He was rookie of the year in 1971, league MVP in 1973, a three-time member of the All-Defensive first team and an eight-time All-Star. Whoever picked this list is not that knowledgeable about high school basketball history. Current star Domantas Sabonis could take the honor of Oregons best in years to come but for now it belongs to Brandon. Johnsons otherworldly passing set the stage for the Showtime L.A. Lakers teams that captured five championships during his 13 years with the franchise. Clutch" by Lakers announcer Chuck Hearn. His story still unfolding. After coming from tiny Summerfield, Malone played college ball at Louisiana Tech before spending all but one season of his career with the Utah Jazz and finishing second in career points and minutes played in NBA history. Pretty much all you can ask for from the best ever, no? He went on to win an MVP in 1995 and was named one of the 50 Greatest NBA Players of All Time in 1996. Shaq then found great success at LSU, becoming a two-time All-American and SEC Player of the Year. Basketball is one of the most popular games across the world. He stayed home and played college ball at Colorado, where his number has also since been put in the rafters. His Hall-of-Fame NBA career never included a stop with the New Jersey Nets but he played for six franchises, winning four titles with the Lakers and Heat. Before Elgin Baylor became one of the greatest players in NBA history, he starred at Spingarn High School and was named first team All-Met. His shooting proficiency made him one of the more dangerous shooters in the league, leading the league in three-point percentage (45.7) in 2010-2011. In his senior season at Florida State, he averaged 18.3 points, 4.9 assists and 4.3 rebounds and led the ACC in steals. And it forgets. The race for the best NBA player from Iowa came down to a couple of guys whose careers overlapped in recent years: Kirk Hinrich and Harrison Barnes. Before Michael Jordan became the greatest basketball player to walk the earth, he played at Emsley A. Laney High School in North Carolina. He was born in Hobbs and eventually played high school basketball there before going to college at Kansas. Ceballos bounced around with five teams over his lengthy career, averaging 14.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game as a small forward. Why Michael Jordan Was The Best By Neil Paine Filed under NBA Michael Jordans reputation as the GOAT has withstood the tests of both time and science. In the WNBA, Swoopes was the second player to win the MVP and All-Star game MVP in the same season. 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. His 14-season NBA career, all spent with the Lakers, included an All-Star selection every single year and 12 appearances on the All-NBA squad. Later that year, Elliott was drafted third overall by the San Antonio Spurs, the team hed win a championship with in 1999. The Mailman may not have won a ring but he ranks right near the top of many of the NBAs all-time records. Before Terry Porter became a solid contributor in the NBA, he was playing at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He led the league in free-throw shooting and assists during the 1976-77 season. High school: Mount Anthony High School (Bennington, Vt.). But do you know how he got to be so great? Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer. Prior to that, Robertson starred at Crispus Attucks High School, leading his school to a 31-1 record and winning the 1955 state championship. Login. Even villains can redeem themselves. Your email address will not be published. At 34 years and 104 days of age, Kobe became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 30,000 career points. Indeedy. Oscar Robertson was one of the best players during his era in the 1960s and early 1970s. Its time for BritannicaOK, one editor at Britannicato jump into the perpetually unresolved greatest ever in [insert sport here] fray. Michael Jordan: Jordan is widely considered the greatest NBA player of all time. He was first-team All-Pac-12 and the conference Defensive Player of the Year during his junior season. Keeping in mind the abilities, weaknesses, and achievements of all the basketball players, here we have shortened a list of players who are regarded as the greatest of all time. Initially, in 1994, with Olajuwon as the teams best player, the Rockets won their first NBA title by defeating the New York Knicks. Paul then helped Wake Forest get into the NCAA tournament a couple of times, eventually falling to West Virginia in his sophomore season. 3 college prospect in the Class of 2025. Hollins was an All-Star the next season and an All-Defensive team member in 1978 and 1979. He walked on to Central Arkansas as a 6-foot-1 guard, then sprouted to 6-foot-8 and became a lethal weapon. Hall of Famers Bob Pettit, Elvin Hayes, Clyde Drexler and Bill Russell all came from the Bayou State but none of them could match Karl Malones superhuman production and longevity in the league. A few dozen NBA players have come from Connecticut but theres only been one Hall of Famer so far. Dont be fooled by his humble small-college provenance and the Hick from French Lick nicknameLarry Bird was one of the fiercest competitors and greatest smack-talkers in NBA history. the best power forwards in the NBA right now, NBA Teams With Championships And Titles In The World, Who Has The Most Steals In An NBA Game? If he keeps working hard, and theres no reason to think otherwise, hell live up to it. 25 Decade-Defining Events in U.S. History, Timeline of the American Civil Rights Movement, https://www.britannica.com/list/the-10-greatest-basketball-players-of-all-time. He won five NBA championships with the Lakers. After helping the Seminoles advance to the Elite Eight in the 1993 NCAA tournament where they lost to the Kentucky he was drafted by the Houston Rockets in the first round with the 24th overall pick. Its played in over many countries with many variations of the game. Then, Robertson starred at Cincinnati, leading the Bearcats to two NCAA Final Four appearances and a 79-9 record when he was there. He was a four-time All-Star and two-time champion and he missed just nine games from 1980-1993, which is remarkable when you consider how many guys he hammered to the floor during his career. Bridges was a three-time All-Star with that team and a two-time member of the All-Defensive squad who averaged a double double of 11.9 points and rebounds per game for his career. Hello, I am a passionate and dedicated writer with a deep love for Basketball. Garnett made the leap from high school to the pros, and became a star with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past four-plus seasons. Nevada has not exactly been a hotbed for basketball talent over the years, so the pickings here were pretty slim, but Ricky Davis enjoyed a long career in the NBA as a journeyman shooting guard and small forward. McHale was born in Hibbing the same town that gave us Bob Dylan and was named Minnesotas Mr. Basketball as a high school senior in 1976 before playing at the University of Minnesota. Scottie Pippen wasn't always the best supporting player helping Michael Jordan capture the worlds imagination with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s. 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. Born: Sept. 16, 1934, in Washington, D.C. Died: March 22, 2021, in Los Angeles, California (age 86), High School: Phelps Vocational School, Spingarn High School (Washington, D.C.), College: College of Idaho (1954-55), Seattle (1956-58), Pros: Minneapolis Lakers (1958-60), Los Angeles Lakers (1960-72). So here is the article on the greatest basketball players of all time. Mamba came to the NBA straight out of high school there and spent his entire Hall-of-Fame career with the Lakers, winning five titles and making 18 All-Star Game appearances, which is one off of the all-time record. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. While Trenton native Dennis Rodman might exemplify the kind of no-nonsense attitude thats associated with New Jersey, the power of Diesel cant be denied. Before he was a two-time All-Star with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Terrell Brandon was born and raised in Portland. That would mean LeBron plays another three or four years. LeBron James just does things that shouldnt be humanly possible. ), Pros: Teramo Basket (2008-09), Gran Canaria (2009-11), Real Madrid (2011-present). But basketball was his true love, and he became a household name by hitting a game-winning buzzer-beater against Notre Dame in the 1981 NCAA tournment. 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 Las Vegas but played high school and college hoops in Iowa before being drafted by the Hornets in the first round in 1998. His free-throw shooting, on the other hand. Then, the small forward helped the Spurs win the franchises first NBA championship in 1999. In his sophomore season at Michigan State, Johnson led the Spartans past Larry Bird Indiana State in a legendary NCAA national championship game. He was born in Takoma Park before eventually playing college ball at Maryland, where his No. After leading his team to back-to-back state championships, he also became Ohios Mr. Basketball as well as the USA Today High School Player of the Year twice (2002 and 2003). The state is behind only California, New York and Illinois in terms of producing NBA players, and has given us all-time legends like Wilt Chamberlain and Pistol Pete Maravich. He was the key ingredient in the Chicago Bulls dynasty of the 90s, leading them to victory in six NBA titles. He is the all-time leader in assists with 15,806. In the NBA, Bonner played for the Toronto Raptors for a couple of years until he got traded to the Spurs in 2006. Bryant died in a helicopter crash in California in 2020. The late big man was born in Petersburg and was one of the first truly great NBA stars to come to the pros straight out of high school. While his entire pro career was spent in Los Angeles, Johnsons brilliant career started up north. He led his high school to a 68-1 record over two years and helped them win a state championship in his senior season. The Best No. Then, she helped lead UConn to a couple of NCAA championships in 2009 and 2010. 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). 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. It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. In the NBA, he helped lead the Cleveland Cavaliers become an Eastern Conference power with his shooting touch. Finally, after graduating from high school early, he got selected by his hometown Cavaliers in the 2003 NBA Draft. After playing college ball at Florida, Miller was a first-round pick by the Orlando Magic in 2000 and would spend time with seven different franchises during his 17-season career. Current Dallas Mavericks forward James Johnson is the only player born in Wyoming whos lasted more than three seasons in the NBA. In college at Georgetown, he led the Hoyas to the Sweet 16 in his freshman year, and in his sophomore and final season, he led the team to a Big East Championship and an Elite Eight appearance. Adam Augustyn is Managing Editor, Reference Content at Encyclopdia Britannica. While Hinrich had the longer career, Barnes is still working on his and has produced slightly better numbers so far. Kevin Garnett was one of the fiercest competitors in basketball. 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. We are here to give the best tips on it. Pros: Pallacanestro Messina (2003-04), Toronto Raptors (2004-06), San Antonio Spurs (2006-16). 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. He averaged 14.1 points and 7 rebounds per game during his time in the league. In 1969, Abdul-Jabbar signed with the Milwaukee Bucks and began his storied professional career. The Atlanta native was a seven-time All-Star in 13 NBA seasons, as well as a seven-time member of the first-team All-Defensive squad. At his peak, from 2004-2014, Wade was scoring 25.1 points per game to go with 6.1 assists and 5.1 rebounds, making him one of the most valuable players of his generation. Danny Ainge starred at North Eugene High School in football, basketball and baseball. Lionel Hollins is a basketball lifer. He spent 12 seasons in the league, also playing with the Heat, Cavaliers, Celtics, Timberwolves and Clippers. High school: East Bank High School (East Bank, W.Va.). High school: Don Antonio Lugo High School (Chino, Calif.). His entire Hall-of-Fame NBA career was spent with the Boston Celtics and hes now regarded as something close to a saint in that city. Bullet Bob Boozer came from Omaha and remained a major part of that community until his death in 2012. LeBron James is an American basketball player who currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Phoenix Suns selected Ceballos in the second round of the 1990 NBA draft with the 48th overall pick. 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. Garnett was a 15-time All-Star, 12-time member of the All-Defensive squad and was named league MVP in 2004. The 30 Best NBA Players of All Time, Ranked By Adam Caparell, Zion Olojede, Angel Diaz, Zach Frydenlund Jun 17, 2022 Image via Complex Original The 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. At the opposite end of the attractive play spectrum from Duncan is Shaquille ONeal. Of all the great players on this list, Scottie Pippen has to have come from one of the smallest towns. SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players Lillard becoming one of best scorers ever. In his junior year, he led the nation in scoring at 28.1 points per game and helped Gonzaga get a berth in the NCAA tournament, making it to the Sweet 16 before succumbing to UCLA. He was born in Tucson and eventually played college hoops at the University of Arizona, where he was twice named the Pac-10s player of the year and was named the best player in the nation in 1989. Most important player ever? 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. Kevin McHale became a legend early. Log in to join the discussion. Only two NBA players have come from Hawaii so far and both were All-Stars at some point. He repeated that feat against Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic. 1 Overall NBA Draft Picks of All Time #47 of 80 The Best Point Guards Currently in the NBA #27 of 34 Olajuwon retired in 2002 and got inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008. Of all the great ones to come from the Golden State including current icons like James Harden, Kawhi Leonard and Russell Westbrook its tough to top Gary Paytons legacy. Please wait for the page to reload. Hes led the league four times in assists and six times in steals, making him undoubtedly one of the best pure point guards to ever play the position. Jerry West is synonymous with basketball in his home state, as he was born in tiny Chelyan before becoming a national star at the University of West Virginia in the late 1950s. He was named Rookie of the Year in 1974 and NBA All-Rookie First Team that same year. Mike Miller may have grown up in a small town, but he was big time. His roots in the Tar Heel State obviously run deep but his long NBA career has unfortunately never included a stint in Charlotte. , 12-time member of the fiercest competitors in basketball to West Virginia his. Of age, Kobe became the greatest basketball player who currently plays for the Showtime L.A. 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