Gooden joined fellow freshmen Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich for the 1999–2000 season at Kansas. Although at times, Gooden was frustrated with the way things were going his freshman year, he finally adjusted to coach Roy Williams' system.
In 2002, he led the nation in rebounding and was named NABC National Player of the Year. The Jayhawks went 33–4, including 16–0 in Big 12 Conference play to win Kansas its first conference championship since 1998. The Jayhawks advanced to their first Final Four in the 2002 NCAA basketball tournament since 1993, however, they lost to the eventual national champion Maryland in the semifinal.
For being named NABC Player of the Year for 2002, Gooden's jersey (#0) was retired in 2003. The ceremony occurred at halftime of a Kansas home game with Kansas State in what would have been Gooden's senior year had he not foregone his senior year for the NBA.
Professional career
Memphis Grizzlies (2002–2003)
Gooden declared himself for the draft after his junior year. Out of Kansas, Gooden was selected as the 4th overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2002 NBA draft.[3]
On July 23, 2004, the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Gooden, Anderson Varejão, and Steven Hunter for Tony Battie and two second-round draft picks from the Orlando Magic via trade.[5] On January 20, 2005, Gooden led the Cavaliers to a win over the Bucks with a career-high 33 points, including 27 in the second half.[6]
Gooden re-signed with the Cavaliers for three more years on August 14, 2006.[7] He agreed to a three-year, $23 million contract.[8]
In the 2006–07 NBA season, he averaged 11.1 points per game and 8.5 rebounds per game.[9]
On March 1, Gooden was bought out of his contract making him a free agent after playing just one game for the Kings.[12]
San Antonio Spurs (2009)
On March 5, 2009, Gooden signed with the San Antonio Spurs for the remainder of the season.[13]
Dallas Mavericks (2009–2010)
Gooden with the Mavericks in 2009
On July 25, 2009, Gooden posted a message on his Twitter page that said "Dallas Here I Come!!!" Dallas Mavericks owner, Mark Cuban, retweeted Gooden's tweet, adding "Welcome Drew.. !". On July 30, Gooden officially signed with the Mavericks.[14]
On July 1, 2010, Gooden agreed to a 5-year/$32 million contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, which would make the Bucks his ninth team in as many seasons in the league. On April 9, 2011, he recorded his first career triple-double in a win over the Cavaliers with 15 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists.[17]
On March 7, 2012, Gooden scored a season high 27 points during a 106–104 loss to the Chicago Bulls.[18] On March 14, Gooden recorded his second career triple-double in a win over the Cavaliers with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists.[19]
On July 16, 2013, the Bucks waived Gooden using the NBA's amnesty clause.[20]
Return to the Wizards (2014–2016)
On February 26, 2014, Gooden signed a 10-day contract with the Washington Wizards.[21][22] On March 8, 2014, he signed a second 10-day contract with the Wizards.[23] On March 18, 2014, he signed with the Wizards for the rest of the season.[24]
On July 18, 2014, Gooden re-signed with the Wizards.[25] In the team's season opener on October 29, 2014, against the Miami Heat, Gooden was named the starting power forward in what was his first of just seven starts for the season. He subsequently scored a season-high 18 points and did not top that mark for the rest of the season.[26]
On July 13, 2015, Gooden again re-signed with the Wizards.[27]
Gooden's final NBA game was played on April 13, 2016, in a 109 – 98 win over the Atlanta Hawks; he recorded one point and one steal in two minutes of playing time. On July 7, 2016, the Wizards declined their option on Gooden's contract, making him an unrestricted free agent.[28]
Gooden is half Finnish; his father, Andrew Gooden, met Drew's mother, Ulla, while playing pro basketball[30][31] in Äänekoski, Finland. Gooden's parents divorced later on, and he stayed with his father in California. In August 2014, Gooden attempted to get Finnish citizenship in order to play for their national team, but he failed to do so before the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.[32]
At the beginning of the 2006–07 season, Gooden appeared with a patch of hair on the back of his head. He refers to this hair style as a "duck tail."[33] Gooden said, "It is drawing a lot of attention ... One thing I've found out is even negative publicity is good publicity. At least I had the (guts) to do it." He claims women love it: "I went from not getting compliments to now being sexy."[34]
