So it's not exactly Kobe and Shaq. But Jazz players Kris Humphries and Andre Owens have been trading shots at each other in the media as of late.

"Kris is terrible!" Owens claimed before a recent practice. "Kris has never, ever beat me at NBA Live (a video game). He is the worst guy in NBA Live on the team."

After someone informed Humphries of that statement moments later, he immediately started surveying the practice floor looking for the guilty suspect. "Who, who?" demanded the 6-9 Humphries.

Upon hearing it was Owens, the second-year forward out of Minnesota said, "Its all hearsay. I'm sure Andre thinks he's the best, but he didn't want to play me last summer. But we'll have to see."

It's that sort of playful side of the seemingly quiet Humphries that might surprise people, even some of his teammates.

"He's such a quiet person," said teammate Mehmet Okur. "Nobody have a problem with him. He's such a good teammate on and off the court."

"I kid around a lot," says Humphries, who turned 21 over Super bowl weekend. "Some people might think I'm serious, when I'm not."

Humphries grew up in Minneapolis, MN. His father William was an offensive lineman for the University of Minnesota in the early 80's.

While he certainly had the size to follow in his father's footsteps on the gridiron, Humphries opted to chase his hoop dream.

"My dad actually liked it that I played basketball, because I loved it so much," says Humphries, who looked up to former Chicago Bulls great, Scottie Pippen. "Everybody was so high on Michael Jordan, but I liked Scottie because he could do multiple things."

At Hopkins High School, Humphries was one of the finest prep basketball players in Minnesota history. In 2003, Humphries led his team to a State Championship and was named to the McDonald's All American Team. He originally committed to prestigious Duke University, but soon changed his mind and signed with his dad's alma mater, the University of Minnesota.

In his lone season with the Golden Gophers, the in-state star took the Big Ten Conference by storm, averaging an incredible 21.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. On top of being selected to the All-Big Ten First Team, he was named Honorable Mention All American.

Those accomplishments were enough for the Jazz to make Humphries their 14th overall selection in the 2004 NBA Draft. In his rookie year, he appeared in 67 games, averaging 4.1 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. Last summer, he was one of the premier performers in the Rocky Mountain Revue. But despite his strong summer showing, Humphries' playing time has been limited this season.

Humphries admits the adjustment from being a prep and collegian star to trying to find his place in the NBA has been difficult.

"It's been a lot of up and downs for me," says Humphries. "I've wanted to play more, so it's been a tough road for me. I just keep staying ready and try to help my team when I get out on the court."

"He's learning," says Jazz assistant coach Tyrone Corbin, "I think he's made some strides from last year, learning what it's going to take to be consistently good in this league."

Off the court, Humphries just likes to relax in his townhouse in Holladay. In the summers he goes back to his parents' lake-side house in Minnesota, where he enjoys boating with his family and friends. When he's not sharpening his Playstation 2 skills, he is watching movies with his buddies. His sense of humor has made him popular with his teammates, and at times even the subject of their jokes.