player of the week and finished second in the league with 9.8 rebounds per game.[16]

In the opening game of the 2009 season, Abrams ruptured the patellar tendon in his right knee. He underwent surgery and was ruled out for the rest of the season.[17] [18] He had not missed a match for Taranaki in the previous six seasons. Recovery took longer than expected and he subsequently missed the entire 2010 season as well.[19]

Abrams returned to the Mountainairs' line-up for the 2011 season and averaged 10.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, as well as a league-leading .649 field goal percentage.[20] [21] In 2012, he averaged 11.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.[22]

In his final season in 2013, Abrams averaged 16.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. In the season finale, he recorded 27 points and 18 rebounds in a 144–137 quadruple overtime loss to the Otago Nuggets.[23] [24] Abrams finished his NBL career with 2,950 points (18.8pg) and 1,410 rebounds (9.0pg) in 157 games.[25]

Personal life

Abrams was a math teacher at Spotswood College during and after his basketball career.[26]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2005 League Handbook . Basketball.org.nz . 22 January 2016 . 17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060824065604/http://www.basketball.org.nz/uimages//1942.pdf . August 24, 2006 .
  2. Web site: MAPIOU TAKES ON NEW CHALLENGE IN NEW MEXICO . Gcbr2usa.com . 22 June 2019 . 28 September 2021 . Its alumni include Link Abrams, 2007 MVP of the NZ NBL. . 28 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210928124935/https://cbr2usa.com/news/mapiou-takes-on-new-challenge-in-new-mexico/ . live .
  3. Web site: Centenary Gents Basketball Record Book . GoCentenary.com . 22 January 2016 . 17 October 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121017112706/http://www.gocentenary.com/media/pdf/recordbooks/mbasketball_recordbook.pdf . live .
  4. Web site: Lincoln Abrams . sports-reference.com . 28 September 2021 . 28 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210928124920/https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/lincoln-abrams-1.html . live .
  5. Web site: Centenary Today, Centenary College of Louisiana, 1996-2005 . Mocavo.com . 22 January 2016 . Lincoln Abrams '96, who played basketball at Centenary and is trying to get on the pro circuit in Spain. . 27 January 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160127225443/http://www.mocavo.com/Centenary-Today-Centenary-College-of-Louisiana-1996-2005/319396/29 . live .
  6. Web site: Hills. Murray. Abrams' Taranaki roots get deeper. Taranaki Daily News. 26 April 2008. 28 September 2021. 28 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210928124920/https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/taranaki-daily-news/20080426/281960308479883. live.
  7. Web site: 2001 Conference Basketball League. Basketball.org.nz. https://web.archive.org/web/20150121135158/http://www.basketball.org.nz/competitions/conference-league/history/cbl-2001/. 21 January 2015. dead.
  8. Web site: Kaikoura avenge final heartbreak . onesport.nzoom.com . 6 August 2001 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20010809205734/http://onesport.nzoom.com/sport_detail/0,1278,52029,00.html . 9 August 2001.
  9. Web site: Bird. Tony. Abrams set to chalk up century. Taranaki Daily News. 18 April 2008. 12 July 2019. Abrams led the Stormers to a perfect 18-0 season and the Conference Basketball League title in 2002....
  10. Web site: 2002 Conference Basketball League. Basketball.org.nz. https://web.archive.org/web/20150121135145/http://www.basketball.org.nz/competitions/conference-league/history/cbl-2002/. 21 January 2015. dead.
  11. Web site: Taranaki Take Out CBL Title . BBNZ.org.nz . 25 August 2002 . 22 January 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20021012004940/http://www.bbnz.org.nz/news.html?oid=423927 . October 12, 2002 .
  12. Web site: Basketball New Zealand – Link Abrams . Basketball.org.nz . 22 January 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060823070257/http://www.basketball.org.nz/index.cgi?sID=43&intArticleID=2045&det=1 . August 23, 2006 .
  13. Web site: 2003 Burger King League – League Leaders . Basketball.org.nz . 22 January 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20041119122605/http://www.basketball.org.nz/uimages/1683.htm . November 19, 2004 .
  14. Web site: 2007 National Basketball League . Basketball.org.nz . 22 January 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150114171808/http://www.basketball.org.nz/competitions/nbl/nbl2007/ . January 14, 2015 .
  15. Web site: Dominion Finance NBL Team Stats (Regular Season) . Basketball.org.nz . 22 January 2016 . 15 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150123234721/http://www.basketball.org.nz/_r/uploads/2007/06/dominion-finance-nbl-2007-league-stats-rd-15.pdf . January 23, 2015 .
  16. Web site: One More PoW For Crowe . Basketball.org.nz . 9 June 2008 . 22 January 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081014194031/http://www.basketball.org.nz/news/one-more-pow-for-crowe/ . October 14, 2008 .
  17. Web site: Injury Forces Abrams Out For Season . Voxy.co.nz . 23 March 2009 . 22 January 2016 . 27 January 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160127182550/http://www.voxy.co.nz/sport/injury-forces-abrams-out-season/5/10770 . live .
  18. Web site: Hills . Murray . Link Abrams not courting disaster . Stuff.co.nz . 24 February 2010 . 22 January 2016 . 27 February 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100227094212/http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/3366507/Link-Abrams-not-courting-disaster . live .
  19. Web site: Hills . Murray . Abrams training for comeback . Stuff.co.nz . 27 November 2010 . 22 January 2016.
  20. Web site: 2011 Bartercard NBL Quarter Finals Media Guide . Basketball.org.nz . https://web.archive.org/web/20130210170558/http://www.basketball.org.nz/_r/uploads/2011/07/2011-Bartercard-NBL-Media-Guide-Quarter-Finals.pdf . 10 February 2013 . dead.
  21. Web site: Hills . Murray . Link Abrams fizzing for next season with Taranaki . Stuff.co.nz . 19 December 2011 . 22 January 2016.
  22. Web site: Player statistics for Link Abrams . FoxSportsPulse.com . 22 January 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160208221647/http://www.foxsportspulse.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=192371968&client=11-8336-114266-261128-18916380 . 8 February 2016.
  23. Web site: Hills . Murray . Otago Nuggets survive Mountain Airs in 4OT . Stuff.co.nz . 6 July 2013 . 22 January 2016.
  24. Web site: Smart . Sharyn . Quadruple Overtime! . NZhoops.co.nz . 6 July 2013 . 22 January 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160128111126/http://nzhoops.co.nz/quadruple-overtime/ . 28 January 2016 .
  25. Web site: 2013 Bartercard National Basketball League Handbook . Basketball New Zealand . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210928131053/https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/45729767/2013-bartercard-national-basketball-league-handbook . 28 September 2021 . 15 (16).
  26. Web site: It's a maths double . Stuff.co.nz . 30 August 2014 . 22 January 2016 . 5 September 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140905052247/http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/10441059/Its-a-maths-double . live .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Link Abrams".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.