NBA History: Best NBA player born in every US state

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Best NBA player born in Arizona: Sean Elliott

The state of Arizona hasn’t had it’s first Hall of Famer yet, but there has been a recent influx of talent being injected in the NBA. Marvin Bagley III, Kevin Knox and Carrick Felix are a few of the latest faces to hail from the state. Small forward Sean Elliott is one player that has set the bar for them.

Elliott became a sharpshooting threat for the San Antonio Spurs during his career. He was drafted third overall by the Spurs in 1989 NBA Draft from the Arizona Wildcats.

He earned All-Rookie honors in 1989-90, averaging 10.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. In his fourth season, he earned his first All-Star appearance in the 1993 All-Star Game. As the seasons progressed, Elliott’s 3-point shooting prowess went up.

He shot 41.1 percent from behind the arc in 1995-96, the year he earned the second All-Star selection of his career. Elliott made a career-high 2.1 3-pointers per game that year, though the Spurs still couldn’t win a coveted title.

Elliott won the only NBA title of his career during 1999 NBA Playoffs. During that postseason run, Elliott played a memorable game dubbed the “Memorial Day Miracle.” With 12.0 seconds left to play, Elliott caught an inbound pass while tip-toeing the sideline and drained a 3-pointer to give the Spurs an 86-85 victory.

The shot was Elliott’s sixth make of the contest as he went 6-of-7 from behind the arc with 22 points in that decisive Game 2 victory in the 1999 Western Conference Finals.

Elliott put up 10,544 points and drained 589 3-pointers during his 12-year career in the league. He ranks eighth all-time in franchise history in total points and sixth all-time in 3-pointers made. His No. 23 jersey was retired by the Spurs in 2005.

Next: Arkansas

Philadelphia 76ers</a> as the fifth overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft. He was an 11-time All-Star, earning the honor with the Sixers, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets during his 16-year career.</p> <p>Barkley could be considered the modern-day Draymond Green (sans championship rings) of his era, as he prided himself in averaging a double-double and doing the dirty work on both ends throughout his career. He led the league in rebounds during his third year in the NBA with 14.6 per game.</p> <p>For his career, he averaged 22.1 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game through 1,073 games. He finished up his career with the Rockets in the 1999-00 season before calling it quits thereafter and retiring. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006 as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers and his No. 34 jersey was retired by Philadelphia on Jan. 5, 2001.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Alaska </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_330165" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-330165 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F460860758.jpeg" alt="Miami Heat" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/460860758.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/460860758-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Alaska: Mario Chalmers</h2> <p>The state of Alaska hasn’t produced a whole lot of talent, given the wintery conditions on a yearly basis, but it’s still managed to produce some household NBA players. Former big man Carlos Boozer wasn’t born there, but he did grow up in Juneau, Alaska before heading to Duke University.</p> <p>Another blue-chip prospect from the state is point guard Mario Chalmers. Chalmers, born in Anchorage on May 19. 1986, had a decorated career with the Kansas Jayhawks for three seasons before making the leap to the NBA.</p> <p>He was named the Most Outstanding Player during the Jayhawks run to their fifth National championship in 2008. During that season, he averaged 12.8 points, 4.3 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 2.5 steals per contest on 46.8 percent shooting from behind the arc.</p> <p>Chalmers was selected 34th overall in the 2008 NBA Draft by the <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://hoopshabit.com/western-conference/minnesota-timberwolves/">Minnesota Timberwolves</a> and was traded to the Miami Heat on draft night. His first three seasons with the Heat were quiet until LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined the squad in 2010, making him the de facto point guard of the Big 3.</p> <p>He would go on to win two NBA titles in 2012 and 2013 with the Heat, playing a key role when his number was called. He put up 25 points in a decisive six-point victory in the 2012 NBA Finals over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 back on June 19, 2012.</p> <p>In 2013, he led all scorers in points with a game-high 19 against the San Antonio Spurs in a 103-84 Game 2 victory on June 9. He scored 20 in their 103-100 overtime victory in Game 6 during that series as well.</p> <p>Chalmers has made quite the contributions across his nine-year career in the NBA and is currently fourth all-time in Miami Heat history in 3-pointers made (657). He played a key role for the Heat and their All-Star cast during their Finals’ runs and is one of the most notable players to come out of the state of Alaska.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Arizona </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_330787" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-330787 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F88629483.jpeg" alt="San Antonio Spurs" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/88629483.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/88629483-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Arizona: Sean Elliott</h2> <p>The state of Arizona hasn’t had it’s first Hall of Famer yet, but there has been a recent influx of talent being injected in the NBA. Marvin Bagley III, Kevin Knox and Carrick Felix are a few of the latest faces to hail from the state. Small forward Sean Elliott is one player that has set the bar for them.</p> <p>Elliott became a sharpshooting threat for the <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://hoopshabit.com/western-conference/san-antonio-spurs/">San Antonio Spurs</a> during his career. He was drafted third overall by the Spurs in 1989 NBA Draft from the Arizona Wildcats.</p> <p>He earned All-Rookie honors in 1989-90, averaging 10.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. In his fourth season, he earned his first All-Star appearance in the 1993 All-Star Game. As the seasons progressed, Elliott’s 3-point shooting prowess went up.</p> <p>He shot 41.1 percent from behind the arc in 1995-96, the year he earned the second All-Star selection of his career. Elliott made a career-high 2.1 3-pointers per game that year, though the Spurs still couldn’t win a coveted title.</p> <p>Elliott won the only NBA title of his career during 1999 NBA Playoffs. During that postseason run, Elliott played a memorable game dubbed the “Memorial Day Miracle.” With 12.0 seconds left to play, Elliott caught an inbound pass while tip-toeing the sideline and drained a 3-pointer to give the Spurs an 86-85 victory.</p> <p>The shot was Elliott’s sixth make of the contest as he went 6-of-7 from behind the arc with 22 points in that decisive Game 2 victory in the 1999 Western Conference Finals.</p> <p>Elliott put up 10,544 points and drained 589 3-pointers during his 12-year career in the league. He ranks eighth all-time in franchise history in total points and sixth all-time in 3-pointers made. His No. 23 jersey was retired by the Spurs in 2005.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Arkansas </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_330786" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-330786 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2132,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1036098548.jpeg" alt="Chicago Bulls" width="3200" height="2132" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1036098548.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1036098548-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Arkansas: Scottie Pippen</h2> <p>The state of Arkansas has manufactured a good number of household names in the league. Seven-time All-Star Joe Johnson is one player who hails from the state. He has put up over 20,400 points as an NBA player. However, Johnson isn’t the most notable to come from Arkansas.</p> <p>Swingman Scottie Pippen is probably the most decorated player to come from Arkansas. Pippen was born in Hamburg on Sept. 25, 1965, and after attending the University of Central Arkansas, he was selected fifth overall in the 1987 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics. He was traded on draft night to the Chicago Bulls and the rest was history.</p> <p>Pippen became an instant impact player in the Bulls rotation alongside fellow Hall of Fame guard Michael Jordan. He was a 10-time All-Defensive selection, seven-time NBA All-Star and All-NBA selection during his 17-year career.</p> <p>He put up a stat-sheet-stuffing 16.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 2.6 steals and 1.2 blocks per contest that season. Pippen didn’t earn an All-Star nod the following season, but the Bulls got something a whole lot better in a 1991 NBA title, setting off the first 3-peat of the Pippen/Jordan era.</p> <p>Pippen and the Bulls missed the title in 1994 and in Jordan’s return in the 1995 playoffs but they set off the second 3-peat in 1996 when Pippen was just 30 years of age. He’s had quite the decorated career as an Arkansas native, with six NBA titles and a Hall of Fame induction in 2010 to show for himself.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> California </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_330800" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-330800 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2442,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1030816122.jpeg" alt="Ray Allen Boston Celtics" width="3200" height="2442" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1030816122.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1030816122-768x586.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in California: Ray Allen</h2> <p>The state of California is home to over 390 retired and current players in the NBA. Damian Lillard, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Klay Thompson and DeMar DeRozan are just a few of the current All-Stars that have roots in California. The best player from the state can be taken a number of ways.</p> <p>Shooting guard Ray Allen became a household name during his career on and off the hardwood. Off of it, he became Jesus Shuttlesworth, a fictional basketball star in the movie, “He Got Game”.</p> <p>The Merced native burst into the spotlight on the hardwood as a star in the collegiate ranks for the UConn Huskies. He led the Huskies and the Big East Conference in 3-point field goal percentage from 1994-96, finishing 44.8 percent from behind the arc in his career.</p> <p>He was the fifth overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft after that by the Minnesota Timberwolves. They traded Allen away to the Milwaukee Bucks for Stephon Marbury. Allen made waves with the Bucks and the Supersonics before he found his first NBA title.</p> <p>Allen won two NBA titles, one as a member of the Celtics and another as a member of the Heat. He joined the <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://hoopshabit.com/eastern-conference/boston-celtics/">Boston Celtics</a> in 2007 and along with Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins, and won his first ring.</p> <p>At 37 years old, he won the second ring of his career, joining LeBron James and the Miami Heat in 2012. He was the unsung hero for them in Game 6 when he tied the game in regulation at 95 to force overtime. The Heat went on to win the game, 103-100, in overtime.</p> <p>He announced his retirement from the league in November 2016 and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame this past September. Not a bad way to represent the state if you ask me.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Colorado </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_330802" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-330802 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1062,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F186891985.jpeg" alt="Detroit Pistons" width="1600" height="1062" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/186891985.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/186891985-768x510.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Photo by Dan Lippitt/NBAE via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Colorado: Chauncey Billups</h2> <p>Colorado has seen a modest 19 players make the leap to the league since its establishment. One of the best is guard Chauncey Billups. Billups earned the name “Big Shot Billups” as one of the premier scorers during the Detroit Pistons reign in the East.</p> <p>Billups was a standout guard at the University of Colorado, producing 18.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists in his two seasons there. He was selected as the third overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft by the Celtics. It took him a while to find his bearings as he was moved to the Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves before finding his way with the Pistons.</p> <p>Alongside Rip Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace, Tayshaun Prince and Ben Wallace, they emerged as one of the best starting lineups in the league. They won an NBA title in 2004 and with their lineup, made it to the Eastern Conference Finals three consecutive postseasons from 2005-08.</p> <p>Billups was named Finals MVP in their 2004 NBA title run, producing 21.0 points, 5.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds per contest through the five-game series.</p> <p>Across eight seasons with Detroit, Billups put up 16.5 points, 6.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game. He shot 42.2 percent from the field and 39.7 percent from the field as the floor general for his squad.</p> <p>He made seven straight All-Star appearances as a member of the Pistons, though their run came to an end by the 2008-09 campaign. Billups would go onto play for the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers before returning to his club to retire officially as a Detroit Piston in September 2014. In February 2016, his No. 1 jersey was retired by the Pistons.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Connecticut </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_330805" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-330805 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2177,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F517780770.jpeg" alt="Houston Rockets" width="3200" height="2177" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/517780770.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/517780770-768x522.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">1974- Close up of Calvin Murphy, basketball player for the Houston Rockets in his uniform. Undated color slide.</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Connecticut: Calvin Murphy</h2> <p>Connecticut is a small piece of the United States map, but it’s produced a number of NBA players. Guard Calvin Murphy was one of the smallest players to come from the state but it didn’t stop him from becoming one of the best. Standing at just 5-foot-9, Murphy was born in Norwalk, Conn. and was a star at Niagara University where he averaged 33.1 points per game. The San Diego Rockets took a chance on him with the 18th overall pick in the 1970 NBA Draft and it paid off for them.</p> <p>Murphy didn’t let his size stop him from becoming a terror in the league. He used his speed, quickness and sharpshooting ability. He averaged 17.9 points, 4.4 assists, 2.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 48.2 percent from the floor during his 13-year career as a Houston Rocket.</p> <p>He previously held the record for most points in a single game in Rockets’ franchise history before it was broken by James Harden last season. Murphy poured in 57 points back on March 18, 1978, in a regular season game facing off against Bernard King and the New Jersey Nets. Houston lost the game 106-104 in the end.</p> <p>Murphy currently sits at first in assists (4,402) in Houston franchise history and ranks second in total points (17,949), field goals made (7,247) and steals (1,165). He made the lone All-Star appearance of his career in 1978-79, making him the shortest player to appear at that time to appear in the festivities.</p> <p>He’s one of only three Rockets players to have their number retired as his No. 23 jersey has been raised to the rafters. In 1993, he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Today, the Conn. native is known for his colorful suits and analysis on the Rockets’ AT&T broadcasts.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Delaware </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_330807" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-330807 size-large" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F567421423-850x560.jpeg" alt="Atlanta Hawks" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Photo by Rick Meyer/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Delaware: Walt Hazzard</h2> <p>The state of Delaware hasn’t produced 10 NBA players just yet and it’s yet to see it’s first Hall of Famer, but there has still been enough production to find the best player from the state.</p> <p>Point guard Walt Hazzard takes the crown after a decorated career in college as a UCLA Bruin. He won the first title under head coach John Wooden and the Bruins during the 1963-64 season. Hazzard took home the Most Outstanding Player award that year, putting up 19.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game during the NCAA Tournament.</p> <p>In the 1964 NBA Draft, he was selected fifth overall by the Los Angeles Lakers. He didn’t make much of an impact during his rookie season but by his second season, the Lakers found a role for him.</p> <p>He averaged 9.4 points, 3.8 assists and 2.5 rebounds in 21.2 minutes per game for the Lakers before he was shipped to the Seattle Supersonics in an expansion draft in May 1967.</p> <p>In his first year with Seattle, he put up a career-high 24.0 points per game and made the only All-Star appearance of his career in 1967-68.</p> <p>He jumped around quite a bit after that via the trade market, showing his value in that regard. He spent three seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, two with the Buffalo Braves and finished up his career with a return to the Supersonics. Hazzard ended up averaging 12.6 points, 4.9 assists and 3.0 rebounds across 724 games in the league when it was all said and done.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> District of Columbia </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_330812" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-330812 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2130,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F944358584.jpeg" alt="Los Angeles Lakers" width="3200" height="2130" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/944358584.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/944358584-768x511.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in District of Columbia (Washington D.C.): Elgin Baylor</h2> <p>Elgin Baylor made his stamp on the league back during the 1958 regular season but his name lives on as one of the greatest to play the game. Baylor was one of the greatest pioneers to play the small forward position and he was born in Washington D.C. He wasn’t the tallest forward at 6-foot-5 but he made up for it with his 225-pound build.</p> <p>He won the 1958-59 Rookie of the Year award after producing 24.9 points, 15.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists on 21.2 shot attempts per contest his first season in the NBA. He also earned the All-Star Game MVP award that season with a 24-point, 11-rebound performance.</p> <p>Baylor averaged 27.4 points,13.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game during his 14-year career with the Minneapolis and Los Angeles Lakers. In 134 playoff games, he averaged 27.0 points,12.9 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.</p> <p>He was a part of some historic postseason battles against the Celtics and Knicks while playing alongside the likes of Gail Goodrich, Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain. Baylor was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1977 and his No. 22 jersey was retired in November 1983.</p> <p>On April 6, 2018, Baylor became the 10th person to have a statue placed outside of Staples Center, joining Magic Johnson, Jerry West, Chick Hearn, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, Wayne Gretzky, Luc Robitaille, Bob Miller and Oscar De La Hoya.</p> <p>He led the Lakers to eight NBA Finals appearances, although he never came out on top in any of them, he holds the Finals record for most points in a game with 61.</p> <p>Despite the results, he remains fourth all-time in league history with most 50-point games with 17. His name will go down as one of the best players to never win a title but is still one of the best players the league has seen.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Florida </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_330819" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-330819 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1070,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F2717738.jpeg" alt="San Antonio Spurs" width="1600" height="1070" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/2717738.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/2717738-768x514.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Photo by D.Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Florida: David Robinson</h2> <p>Vince Carter, Artis Gilmore, Mitch Richmond, Tracy McGrady. Those are just some of the names of some Hall of Fame players from the state of Florida. The best player though, all things considered, is “The Admiral” David Robinson. Robinson was born in Key West, Florida on August 6, 1965.</p> <p>He stole headlines when he led Navy University to an Elite Eight appearance in a 1986 NCAA Tournament run to remember. After the result of a few late growth spurts, He averaged 22.7 points and 13.0 rebounds during his junior season and the rest is history.</p> <p>He was selected as the first overall pick in the 1987 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs. He would go on to win the 1989-90 Rookie of the Year award, the 1994-95 MVP award, 1991-92 Defensive Player of the Year award and two NBA titles (1999 and 2003) in his 14-year career with the Spurs.</p> <p>Robinson wreaked havoc on both ends on opposing frontcourt as half of the Twin Towers next to big man Tim Duncan. He was a 10-time All-Star and an eight-time All-Defensive selection during his time with San Antonio. He’s responsible for the fourth quadruple-double in NBA history, which he recorded on Feb. 17, 1994, against the Pistons. He racked up 34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 blocks in a 115-96 victory.</p> <p>During the 1990-91 season, he led the league in rebounds per game (13.0). The following year in 1991-92, he led the league in blocks per game (4.5). Robinson did a little bit of everything as he accumulated 20,790 points, 10,497 rebounds, 2,954 blocks and 2,441 assists during his career in the league.</p> <p>He was a member of the first and second team to win an NBA title with the Spurs, winning in 1999 and 2003, his final season in the league at 37 years of age. In 2003, his No. 50 jersey was retired by the Spurs and he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball of Hall of Fame in 2009.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Georgia </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_330936" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-330936 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1167,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F463140860.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1167" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/463140860.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/463140860-768x560.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Georgia: Walt Frazier</h2> <p>Georgia has seen a good number of athletes born in the state go on to the next level, but there’s only been one Hall of Famer so far and he goes by the name of Walt Frazier.</p> <p>Frazier is a native of Atlanta, the state’s capital, but he traveled a bit for college. He attended Southern Illinois University where he was one of the top players in the Division II ranks. He led the team to the 1967 NIT Championship in his final season as a Saluki</p> <p>The Knicks took him in the 1967 NBA Draft as the fifth overall pick and it was a match made in heaven from the beginning. He produced 9.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per contests during his first year, earning All-Rookie honors as an efficient scorer as well as a quality distributor.</p> <p>Frazier made seven All-Star appearances during his time in New York and won the 1975 All-Star Game MVP award. He was selected to seven All-Defensive and six All-NBA teams as a premier floor general with an emphasis on defense. He led the Knicks to NBA titles in the 1970 and 1973 playoffs. Frazier won two championships in three NBA Finals’ appearances with New York.</p> <p>He averaged 19.3 points, 6.3 assists, 6.1 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game through 10 seasons with the Knicks. Frazier currently ranks first in franchise history in assists (4,791), second in franchise history in points (14,617) and field goals made (5,736).</p> <p>In 1979, the Knicks retired Frazier’s No. 10 jersey and in 1987, he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Now, he’s known for his stylish suits as a color commentator for Knicks’ broadcasts on the MSG Network.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Hawaii </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_330944" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-330944 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2132,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F84161231.jpeg" alt="Phoenix Suns" width="3200" height="2132" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/84161231.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/84161231-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Hawaii: Cedric Ceballos</h2> <p>There have been two players to make an appearance in the NBA born in Hawaii. Considering those numbers, versatile forward Cedric Ceballos is considered the best to come from the state.</p> <p>Born in Maui, Ceballos made waves early on the hoops circuit as a prolific scorer and rebounder at Cal State Fullerton. He averaged 22.1 points and 10.7 rebounds in two seasons before being drafted 48th overall in the 1990 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns.</p> <p>Ceballos was one of the most efficient scorers on numerous teams across the league. He played on five different NBA teams during his 11-year career. He spent six with the Suns, three with the Los Angeles Lakers, three with the Dallas Mavericks and split his final season with the Pistons and Miami Heat.</p> <p>In 1992-93, he won the Slam Dunk Contest during All-Star Weekend as a member of the Suns. He led the league in field goal percentage (57.6 percent). The team made it all the way to the NBA Finals that season. Alongside Dan Majerle, Charles Barkley, Danny Ainge and Tom Chambers, they fell to Michael Jordan and the Bulls in six games.</p> <p>During the 1994-95 season, he made the lone All-Star appearance of his career with the Lakers, averaging a career-high 21.7 points and 9.0 rebounds per game while shooting 39.7 percent from 3-point land, also a career-high.</p> <p>Ceballos averaged 14.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game while shooting 50 percent from the field through 609 appearances. He was a solid role player during his journeyman career and filled his role no matter where he went.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Idaho </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_330975" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-330975 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1253,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F81082659.jpeg" alt="Seattle Supersonics" width="1600" height="1253" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/81082659.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/81082659-768x601.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Photo by Domenic Centofanti/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Idaho: Luke Ridnour</h2> <p>The state of Idaho has seen just five players make it to the NBA. Even then, its history is built on a quality point guard with quite the resume.</p> <p>Point guard Luke Ridnour, born in Coeur d’Alene, got his start on the basketball stage at the University of Oregon. He earned Pac-10 Player of the Year honors in his final season (2002-03), putting up 19.7 points, 6.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game on 38.2 percent shooting from 3-point range.</p> <p>His 3-point shooting and playmaking ability got the notice of NBA scouts enough that he was taken 13th overall in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Seattle Supersonics the following summer.</p> <p>He didn’t start right away, but Ridnour was one of the young faces for the Supersonics alongside Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen. During the 2004-05 season, their squad posted a 52-30 record, finishing third in the Western Conference. They fell in the playoffs to the San Antonio Spurs in six games that season.</p> <p>In five seasons with the Supersonics, Ridnour averaged 9.1 points, 5.0 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game. He played with the Milwaukee Bucks as a reserve from 2008-10 before joining Kevin Love and the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2010. Rookie Ricky Rubio would join the following season with hopes of positive results.</p> <p>With a roster of Ridnour, Love and Rubio, nothing much ever came of the pairing in terms of long-term success. As a member of the Timberwolves, Ridnour averaged a career-high 11.7 points per contest along with 4.6 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.</p> <p>He put together quite the career for himself as a starter with the Supersonics and Timberwolves and also had short stints with the Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Illinois </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_308391" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-308391 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F109052859.jpeg" alt="Detroit Pistons" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/109052859.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/109052859-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">(Photo by Brian Drake/NBAE via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Illinois: Isiah Thomas</h2> <p>Illinois is the home of the Chicago Bulls, one of the most historic franchises in the NBA and the best player from the state could be considered a thorn in the side of the organization for years.</p> <p>Isiah Thomas, the former point guard for the Detroit Pistons, was a Chicago native, but he was a coveted part of the Detroit franchise, being taken second overall in the 1981 NBA Draft.</p> <p>Thomas stood at just 6-foot-1 but he was the proverbial leader of The Bad Boys, one of the most physically imposing teams in the history of the league. Nothing ever came easy against Thomas and the Bad Boys and with their moniker, they wreaked havoc on the league.</p> <p>He was a floor general with tons of heart and competitiveness, as he played whole his 12-year career with the Pistons. He made an All-Star appearance in all but one year while in Detroit, also winning back-to-back NBA titles (1989 and 1990) and a Finals MVP award in 1989-90.</p> <p>In their first run to an NBA title, Thomas and the Pistons met Chicago and Michael Jordan in the 1989 Eastern Conference Finals. They went on to sweep the Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 in the NBA Finals.</p> <p>In their second run, Jordan and the Bulls pushed Thomas and the Pistons to seven games in the 1990 Eastern Conference Finals. In Game 7, Thomas put together 21 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds and two steals in a 93-74 victory. The Pistons would go on to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 4-1 in the NBA Finals.</p> <p>Thomas averaged 19.2 points, 9.3 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game as a member of the Pistons. He ranks first in franchise history in points (18,822), assists (9.061) and steals (1,861) and on Feb. 17, 1996, his No. 11 jersey was retired by the Detroit organization. In 2000, he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Indiana </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331015" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331015 size-large" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F132920381-850x560.jpeg" alt="Boston Celtics" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Indiana: Larry Bird</h2> <p>The best player from the state of Indiana was an Indiana State Sycamore that went by the name of Larry Bird.</p> <p>One of the best shooters in the game of basketball, Bird took the nation by storm as a Sycamore, averaging 30.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game from 1976-79. After earning AP Player of the Year and the Naismith Award on his way out, he was drafted sixth overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics.</p> <p>He hit the ground running his first year in, winning the Rookie of the Year award in 1979-80. In his second season, he won his first NBA title with Boston alongside Cedric Maxwell and Robert Parrish. His second title came against the Los Angeles Lakers in 1984 as part of one of the greatest rivalries in the history of the league with the Celtics.</p> <p>Bird vs. Magic became one of the greatest matchups in the NBA Finals, as they met three times on the biggest stage. Bird came away victorious once in the matchup, winning the 1984 Finals MVP Award in the process. He put up 27.4 points, 14.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.1 blocks per game in the series to put the Celtics over the Lakers in seven games.</p> <p>When the 3-point Contest was established at All-Star Weekend in 1985, Bird won the event three-straight seasons from 1985-88. He’s one of only two players to be named champion three times in the contest.</p> <p>In his 13-year career with Boston, Bird produced 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 56.3 assists and 1.7 steals per contest while shooting 49.6 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from 3-point range. He owns the franchise record for most triple-doubles in his career with 69.</p> <p>12 All-Star appearances, three NBA titles, three regular season MVP award, two Finals MVP awards later, Bird finds himself second in team history in points (21,791) and third in assists (5,695). His No. 33 jersey was retired by the Boston Celtics on Feb. 4, 1993 and he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Iowa </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331014" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331014 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F510978204.jpeg" alt="Chicago Bulls" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/510978204.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/510978204-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Photo by Rocky W. Widner/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Iowa: Kirk Hinrich</h2> <p>The state of Iowa is another state without a Hall of Famer, but its produced enough talent to find a quality player. Forward Harrison Barnes is one current budding star from the state that looms large but point guard Kirk Hinrich takes home the crown as the best player for now.</p> <p>He emerged on the basketball scene with the Kansas Jayhawks, making the Final Four twice in his four-year career. A floor general and sharpshooter from behind the arc, Hinrich was selected seventh overall in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls.</p> <p>He was known as “Captain Kirk” to many around the league, an ode to being voted team captain in four of the 11 seasons he was a member of the Bulls. He was named an All-Rookie in 2003-04, averaging 12.0 points, 6.8 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game his first year in the league.</p> <p>Hinrich’s fifth season (2007-08) in the NBA was a career-setting one for him as he posted a single-game career-highs in points (38) and assists (14) in two separate outings. He nearly posted a triple-double in his 38-point performance, dishing out 11 assists and snagging 7 rebounds in a 108-95 win over the Indiana Pacers back on Jan. 23, 2008.</p> <p>He put up a triple-double in his 14-assist outing, which was one of three 14-assist games he produced in the year. With 15 points, 14 assists and 12 rebounds, Hinrich put up the second triple-double of his career in a 101-96 victory over the Knicks on Dec. 14, 2007.</p> <p>Hinrich wasn’t an All-Star during his career but he was an impact player nonetheless. As it stands, he ranks first in Bulls’ history in 3-pointers made (1,049), third in assists (3,811) and third in steals (857).</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Kansas </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331071" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331071 size-large" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F502569688-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Kansas: Alvan Adams</h2> <p>Larry Drew, Lionel Hollins and Earl Watson are only a few former players born in Kansas to star in the NBA and they’ve also made names for themselves on the coaching circuit as well. Big man Alvan Adams is one player that rings a bell, though, when it comes to Kansas basketball.</p> <p>Adams was a cornerstone of the Phoenix Suns franchise, appearing in the postseason in nine of the 13 seasons he played with them. At 6-foot-9, he became a star at the University of Oklahoma prior to the league, earning the Big 8 Player of the Year award in his final season as a Sooner. He averaged 23.4 points and 12.8 rebounds per game in 1974-75.</p> <p>He was drafted by the Suns as the fourth overall pick in the 1975 NBA Draft. He won the Rookie of the Year award in his first season and made the only All-Star appearance of his career during the 1975-76 season. Adams put up 19.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per game.</p> <p>He had a knack for playmaking as much as he did for scoring the basketball during his career with the Suns. On Feb. 22, 1977, Adams put up a triple-double with 47 points, 18 rebounds and 12 assists. He is one of five players in the history of the NBA to record at least 46 points and 16 rebounds in a triple-double.</p> <p>He never did match his rookie scoring average again but he did produce 14.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game during his time in Phoenix.</p> <p>Adams ranks first in franchise history in rebounds (6,937) and steals (1,289), second in points (13,910), third in assists (4,012) and fourth in blocks (808). His No. 33 jersey was retired by the Suns in 1988 and is currently the Vice President for Facility Management with the organization.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Kentucky </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331222" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331222 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2154,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F515113900.jpeg" alt="Boston Celtics" width="3200" height="2154" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/515113900.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/515113900-768x517.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">1974- Closeup of Dave Cowens of the Boston Celtics in uniform, smiling,</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Kentucky: Dave Cowens</h2> <p>The state of Kentucky has produced a good number of Hall of Famers. Cliff Hagan, Wes Unseld and Frank Ramsey are a few, but the biggest name to come from the state is big man Dave Cowens.</p> <p>A Florida State University product, Cowens was selected fourth overall in the 1970 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics, after putting up 19.0 points and 17.2 rebounds per game.</p> <p>He won the 1970-71 Rookie of the Year award, averaging 17.0 points and 15.0 rebounds per contest. Cowens was a member of two championship teams with the Celtics in 1974 and 1975 alongside Jo Jo White and John Havlicek.</p> <p>He earned the MVP award in 1972-73, averaging 20.5 points, 16.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game as Boston posted a 68-14 record in the regular season.</p> <p>Along with his MVP award, he was also named to three All-NBA and three All-Defensive teams, showing off his ability to dominate on both ends. He also made eight All-Star appearances through his 10-year career with Boston.</p> <p>In 1980, he retired from the league but returned after a two-year absence to play his final season in 1982-83 with the Milwaukee Bucks. His impact wasn’t felt as much but he still managed to put up 8.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per contest.</p> <p>Cowens finished his career ranked third in franchise history in rebounds (10,170), ninth in points (13,192) and 10th in assists (2,828). On Feb. 8, 1981, his No. 18 jersey was retired by the Celtics and in 1991, he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Louisiana </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331235" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331235 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F696259540.jpeg" alt="Golden State Warriors" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/696259540.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/696259540-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Louisiana: Bill Russell</h2> <p>Forward Bill Russell is considered one of the greatest players in NBA history and he hails from Monroe, Louisiana. Russell made quite the name for himself in the league as a 6-foot-10 beast in the frontcourt.</p> <p>He attended the University of San Francisco in college, leading the Dons to back-to-back NCAA titles in 1955 and 1956. After college, he was selected second overall in the 1956 NBA Draft by the St. Louis Hawks. The Hawks traded him to the Boston Celtics on draft night.</p> <p>Russell led the league in rebounds four times and rebounds per game five times during his tenure with the Celtics. In 1963-64, he produced a career-high 24.7 rebounds per contest, ranking as the fourth-best average of all-time behind Wilt Chamberlain.</p> <p>As a member of the Celtics, Russell made 12 All-Star appearances, won 11 NBA titles and five MVP awards. He’s won the most individual titles as a player, winning in 11 of 12 NBA Finals appearances he made.</p> <p>Russell won eight NBA titles in a row from 1958-66, showing that with Russell, they had created quite the dynasty in Boston. He won all eight titles alongside some familiar Celtics’ names: K.C. Jones and Sam Jones.</p> <p>He racked up 14,522 points, which ranks eighth in franchise history and 21,620 rebounds, first in franchise history under head coach Red Auerbach. His legacy has lived on through the Celtics franchise as he’s currently an honorary presenter of the NBA Finals MVP award during the playoffs.</p> <p>In 1972, his No. 6 jersey was retired by the Boston Celtics and in 1975, he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Maine </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331345" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331345 size-large" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F665395202-850x560.jpeg" alt="Orlando Magic" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Maine: Jeff Turner</h2> <p>Forward Jeff Turner is one of two NBA players born in the state of Maine. He was born in Bangor, the capital of the state in 1962. He got his start in the game at Vanderbilt, where he emerged as a solid contributor by his senior year.</p> <p>In his senior season, he put up 16.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game as a starter, both career-highs. His production was enough to get him noticed at the next level. In the 1984 NBA Draft, he was taken as the seventh overall pick by the New Jersey Nets.</p> <p>After being drafted, Turner was selected to the 1984 U.S. National team prior to his rookie season in the league. He played alongside Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing and Chris Mullin in a reserve role as the team would go on to win the Gold Medal.</p> <p>He spent three seasons (1984-87) with the Nets, averaging 5.1 points and 2.7 rebounds per game before deciding to play overseas in 1987. From 1987-89, he enjoyed a pro tour in Italy before deciding to return to the NBA and join the Orlando Magic.</p> <p>His role with the Magic was a bit more memorable from 1989-96. Turner was a solid reserve for Orlando, averaging 6.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game in 19.9 minutes off the bench. They made a run to the NBA Finals during the 1995 playoffs but were swept in the end by Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets.</p> <p>Since retiring in 1996, Turner has been an in-game analyst on Orlando’s FOX Sports affiliate since 2013. He worked on the team’s radio color analyst from 1996-2005.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Maryland </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331364" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331364 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1064,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F55981076.jpeg" alt="Los Angeles Clippers" width="1600" height="1064" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/55981076.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/55981076-768x511.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Maryland: Sam Cassell</h2> <p>The state of Maryland is another one of those that hasn’t seen a Hall of Famer, but they’re close. Dennis Scott AKA 3D was born in Hagerstown and was one of the best 3-point shooters in his day. Steve Francis AKA Stevie Franchise was born in Silver Spring and made up one of the best duos with Yao Ming.</p> <p>Point guard Sam Cassell is the best player from the state though, given his longevity. Cassell played in the NBA for 15 seasons with eight different teams during his career. As an NBA journeyman, he won three titles with two different squads as a quality point guard.</p> <p>Cassell was taken 24th overall in the 1993 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets. He won two NBA Championships in 1993 and 1994 with the Rockets in his first two seasons in the league alongside Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olujawon.</p> <p>He was considered a solid playmaker and one of the smoothest scorers during his playing career. After three seasons in Houston, he played for the Suns for 22 games and the Dallas Mavericks for 16 games during the 1996-97 campaign.</p> <p>He landed with the Milwaukee Bucks from 1999-2003 for the longest stint of his career. In Milwaukee, he put up 19.0 points, 7.2 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals per contest as a full-time starter. He nearly dished out 20 assists in a game, too. During the 1999-00 season, he put racked up 19 assists in a tough 109-105 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.</p> <p>Cassell made the only All-Star appearance with the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2003-04 season, averaging 20.3 points, 7.5 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.</p> <p>He played for the Los Angeles Clippers from 2005-08 before joining the Boston Celtics the same season at the age of 38. He won his final NBA title with the Celtics in 2008 before retiring from the game of basketball in May 2009.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Massachusetts </a> </div> <h3> </h3><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331412" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331412 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F2074093.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/2074093.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/2074093-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Massachusetts: Bill Laimbeer</h2> <p>Bill Laimbeer was one of the most physical big men in the league in his day. He was originally born in Boston prior to building his career in the state of Michigan, which could be considered irony to the Basketball Gods.</p> <p>Laimbeer made his first basketball stop in college at Notre Dame where he played from 1975-79, though he missed the 1976-77 season due to being academically ineligible. He was drafted 65th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1979 NBA Draft, back when the draft was a whole lot bigger than just two rounds.</p> <p>He spent a season with the Cavaliers before being traded to Detroit during the 1981-82 campaign. He’s another member of the Detroit Pistons’ Bad Boys to appear in the best players from each state. He won back-to-back NBA titles in 1989 and 1990 with Isiah Thomas, Dennis Rodman and Joe Dumars in the rotation.</p> <p>He accumulated 12,665 points, 9,430 rebounds, 1,923 assists and 857 blocks during his time with the Pistons from 1981-93. He made four All-Star Appearances and led the league in rebounds per game (13.1) during the 1985-85 season while a member of Detroit. He ranks fifth currently in franchise history in points, first in rebounds and fourth in blocks.</p> <p>Laimbeer can now be found in the WNBA as the head coach of the Las Vegas Aces. He also coached the New York Liberty from 2013-17 and the Detroit Shock from 2002-09, where he won 3 WNBA championships as a head coach.</p> <p>He’s done a good amount for the Detroit franchise despite being born in Massachusetts. His legacy will live on despite his reputation.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Michigan </a> </div> <h3> </h3><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_318762" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-318762 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F985443362.jpeg" alt="Magic Johnson Los Angeles Lakers" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/985443362.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/985443362-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Michigan: Magic Johnson</h2> <p>The state of Michigan has produced a good number of players in the NBA. Hall of Famers like Don Nelson and George “The Iceman” Gervin hail from the state, but the best player by far is Earvin “Magic” Johnson.</p> <p>Magic took the nation by storm in the college ranks with the Michigan State Spartans. Out of friendship, a rivalry was born between Johnson and Larry Bird. Magic and Bird stood the test of time as they faced off numerous times in college and in the NBA.</p> <p>Johnson was the first overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1979 NBA Draft and instantly made an impact with his flashy playmaking and scoring ability. Considered one of the best all-around players in the game, Magic earned his name for his stat-sheet stuffing ways.</p> <p>He racked up 18 triple-doubles during the 1981-82 season while also leading the league in steals per game (2.7). Johnson led the league in steals the season prior in 1980-81 as well, his second season in the league.</p> <p>During his career with Los Angeles, he averaged 19.5 points, 11.2 assists, 7.2 rebounds and 1.9 steals per contest through 906 appearances. He was named the league’s MVP during the 1986-87 season and in back-to-back seasons from 1988-90 and racked up 138 triple-doubles as a Laker, second-most in league history.</p> <p>He won five NBA titles as a member of the Lakers, including three NBA Finals MVP awards and made 12 All-Star appearances during his 13-year career. His time with the Lakers was cut short due to an HIV diagnosis during the 1991 offseason. He did return for a final season in 1995-96 with Los Angeles before retiring officially.</p> <p>Magic is another Lakers’ player who stands in legendary lore, with his own statue outside of Staples Center. His No. 32 jersey was retired by Los Angeles in 1992 and he was inducted in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002. Currently, he is the President of Basketball Operations for the Lakers.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Minnesota </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331522" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331522 size-large" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F53033290-850x560.jpeg" alt="Boston Celtics" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Minnesota: Kevin McHale</h2> <p>The state of Minnesota has seen a rich history in the NBA with the upstart Minneapolis Lakers franchise. As far as players go, its lone Hall of Famer, Kevin McHale, takes the cake as the state’s best player.</p> <p>He attended college in-state at the University of Minnesota where he was a solid contributor for four seasons. He was the third overall pick in the 1980 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics, joining a roster of Larry Bird and Cedric Maxwell.</p> <p>McHale is another player who had the ability to impose his physical will on any game he played in, regardless of how it made him look. He was a key piece in the Celtics runs to NBA titles during the 1981, 1984 and 1986 Finals.</p> <p>He won his first NBA title during his rookie season as a reserve, earning two Sixth Man of the Year awards during his first five seasons. He also earned six All-Defensive teams and made seven All-Star appearances during his time with the Celtics and led the league in field goal percentage from 1986-88 and finished Top 10 in the league ranks in seven seasons with Boston.</p> <p>During his best season (1986-87), he averaged 26.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.2 blocks per contest while shooting a league-best 60.4 percent from the field. He also owns the second-best single-game scoring record in team history with 56 points on March 3, 1985, in a 138-129 victory over the Detroit Pistons.</p> <p>McHale retired from the league in 1993 after 13 seasons with the Celtics. He ranks second all-time in franchise history in blocks (1,690), fifth in points (17,335) and sixth in rebounds (7,122). On Jan. 30, 1994, his No. 32 jersey was retired and in 1999, he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Mississippi </a> </div> <h3> </h3><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331527" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331527 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F487615328.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/487615328.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/487615328-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Mississippi: Spencer Haywood</h2> <p>Mississippi has produced only two Hall of Famers in the NBA so far, but more are on the way. One of those Hall of Famers to make a name for himself is power forward Spencer Haywood.</p> <p>Prior to his career in the NBA, he also won a gold medal as a member of the 1968 U.S. National team. He led the team in points per game (16.1) and rebounds per game as its youngest player.</p> <p>The 6-foot-8 big man was a model of consistency in the frontcourt during his tenure in the NBA. He started his career with the Seattle SuperSonics as a member of the 1971 NBA Draft class.</p> <p>Haywood spent five seasons in Seattle, putting up 24.9 points, 12.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game while making four All-Star appearances. He put a career-high 51 points during the 1972-73 season against the Kansas City Kings,107-100, back on Jan. 3, 1973.</p> <p>After the 1974-75 season, he was traded to the New York Knicks, where his production dropped some, but he still managed to average double figures in scoring. With the Knicks, he averaged 17.1 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game from 1975-79.</p> <p>He jumped around again during the 1978-79 season, moving from the Knicks to the New Orleans Jazz in another trade. He won an NBA title during his career with the Los Angeles Lakers as a key reserve off the bench. During that year (1979-80), Haywood averaged 9.7 points and 4.6 rebounds on 48.7 percent shooting from the floor.</p> <p>Haywood played a season overseas in Italy in 1980-81 before returning to the NBA and playing for the Washington Bullets from 1981-83, where he finished his career. In February 2007, Haywood’s No. 24 jersey was retired by the Supersonics for his contributions and in 2015, he inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Missouri </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331537" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331537 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F87912187.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/87912187.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/87912187-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Missouri: Jo Jo White</h2> <p>The state of Missouri has already produced some of the top names in the NBA, depending on who you ask. Bradley Beal will go down as one of the best 3-point shooters in the game. Bill Bradley is another famous Hall of Famer born in the “Show Me State”.</p> <p>The best player, though, is another Boston Celtics’ star and this time it’s point guard Jo Jo White. White was one of the premier point guards in the league and gave teams fits with his ability on the hardwood.</p> <p>He was taken ninth overall in the 1969 NBA Draft by the Celtics. The 6-foot-3 point guard set the tone for the Celtics with his playmaking and scoring ability during his tenure. He made seven-straight All-Star appearances with Boston from 1971-77 as their floor general.</p> <p>He was an All-Rookie selection during the 1969-70 season, producing 12.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.</p> <p>During their run to the 1976 NBA Finals, White took home the Finals MVP award, averaging 21.7 points, 5.8 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals per contest against Alvan Adams and the Phoenix Suns. In his first title run with Boston, White led the team in assists per game (7.0) during the 1974 NBA Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks.</p> <p>White went down in Celtics lore when his career came to an end in 1981. By then, he also appeared on the Kansas City Kings and Golden State Warriors roster. His No. 10 jersey was retired by the Celtics in 1982 and he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Montana </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331539" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331539 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2245,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F113539872.jpeg" alt="Phil Jackson" width="3200" height="2245" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/113539872.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/113539872-768x539.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Montana: Phil Jackson</h2> <p>Montana has had a total of 10 players born in the state to make a name for themselves in the NBA. One of the most notable players has quite the resume as both a player and head coach. Born in Deer Lodge, Phil Jackson got his start at the University of North Dakota. His production was enough to get him drafted 17th overall in the 1967 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks.</p> <p>He was selected as an All-Rookie his first year in, averaging 6.2 points and 4.5 rebounds but a back injury slowed his development a bit. By the 1972-73 season, he was back and healthy again as the Knicks won the NBA title. Alongside Willis Reed, Walt Frazier and Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, Jackson was a solid contributor off the bench, averaging 8.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per contest that year.</p> <p>While he was a solid player, Jackson will be known the most for leading 11 teams to NBA titles as a head coach. Jackson was a pioneer of the Triangle Offense when he coached the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. In Chicago, he led the team to six NBA titles. In Los Angeles, he led the team to five NBA titles.</p> <p>As a head coach, Jackson accumulated 1,640 wins while coaching the likes of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. His footprint remains in the coaching ranks as one of the best to coach in the NBA and it’s well-documented in his book, “Eleven Rings”. Jackson was inducted in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Nebraska </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331542" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331542 size-large" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F53274453-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Photo by NBA Photo Library/NBAE via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Nebraska: Robert “Bob” Boozer</h2> <p>Nebraska hoops has seen just 13 players born from the state make waves in the NBA, but a Hall of Famer is soon to emerge somewhere. Forward Robert “Bob” Boozer is the first player that comes to mind when talking about the Hall of Fame.</p> <p>Boozer was a bit of a journeyman during his career in the NBA, playing for six different squads, but he made his impact known everywhere he went. He was the first overall pick in the 1959 NBA Draft by the Cincinnati Royals, where he began his career.</p> <p>He’s another player who saw success on the international stage with USA Basketball as well. He won a gold medal with the U.S. National squad in the 1960 Summer Olympics, alongside Walt Bellamy, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson.</p> <p>After four seasons with the Royals, he was traded to the New York Knicks in December 1963. He spent 129 games with the Knicks before they traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers in October 1965. He had a productive stint with the Knicks, putting up 15.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.</p> <p>After playing with the Lakers in 1965-66, he was taken by the Chicago Bulls in a 1966 expansion draft. He had the most productive seasons of his career with the Bulls, averaging 20.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per contest from 1966-69. He made the lone All-Star appearance of his career with the Bulls in 1967-68.</p> <p>Boozer made two more stops with the Seattle SuperSonics (1969-70) and Milwaukee Bucks (1970-71). In his final season with the Bucks, he won an NBA title before retiring following the season.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Nevada </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><p><img class="aligncenter wp-image-331545 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F287544.jpeg" alt="Memphis Grizzlies" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/287544.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/287544-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"></p> <h2>Best NBA player born in Nevada: Greg Anthony</h2> <p>The state of Nevada is a popular tourist attraction given its home to Las Vegas, but in terms of basketball talent, just 10 players born in the state have had careers in the NBA. Point guard Greg Anthony just beats out forward Ricky Davis for that crown, although Davis easily takes home the crown as best scorer with 9.912 total points.</p> <p>Anthony was part of the historic UNLV Runnin’ Rebels squad that beat Duke and Christian Laettner for the 1990 NCAA Championship. After starting at UNLV for four seasons, Anthony was drafted 12th overall in the 1991 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks.</p> <p>He did quality work as a reserve player for the Knicks, averaging 6.5 points and 4.2 assists and 1.1 steals per contest from 1991-95. The lefty point guard is most notably known for his quality run with big man Bryant Reeves and the Vancouver Grizzlies from 1995-97.</p> <p>He started in 112 of 134 appearances with the club. While a member of the Grizzlies, Anthony put up a career-best 11.8 points, 6.6 assists and 1.8 steals per game along with 2.7 rebounds per game.</p> <p>He averaged 7.3 points, 4.0 assists and 1.2 steals per game during his journeyman career in the league. Anthony made 610 3-pointers across his 11-year career in the NBA and shot 34.9 percent from behind the arc during his career while appearing with six different teams.</p> <p>Anthony is currently a television analyst on CBS Sports and his son, Cole, is currently dominating the prep circuit at Oak Hill Academy.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> New Hampshire </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331546" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331546 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F471434906.jpeg" alt="San Antonio Spurs" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/471434906.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/471434906-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in New Hampshire: Matt Bonner</h2> <p>Forward Matt Bonner is the only player born in the state of New Hampshire to have an NBA career. Bonner quietly snuck into the NBA, first with the Toronto Raptors, but he found his way as a solid role player with the San Antonio Spurs, winning two NBA titles in the process.</p> <p>Bonner played his college basketball with the Florida Gators from 1999-03, averaging 12.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per contest while shooting 39.5 percent from 3-point range. He was taken 45th overall in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls before being traded to the Toronto Raptors on draft night.</p> <p>He honed his skills overseas during the 2003-04 season and in his return, found his way soon enough with the Spurs. He was traded to San Antonio during the 2006 offseason.</p> <p>Bonner wasn’t a guy you wanted to let get hot or leave open from 3-point land. He made a career-high seven 3-pointers during the 2010-11 season with the Spurs in a Nov. 14 game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Bonner finished the game a perfect 7-of-7 from behind the arc with 21 points in the 117-104 victory. During that same season, Bonner led the league in 3-point field goal percentage at 45.7 percent.</p> <p>In 10 seasons with the Spurs, Bonner averaged just 5.5 points per game but shot 41.3 percent from 3-point range. As one of the best 3-point shooters off the bench, Bonner was always one to make his presence felt when he touched the floor. In January 2017, Bonner announced his retirement from the NBA.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> New Jersey </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331550" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331550 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F658377952.jpeg" alt="Los Angeles Lakers" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/658377952.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/658377952-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in New Jersey: Shaquille O’Neal</h2> <p>Rick Barry, Tom Heinsohn, Dennis Rodman, J.R. Smith, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jaren Jackson Jr. The state of New Jersey has produced a rich number of past, present and future stars in the NBA. The best player from the state was arguably the most dominant big man in the league and goes by the name of Shaquille O’Neal.</p> <p>The 7-foot-1, 325-pound big man made waves as the most polarizing player on the college basketball circuit while on the LSU Tigers. From there, he was taken first overall in the 1992 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic. In Orlando he was dominant as ever, winning the 1992-93 Rookie of the Year award in Year 1. In Year 2, he led the league in field goal percentage at 59.9 percent.</p> <p>His third year with Orlando, he led the league in scoring with 29.3 points per game. After getting swept in the 1996 Eastern Conference Finals by the Chicago Bulls, though, Shaq took a different direction with his career, joining the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent in the 1996 offseason.</p> <p>During the 1999-00 season, he led the NBA in scoring once again with 29.7 points per game and took home the MVP Award, too, as a result. That same season, O’Neal along with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers won his first NBA title and set off 3-peat in the process that won the NBA title in 2001 and 2002 as well. Shaq was named the Finals MVP in all three of those title victories.</p> <p>He didn’t win another ring with the Lakers after 2002, but he won the fourth ring of his career with Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat in 2006. In that postseason run, Shaq produced 18.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per contest at 33 years of age.</p> <p>In his final seasons, he appeared with the Phoenix Suns (2007-08), Cleveland Cavaliers (2009-10) and Boston Celtics for just two games in 2010-11 before calling it quits and retiring on June 1, 2011.</p> <p>He amassed 28,596 points, 13,099 rebounds, 3,026 assists and 2,732 blocks during his career in the NBA. In 2016, he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for his contributions. Now, he’s an analyst on Inside the NBA alongside Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> New Mexico </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331599" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331599 size-large" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F484171730-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in New Mexico: Bill Bridges</h2> <p>Seven players born in the state of New Mexico have found themselves in the NBA. One current player from the state is Oklahoma City Thunder wing Andre Roberson, who is in his fifth season in the league.</p> <p>6-foot-6 power forward Bill Bridges is the most notable player to produce at will in the league. He spent 13 seasons in the NBA, mostly as a member of the St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks. Bridges got his start in the league after being drafted 32nd overall by the Chicago Packers in the 1961 NBA Draft. He was traded by the Packers to St. Louis the following offseason.</p> <p>Bridges was a rebounding machine during his time in the NBA. He averaged a double-double during his career, 11.9 points and 11.9 rebounds per game to be exact, with some of the more exciting teams in Hawks’ history.</p> <p>He is one of four players to record at least 35 rebounds in a playoff game. In the Hawks’ 113-104 Game 2 victory over the Knicks back on March 27, 1971, Bridges snagged a playoff-best 36 rebounds to go along with 12 points.</p> <p>After playing for the Hawks from 1962-72, he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. After a season with the Sixers, he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he spent 1972-74 before being waived.</p> <p>He joined the Golden State Warriors in March 1975 during a key run to the playoffs. As a result, he won the lone NBA title of his career as a reserve. Following the season, Bridges retired from the NBA.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> New York </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331604" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331604 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2129,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F156546288.jpeg" alt="Los Angeles Lakers" width="3200" height="2129" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/156546288.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/156546288-768x511.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in New York: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar</h2> <p>The state of New York has been a hotbed for basketball talent, producing a whopping 358 players and counting since the NBA has been established. Michael Jordan (though he grew up in North Carolina), Julius Erving, Bernard King, Chris Mullin, Bob Cousy, Richie Guerin, Bob Lanier and Tiny Archibald are just the names of some of the Hall of Famers.</p> <p>The best of them all though was center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, inventor of the skyhook shot. In his early career, he was known to many as Lew Alcindor as he terrorized college opponents with the UCLA Bruins from 1966-69.</p> <p>The Bruins went 88-2 during his college career, winning three National Championships and three Most Outstanding Player awards despite the dunk being banned after the 1966-67 season which was dubbed the “Lew Alcindor Rule”.</p> <p>Abdul-Jabbar was selected first overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1969 NBA Draft. He played with the Bucks from 1969-75, making an All-Star appearance in each season. He averaged 30.4 points, 15.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.4 blocks per game during his tenure, winning the first of his six NBA titles during the 1970-71 campaign.</p> <p>The 1969-70 Rookie of the Year would go on to win six regular season MVP awards and 2 Finals MVP awards, one with the Bucks and one as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. He was traded to the Lakers by the Bucks during the 1975 offseason.</p> <p>With the Lakers his footprint only grew as he won five more NBA championships, putting up 22.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.5 blocks per game through 14 seasons. Considered one of the best ever, Abdul-Jabbar ranks first all-time in career points (38,387) and field goals made (15,837), second all-time in games played (1,560) and third all-time in career rebounds (17,440).</p> <p>He’s another Lakers’ players that’s been blessed with a statue outside of Staples Center. Along with the statue, his No. 33 jersey has been retired by the Bucks and Lakers. In 1995, he was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> North Carolina </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331609" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331609 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F470359289.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/470359289.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/470359289-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in North Carolina: Bob McAdoo</h2> <p>North Carolina is home to some of the most powerful college basketball programs, namely the Duke Blue Devils and North Carolina Tar Heels. The Tar Heels take the state’s bragging rights after producing Bob McAdoo in the 1972 NBA Draft class.</p> <p>McAdoo played under legendary head coach Dean Smith and the Tar Heels in the 1971-72 season, averaging 19.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game as they went 29-5 and made it all the way to the Final Four.</p> <p>His standout season was enough to get him drafted second overall in the 1972 NBA Draft by the Buffalo Braves. He led the league in scoring with the Braves a season after winning the 1972-73 Rookie of the Year award from 1973-76, averaging over 30 points per game for three straight seasons.</p> <p>During the 1974-75 season, he was awarded the regular season MVP award. He put up a career-high 50 points in a 108-102 victory over the Washington Bullets in the fourth game of the season, a foreshadowing of what was to come. He went on to average a career-best 34.5 points per game.</p> <p>McAdoo was traded to the New York Knicks during the 1976-77 campaign. Once he excelled with the Knicks, he was traded again to the Boston Celtics (1978-79), from the Celtics to the Detroit Pistons (1979-81)H, then from the Pistons, he signed to the New Jersey Nets.</p> <p>His value continued to show itself as the Nets then traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers. With the Lakers, he won two NBA titles in 1982 and 1985 as a key reserve across five seasons. After joining the Philadelphia 76ers for the 1985-86 season, he stepped away from the NBA to play overseas in Italy. McAdoo was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000 for his 14-year career.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> North Dakota </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331620" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331620 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1068618000.jpeg" alt="Miami Heat" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1068618000.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1068618000-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in North Dakota: Tyler Johnson</h2> <p>The state of North Dakota hasn’t been a hotbed for hoops, but there’s still a diamond in the rough. Shooter Doug McDermott is one notable player to hail from North Dakota. The best player is guard Tyler Johnson, someone who has taken an unlikely path to find stardom in the NBA.</p> <p>Since going undrafted in the 2014 NBA Draft, he’s found his way into a lucrative role with the Miami Heat. Johnson played his college basketball Fresno State University, where he improved his production each season. He averaged 15.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game as a senior while shooting 43.2 percent from 3-point range.</p> <p>Originally, Johnson was waived by the Heat back in October 2014 after signing a deal in August. He was brought back after signing two 10-day contracts in January 2015. He got the notice of NBA scouts on the G League circuit with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, averaging 18.5 points on 43.5 percent shooting from 3-point land.</p> <p>Since then, he’s signed two multi-year deals with Miami and continues to emerge as one of the best reserve guards in the East. Through five seasons with the Heat, Johnson is producing 11.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game while shooting 36.7 percent from behind the arc.</p> <p>He’s made a name for himself, despite the odds being stacked against him. In 2017-18, he made a career-high 119 3-pointers for the Heat. He’s not only a sharpshooter from behind the arc but he also has a knack for dunking on his opponents, too.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Ohio </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331629" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331629 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1064167472.jpeg" alt="Cleveland Cavaliers Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1064167472.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1064167472-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Ohio: LeBron James</h2> <p>The state of Ohio has seen the best player grow up right before their eyes. Since taking the national stage at St. Vincent-St. Mary’s High School, forward LeBron James has created quite the legacy for himself in the NBA.</p> <p>14-time All-Star, four-time MVP, three-time Finals MVP, 2007-08 scoring champion (30.0 points per game) and three-time NBA champion are some of the accolades he’s already achieved as he joins the Los Angeles Lakers franchise in 2018-19.</p> <p>James joined the Cleveland Cavaliers straight out of high school as the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. He won the 2003-04 Rookie of the Year award after producing 20.9 points, 5.9 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game and stamping his name as one of the best all-around players in the game.</p> <p>After seven seasons with the Cavaliers, he joined Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the Miami Heat to start his quest for a title run in 2010. From 2010-14, he won two titles with the group across four seasons before returning to Cleveland in 2014.</p> <p>James won the Cavalier’s first title in franchise history in 2016, putting together a masterful Finals performance. He put up 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 2.6 steals and 2.3 blocks per game to take home the Finals MVP award in a 4-3 series win over the Golden State Warriors.</p> <p>He will go down as one of the best players of his era with 16 seasons of experience under his belt and counting. As a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, he’s building the latest chapter in his legacy and so far, it’s fit the bill.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Oklahoma </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331631" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331631 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1064092090.jpeg" alt="Detroit Pistons" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1064092090.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1064092090-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Oklahoma: Blake Griffin</h2> <p>The state of Oklahoma is another state that is witnessing one of their own grow as an NBA player. Blake Griffin, one of the most athletically gifted forwards to play the game, was born in Oklahoma City and took the nation by storm with his talent on the Oklahoma Sooners.</p> <p>He won AP Player of the Year and the Naismith Award in his final year with Oklahoma in 2008-09 before making the leap to the league. The Los Angeles Clippers took him with the first overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft and after a winning the 2010-11 Rookie of the Year award (after sitting out his first year due to injury), the franchise turnaround was underway.</p> <p>Point guard Chris Paul joined the squad in 2011-12, giving the Clippers one of the best scoring duos in the West, dubbed Lob City. From 2010-18, Griffin terrorized opposing frontcourts with DeAndre Jordan opposite him in the post. He averaging 21.6 points, 9.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists per contest as a member of the Clippers.</p> <p>Griffin was shockingly traded to the Detroit Pistons in January 2018, just a season after signing a lucrative extension to remain in Los Angeles. He’s picked up where he’s left off with Detroit, though. This season, he’s averaging a career-best 25.1 points per game to go along with 10.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.</p> <p>As he looks to continue building his legacy, it will be interesting to see if he starts title-chasing or sticks with Detroit and tries to make it work there.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Oregon </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331636" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331636 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2128,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1137497.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2128" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1137497.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1137497-768x511.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Photo by: Mike Powell/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Oregon: A.C. Green</h2> <p>Oregon is another state that hasn’t produced a Hall of Famer just yet, but there are still a good number of players that made an impact that were born there. Forward A.C. Green put together the best career that spanned across 16 seasons with five different NBA squads.</p> <p>Green was one of the most reliable forwards in the game of the basketball during his tenure. As a starter with the Lakers, he won three NBA titles in 1987, 1988 and 2000.</p> <p>During the 1988-89 season, he made second-team All-Defensive honors as a member of the Lakers. The following season, he made the only All-Star appearance of his career in 1989-90 while averaging 12.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.</p> <p>Green joined the Phoenix Suns as a free agent in the 1993 offseason. He put a career-high 35 points in a 119-103 victory over the Sacramento Kings back on Jan. 15, 1994. He proved to be a solid force in the paint with Kevin Johnson and Dan Majerle in the backcourt.</p> <p>After three seasons with Phoenix, he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks traded him to the Lakers during the 1999 offseason. He finished his career with the Miami Heat in 2000-01. Green finished his career averaging 9.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game through 1,278 appearances.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Pennsylvania </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331639" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331639 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1254,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F911850832.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1254" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/911850832.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/911850832-768x602.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Photo by Dan Goshtigian/The Boston Globe via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Pennsylvania: Wilt Chamberlain</h2> <p>The state of Pennsylvania boasts the second-highest number (208) of players born there. The most notable was born in Philadelphia, PA on Aug. 21, 1936: Wilt Chamberlain. Chamberlain dominated the game much like Abdul-Jabbar, but it came with a lot more scoring production.</p> <p>He led the league in scoring seven times during his 14-year career in the league and with three different teams across the NBA, he made his presence felt. During the 1961-62 season, he averaged a league-best 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds per game with the San Francisco Warriors. He set the league record of 100 points in a single game against the New York Knicks on March 2, 1962. His 4,029 points in a single season is a record that has yet to be touched. Michael Jordan came close in 1986-87 with 3,041.</p> <p>Chamberlain won the first NBA title of his career with the Philadelphia 76ers during the 1966-67 season, the same year he was awarded one of four regular-season MVP awards. He won the second title of his career with the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1971-72 season. He took home Finals MVP honors after putting up 19.4 points and 23.2 rebounds per contest in the series against the Knicks.</p> <p>He’s the only player to average 30 points and 20 rebounds per game in a season, something he achieved seven times during his career. He also owns the most 50-point games (118) in league history. As one of the most dominant centers in the NBA, it’s hard to discuss greatness without mentioning Chamberlain’s name.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Rhode Island </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_313174" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-313174 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1292,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F899324030.jpeg" alt="Marvin Barnes" width="1600" height="1292" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/899324030.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/899324030-768x620.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">(Photo by Frank O’Brien/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Rhode Island: Marvin Barnes</h2> <p>Rhode Island is another state that’s produced just 10 NBA players officially. The best and most impactful was power forward Marvin Barnes, who hailed from Providence.</p> <p>Barnes began his basketball career at Providence College at the same token, averaging 20.7 points and 17.9 rebounds on 51.5 percent shooting from the field across his three seasons of eligibility.</p> <p>Originally drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the 1976 dispersal draft, Barnes wasn’t as impactful in the NBA as he was in the ABA with the Spirits of St. Louis. He was the 1974-75 ABA Rookie of the Year, producing 24.0 points, 15.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.2 steals per contest his first season in. His second season, he averaged another double-double with 24.1 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.</p> <p>In his first season with the Pistons, he averaged 9.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in 1976-77. After 12 games in 1977-78, he was traded to the Buffalo Braves during the season.</p> <p>Things improved a bit in Buffalo, as he averaged 11.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals through 48 appearances but he was traded once again in 1978 to the Boston Celtics.</p> <p>With Boston, his production dropped again and he was waived by the team in February 1979. He had one more stint with the San Diego Clippers but that didn’t go too well, either. Barnes averaged 3.2 points and 3.9 rebounds in 20 appearances with the Clippers in 197-80, his final season in the league.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> South Carolina </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331644" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331644 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F503701286.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/503701286.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/503701286-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in South Carolina: Kevin Garnett</h2> <p>South Carolina is the stomping grounds of one Hall of Famer already in Alex English, but a guy awaiting his nod to the shrine of greatness also hails from the state.</p> <p>Kevin Garnett, also known as The Big Ticket, is another high school player to make the successful leap to the pros. He dominated the big stage with the Minnesota Timberwolves from 1996-2006 then created the super team movement, pairing with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce in Boston in 2007.</p> <p>Garnett made 10 All-Star appearances with the Timberwolves and in 2003-04, he took home the regular season MVP award, averaging 24.2 points, 13.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.2 blocks and 1.5 steals per game that year. It was the furthest Garnett had ever made it in the playoffs in Minnesota, losing in six games to the Lakers in the 2004 Western Conference Finals.</p> <p>After missing the postseason in 2005, 2006 and 2007, Garnett initiated a change prior to the 2007-08 season, and soon he became a member of the Boston Celtics. Joining Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, the Celtics ran through their competition on their way to Garnett’s lone NBA championship.</p> <p>Garnett won Defensive Player of the Year that year, averaging 18.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.3 blocks per contest. Garnett and company didn’t win another title but his legacy was sealed with a title, not to mention they Celtics made it to another NBA Finals before breaking up in 2013.</p> <p>After 15 All-Star appearances, 12 All-Defensive selections and nine All-NBA selections, Garnett retired from the NBA in 2016. Now, he just awaits his call to the Hall of Fame.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> South Dakota </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331649" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331649 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F171039891.jpeg" alt="Miami Heat" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/171039891.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/171039891-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in South Dakota: Mike Miller</h2> <p>Mike Miller is one of five players in the NBA that hails from South Dakota. Despite the low number, Miller’s production isn’t hard to consider the best.</p> <p>As one of the best 3-point shooters in the history of the NBA, Miller has a 2000-01 Rookie of the Year award, a 2005-06 Sixth Man of the Year award and two NBA titles under his belt since entering the league in 2000.</p> <p>Miller was the fifth overall pick out of the University of Florida by the Orlando Magic in the 2000 NBA Draft. As a rookie, he averaged 11.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists per contest while shooting 40.7 percent from 3-point range.</p> <p>He won the Sixth Man of the Year award with the <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://hoopshabit.com/western-conference/memphis-grizzlies/">Memphis Grizzlies</a>. He averaged 13.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game while shooting 40.7 percent from behind the arc through 74 appearances that season. His knack for the 3-ball took him into career performances in Memphis. He made a career-high nine 3-pointers twice against the Golden State Warriors during the 2006-07 season.</p> <p>His two NBA titles came as a reserve member of the Miami Heat. When LeBron James or Dwyane Wade needed a big 3-pointer, Miller was their guy from 2010-13. He shot 58-of-148 (39.2 percent) from 3-point range during the postseason with Miami.</p> <p>Through 17 seasons, Miller never shot below 30 percent from behind the arc during the regular season despite playing with seven different teams across the league. For his career, he’s made 1,590 3-pointers, which ranks 23rd all-time in the history of the NBA.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Tennessee </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331651" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331651 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1137,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F95858242.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1137" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/95858242.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/95858242-768x546.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Tennessee: Oscar Robertson</h2> <p>Tennessee has produced two Hall of Famers in the NBA ranks and one of them was a one of a kind star in his day. Oscar Robertson, a native of Charlotte, Tenn., made quite the impact as a point guard with the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks.</p> <p>Robertson won the 1960-61 Rookie of the Year crown his first season with the Royals, nearly averaging a triple-double his first season in. He averaged 30.5 points, 10.1 rebounds and 9.7 assists per game, making his presence felt right away.</p> <p>He’s recorded the most triple-doubles in NBA history with 181 and one of only two players to average a triple-double during a regular season. During the 1961-62 season, Robertson averaged 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists per game with the Royals in only his second season in the NBA.</p> <p>He recorded a career-high 56 points with Cincinnati in a 111-107 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers back on Dec. 18, 1964. Robertson was traded by the Royals to the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1970 offseason and it immediately sparked a title run. He won his first NBA title in the 1970-1 season with a stout frontcourt of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bob Dandridge.</p> <p>Through his 14-year career, Robertson made 12 All-Star appearances, led the league in assists for six seasons and won the 1963-64 MVP award as a member of the Royals. He ranks sixth all-time in NBA history in assists (9,887), 12th in points (26,710) and 18th in field goals made (9,508). In 190, he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Texas </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331654" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331654 size-large" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F56662295-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Texas: Grant Hill</h2> <p>The Duke Blue Devils finally get some love, oddly enough, from the state of Texas, where basketball continues to grow across the state. Grant Hill is considered the best player from the state, for now, although names like LaMarcus Aldridge, Bill Sharman and Larry Johnson also hail from Texas.</p> <p>Hill attended Duke University, where he made a name for himself on the college basketball scene. After leaving a four-year legacy, Hill was taken third overall in the 1994 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. In Year 1, he won the1994-95 Rookie of the Year award, averaging 19.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game.</p> <p>Hill was an all-around playmaker when he entered the league. He set his career-high of 46 points with the Pistons during the 1998-99 season. He shot 14-of-21 from the floor in a 106-103 victory.</p> <p>He was traded to the Orlando Magic during the 2000 offseason but an ankle injury slowed him down from 2000-04, causing him to miss the entire 2003-04 season. Hill staged a comeback in 2004-05 with the Magic, earning an All-Star nod and appearing in 67 games during the regular season.</p> <p>Hill made another productive stint with the Phoenix Suns from 2007-12, but he never could find the elusive championship ring so many players crave. After seven All-Star appearances and five All-NBA selections, he retired from the NBA in 2013. He was officially enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in the Class of 2018.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Utah </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331657" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331657 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2136,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F928333370.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2136" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/928333370.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/928333370-768x513.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Utah: Tom Chambers</h2> <p>Utah has produced 25 players and counting in the NBA but like so many others, they’ve yet to produce a Hall of Famer. If anybody deserves the first nod, it’s power forward Tom Chambers.</p> <p>Chambers developed into one of the best shooting big men of his day, putting together productive stints with the Seattle Supersonics, Phoenix Suns and San Diego Clippers with highlight dunks and a smooth jump shot.</p> <p>He was selected eighth overall in the 1981 NBA Draft by the Clippers. As a rookie, he put up 17.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. His second year he put up similar numbers, but the organization had better ideas as they traded him to the Supersonics.</p> <p>From 1983-88, Chambers excelled with the Seattle franchise, making his first All-Star appearance during the 1986-87 season. He produced 23.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists per contest that year. A lot of it had to do with the 3-point shot he’d developed, making a career-high 54 3-pointers and shooting 37.2 percent from behind the arc.</p> <p>Chambers signed to the Suns in the 1988 offseason as a free agent and instantly made an impact. He holds the Suns record for most points in a single game with 60 on March 24, 1990. Phoenix was a competitive bunch with Chambers, Charles Barkley, Danny Ainge, Dan Majerle and Kevin Johnson on the roster. They made it to the 1993 NBA Finals, but fell to the Chicago Bulls, 4-2, in the end.</p> <p>Chambers was released from Phoenix after that season. He played 1993-95 with the Utah Jazz, but his production faded. He played overseas in Israel in 1995-96 then returned to the NBA in 1996-97 with the Charlotte Hornets, playing just 12 games. After one appearance with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1997-98, Chambers retired from the NBA soon after. His No. 24 jersey is retired in the Suns Ring of Honor along with other great names.</p> <h6><em>The state of Vermont has been omitted since it has produced zero players in the NBA.</em></h6> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Virginia </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_269656" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-269656 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1999,w_3000/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F09%2F109052846-portland-trailblazers-vs-philadelphia-76ers.jpg.jpg" alt="NBA" width="3000" height="1999" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/09/109052846-portland-trailblazers-vs-philadelphia-76ers.jpg.jpg 3000w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/09/109052846-portland-trailblazers-vs-philadelphia-76ers.jpg-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3000px) 100vw, 3000px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3000px;">Photo by Brian Drake/NBAE via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Virginia: Moses Malone</h2> <p>Virginia has a rich history of Hall of Famers that played in the NBA. Allen Iverson, Alonzo Mourning and Ralph Sampson are a few big names, but the biggest name is Petersburg native, Moses Malone. He’s one of the NBA’s all-time great centers and at 6-foot-10, he made his impact wherever he went.</p> <p>Malone had a journeyman career, despite making 13 All-Star appearances during his 19-year career. He was traded to the Houston Rockets after two games with the Buffalo Braves during his rookie season in 1976-77.</p> <p>He averaged 13.5 points, 13.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game in 80 games with the Rockets. He appeared in the first of 13-consecutive All-Star appearances in 1977-78, averaging 24.8 points and a league-best 17.6 rebounds per game that year.</p> <p>He was given the league’s MVP award during the 1978-79 campaign with the Rockets, During the 1981-82 season, he recorded 53 points and 22 rebounds in a 122-106 victory over the San Diego Clippers on Feb. 2. He was given the league’s MVP award that season as well. As a walking double-double, Malone showed his value no matter where he went.</p> <p>Malone was traded from Houston to the Philadelphia 76ers during the 1982 offseason. In his first season with the Sixers, he won the lone NBA title of his career along with the second-straight MVP award in 1982-83. He also took home the Finals MVP award, producing 25.8 points, 18.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per contest in the 1983 NBA Finals.</p> <p>The Sixers never made another run to the Finals after that with Malone and in the 1985 offseason, they traded him to the Washington Bullets. Malone spent the 1986-88 seasons with the Bullets before signing with the Atlanta Hawks in August 1988.</p> <p>After bouncing around to the Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, back to Philadelphia and then to the Spurs, Malone called it quits in 1995. He currently ranks second all-time in league history in free throws made, fifth all-time in rebounds (16,212) and ninth all-time in points (27,409). In 2001, he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Washington </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331666" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331666 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1070,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F90609201.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1070" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/90609201.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/90609201-768x514.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Washington: John Stockton</h2> <p>6-foot-1 point guard John Stockton is the only player born in Washington to be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame. He was inducted in 2009, after a productive19-year career with the Utah Jazz.</p> <p>Stockton was the model floor general for the Jazz, although it took a few seasons for him to crack the starting rotation. By his fourth season, he was averaging 14.7 points and a league-best 13.8 assists per game during the 1987-88 campaign.</p> <p>Stockton led the league in assists per game for another seven consecutive seasons after that and also found a knack for being a pesky defender. He led the league in steals per game during the 1988-89 and 1991-92 season.</p> <p>He holds numerous records with the Jazz regarding assists and steals. He tied the single-game playoff record for assists in a game (24) on May 17, 1988, against the Los Angeles Lakers. On Jan. 15, 1991, he dished out a career-high 28 assists against the San Antonio Spurs.</p> <p>The Jazz built a heated rivalry with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls and at every turn, they faced them in the NBA Finals. Utah lost to Chicago in the 1997 and 1998 NBA Finals led by a trio of Stockton, Karl Malone and Jeff Hornacek.</p> <p>Although he didn’t win a ring, Stockton still was a 10-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA selection and five-time All-Defensive selection during his career in the league. He ranks first in Jazz franchise history in 3-pointers made (845), steals (3,265) and assists (15,806) and second in points (19,711). Along with those first-place numbers, he’s also first all-time in league history in assists and steals.</p> <p>On June 7, 2010, his No. 12 jersey was retired and in 2009, he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> West Virginia </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331668" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331668 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2246,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1060646348.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2246" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1060646348.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1060646348-768x539.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in West Virginia: Jerry West</h2> <p>Jerry West is responsible for putting West Virginia hoops on the map and then some. The silhouette in the NBA logo is an ode to Jerry West, an early pioneer of the combo guard position.</p> <p>He began his career at West Virginia University from 1957-60, winning the Southern Conference Player of the Year award in 1959 and 1960. Despite losing 71-70 in the 1959 NCAA Tournament National Final, West was still awarded the Most Outstanding Player of the Year award, scoring 28 points and snagging 11 rebounds in the defeat.</p> <p>In the 1960 NBA Draft, he was selected second overall by the Los Angeles Lakers, where he built his legacy as one of the best to play the game. He appeared in the All-Star game in all 14 seasons during his career and took home the NBA Finals MVP award during their title run in 1969.</p> <p>In his lone NBA championship win, West led a frontcourt of Gail Goodrich and Wilt Chamberlain to an NBA title in the 1969 NBA Playoffs. West produced 19.8 points, 8.8 assists and 4.0 assists in their 4-1 series victory over the New York Knicks.</p> <p>Through 14 seasons, he averaged 27.0 points, 6.7 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game in a Lakers jersey. In 1980, he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and in November 1983, his No. 44 jersey was retired by the Lakers.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Wisconsin </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331669" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331669 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1072,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F52605961.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1072" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/52605961.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/52605961-768x515.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Photo By David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Wisconsin: Latrell Sprewell</h2> <p>Wisconsin has produced a quality number of players that have made names for themselves in the league. They don’t have any Hall of Famers yet, but that day looms with guys like forward Latrell Sprewell, a Milwaukee native.</p> <p>Some will call Sprewell an out-of-control superstar, but he still had talent when he wanted to play the game the right way. He was the 24th overall selection by the Golden State Warriors in the 1992 NBA Draft. As a member of the Warriors, he put together three All-Star seasons while averaging over 20 points per game each year.</p> <p>Across six seasons (1992-1998), Sprewell produced 20.1 points, 4.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 33.2 percent from behind the arc. He earned All-NBA and All-Defensive honors during the 1993-94 season, following an All-Rookie performance in 1992-1993. A falling out with head coach P.J. Carlesimo led to him being traded to the New York Knicks in 1998.</p> <p>He made an All-Star appearance with the Knicks in 2000-01, putting up 17.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.4 steals per contest. During the 2001-02 season, Sprewell set a new career-high for points in a game with 49 against the Boston Celtics on Dec. 11, 2001.</p> <p>Sprewell finished his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves after being traded there during the 2003 offseason. He averaged 14.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists from 2003-05. During the 2005-06 season, Sprewell officially retired from the NBA.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Wyoming </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_331670" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="wp-image-331670 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1042044086.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1042044086.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1042044086-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images</p> </div> </div> <h2>Best NBA player born in Wyoming: James Johnson</h2> <p>Wyoming is the last stop on our best player from each state journey. Wyoming is one of nine states that boasts single digits in the number of players produced from the state. The best player is a current star in the league: Forward James Johnson.</p> <p>Johnson flew under the radar in the college hoops scene, averaging 14.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per contest for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons from 2007-09. He did enough to get noticed by NBA scouts, going 16th overall in the 2009 NBA Draft to the Chicago Bulls.</p> <div class="recent-posts"> <h4>More from <b>All-Time Lists</b></h4> <ul><li> <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/08/14/ranking-nba-small-market-teams/">Ranking the NBA’s small market teams </a></li><li> <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/08/13/los-angeles-lakers-mount-rushmore/">Selecting the Los Angeles Lakers’ Mount Rushmore </a></li><li> <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/30/one-final-game-the-last-great-performance-for-nba-legends/">One Final Game: The last great performance for NBA legends </a></li><li> <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/19/ranking-75-best-players-nba-history-75th-anniversary/">Ranking the 75 best players in NBA history for 75th anniversary </a></li><li> <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/08/28/nba-one-player-forgot-played-favorite-team/">NBA: One player you forgot played for your favorite team </a></li></ul> </div> <p>He’s had a bit of a journeyman career since joining the Bulls. He played for the Toronto Raptors from 2010-12, the Kings during the 2012-13 season, the Memphis Grizzlies in 2013-14 and the Raptors again from 2014-16.</p> <p>Johnson’s recent stop in Miami, though, has changed things a bit. He’s found his way since joining the Heat in 2016 and remains a key player on the roster in 2018-19. Johnson has put up a career-best 11.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.0 steals per game as a member of the Miami Heat. He’s also shot a career-best 32.7 percent from behind the arc with the Heat.</p> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Best rebounder from each NBA team" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/13/greatest-rebounders-nba-team-history/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/28/nba-history-best-player-born-each-state/3/"https://hoopshabit.com/2018/11/13/greatest-rebounders-nba-team-history/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Best rebounder from each NBA team </a> </div> </div> <p>He recently returned to the Heat rotation on Nov. 18 after dealing with the lingering effects of sports hernia surgery. As he looks to get back in shape, he’ll have the added motivation of being the state’s best player, for now.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">

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