Physical Profile Height: 6'2"
Weight: 185 lbs
Position: Point Guard
Build: Sleek and lightning-fast—more Allen Iverson than a stretch forward.
Scalabrine was a 6'9" power forward who played sparingly. Blaze is a smaller guard with a blazing first step and elite handles.
Career Overview (Opposite of Scalabrine): Drafted: #1 overall in the NBA Draft (Scalabrine was picked 35th)
Team: Drafted by the Charlotte Hornets, became their all-time franchise legend
Years Active: 2001–2021 (20-year career vs. Scalabrine’s 11 years)
Games Played: 1,420 (missed only 12 games his whole career)
Injury History: Almost supernatural durability
Nickname: “The Shadow” (Opposite of “White Mamba”)
Play Style: High-usage, clutch shot-maker, defensive pest on the perimeter
Stats:
Career PPG: 27.4
Career APG: 9.6
Career SPG: 2.3
FG%: 50.1%
3PT%: 42.8%
FT%: 93.3% (automatic)
Accolades
12× NBA Champion (as the #1 option—Scal had 1 ring as a bench player)
4× MVP
10× All-NBA First Team
9× All-Defensive Team
3× Finals MVP
Olympic Gold Medalist
Jersey retired by 2 teams
NBA 75th Anniversary Team (and leads the 100th Anniversary list too)
Legacy
Known for hitting game-winners in 5 different Finals series
First player to record a quadruple-double in a Finals game
Started a global youth program focused on clutch performance and confidence
Had a signature shoe that out-sold Jordans in 2012
The NBA named a new award after him: The Blackwood Award for "Most Fearless Player"
Personality & Pop Culture
Quiet assassin type, didn’t seek the spotlight (opposite of Scal’s fun media presence)
Never joined a TV panel, never posted on social media
Once turned down a $100 million sneaker deal to "stay focused on the game"
Rumored to train in the Himalayas during offseasons
🔥 Blaze Blackwood – Season by Season Breakdown 2001–02 (Rookie Season, Age 19) – Charlotte Hornets Drafted #1 overall
Stats: 21.8 PPG, 7.1 APG, 1.9 SPG
Wins Rookie of the Year
Hits a buzzer-beater in his 3rd career game
Leads Charlotte to the playoffs, averages 30+ in the first round
Already in MVP talks
2002–03 Stats: 25.3 PPG, 8.4 APG, 2.1 SPG
First All-Star appearance
Hornets make Conference Finals unexpectedly
Outduels a young Dwyane Wade and LeBron James in a legendary rookie-vet matchup
Begins his reputation as “The Shadow” with elite clutch defense
2003–04
Stats: 28.5 PPG, 9.0 APG
1st All-NBA selection
Hornets finish with the league's best record
Sweeps the Lakers in the Finals (yes—Shaq, Kobe, Malone, and Payton)
Wins Finals MVP at age 21
Changes the power dynamic of the league
2004–05
Stats: 30.1 PPG, 10.2 APG, 2.5 SPG
Wins First MVP
Becomes youngest player in history to average 30 and 10
Sets a record 73-point game in OT against the Spurs
Loses in Finals to Detroit in 7 games—blames himself and disappears for 3 months
2005–06
Stats: 32.4 PPG, 9.7 APG
Returns with new jumper and post-up game
Repeats as MVP
Hits a Finals game-winner with 0.3 left over Miami in Game 7
Second ring, second Finals MVP
2006–2010 – Peak Domination Era Four MVPs in five years
Three more rings
Averages 30+ PPG in all five seasons
Leads league in PER every year
Hornets go 74–8 one year (and win every playoff game by double digits)
Teams begin forming superteams to stop him—fail
2010–11 – The “Villain Arc” Leaves Charlotte in free agency to sign with… Milwaukee?
Cites “unfinished legacy in small markets”
Turns Bucks into instant title favorites
Wins a ring without another All-Star
Fans divided: loyalist or genius?
2011–2016 – Veteran Mastermind Transitions into more of a playmaker role
Stats hover around 24–26 PPG, 11 APG
Adds deadly fadeaway and post-footwork
Bucks win 3 more rings
Outduels Curry in 2015 Finals in a 7-game classic
Becomes first player to record 50–20–20 game (points/rebounds/assists)
2016–2021 – The Final Run Plays 82 games every season until 2020
Becomes league’s all-time leading scorer, passer, and 3-point shooter
Final season averages 22.5 PPG, 10.0 APG at age 39
Retires after 2021 Finals—wins ring #12
Career Totals:
42,886 Points
13,211 Assists
3,003 Steals
15x All-Star
12x Champion
4x MVP
3x Finals MVP