The Best No. From Diana Taurasi at No. He made 62 percent of his shot. In college at North Carolina, he scored 40 points as a freshman in the ACC tournament, the most by any freshman in the tournament. Use the form below to reset your password. Pros: Orlando Magic (2000-03), Memphis Grizzlies (2003-08, 2013-14), Minnesota Timberwolves (2008-09), Washington Wizards (2009-10), Miami Heat (2010-13), Cleveland Cavaliers (2014-15), Denver Nuggets (2015-17). He transferred to Farragut Academy in Chicago for his senior season, led his team to a 28-2 record and was so good he was named National Player of the Year again after averaging 25.2 points, 17.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists. In his sophomore season at Michigan State, Johnson led the Spartans past Larry Bird Indiana State in a legendary NCAA national championship game. Although Jordan abruptly retired from basketball in the 199394 NBA season and started a new career in Minor League Baseball, he rejoined the Bulls in 1995 and led them to three additional championships (19961998). High school: Wagner High School (San Antonio, Texas), Pros: Oklahoma City Thunder (2013-20), Brooklyn Nets (2021-present). So, yeah, Magic Johnsonneat guy. Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award Morgan Wootten High School Player of the Year Award Gatorade National Player of the Year McDonalds National Andre Roberson is a solid perimeter on-ball defender. One of the most ebullient personalities to ever play in the NBA, Johnsons charm was a major factor in the massive increase in the leagues popularity during the 1980s. 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. In college at North Carolina, Jordan made the game-winner in the 1982 NCAA championship game against Georgetown, which featured future NBA great Patrick Ewing. SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players Lillard becoming one of best scorers ever. Sean Elliott made a name for himself prior to becoming a two-time NBA All-Star and world champion with the San Antonio Spurs. Holmes is climbing her way up Indianas all-time scoring list with 1,852 career points, which ranks sixth in school history, and 753 career rebounds.The Gorham, Maine native is also third all-time in blocked shots (185). From 1988 to 1999, Price became the second player after Larry Bird to reach the 50-40-90 club with 50 percent shooting from the field, 40 percent from the three-point line and 90 percent from the free-throw line. 20 and to Val Whiting at No. While the late Kobe Bryant would seem like the obvious choice to represent his home state, there was a lot of great competition representing Pennsylvania. Messalonskees Nick Mayo, a self-admitted basketball late bloomer, set scoring records at Eastern Kentucky and is now enjoying success as a pro player in Japan. There, he was named an NAIA First-Team All-American as a junior and senior. Bill Laimbeer was born in Boston and the toughness associated with that town would follow him to Detroit, where he became one of the most feared defenders in the NBA for his rough style of play in the 1980s. This season, the 6-foot-7 Flagg averaged 20.5 points, 10 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 3.7 steals, and 3.7 blocks per game. We are here to give the best tips on it. West was the main go-to guy in crunch-time, called "Mr. He was born in Takoma Park before eventually playing college ball at Maryland, where his No. He was the key ingredient in the Chicago Bulls dynasty of the 90s, leading them to victory in six NBA titles. The best of the best graduate to the NBA and WNBA. (Or 20. LeBron James overtook Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBAs leading scorer in February 2023.]. However, multiple playoff failures made him choose to leave Cleveland to go to Miami to play with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, a move that was heavily criticized. Minnesotas Kevin McHale did plenty of battle with Michigans Magic Johnson as a Celtics star in the 1980s. In 2003, LeBron James became a high school basketball phenomenon at St. Vincent-St. Marys High School in Akron, Ohio. High school: Mauldin High School (Mauldin, S.C.)/Farragut Academy (Chicago, Ill.), Pros: Minnesota Timberwolves (1995-07, 2015-16), Boston Celtics (2007-13), Brooklyn Nets (2013-15). Born: Feb. 13, 1981, in Coeur dAlene, Idaho, High school: Blaine High School (Blaine, Wash.), Pros: Seattle SuperSonics (2003-08), Milwaukee Bucks (2008-10, 2013-14), Minnesota Timberwolves (2010-13), Charlotte Bobcats (2014), Orlando Magic (2014-15). On the womens side, Shaftsbury native Nicole Levesque is the only Vermonter to have ever played in the WNBA. Haywood was born in Silver City (population: 288) before eventually becoming an NBA champion with the Lakers in 1980. Russell was the ultimate winner in the history of the NBA. The uber-confident Bird had arguably the quickest release of anyone to ever play basketball and hed often let his defender know that the shot was going in soon after it left his hands. Kevin Garnett was one of the fiercest competitors in basketball. A Celtics icon in the 1970s, the Newport native helped that franchise win two championships as one of the best defenders of his era. Lebron James is one of the most dominant players in the world right now. He was a player to watch in middle school and became a prodigy at St. Vincent-St. Marys High School in Akron, Ohio. In the NBA, Jordan had some rough years, overcoming injuries and first-round playoff exits, and playing the Detroit "Bad Boy" Pistons in the late 1980s and 1990. The four highest all-time NBA single-season scoring averages all belong to Chamberlainin his first four professional seasons. Then Ceballos went the junior college route and played at Ventura College, before catching the attention of NBA scouts at Cal State Fullerton. While John Stocktons NBA career is forever linked to Utah, he learned his trade in his native Washington. The 30 Best NBA Players of All Time, Ranked By Adam Caparell, Zion Olojede, Angel Diaz, Zach Frydenlund Jun 17, 2022 Image via Complex Original The The Greatest UConn Basketball Players of All Time #20 of 76 Every Athlete Signed To Jay-Z's Roc Nation Sports, Ranked 6 Markelle Fultz Point guard from Upper Marlboro, Maryland 155 votes Teams: Orlando Magic #48 of 58 The Best No. After that, Hazzard spent 10 seasons playing guard in the NBA, averaging 12.6 points per game and making the All-Star Game with the Seattle SuperSonics during the 1967-68 season. He was named the 4A State Player of the Year three consecutive times in high school, in addition to leading his school to back-to-back championships in 2002 and 2003. Mark Price was more than a shooter. Davis was a career 13.5-point scorer but had his best season with Cleveland in 2002-03, when he started 76 games and averaged 20.6 points per game. Pros: San Antonio Spurs (1989-93, 1994-2001), Detroit Pistons (1993-94). High school: David Tobias Howard High School, Pros: New York Knicks (1967-77), Cleveland Cavaliers (1977-80). In college, Stockton starred at Gonzaga, leading the Bulldogs to their best record in 17 years at 17-11 during his senior season. Floridas Montverde Academy, a school that regularly produces college and NBA players. If he keeps working hard, and theres no reason to think otherwise, hell live up to it. The one time in his 14-year career that he was not an All-Star was in 1970, a season in which an injured Chamberlain was limited to just 12 regular-season games and yet he still managed to will his team to the NBA finals upon his return. He was born in Abilene but spent his formative years in California and became an NBA icon with the Boston Celtics. Combine that with the fact that Maine produces fewer NCAA Division I basketball players than most other states, so when a player of Flaggs caliber comes along, memory gets shorter and cloudy. WebList of all the NBA and ABA Players Born in Maine | Basketball-Reference.com Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. Stevie Franchise was a three-time All-Star with the Houston Rockets in the early 2000s, where he was a consistent 20-point scorer from the point guard position. Marvin Bad News Barnes was born in Providence and stayed right in his hometown into early adulthood, earning consensus All-American honors as a senior at Providence College in 1974. We all know Michael Jordan as the greatest basketball player of all time. Danny Ainge starred at North Eugene High School in football, basketball and baseball. In the NBA, Miller became a proficient three-point sniper with a career average of 40.7 percent from beyond the arc. John Havlicek. A recent highlight video on YouTube referred to him as the LeBron of Maine. Thats absolutely, positively, 100 percent ludicrous. Bryant made the leap from high school to the NBA but success was not instant, and he did not become an elite guard until the 1998-99 season, when the Lakers were swept by the Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals. High school: Bethel High School (Hampton, Va.), Pros: Philadelphia 76ers (1996-2006, 2009-10), Denver Nuggets (2006-08), Detroit Pistons (2008-09), Memphis Grizzlies (2009), Besiktas (2010-11). Anyone can access the link you share with no account required. and fought Bruce Lee in Game of Death, so his cool quotient is easily the highest of anyone on this list. Following a college career in California, his only All-Star season would happen there as well, while he was playing with the Lakers in 1995. He won five NBA championships with the Lakers. But, well, he played alongside another top-25 talent in Scottie Pippen and was coached by the strategic genius Phil Jackson during his most productive years. After tensions between Shaq and Kobe arose, Shaq was traded to the Miami Heat in 2004 and won his final title in 2006 with Dwyane Wade. In the NBA, he helped lead the Cleveland Cavaliers become an Eastern Conference power with his shooting touch. In 2007, he was traded to the Boston Celtics, and that next year, Garnett was an integral piece to Bostons championship run in 2008. 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. Paul then helped Wake Forest get into the NCAA tournament a couple of times, eventually falling to West Virginia in his sophomore season. According to Basketball Reference, only nine players in the league have ever come from that state. 1-ranked recruit and a McDonalds All-American coming out of high school. Mike Miller may have grown up in a small town, but he was big time. He was born in Greenville and spent most of his high school career there before finishing it in Illinois. Absolutely. Its the only state in the union that has never produced a player in the league, despite having several who have been drafted but never ended up playing. Russell overcame racial taunts in college and then in the NBA, where he was the centerpiece of one of the greatest dynasties the Association has ever seen. Who else could represent Indiana but The Hick from French Lick? Larry Bird was born in West Baden Springs (population: 475), in Indianas French Lick Township and would make his home state proud by taking Indiana State to the NCAA championship game in 1979. In this article, we have listed the 5 greatest basketball players ever. His roots in the Tar Heel State obviously run deep but his long NBA career has unfortunately never included a stint in Charlotte. He helped his high school and Michigan State win championships. In the NBA, Chalmers helped the Heat win back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013 with clutch play and big-time three-point shooting. 1 Overall NBA Draft Picks of All Time #47 of 80 The Best Point Guards Currently in the NBA #27 of 34 It was a toss-up between a pair of legendary Hall of Famers but Moses Malone edged out Allen Iverson for the crown of Virginias best baller. Fantasy Basketball. Bullet Bob Boozer came from Omaha and remained a major part of that community until his death in 2012. He was born and raised in Concord before seeking warmer weather at the University of Florida, where he had a great college basketball career. Ridnour became a star at Oregon, helping lead the Ducks to an Elite Eight appearance in 2002 and another NCAA tournament appearance. He finished his 14-year NBA career averaging 14.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. Our computer prediction projects a one-sided 65-55 victory as our model heavily favors Maine. The curation of this content is at the discretion of the author, and not necessarily reflective of the views of Encyclopaedia Britannica or its editorial staff. High school: Emsley A. Laney High School (Wilmington, N.C.), Pros: Chicago Bulls (1984-93, 1995-98), Washington Wizards (2001-03). He helped Golden State win a title in 2015 and became a solid contributor for the Dallas Mavericks after the 2016 season. DiGregorio only played six seasons in the NBA, but he left a lasting impression. He was also named the NCAAs Most Outstanding Player those three years and was twice named College Player of the Year by The Sporting News. He went across the country to UCLA for college ball, where he was the best player on the 1964 national championship team that went 30-0. Along with teammate Larry Bird, McHale helped lead the Celtics to three NBA championships in his 13 seasons there, averaging 17.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game for his career. 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. The late Walt Hazzard started his route to basketball stardom in Wilmington, Delaware, which makes him pretty unique among NBA players. Your email address will not be published. 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. However, once Jordan and the Bulls got past the Pistons, they went on to three-peat on two separate occasions, and Jordan cemented his legacy as the GOAT. Hakeem Olajuwon played center for the Houston Rockets from 1984 until 2001. While Im too young to have ever seen him play, his statistics are so mind-blowing that I wish I had a time machine for the express purpose of going back and seeing him in action. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, consult individual encyclopedia entries about the topics. His tenacity made him one of the best defenders in the game's history. Current star Domantas Sabonis could take the honor of Oregons best in years to come but for now it belongs to Brandon. New Mexicos all-time hoops hero, Bill Bridges, spent 13 seasons in the NBA during the 1960s and 70s. Unlike the NFL, which is still almost entirely packed with American players, and the NHL and MLB, which see their foreign-born stars come from a handful of countries in specific areas, the NBAs stars come from all corners of the globe. In the WNBA, Swoopes was the second player to win the MVP and All-Star game MVP in the same season. He was a military brat because of his own fathers military service, which led to frequent moving and likely made the nomadic life of a professional athlete easier on him. Read Kareem Abdul-Jabbars Britannica essay on the New York Rens. He won a title with the Warriors in 2015 and has averaged 17.3 points per game since the 2016-17 season. He finished his 11-year career with two rings and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. High school: Collins Hill High School (Suwanee, Ga.). Then she announced she would play basketball for the Blue Hens in 2009, leading the nation in scoring in her junior season in 2012. Moreover, he not only faced the incredible pressure of being anointed The Chosen One by Sports Illustrated as a teenager, but hes actually exceeded the lofty expectations set for him. In the WNBA, she helped the Lynx win a WNBA championship in her rookie campaign in 2011 and added three more titles after that in 2013, 2015 and 2017. During his historic high school career, he was named Ohios Mr. Basketball a remarkable three times before skipping college and being drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers first overall in 2003. COMMENTARY: Such a label is unfair to the 15-year-old phenom, and short-sighted given the professional basketball success of others before him. He starred at Hibbing High School, leading his team to the AA Minnesota State Championship game as a senior. Hes potential personified. Pros: Pallacanestro Messina (2003-04), Toronto Raptors (2004-06), San Antonio Spurs (2006-16). He went on to play college hoops at the University of Oregon, where he was named the Pac-10s player of the year in 1991. 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. He stayed home and played college ball at Colorado, where his number has also since been put in the rafters. LeBron James is an American basketball player who currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Milwaukee native Latrell Sprewell is remembered by some for one regrettable outburst that nearly derailed his NBA career but he was a great player for many years. The 10 Greatest Basketball Players of All Time | Britannica Our pick for the best baller from Massachusetts never spent any time playing with the Celtics, instead making his name with the Pistons. Dont be fooled by his humble small-college provenance and the Hick from French Lick nicknameLarry Bird was one of the fiercest competitors and greatest smack-talkers in NBA history. The big man was born in Lawrence before spending his college career in Oklahoma and his entire NBA tenure with the Phoenix Suns. One of the best NBA players to never be elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Tom Chambers racked up more than 20,000 points in his career as a power forward. Encyclopedia entries about the topics was a player to win the MVP and All-Star game MVP the. 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