For decades, we have watched as NBA players left varying impressions on the game. There have been epic stories like that of Stephen Curry and LeBron James, while some others entered the league and shone brightly for a short period before seeing a fall in their popularity and fortune like Kenneth Faried. Known for his rugged rebounding, interior activity, and above-the-rim play, Faried got the nickname ‘The Manimal’ for the sheer force of his game.
The basketball playmaker burst unto the scene when he was selected as a power forward with the 22nd overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets. He had come from Moorehead with a reputation for being a big hustling and dominant rebound specialist. During his final year with the Eagles, Faried averaged 17.3 points and 14.5 boards per game, shooting 62.3 percent from the field, an impressive stat for any player. So it’s no surprise he arrived at the Nuggets with expectations soaring through the roof, though he managed to forge a good career, it seems he never really reached the heights everyone expected of him.
How Kenneth Faried Began His Career At Morehead State University
Faried’s basketball career began at Technology High School in Newark, New Jersey, where he was born. Following the completion of his high school career, Kenneth Faried headed to Morehead State University, where he had his college career and played for a full period of four years.
After his college career, the star completed 136 games, starting 122 of them, and averaging 14.8 points per game as a power forward and center. During his time in college, he was one of his conference’s best players and helped his college to victories in competitions like the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament, where he won the MVP award.
Although he was unable to win the big trophies for his college team while he was there, he won a lot of personal accolades, including being named the MVP of the Reese’s College All-Star Game and NABC Defensive Player of the Year 2011. He also broke Tim Duncan’s Division I career record of 1,570 rebounds, hence becoming the NCAA all-time rebounding leader with 1,673 rebounds.
He Made A Good First Impression That Didn’t Last Longer in the NBA
When his four years were up at College, Kenneth Faried declared for the 2011 NBA Draft and was eventually selected by the Denver Nuggets as the 22nd player during the draft. His rookie season was a good introduction to the league for the New Jersey-born power forward, and he was nominated third in the NBA Rookie of the Year and a member of the All-Rookie First Team in 2012.
Since his successful maiden season, Faried’s involvement with Nuggets began to wane. He endured three straight seasons of declining minutes totals and a drop in field-goal attempts. His decline at the Nuggets could be attributed to many reasons; tactically, the coaches seemed to be heading in a different direction, and then injuries meant he was increasing his time with the doctors more than he was on the court.
Furthermore, the rise of Nikola Jokic and the signing of Paul Millsap in the summer of 2017 meant Faried was mostly outside of the rotation, as he only appeared in 32 games in the 2017 season. After he fell out of favor due to his reduced involvement in the team, he was eventually traded to the Brooklyn Nets.
His Efforts To Revive His Career Hasn’t Paid Off Yet
His move to the Brooklyn Nets was meant to revitalize his career, but that stint only lasted a year. Having played just 12 games for the Nets, he was traded to the Houston Rockets, where he enjoyed an upsurge in fortunes. When Houston Rockets Clint Capela got injured, and they needed a husting, athletic player to plug the gap, Faried’s athleticism was a perfect fit for them. The Rockets figured his rim-running ability would make him a perfect fit in Mike D’Antoni‘s system, playing an average of 26.7 minutes for the Rockets across 18 games and posting 14.3 points per game.
D’Antoni figured out a playing system that maximized the abilities of James Harden, Chis Paul, Austin Rivers, Gerald Green, and P.J. Tucker. Though Kenneth Faried thrived in this functional system, he never seemed to hit the heights. He left the Houston Rockets in November 2019 and signed for the Chinese team Zhejiang Lions. The team released a statement in December that his contract had been terminated after appearing in just seven games.
How Much Is Kenneth Faried Worth?
Kenneth Faried’s career has seen him play for three teams – Denver Nuggets, Brooklyn Nets, and Houston Rockets. He joined the NBA through the Denver Nuggets on a salary of $2.57 million for two years and signed a four-year contract worth $50 million in October 2014.
Following his move to the Houston Rockets, he signed a contract worth $917,000 for one year. In 2018, he reportedly earned $13 million, and his contract for 2019 saw him rake in $14 million. Since he joined the league in 2011, he has been able to build a net worth of $28 million. Throughout his career, he never really commanded any endorsement deals.
Faried’s Love Life Has Been Hazy At Best
Very little is known about Faried’s love live. He was in a relationship with a woman named Rebekah McCarty. The relationship dates back to his time in the Rowan County area. He and Rebekah have a daughter named Kyra, born in the year 2010. She charged Faried to court demanding more child support. The courts had ordered him to pay $4,250 a month, though she was asking for $5,000. Faried appealed, arguing that her demands were excessive. The court of appeal obliged, agreeing her demands were more than the $1,547 she quoted as her living expense.
Kenneth Faried is currently in a relationship with a Moroccan American named Atar Hajali. Although he hasn’t openly spoken about his relationship with her, her Instagram feeds are awash with photos of her and Faried sharing special moments.
