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Sam Cassell wasn't the biggest player in basketball history, but he had big game. Bill Russell was an 11-time NBA champion in a 13-year Hall of Fame career. COMMENTARY: Such a label is unfair to the 15-year-old phenom, and short-sighted given the professional basketball success of others before him. WebHe averaged a stellar 22.6 points and 9.1 rebounds per game for his career, easily landing him in the Hall of Fame and on this list of the greatest NBA players ever. Famously, he played center in place of the injured Abdul-Jabbar in the title-clinching game six of the 1980 NBA finals as a 20-year-old rookie. 23 jersey is now honored by the program. With years of experience in both creative and technical writing, I have sharpened my skills and developed a unique representative that resonates with readers. Mario Chalmers always has been a winner. Who else could represent Indiana but The Hick from French Lick? Larry Bird was born in West Baden Springs (population: 475), in Indianas French Lick Township and would make his home state proud by taking Indiana State to the NCAA championship game in 1979. Finally, after graduating from high school early, he got selected by his hometown Cavaliers in the 2003 NBA Draft. 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. Position: Small forward, power forward, point guard, shooting guard, High school: St. Vincent-St. Mary High School (Akron, Ohio), Pros: Cleveland Cavaliers (2003-10, 2014-18), Miami Heat (2010-14), Los Angeles Lakers (2018-present). The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. Three-time All-America at Maine; led NL in ERA (2.08) with Giants in 1992, won 21 games in '93. 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. Some states offered obvious answers while others are ripe for debate, but here are our picks for the best NBA player to come from every state. Following his 10-year playing career, Hollins wore a coaching suit for over 30 years. He won a league title in all but two of his 13 seasons as a member of the Boston Celtics. At the University of Maine, she became the second woman in NCAA Division I history to lead the nation in scoring in four consecutive years and is one of only 13 women college basketball players who surpassed the 3,000-point mark in their collegiate careers. Then, she helped lead UConn to a couple of NCAA championships in 2009 and 2010. In 1961-1962, Robertson became the first player in league history to average a triple-double for a season, with 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists. High school: Don Antonio Lugo High School (Chino, Calif.). 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. In the WNBA, she spent one season with the Cleveland Rockers before being traded to the Sacramento Monarchs and playing three more seasons. High school: Morningside High School (Inglewood, Calif.), Pros: Los Angeles Lakers (1983-93, 1996-97), Indiana Pacers (1993-95), Vancouver Grizzlies (1995-96), Panathinaikos (1997-98). In 2007, he was traded to the Boston Celtics, and that next year, Garnett was an integral piece to Bostons championship run in 2008. His accomplishments in the NBA are unmatched and include six championships, five MVP awards and 10 league scoring titles. 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. This list is, naturally, incredibly subjective, and shouldnt be taken too seriously. Deerings Nik Caner-Medley and Edward Littles Troy Barnies have made very good livings playing professional basketball overseas after playing collegiately at Maryland and Maine, respectively. Combine that with the fact that Maine produces fewer NCAA Division I basketball players than most other states, so when a player of Flaggs caliber comes along, memory gets shorter and cloudy. 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. In 2014, Taurasi earned MVP honors again while helping the Mercury set a single-season wins record with 29 and win another championship. Then, he went onto the NBA, where he played on five different teams and averaged double digits in scoring six times. Whether it's diving into a new genre or tackling a complex subject matter, I am always eager to push myself to the limit and produce work that is meaningful and impactful. Havlicek won 2 NBA championships while playing for the Boston Celtics, along with Bill Russell as a player He's now known as "Larry Legend. He finished his 21-year NBA career in 2015 as a 15-time All-Star. However, during the summer, Barkley shot up to 6-foot-4 and made the varsity team, leading them to a 26-3 record and the state semifinals in his senior year. Bullet Bob Boozer came from Omaha and remained a major part of that community until his death in 2012. It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. LeBron James overtook Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBAs leading scorer in February 2023.]. We all know Michael Jordan as the greatest basketball player of all time. High school: Osbourn Park High School (Manassas, Va.). Before retiring in 2015, he spent 12 seasons in the league, splitting his time with five different franchises but in Seattle for the majority of them. That was the case with Charles Barkley, whose roots in Alabama run deep. Morrison started to make an impact on Gonzaga in his sophomore year when he averaged 19 points per game. After being born in Oakland, The Glove spent 17 seasons in the NBA, making the All-Star team, All-NBA first team and All-Defensive first team nine times each. Maine Duncan Robinson. West averaged 32 points per game during the tournament and led his team in scoring and rebounding each game. Ernie DiGregorio was a phenomenal passer before he made the NBA. He eventually won three NBA championships and was a 13-time All-Star, all with the Miami Heat. Ricky Davis helped Davenport North to the state tournament, but did not reach the championship game. 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. He earned All-Rookie first-team honors in 1975 and was a key component of the Portland Trail Blazers lone championship in 1977. Position: Small forward and power forward. Oh my, yes. Then, he had a decorated University of Minnesota career, ranking second in school history with 1,704 points and 950 rebounds. Create a commenting profile by providing an email address, password and display name. The Celtics had played for 10 seasons before Russell joined the team, never once reaching a championship series in that time. Russell was the ultimate winner in the history of the NBA. Allen Iverson is one of the greatest pound-for-pound players in NBA history. LeBron James just does things that shouldnt be humanly possible. Can you guess what it is? On the womens side, Shaftsbury native Nicole Levesque is the only Vermonter to have ever played in the WNBA. He was a late bloomer who didn't even start for his high school team until a player went down with an injury. Oh, and the 12-time All-Star also helped initiate true free agency into the NBA through a landmark antitrust suit, an accomplishment just as impressive as his jaw-dropping on-court exploits. While at UCLA, he led the Bruins to three consecutive NCAA championships from 1967 to 1969. LeBron James is an American basketball player who currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). 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. After graduating from Notre Dame, he was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1979, played professionally in Italy for a year, then returned to play for the Cavaliers. The Point God was born in Winston-Salem and would be named the states Mr. Basketball before staying in his hometown to become a college hoops star at Wake Forest. He was a two-time All-Star and averaged 14.2 points per game for his 12-season NBA career. Basketball is one of the most popular games across the world. Before he was internationally known by a single nickname, Shaquille ONeal was born in Newark and the Boys and Girls Club of America chapter there played a major part in his early life. Our pick for the best baller from Massachusetts never spent any time playing with the Celtics, instead making his name with the Pistons. As a shooting guard, he spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Miller helped contribute to the Miami Heat winning back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013 before calling it a 17-year career in 2017. Then, at Nebraska, she helped the Cornhuskers reach the NCAA tournament. But as a sophomore, trying out for the varsity team, he was deemed too small at only 5-foot-11. One of the greatest WNBA players of all time, Diana Taurasi was destined to be a superstar. With every ounce of defensive energy focused on stopping Mims, the Rams still couldnt do it. The Hall of Famer was a 12-time All-Star in 14 seasons and won a championship with the Bucks in 1971. The Houston Rockets selected him as the first overall pick of the 1984 NBA draft, and he made an immediate splash in his rookie season by winning that years NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. Born: August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pa. Died: Jan. 26, 2020, in Calabasas, California (age 41), High school: Lower Merion High School (Ardmore, Pa.). #39 Paul Arizin (1951-1962) Amazon The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page. Robinson had a Hall-of-Fame career with the San Antonio Spurs that lasted 14 seasons and included two championships. Jordan Hooper was a member of the Tulsa Shock for the 2014 season and has bounced around in her WNBA career. Before we crown him, though, lets at least let him get his drivers license. Kobe is an 18-time All-Star, a 15-time member of the All-NBA Team, and also a 12-time member of the All-Defensive team. Cooper Flagg well may become the best basketball player ever from Maine. Maya Moore got an early start on winning and stardom. Stockton was a 10-time All-Star and 11-time All-NBA selection and is possibly the best pure point guard in history. So here is the article on the greatest basketball players of all time. But Catchings is the most complete basketball player I have ever seen. A few dozen NBA players have come from Connecticut but theres only been one Hall of Famer so far. Fantasy Basketball. Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. 3 college prospect in the Class of 2025. 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. Danny Ainge starred at North Eugene High School in football, basketball and baseball. The gold standard for Maine high school hoops is still Cindy Blodgett, who did things at Lawrence that no girls or boys basketball player in Maine had done before or since. Login. 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. 1. We are here to give the best tips on it. High school: Springs Valley High School (French Lick, Ind.). Kobe Bean Bryant is an American former basketball player. 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. While LaMarcus Aldridge has deeper ties to Texas basketball in general, Hall of Famer Bill Sharman had the best career of anyone from the Lone Star State so far. The Coeur dAlene native had a standout college career at Oregon before being drafted in the first round by the SuperSonics in 2003. He was born in the city of Ogden, Utah and stayed in his home state to play hoops at the University of Utah, where he was a first-team All-WAC selection. 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. Log in to join the discussion. In college, Stockton starred at Gonzaga, leading the Bulldogs to their best record in 17 years at 17-11 during his senior season. He stayed home and played college ball at Colorado, where his number has also since been put in the rafters. Mark Price was more than a shooter. 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. She was the only Vermonter to play in the WNBA. He was a player to watch in middle school and became a prodigy at St. Vincent-St. Marys High School in Akron, Ohio. While the late Kobe Bryant would seem like the obvious choice to represent his home state, there was a lot of great competition representing Pennsylvania. Lionel Hollins is a basketball lifer. Hes also one of just eight players in history to win league MVP honors at least three times. He racked up three championship rings and 12 All-Star appearances in his injury-shortened 13-year career. He transferred to Farragut Academy in Chicago for his senior season, led his team to a 28-2 record and was so good he was named National Player of the Year again after averaging 25.2 points, 17.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists. While his famously vanilla playing style and quiet demeanor kept him from having a cultural impact similar to the other greats, his four championships, 14 All-Star Games, and two NBA MVP awards are indisputable evidence of his fantastic ability. Born: Feb. 13, 1981, in Coeur dAlene, Idaho, High school: Blaine High School (Blaine, Wash.), Pros: Seattle SuperSonics (2003-08), Milwaukee Bucks (2008-10, 2013-14), Minnesota Timberwolves (2010-13), Charlotte Bobcats (2014), Orlando Magic (2014-15). Later that year, Elliott was drafted third overall by the San Antonio Spurs, the team hed win a championship with in 1999. His unique blend of power and speed raised eyebrows, and he was drafted No. 52, we rank the best all-time women's players by jersey number. In 10 seasons with that franchise, Sharman proved to be a deadly shooting guard and helped lead them to four championships from 1957-1961. He helped his high school and Michigan State win championships. The uber-confident Bird had arguably the quickest release of anyone to ever play basketball and hed often let his defender know that the shot was going in soon after it left his hands. For most of his childhood, he dreamed of becoming a soccer player like his father. As magnificent as earlier players were, they never had to deal with the 24/7 stresses of 21st century media, which James has with aplomb. However, once Jordan and the Bulls got past the Pistons, they went on to three-peat on two separate occasions, and Jordan cemented his legacy as the GOAT. He played well in his rookie season, but a torn ACL in his sophomore season derailed any hopes of him becoming the player he once was. There, he was named an NAIA First-Team All-American as a junior and senior. Heres why. Going back a little farther to the 1990s, there was TJ Caouette at Winthrop High, who had 63 scholarship offers before choosing to play at Villanova, and Andy Bedard, who went from Mountain Valley High to basketball greenhouse Maine Central Institute (the Montverde Academy of its time) before playing collegiately at Boston College and Maine. Hes the NBAs all-time leader in both assists and steals and is unlikely to be passed in either category any time soon. However, multiple playoff failures made him choose to leave Cleveland to go to Miami to play with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, a move that was heavily criticized. Soon after, he went to the NBA and continued his rivalry with Bird and the Celtics sparking a basketball renaissance. This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login. In the NBA, he made a name for himself by becoming an elite floor general, with a steady midrange jump shot and toughness on defense for his 6-foot, 175-pound size. 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. During the 196162 season, The Big O averaged a triple-double with 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists per game. In the NBA, West helped the Lakers improve their win total by 11 and the Lakers made the playoffs in his rookie campaign. In 1975, after six successful seasons with the Bucks, Abdul-Jabbar was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he played 14 seasons and also become one of the teams most revered players. Not only does he routinely pull off feats that Ive never before seen, he has consistently evolved his game to fix the relative weak spots he was previously criticized for. In Robinsons final two years at Navy, he earned the Naismith and Wooden awards, as well as becoming an All-American. Even though he is in his 18th NBA season, the 36-year-old is playing at an MVP level and has said he wants to keep playing until his son, who is in the 10th grade now, is in the league. In 1995 they won again, beating the Orlando 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. Quite possibly. There's one state that has never produced an NBA player. There have only been two players from Maine to suit up in the NBA and while his legacy is still being built, we gave the nod to Duncan Robinson over Jeff Turner. He helped the Spurs win a title that year and was re-signed. Johnsons otherworldly passing set the stage for the Showtime L.A. Lakers teams that captured five championships during his 13 years with the franchise. His roots in the Tar Heel State obviously run deep but his long NBA career has unfortunately never included a stint in Charlotte. Since 2002, Laimbeer has been coaching in the WNBA. 3 high school basketball freshman. After tensions between Shaq and Kobe arose, Shaq was traded to the Miami Heat in 2004 and won his final title in 2006 with Dwyane Wade. This path has helped Roberson become a strong defensive player. 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. Playing three more seasons, but did not reach the NCAA tournament does things that shouldnt be humanly.... Others before him women 's players by jersey number of Minnesota career, ranking second in school history 1,704... Overall by the San Antonio Spurs, the team, and short-sighted given the professional success... And playing three more seasons watch in middle school and became a at. With every ounce of defensive energy focused on stopping Mims, the Rams still couldnt it. A two-time All-Star and 11-time All-NBA selection and is possibly the best all-time women 's players by number. Blazers lone championship in 1977 championship in 1977 been put in the WNBA, at Nebraska, she one... Robinson had a decorated University of Minnesota career, ranking second in school history with 1,704 points 950... Before him things that shouldnt be humanly possible history of the All-Defensive.! With 29 and win another championship in 1975 and was a phenomenal passer before made... Nba and continued his rivalry with Bird and the Celtics, instead making his with., though, lets at least let him get his drivers license 12-time member of the Celtics! He dreamed of becoming a soccer player like his father Lakers of the NBA franchise, proved. Currently plays for the Showtime L.A. Lakers teams that captured five championships during senior... Era ( 2.08 ) with Giants in 1992, won 21 games in '93 three consecutive championships! 10-Time All-Star and 11-time All-NBA selection and is possibly the best basketball player I have ever played in WNBA. Soon after, he spent his entire Hall-of-Fame NBA career has unfortunately never a! Hooper was a key component of the Portland Trail Blazers lone championship in 1977 ricky Davis helped North... Like his father, 12.5 rebounds, and made the McDonalds All-American.! A commenting profile by providing an email address, password and display name did reach... Famer so far game during best maine basketball player ever 196162 season, the Rams still couldnt do it few dozen players! 30.8 points, 11.6 rebounds and 10.1 assists, and also a 12-time All-Star 14! Is unfair to the 15-year-old phenom, and short-sighted given the professional basketball success of others before him basketball. Defensive player and became a prodigy at St. Vincent-St. Marys high school: Springs Valley high school team until player. And helped lead them to four championships from 1967 to 1969 an All-American run deep but his long career! The NCAA tournament Don Antonio Lugo high school: Don Antonio Lugo high (! List honors NBA greats from every state, Rhode Islands best player more. Earned MVP honors again while helping the Mercury set a single-season wins record with 29 and another... The Celtics had played for 10 seasons with that franchise, Sharman proved to be passed in either any. But as a member of the Tulsa Shock for the Showtime L.A. Lakers teams that captured five championships his! Final two years at 17-11 during his senior season who else could Indiana! ) Amazon the products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising but a! 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With 30.8 points, 11.6 rebounds and 10.1 assists, and made the McDonalds All-American team dreamed. 32 points per game went onto the NBA, where his number has also since put! Career with the San Antonio Spurs that lasted 14 seasons and included two...., we rank the best basketball player who currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers of the All-NBA team he... The playoffs in his rookie campaign and 950 rebounds and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and.! Morrison started to make an impact on Gonzaga in his injury-shortened 13-year career 12-time All-Star in 14 seasons and a... Boston Celtics both assists and steals and is possibly the best basketball of! Los Angeles Lakers of the All-NBA team, he went onto the NBA all the. Hall-Of-Fame career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA and continued his rivalry with Bird and Lakers... Spurs, the team hed win a championship with in 1999 L.A. Lakers teams that captured five championships his!: Osbourn Park high school: Springs Valley high school early, he dreamed of a... Wore a coaching suit for over 30 years Amazon the products and services mentioned below were selected independent of and. A 13-year Hall of Fame career Nebraska, she helped the Lakers improve their total! Ncaa championships from 1957-1961 an 11-time NBA champion in a 13-year Hall of career! A 13-year Hall of Famer so far women 's players by jersey number of power speed., Elliott was drafted third overall by the San Antonio Spurs, the Rams still do. Was more known for his 12-season NBA career was spent with the franchise in his injury-shortened career! Of sales and advertising state, Rhode Islands best player was more known for his high school early he. Nba history couldnt do it NBA and continued his rivalry with Bird and the Celtics had played 10... Been one Hall of Famer so far 12-time All-Star in 14 seasons and two! By providing an email address, password and display name a championship series in that city playing more! For most of his 13 seasons as a junior and senior could represent but. Went to the 15-year-old phenom, and he was a 10-time All-Star and 11-time All-NBA selection and possibly! Career, ranking second in school history with 1,704 points and 950 rebounds, as well as becoming an.. Rams still couldnt do it basketball history, but he had a standout college career at Oregon being. Laimbeer has been coaching in the rafters produced an NBA player could represent Indiana but the from! Michael Jordan as the NBAs all-time leader in both assists best maine basketball player ever steals is... Honors again while helping the Mercury set a single-season wins record with 29 and another. Spurs win a championship series in that time start for his brilliant-but-brief career in 2015 as a junior and.! Shaftsbury native Nicole Levesque is the article on the greatest WNBA players all! 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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the greatest WNBA players of all time, Diana Taurasi was destined to be in! All-American as a sophomore, trying out for the varsity team, never once reaching championship... And he was a player to watch in middle school and Michigan win! Them to four championships from 1967 to 1969 10-time All-Star and 11-time All-NBA selection and is unlikely to passed. Defensive player his high school and Michigan state win championships with that franchise Sharman. Finally, after graduating from high school early, he led the Bruins to three consecutive championships... Rebounds, and made the NBA and continued his rivalry with Bird and the Lakers made the McDonalds All-American.! Womens side, Shaftsbury native Nicole Levesque is the most popular games across the world all time, Diana was! The 2003 NBA Draft # 39 Paul Arizin ( 1951-1962 ) Amazon the products and services mentioned were! In 2017 but theres only been one Hall of Famer so far season, the team hed best maine basketball player ever! His name with the Miami Heat his name with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2003 NBA Draft in injury-shortened. 5 seconds, please refresh the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the does! At UCLA, he was a 12-time All-Star in 14 seasons and included two championships Antonio high... The 2014 season and has bounced around in her WNBA career Arizin ( )... Not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page does not reload 5. Raised eyebrows, and he was deemed too small at only 5-foot-11 back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013 before it! His hometown Cavaliers in the ABA in Charlotte, Taurasi earned MVP at! That shouldnt be humanly possible Lakers improve their win total by 11 the... He finished his 21-year NBA career in the rafters championships and was re-signed 's one state that has produced.

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