Last Updated on May 29, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Sharif Abdur-Rahim was one of the NBA’s most reliable forwards during the late 1990s and 2000s, combining smooth scoring with strong rebounding on teams that often lacked star power around him. Although he rarely received the same attention as some of his peers, his consistency and all-around production earned him respect throughout the league and helped him build a long, successful professional career.

Here is the detailed profile of Sharif Abdur-Rahim:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Sharif Kareem Abdur-Rahim
  • Nationality: American
  • Date of Birth: December 11, 1976
  • Hometown: Marietta, Georgia, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 meters)
  • Weight: 245 pounds (111 kilograms)
  • Wingspan: 7 feet (2.13 meters)
  • Shoe Size: Size 16 (US)
  • Jersey Numbers: Wore #3 and #33 during his career
  • Position: Power Forward / Small Forward
  • High School: Wheeler High School (Marietta, Georgia)
  • College: University of California, Berkeley (1995–1996)
  • NBA Draft: Selected 3rd overall in the 1st round of the 1996 NBA Draft by the Vancouver Grizzlies
  • Teams Played For:
    1. Vancouver Grizzlies (1996–2001)
    2. Atlanta Hawks (2001–2004)
    3. Portland Trail Blazers (2004–2005)
    4. Sacramento Kings (2005–2008)
  • Championship Rings: None as a player (did not win an NBA Championship during his career)
  • Kids: One child, a son named Jabri Abdur-Rahim, who is also a basketball player
  • Siblings:
    1. Amir Abdur-Rahim (brother) – College basketball coach
    2. Muhammad Abdur-Rahim (brother)

Player Archetype / Play Style

Shareef Abdur-Rahim was a skilled scoring forward archetype, essentially a face-up 4 who could also slide to the wing or small-ball 5 because he paired frontcourt size with real touch and ball skill. Defensively, he was best used as a sturdy team defender and rebounder in the forward spots rather than as a true rim-anchor or shutdown stopper, bringing size, positioning and versatility across bigger matchups. Offensively, he was built to carry offense from the elbows, mid-post and short face-up areas, where his soft jumper, strong frame and polished scoring package let him attack slower bigs or overpower lighter forwards. Physically, he brought a strong 6-foot-9, 245-pound build with the coordination of a more skilled perimeter player, which made him a tough matchup in either direction. In simple terms, his game was that of a smooth inside-out scorer: not flashy, but highly functional, efficient in his spots, and capable of giving a team points, boards and mismatch offense every night. (Basketball Reference)

Notes:

  • Similar players to Sharif Abdur-Rahim include Antawn Jamison, Chris Webber, Tobias Harris, Glenn Robinson, Elton Brand, Joe Smith, Paul Millsap, Rudy Gay, Danny Granger, and Juwan Howard.

Sources: Basketball-Reference — “Shareef Abdur-Rahim Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more”; NBA.com — “Shareef Abdur-Rahim | Forward | Vancouver Grizzlies”; ESPN — “Shareef Abdur-Rahim – Sacramento Kings Power Forward”