He helped Golden State win a title in 2015 and became a solid contributor for the Dallas Mavericks after the 2016 season. He was a two-time All-Star and averaged 14.2 points per game for his 12-season NBA career. He only lived there as an infant but no other player born in the Volunteer State has demonstrated the kind of all-around skill he did during his years in the NBA. The race for the best NBA player from Iowa came down to a couple of guys whose careers overlapped in recent years: Kirk Hinrich and Harrison Barnes. Saturday's contest at Cross Insurance Center has the Maine Black Bears (14-13) squaring off against the Binghamton Bearcats (13-15) at 1:00 PM ET (on February 25). and fought Bruce Lee in Game of Death, so his cool quotient is easily the highest of anyone on this list. Following his 10-year playing career, Hollins wore a coaching suit for over 30 years. The Hall of Famer averaged a career double double of 17.8 points and 10 rebounds per game. A battle between two dominant defenders made Georgia a tough call but we ultimately sided with Walt Clyde Frazier over Dwight Howard for the honor of being the states best baller. The 69 Johnson (making him the NBAs tallest point guard) not only posted the best assists-per-game mark in league history (11.2) but had a tremendous all-around game, as well. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham. In 1995 they won again, beating the Orlando Your email address will not be published. He led the franchise to its first championship in Los Angeles in 1972. But basketball was his true love, and he became a household name by hitting a game-winning buzzer-beater against Notre Dame in the 1981 NCAA tournment. Through the publication of this list, James has averaged a Robertson-esque 27.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.9 steals per game andunlike the Big Ohe was doing so against teams stocked with elite athletes and not players who smoked cigarettes at halftime. Use the form below to reset your password. Walt Frazier took the road less traveled to stardom. Then thirty years later, in 1921, Dr. Naismath wrote the official basketball rules. Thats what social media does. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the NBAs all-time leading scorer and a Basketball Hall of Famer. He was born in Tucson and eventually played college hoops at the University of Arizona, where he was twice named the Pac-10s player of the year and was named the best player in the nation in 1989. He played for the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards and is known for his incredible scoring ability and clutch performances. Can you believe that no player from Vermont has ever played a game in the NBA? Cindy Blodgett starred at Lawrence High School, leading the school to an 84-4 record in the four years she was there. But before the WNBA, Levesque helped her high school win two Division I state titles. LeBron James learned how to be under the spotlight and shine early in life. In the NBA, Bonner spent most of his 12 seasons as a backup power forward, playing behind Tim Duncan in San Antonio. Yes, the man many fans (ignorantly) consider the most overrated choke artist in the league is actually the best player to ever set foot on a court. Billups was an All-State first-team pick four times in high school and was the Colorado Player of the Year as a sophomore and junior. Before he became forever linked to hoops in North Carolina and Chicago, Jordan was born in Brooklyn and lived there for a few years of his early childhood. All due respect to Mark Price and John Starks but Blake Griffin is the best Oklahoman to ever lace up in the NBA. She Oh my, yes. Born: August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pa. Died: Jan. 26, 2020, in Calabasas, California (age 41), High school: Lower Merion High School (Ardmore, Pa.). There, he was named an NAIA First-Team All-American as a junior and senior. He earned All-Rookie first-team honors in 1975 and was a key component of the Portland Trail Blazers lone championship in 1977. Furthermore, our website (beginbasketball.com) makes no guarantee for the accuracy of the information as the topic is subject to change. Perhaps more than any of the other mainstream American sports, basketball has embraced its standing as an international game. Were not technically a sports website, but this editor (hi!) He was a Division II All-American in 1964 and 1965. Danny Ainge starred at North Eugene High School in football, basketball and baseball. He got into tussles with multiple players, including Michael Jordan, and was a key component to the Celtics championships in 1984 and 1986. Days after the Nokomis Regional High freshman was named the Varsity Maine boys basketball Player of the Year, ESPN ranked Flagg the third-best college basketball prospect nationwide in the Class of 2025. On Tuesday, he highlighted Jazz guard Talen Horton-Tucker as one of his top NBA DFS picks on DraftKings and FanDuel. After college, he was drafted fifth overall in the NBA draft by the New York Knicks and led the franchise to its only two championships in 1970 and 1973. Before he was The Big Ticket, Kevin Garnett was a kid growing up in upstate South Carolina. Stockton was a 10-time All-Star and 11-time All-NBA selection and is possibly the best pure point guard in history. With every ounce of defensive energy focused on stopping Mims, the Rams still couldnt do it. His 14-season NBA career, all spent with the Lakers, included an All-Star selection every single year and 12 appearances on the All-NBA squad. While Chauncey Billups spent a couple of seasons with his hometown Nuggets during his long NBA career, his best years were spent with the Detroit Pistons. In the NBA, he helped lead the Cleveland Cavaliers become an Eastern Conference power with his shooting touch. A member of six NBA championship teams as a player and two as an assistant coach, Abdul-Jabbar was also voted NBA Finals MVP twice. Every decision he and his twin brother, Ace, have made when it comes to their burgeoning basketball careers has been made by the Flagg family with much thought. After getting to the NBA, he became one of the best players and best shooters in league history with the Boston Celtics and forever changed the game. In the NBA, Iverson became known for his quickness and tough drives to the basket, where he would take a lot of contact. But before he was the engine of a Celtics dynasty, he became a star center at the University of San Francisco, helping the school become a superpower in college basketball. He was named to the All-Mountain West Conference second team in his senior year in 2014. 1 pick in the draft. High school: Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.), Pros: Sioux Falls Skyforce (2014-15), Miami Heat (2015-19), Phoenix Suns (2019-20), Brooklyn Nets (2020-present). Keeping in mind the abilities, weaknesses, and achievements of all the basketball players, here we have shortened a list of players who are regarded as the greatest of all time. Minnesotas Kevin McHale did plenty of battle with Michigans Magic Johnson as a Celtics star in the 1980s. Jerry West is synonymous with basketball in his home state, as he was born in tiny Chelyan before becoming a national star at the University of West Virginia in the late 1950s. Ceballos led the Lakers in scoring in 1995 and was an All-Star. In 2007 he also led the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first-ever NBA finals appearance against the San Antonio Spurs. Silver Spring native Victor Oladipo might have something to say about this in a few years but, for now, the title of Marylands best goes to Steve Francis. Basketball is one of the most popular games across the world. The Atlanta native was a seven-time All-Star in 13 NBA seasons, as well as a seven-time member of the first-team All-Defensive squad. There must be something in the water in Louisiana that turns kids into great basketball players because this might have been the toughest state from which to pick a GOAT. Ricky Davis helped Davenport North to the state tournament, but did not reach the championship game. A few dozen NBA players have come from Connecticut but theres only been one Hall of Famer so far. He was a four-time All-Star and two-time champion and he missed just nine games from 1980-1993, which is remarkable when you consider how many guys he hammered to the floor during his career. He is the all-time UMass leader in blocks (336) and was only the fourth college player ever to reject 300-plus shot. You can share 5 more gift articles this month. He was born and raised in the city of Mitchell, which is in the southeastern part of the state. Born: June 11, 1989, in Jefferson City, Mo. Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award Morgan Wootten High School Player of the Year Award Gatorade National Player of the Year McDonalds National It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. He was amazing, but he had a lot of help, at least more than the last guy on this list. Chris Paul starred in high school, averaging 25 points, 5.3 assists and 4.4 steals in his junior year. As a senior, he averaged a triple-double with 29.2 points, 11.6 rebounds and 10.1 assists, and made the McDonalds All-American team. #7 Mike Bordick WINTERPORT Played in two College World While the two were very similar in terms of statistical output, Fraziers starring role on the only two championship squads the New York Knicks have had to date sealed it for him. After that, he declared for the NBA draft and was selected third overall by the Charlotte Bobcats. Then, he had a decorated University of Minnesota career, ranking second in school history with 1,704 points and 950 rebounds. Once there, he would finish with an emphatic dunk, a foolproof strategy that helped ONeal lead the NBA in field-goal percentage 10 times in his career. During his third year in the league, Bryant started playing in the All-Star Game, and he would continue to be selected to start that game for a record 18 consecutive appearances until his retirement. Hes averaged better than 13 points per game over the past two seasons and was a key starter during the Heats trip to the NBA Finals in 2020. Dave Cowens starred at Florida State, averaging 19 points and 17.2 rebounds per game in his collegiate career. Baylor continued his success at Seattle, leading his team to the 1958 NCAA tournament title game, eventually falling to the Kentucky Wildcats. Adam Morrison became a star as a high school player in Spokane, despite an early diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes. Diana Taurasi is the best offensive player in WNBA history (and No. We gave the nod to White because of his multiple rings and his starring role on some stacked Celtics teams in the 1970s. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. (Or 20. In college at Georgetown, he led the Hoyas to the Sweet 16 in his freshman year, and in his sophomore and final season, he led the team to a Big East Championship and an Elite Eight appearance. Jordan won six NBA championships and was the NBA Finals MVP in each of those years. The former league MVPs list of on-court accomplishments is exhausting to behold, including 10 All-Star Games, 10 first-team All-NBA selections and eight first-team All-Defensive selections. He had four All-Star seasons with the SuperSonics and Suns and averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 rebounds a night in his first 11 seasons in the NBA. He helped the Lakers win their first NBA title in Los Angeles in 1972. Famously, he played center in place of the injured Abdul-Jabbar in the title-clinching game six of the 1980 NBA finals as a 20-year-old rookie. He was named Rookie of the Year in 1974 and NBA All-Rookie First Team that same year. He helped his high school win its first championship in 53 years in his senior season. Before Charles Barkley became "The Round Mound of Rebound," he was a stocky, 5-foot-10, 220-pound high schooler who failed to make his varsity squad as a junior. The 10 Greatest Basketball Players of All Time | Britannica He stayed home and played college ball at Colorado, where his number has also since been put in the rafters. In college at Utah State, Carroll improved his shot each year and eventually won the WAC Player of the Year award in 2008. He finished his 14-year NBA career averaging 14.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. His best year was in 1973, as he averaged 20.5 points and 16.2 rebounds per game, helping lead the Celtics to a league-best 68-14 record. The rest of us are the ones who need to slow down. The best of the best graduate to the NBA and WNBA. As magnificent as earlier players were, they never had to deal with the 24/7 stresses of 21st century media, which James has with aplomb. White, seen on the right here with teammate John Havlicek, was an All-Star in seven consecutive seasons while playing there, winning two championships and being named NBA Finals MVP in 1976 after averaging nearly 22 points per game during the series. Scott led the Lakers in scoring at 21.7 points per game during the 1987-88 season, and helped them win a title that same year, one of his three NBA championships. In the NBA, Miller became a proficient three-point sniper with a career average of 40.7 percent from beyond the arc. Nobody garnered the national attention he has attracted in such a short time. 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