But to give him that label now is at best premature, and at worst willfully ignorant of history. One of the best NBA players to never be elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Tom Chambers racked up more than 20,000 points in his career as a power forward. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. She was the No. Jordan won six NBA championships and was the NBA Finals MVP in each of those years. Also, his career totals were inflated by the fact that he played roughly 10,000 years in the NBA. 1. Scott led the Lakers in scoring at 21.7 points per game during the 1987-88 season, and helped them win a title that same year, one of his three NBA championships. The former All-Star has the distinction of being the shortest player ever inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, as he stands at just 5 feet 9 inches. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer. ESPN ranks Cooper Flagg the nations No. Nicole Levesque was named one of the 50 Greatest Sports Figures from Vermont. He grew four inches in the summer and averaged 20 points per game over his final two years in high school. Before he left his mark on the NBA, he starred at Bethel High School, where he led both the football and basketball programs to state championships. High school: North Eugene High School (Eugene, Ore.), Pros: Boston Celtics (1981-89), Sacramento Kings (1989-90), Portland Trail Blazers (1990-92), Phoenix Suns (1992-95). He turned down a scholarship from Bobby Knight to play at Indiana University because he thought the campus in Bloomington was too big, so he went to Indiana State, averaged 30.3 points, 13.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game, and helped Indiana State reach the NCAA tournament for the first time with a 33-0 record in 1979. He led the NBA in scoring for two seasons. He helped the Rockets win back-to-back championships in his first two season and was part of the Celtic' title team in 2008, his final NBA season. Diana Taurasi is the best offensive player in WNBA history (and No. But ONeal wasnt just pure physicalityhe was surprisingly graceful for such a massive man and he had a deft touch with his close-range jump shots. According to the exhaustive database of player birthplaces compiled at Basketball Reference, Mario Chalmers is the only player in NBA history to come from Alaska. In his two seasons in the ABA, Barnes averaged more than 24 points per game, which landed on the leagues All-Time Team in 1997. The Pistol played in only 4 All-Star games but still managed to average 24.2 points per game over his career and is considered one of the best pure scorers in NBA history.. Pete Maravich 14. Moreover, he not only faced the incredible pressure of being anointed The Chosen One by Sports Illustrated as a teenager, but hes actually exceeded the lofty expectations set for him. Hes averaged better than 13 points per game over the past two seasons and was a key starter during the Heats trip to the NBA Finals in 2020. Russell was the ultimate winner in the history of the NBA. Days after the Nokomis Regional High freshman was named the Varsity Maine boys basketball Player of the Year, ESPN ranked Flagg the third-best college basketball prospect nationwide in the Class of 2025. Ten Greatest Basketball Players Ever. Can you believe that no player from Vermont has ever played a game in the NBA? But he didnt earn his place on this list though some sort of vague, ethereal winningness. Russell was one of the fiercest defenders of all time and he redefined the value of blocking shots, in addition to averaging an incredible 22.5 rebounds per game over his career. Long before Larry Bird became an NBA Hall of Famer, he was "The Hick From French Lick" a basketball prodigy from Indiana who set the all-time scoring record at Springs Valley High School, averaging 31 points, 21 rebounds and four assists his senior year. 3 college prospect in the Class of 2025. In more than 1,000 career NBA games, Billups averaged 15.2 points and was a five-time All-Star. However, Simplemost may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website. The most notable of his scoring feats came on March 2, 1962, when he put up an astounding 100 points in a game, an NBA record that will likely never be broken. Most obsessively competitive to the detriment of ever having normal human relations with anybody? Bryant averaged 30.8 points, 12 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 4 steals and 3.8 blocks, while leading Lower Merion to a 31-3 record. Floridas Montverde Academy, a school that regularly produces college and NBA players. Yes, the NBA consisted of just 8 to 14 teams during this period, so capturing championships was a statistically easier feat for a single franchise, but even that fact doesnt minimize Russells historic accomplishments. Then Ceballos went the junior college route and played at Ventura College, before catching the attention of NBA scouts at Cal State Fullerton. In the NBA, Iverson became known for his quickness and tough drives to the basket, where he would take a lot of contact. As a senior, he averaged a triple-double with 29.2 points, 11.6 rebounds and 10.1 assists, and made the McDonalds All-American team. Baylor continued his success at Seattle, leading his team to the 1958 NCAA tournament title game, eventually falling to the Kentucky Wildcats. Through the publication of this list, James has averaged a Robertson-esque 27.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.9 steals per game andunlike the Big Ohe was doing so against teams stocked with elite athletes and not players who smoked cigarettes at halftime. Before he became synonymous with South Florida hoops, Wade was a star high school player in the suburb of Oak Lawn. Delle Donne received a scholarship to play for UConn, but dropped out of the summer school program because she wanted to be close to family. The curation of this content is at the discretion of the author, and not necessarily reflective of the views of Encyclopaedia Britannica or its editorial staff. The 69 Johnson (making him the NBAs tallest point guard) not only posted the best assists-per-game mark in league history (11.2) but had a tremendous all-around game, as well. Thats why its a good thing for us that Michael Jordan was born there because it takes all the work out of sorting through those hundreds of options to find the best one. He helped Golden State win a title in 2015 and became a solid contributor for the Dallas Mavericks after the 2016 season. Before we crown him, though, lets at least let him get his drivers license. Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award Morgan Wootten High School Player of the Year Award Gatorade National Player of the Year McDonalds National The NBA had three very good players from Kansas all playing at the same time starting in the mid-1970s. Know Double Dribble Rules. Bryant entered the NBA directly from high school. While Hinrich had the longer career, Barnes is still working on his and has produced slightly better numbers so far. Hes been bouncing around the league since 2009, when he was a first-round pick by the Bulls. Success at the WNBA level followed as she helped lead the Phoenix Mercury to their first WNBA title over the defending champion, Detroit Shock in 2007. He repeated that feat against Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic. The commonwealth of Kentucky has given the NBA some truly great players, with Dave Cowens at the forefront. Fantasy Basketball. He was named Rookie of the Year in 1974 and NBA All-Rookie First Team that same year. WebHigh School Sports - Schedules, Scores, Rankings - MaxPreps It wasnt just his God-given talent but his work ethic and determination to be the best that made him great. Ohio is right up there among the most prolific states in terms of producing NBA talent but none have left the impact of LeBron James. Discussions between basketball fans have been raging over who are the greatest basketball players of all time to take part in the history of this great game. The Cowboy State isnt exactly known for cranking out ballers but Johnson has done a nice job representing his home state in the past decade. One of the greatest defenders in history, he was named to the leagues prestigious All-Defensive first team eight times. Pros: Denver Nuggets (1990-96), Sacramento Kings (1996-98), Fenerbahce (1998-99), Vancouver Grizzlies (2000-01), Ural Great (2003-04), Sedima Roseto (2004-05), Aris BC (2006-07), Al-Ittihad (2007-08), Kyoto Hannaryz (2009-11). Johnson went undrafted, but it did not deter him as he joined the Miami Heat for summer league. The seeds of intensity were planted in South Carolina, where he was named National High School Player of the Year after his junior season at Mauldin. While this list honors NBA greats from every state, Rhode Islands best player was more known for his brilliant-but-brief career in the ABA. He was born in Oklahoma City and delighted the basketball fans in his home state when he stayed home to play college ball at the University of Oklahoma. Hooper last played for the Atlanta Dream and the Chicago Sky in 2017. Here's where and how basketball stars, generational talents and legends were born. His roots in the Tar Heel State obviously run deep but his long NBA career has unfortunately never included a stint in Charlotte. High school: Mount Anthony High School (Bennington, Vt.). The best of the best graduate to the NBA and WNBA. With every ounce of defensive energy focused on stopping Mims, the Rams still couldnt do it. Davis was a career 13.5-point scorer but had his best season with Cleveland in 2002-03, when he started 76 games and averaged 20.6 points per game. Big Shot had his jersey number retired by that franchise for his starring role on the 2004 championship team, he was born and raised in Denver. So, yeah, Magic Johnsonneat guy. In my free time, you can find me lost in a good book, traveling to new and exciting places, or simply enjoying the beauty of nature. In the NBA, Miller became a proficient three-point sniper with a career average of 40.7 percent from beyond the arc. He finished his senior year as first-team All-Met and was the area's best basketball player in 1954. Jaycee Carroll has gone from local hero to international star in the EuroLeague and FIBA. He spent most of his career with the Hawks, spanning time between the franchises eras in St. Louis and Atlanta. What? Ceballos led the Lakers in scoring in 1995 and was an All-Star. Perhaps more than any of the other mainstream American sports, basketball has embraced its standing as an international game. Hes potential personified. Theres one player that always comes to mind when you think about excellence. It wasnt until 1894 that he acquired a soccer ball and reduced the team size to nine players per side. James won two titles in Miami, and then in 2014, he left Miami to come back to Cleveland to fulfill a promise of winning a championship, which he did in 2016 by leading a comeback down 3-1 against the 73-win Warriors. Thats what social media does. Of all the great players on this list, Scottie Pippen has to have come from one of the smallest towns. In 2007 he also led the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first-ever NBA finals appearance against the San Antonio Spurs. Others play overseas. Bill Laimbeer was born in Boston and the toughness associated with that town would follow him to Detroit, where he became one of the most feared defenders in the NBA for his rough style of play in the 1980s. He became the all-time leading scorer for the Lakers franchise. Moreover, his rivalry with Magic Johnsonwho, spoiler alert, youll see a bit later in this listduring the 1980s launched basketball into an unprecedented level of national popularity that the sport has never fallen from. He first tasted glory at Ames High School, leading the school to an Iowa 4A State championship in his junior and senior years. Payton is also At the opposite end of the attractive play spectrum from Duncan is Shaquille ONeal. With years of experience in both creative and technical writing, I have sharpened my skills and developed a unique representative that resonates with readers. He is the all-time UMass leader in blocks (336) and was only the fourth college player ever to reject 300-plus shot. High school: Conard (West Hartford, Conn.), Hartford Public, Pros: Toronto Raptors (1996-98), New York Knicks (1998-2002, 2012-13), Denver Nuggets (2002-08), Los Angeles Clippers (2008-10), Portland Trail Blazers (2010-12), Houston Rockets (2012). He led the league in rebounding six times and was a 13-time All-Star who spent time with nine different franchises across the ABA and NBA, winning a championship with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1983. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Robertson was the first player in league history to average a triple double for an entire season, which he did in 1962 with the Cincinnati Royals, and his career averages ended up being 25.7 points, 9.5 assists and 7.5 rebounds per game. He was a big part of the Bulls winning six championships in eight years, the NBA Finals MVP on all six occasions with two three-peats. High school: Palos Verdes High School (Palos Verdes, Calif.), Pros: Cleveland Cavaliers (1980-82), Detroit Pistons (1982-93). He led Mead to the title game, scoring 37 points with hypoglycemia. ( Click here for our 5-on-5 debate.) He finished his college career as the leading scorer in Arizona history. 13. When he got to the NBA, some thought the 6-foot-9 player was too small to play center, but he proved the doubters wrong, averaging 17 points and 15 rebounds per game in his rookie campaign. 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