John StarksJohn Starks grew up in Tulsa, where he played only one year of high school basketball. Having a desire to play college basketball, John went to a junior college before ending up at Oklahoma State University. Despite having an impressive senior season in 1988, Starks was passed over in the NBA draft.

John signed as a free agent with the Golden State Warriors during the 1988-89 season, but was waived the following season. Ignored by other NBA clubs, he turned to the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) for the 1989-90 season. Playing for the Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets, Starks' performance earned him a spot on the CBA All-Star team.

The New York Knicks signed John after his first and only CBA season. Starks began to bloom under the coaching of Pat Riley, being named to the 1993 NBA All-Defensive Second Team. In Game 2 of the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals against the Chicago Bulls, John authored one of the most memorable plays in Knicks history with a diving left-handed dunk with 0:47.3 seconds left. Starks was selected to the 1994 NBA All-Star Game and was the first ever NBA player to attempt over 600 three pointers and make over a third of those tries. John won the NBA Sixth Man Award for the 1996-97 season and set a Knicks club record by hitting a three-point basket in 33 consecutive games. After eight seasons with the Knicks, John was traded to Golden State, where he began his career. Starks led the Golden State Warriors in scoring during the 1998-99 season. John was traded to Chicago midway through the 1999-2000 season and subsequently waived by Chicago. Starks played with the Utah Jazz for the 2000-2001 season. 

John Starks has a passion for the betterment of people and the community. Starks created the youth-oriented John Starks Foundation in Tulsa, sponsoring fund-raising exhibitions, and charity tournaments with featured guests like Scottie Pippen and Patrick Ewing. He has hosted the American Airlines/John Starks Celebrity Golf Tournament benefiting Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Starks has been involved with the Boys Brotherhood Republic in Manhattan's Lower East Side. John has won the Metlife Community Assistance Award and the "Good Guy Award" by the New York Press Photographer's Association.

A few career highlights:

  • 1996-97 NBA Sixth Man Award
  • Participated in the 1994 NBA All-Star Game
  • 1993 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
  • Hosted Youth Basketball Camp in the summer of 1998
  • Created the John Starks Foundation in Tulsa which provides financial assistance for disadvantaged youth in the form of academic scholarships and self-enhancement skills through education and recreational development programs
  • Honored by Tulsa in downtown parade on what was know as "John Starks' Day" (July 12, 1994)