In June 2006, Atlanta Hawks guard Salim Stoudamire abandoned his diet of junk food and animal-based foods to become the Hawks' only vegan player. (Vegans typically only eat food from plants ' fruits, vegetables, legumes [dried beans and peas], grains, seeds and nuts.) So when team chef Bradley Rouse cooks turkey chili or Cajun catfish for the rest of the team, Stoudamire gets grilled tofu and quinoa (a high-protein grain).

Stoudamire recently sat down to talk about being a vegan in a sport dominated by carnivores.

Q: Why did you become a vegan?

A: I've always wanted to be one because of health, but I never wanted to go eat by myself or have people talk about me. But I finally reached a point where I just didn't care what other people thought, and I didn't have a problem with eating alone.
...
Q: Did you lose weight after you became a vegan?

A: I lost 3 pounds, and I'm in better condition. My endurance has gone up, and I haven't gotten tired at all during the whole season.

Q: So this wasn't prompted by animal rights?

A: Sort of. I don't think you should eat something that had a mother. I don't think that's right.

--
full story:
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/health/ stories/2007/04/04/0405lvVEGAN.html