Earl Boykins is a basketball player who is the second shortest player in NBA history. Earl Boykins quickly rose to prominence in the NBA, playing for both NBA and international league clubs, and became one of the highest-paid players in the Italian league.
Earl was mistaken for a ball boy while he was a member of a high school basketball team because of his height.
His height was a significant impediment to him realizing his NBA dream.
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Childhood
Earl Boykins was born on June 2, 1976, in Cleveland, Ohio. Earl Antoine Boykins is his full name.
In terms of his background, he is the son of Willie Williams (father) and Charlene Horton (mother).
Charnella Boykins is Earl’s younger sister.
Boykins’ father was a cop who was a regular in the recreational leagues in Cleveland.
Earl’s father used to sneak him to the gym in his gym bag when he was three years old.
Because his hands were too little, his father would give him a tennis ball, which he would dribble to sleep.
Boykins spent the majority of his boyhood in the gym with his father and other males he played with.
In the gym, he learned to play with players twice his height.
It was an important talent for him to have as a basketball player.
He owes his gratitude to his father, who assisted him in overcoming his weakness and turning it into a strength.
Earl went to Cleveland Central Catholic High School and Eastern Michigan University for his studies.
Salary and Net Worth
Earl Boykins’ net worth is believed to be $6 million.
His net worth stems from his tremendous career as a player and coach in the NBA.
With the Denver Nuggets, the sportsman signed a five-year contract worth $13.7 million.
Later, he signed the world’s most expensive one-year contract with Virtus Bologna in the Italian A league for $3.5 million.
Boykins was the highest-paid basketball player in the Italian League, with additional revenue coming from Bologna sponsorship and promotions.
Boykins’ earnings as a coach are unknown, however, based on his expertise and experience, he must have made a lot of money.
Facts of Earl Boykins
| Full Name | Earl Antoine Boykins |
| Known As | Earl Boykins |
| Nick Name | Earl |
| Date of Birth | June 2, 1976 |
| Age | 46 |
| Birth Place | Cleveland, Ohio |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African |
| Zodiac Sign | Gemini |
| Height | 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 meters) |
| Weight | 133 pounds (60 kg). |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Father’s Name | Willie Williams |
| Mother’s Name | Charlene Horton |
| Siblings | One sister; Charnella Boykins |
| High School | Cleveland Central Catholic High School |
| Education | Graduate |
| University | Eastern Michigan University |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Keyan Mathews |
| Marriage Year | Not available |
| Children | One; Earl TJ Boykins |
| Profession | Former NBA Player |
| Position | Point guard |
| Leagues |
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| NBA Draft | Undrafted |
| Debut Year | 1998 |
| Retirement | 2012 |
| Playing Teams |
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| International Award |
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| Awards and achievements |
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| Net Worth | $6 million |
| Social Media | |
| Merch | Basketball Trading Card |
| Last Update | June 2022 |
Early career
Earl was a popular high school basketball player at Cleveland Central Catholic High School.
Earl was also chosen by The Plain Dealer in 2015 as the best Cleveland-area high school basketball player of the 1990s. While on a sports scholarship,
Boykins was a member of the basketball squad at Eastern Michigan University.
Boykins also played a key part in Eastern Michigan’s MAC Tournament victory. As a result, he was named to the first team of the Mid-American Conference.
Boykins finished second in scoring in the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship during his senior year. At Eastern Michigan University, he set a career-high with 624 total assists.
Eastern Michigan University honored Boykins by retiring his No. 11 jersey on February 27, 2011.
Undrafted Free Agents to Play for Major NBA Teams
Earl was not selected in the NBA draft in 1998. However, he was signed on a short-term basis by five different NBA teams.
Because Boykins was not drafted, he had a difficult time landing a long-term contract with an NBA team, as most of them only signed him as a fill-in or a replacement.
In the 2003–2004 season, Boykins eventually agreed to a five-year, $13.7 million deal with the Denver Nuggets.
When Boykins scored 32 points in the Nuggets’ win on November 11, 2004, he became the NBA’s shortest player to score 30 or more points in a game.
After three seasons with the Denver Nuggets, Boykins was dealt with the Milwaukee Bucks in January 2007.
After finishing the season in Milwaukee, Boykins opted out of his contract and joined the Charlotte Bobcats midway through the 2007–2008 season.
Title of highest-paid player in the Italian league
Boykins elected to play in Europe during the 2007-08 NBA season, signing a one-year, $3.5 million contract with Virtus Bologna of the Italian A-League.
Boykins received money from Bologna’s sponsorship and marketing departments, making him the highest-paid basketball player in the Italian League.
Boykins, on the other hand, had a falling out with the club owner after he flew to the United States without authorization to visit his ailing kid.
Boykins continued with the team when the problem was resolved.
Boykins and his club won the EuroChallenge Cup on April 26, 2009. In June 2009, he was released.
Returning to the NBA
Boykins returned to the NBA after being released by the team, signing with the Washington Wizards in November 2009.
Boykins was a fantastic addition to the Wizard’s team. On December 2, 2009, he played a key part in the team’s victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.
On August 19, 2010, his performance wowed his opposing team so much that they signed him to a one-year contract.
On March 26, 2012, Boykins signed a 10-day contract with the Houston Rockets. Boykins officially retired from the NBA after his contract expired.
Coaching Career
Boykins followed in the footsteps of many NBA players who chose to pursue a coaching career after retiring from the game.
Boykins was named head coach of the Douglas County High School basketball team in Castle Rock, Colorado, in 2014.
Boykins is currently employed as an assistant coach with the UTEP Miners. He started working there in 2021 and has been there for a year.
Brandon Ingram plays basketball for the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA. Follow the link to learn more about his financial worth and relationship.
Children and Wife
Earl Boykins and Keyan Mathews are married. Unfortunately, there isn’t much information available regarding their love lives or when they married.
However, it is known that the couple had a son, who was born in the year 2000. Earl TJ Boykins is his name.
His kid, who is 5 feet 5 inches tall like his father, is a basketball player who is following in his father’s footsteps.
TJ Boykins was a member of the Douglas County basketball team and is now a member of the Evangel Valor basketball team at Evangel University.
Height, Weight, and Age
Earl Boykins is 46 years old, having been born in 1976. Gemini is the sign of the zodiac for those born in June.
Geminis are strong, humorous, pleasant, and chatty zodiac signs.
Boykins’ personality is perfectly described in this way.
Earl was also born in Cleveland, Ohio, and considers himself to be of African-American descent.
Boykins’ height is the feature that stands out the most. He stands only 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 meters) tall and weighs 133 pounds (60 kg).
His parents gave him a tall stature. His mother stands at 4 feet 11 inches and his father stands at 5 feet 8 inches.
His sister, on the other hand, is two inches taller than he is.
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Presence on Social Media
Earl has a sizable social media following, especially on Twitter. Aside from that, he isn’t on any other social media platforms.
Boykins has tens of thousands of fans. He keeps his followers up to speed on his personal and professional activities.
