Thats what social media does. Before he became perhaps the all-time icon of hoops in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, Oscar Robertson was born in the small town of Charlotte, Tennessee. Read Kareem Abdul-Jabbars Britannica essay on the New York Rens. This nickname occurred in a family where Charles was always called Charles, and the women had names like Mabel, Marion and Alice. The 6-foot-7 shooting guard/small forward honed his skills at the University of Colorado, finishing third in rebounding in the 2011-2012 season and second in 2012-2013. 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. He was born in Hobbs and eventually played high school basketball there before going to college at Kansas. Ten Greatest Basketball Players Ever. Shaquille ONeal is the definition of dominance. Alvan Adams, Scott Wedman and Lionel Hollins all hailed from the Sunflower State but it was Adams who had the best individual career. Danny Ainge starred at North Eugene High School in football, basketball and baseball. The best of the best graduate to the NBA and WNBA. ", Pros: Golden State Warriors (2012-16), Dallas Mavericks (2016-present). High school: Don Antonio Lugo High School (Chino, Calif.). Hes been a six-time All-Star and has put up some massive figures in his career so far, averaging 21.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. This list is, naturally, incredibly subjective, and shouldnt be taken too seriously. West averaged 32 points per game during the tournament and led his team in scoring and rebounding each game. He was born in Abilene but spent his formative years in California and became an NBA icon with the Boston Celtics. Garnett was a 15-time All-Star, 12-time member of the All-Defensive squad and was named league MVP in 2004. Once there, he would finish with an emphatic dunk, a foolproof strategy that helped ONeal lead the NBA in field-goal percentage 10 times in his career. But in his rookie year, Russell completely changed the franchises course and established the Celtics as the winningest team in the NBA. Born: March 25, 1971, in Brownfield, Texas, College: South Plains (1989-91), Texas Tech (1991-93), Pros: Houston Comets (1997-2007), Seattle Storm (2008), Tulsa Shock (2011). The result: Horton-Tucker had 16 You can share 5 more gift articles this month. Copyright 2022 Cricket Concept . 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. Ceballos bounced around with five teams over his lengthy career, averaging 14.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game as a small forward. 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). New Mexicos all-time hoops hero, Bill Bridges, spent 13 seasons in the NBA during the 1960s and 70s. Hooper last played for the Atlanta Dream and the Chicago Sky in 2017. Most important player ever? In the NBA, he helped lead the Cleveland Cavaliers become an Eastern Conference power with his shooting touch. He helped Golden State win a title in 2015 and became a solid contributor for the Dallas Mavericks after the 2016 season. NBA MVP five times, 14 times NBA All-Star, ten times All-NBA First Team, nine times All-Defensive First Team, Defensive Player of the Year in 1988, etc. 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. He grew four inches in the summer and averaged 20 points per game over his final two years in high school. Nobody garnered the national attention he has attracted in such a short time. The Sycamores lost the championship game to Magic Johnson and Michigan State, but the final was the beginning of a new era in hoops. In the WNBA, Swoopes was the second player to win the MVP and All-Star game MVP in the same season. He was born with great genes, and he worked hard to realize his incredible potential. Robinson hurt his back in 1997 in the preseason, but it proved to be a blessing in disguise as the Spurs drafted Tim Duncan, the key to the elusive championship for Robinson. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. From 1988 to 1999, Price became the second player after Larry Bird to reach the 50-40-90 club with 50 percent shooting from the field, 40 percent from the three-point line and 90 percent from the free-throw line. 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. His tenacity made him one of the best defenders in the game's history. Sheryl Swoopes is a Texas legend. The NBAs most valuable player for the 1993 season and 11-time All-Star was born in Leeds and stayed in Alabama to play college basketball at Auburn, where he was named SEC player of the year in 1984. Johnson, who was born and raised in Cheyenne, had his best years with the Heat during the mid-2010s, when he was averaging more than 11 points a game. In total, Abdul-Jabbar spent 20 seasons in the NBA with Milwaukee and Los Angeles. His free-throw shooting, on the other hand. 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. In the NBA, Shaq continued his dominance, first with the Orlando Magic and then with the Los Angeles Lakers. 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. Adam Morrison became a star as a high school player in Spokane, despite an early diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes. Then, he went onto the NBA, where he played on five different teams and averaged double digits in scoring six times. Since 2002, Laimbeer has been coaching in the WNBA. He won the 1992 Slam Dunk Contest with a blindfolded dunk, led the league in field goal percentage (57.6) in 1993 and helped them reach the NBA Finals. He was an All-Star in 1968 with the Chicago Bulls and won a championship in 1971 with the Milwaukee Bucks, in what would be his final season. Sam Cassell wasn't the biggest player in basketball history, but he had big game. After that, Hazzard spent 10 seasons playing guard in the NBA, averaging 12.6 points per game and making the All-Star Game with the Seattle SuperSonics during the 1967-68 season. Sheryl Swoopes is a Texas legend. Nokomis freshman Cooper Flagg takes a jump shot against Falmouth during the Class A state final on March 5 in Portland. High school: David Tobias Howard High School, Pros: New York Knicks (1967-77), Cleveland Cavaliers (1977-80). 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. 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. 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. Create one. He helped lead his school to back-to-back basketball titles and is the only person to be a high school first team All-American in football, basketball, and baseball. LeBron James feels he is the best basketball player that ever played the game James is 36 points away from becoming the NBA's all-time leading scorer By Joe 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. These are the fruits that are safe (and not safe) for your dog to eat, These Clever Food Hacks Get Kids To Eat Healthy, The 5 Ways You Know Youre Too Old For Roommates, averaged 14.1 points and 7 rebounds per game, average 14.8 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, apparently the only player in NBA history, four times in assists and six times in steals, remembered by some for one regrettable outburst. Shaq then found great success at LSU, becoming a two-time All-American and SEC Player of the Year. High school: Harold L. Richards High School, Pros: Miami Heat (2003-16, 2018-present), Chicago Bulls (2016-17), Cleveland Cavaliers (2017-18). Allen Iverson is one of the greatest pound-for-pound players in NBA history. Born: Aug. 14, 1959, in Lansing, Michigan, High school: Everett High School (Lansing, Michigan), Pros: Los Angeles Lakers (1979-1991, 1996). When people knocked him for not winning championships early in his career, they overlooked that he almost single-handedly took an overmatched Cleveland Cavaliers squad to the 2007 NBA finals at just 22 years old. This path has helped Roberson become a strong defensive player. In 2007, he was traded to the Boston Celtics, and that next year, Garnett was an integral piece to Bostons championship run in 2008. Admittedly, Chamberlain played at a time when post players were significantly smaller and basketball wasnt drawing the types of athletic marvels we see today, but the man was so incredibly dominant that he deserves a spot in the top five regardless of context. After a standout career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he led the Tar Heels to a National Championship in 1982, Jordan joined the NBAs Chicago Bulls in 1984. 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. Pros: Chicago Bulls (1987-98, 2003-04), Houston Rockets (1998-99), Portland Trail Blazers (1999-2003). At 34 years and 104 days of age, Kobe became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 30,000 career points. This season, Holmes has also earned recognition on the 2023 Lisa Leslie Award preseason watch list and the 2023 Jersey 3 to Sabrina Ionescu at No. Magic Johnson was destined for greatness. 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. Later that year, Elliott was drafted third overall by the San Antonio Spurs, the team hed win a championship with in 1999. A former womans canoeing champion of the great state of Maine died last week. and fought Bruce Lee in Game of Death, so his cool quotient is easily the highest of anyone on this list. Then, he went pro, becoming a key component to the Lakers' "Showtime" championships. 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. 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. There must be something in the water in Louisiana that turns kids into great basketball players because this might have been the toughest state from which to pick a GOAT. After several NBA summer league stops, Carroll went to Real Madrid, where he helped them win the EuroLeague championship in 2014-2015 and in May 2018. 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. While Kareem put up a whopping 38,387 points during his playing days, I cant look past the fact that he spent a good chunk of his career receiving passes from Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson, the two greatest point guards of all time. 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. 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. After getting to the NBA, he became one of the best players and best shooters in league history with the Boston Celtics and forever changed the game. High school: Emsley A. Laney High School (Wilmington, N.C.), Pros: Chicago Bulls (1984-93, 1995-98), Washington Wizards (2001-03). Before that, she helped lead Alliance High School to a state title as a freshman in 2007. The rest of us are the ones who need to slow down. Born: August 23, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pa. Died: Jan. 26, 2020, in Calabasas, California (age 41), High school: Lower Merion High School (Ardmore, Pa.). Named Henrietta at birth, she was always called Thomie, a name that sprang from her position as the family tomboy. Dwyane Wade averaged 20.7 points and 7.6 rebounds during his junior year of high school, and in his senior year, he led his team to a 24-5 record. #39 Paul Arizin (1951-1962) Amazon The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. 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. The Hall of Famer averaged a career double double of 17.8 points and 10 rebounds per game. 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. Some areas like New York, Chicago and Southern California are famous for breeding ballers. 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. Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration. His mastery of basketball can be seen in his ability to make dramatic plays at crucial moments during games. 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. His unique blend of power and speed raised eyebrows, and he was drafted No. He also won numerous awards and achieved many accolades. Basketball players come from all over America: cold states, warm states and everything in between. Kevin Garnett was one of the fiercest competitors in basketball. He was traded to the Pistons, where he teamed up with Isiah Thomas, Dennis Rodman and Joe Dumars to win back-to-back NBA championships in 1989 and 1990 while becoming one of the most unpopular players in NBA history as the enforcer leader of the "Bad Boys.". 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. 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. Bullet Bob Boozer came from Omaha and remained a major part of that community until his death in 2012. Position: Shooting guard and small forward, High school: Davenport North High School (Davenport, Iowa), Pros: Charlotte Hornets (1998-2000), Miami Heat (2000-01, 2007-08), Cleveland Cavaliers (2001-03), Boston Celtics (2003-06), Minnesota Timberwolves (2006-07), Los Angeles Clippers (2008-10), Turk Telekom (2010), Jiangsu Dragons (2010), Chorale Roanne (2011), Maine Red Claws (2011-12), Piratas de Quebradillas (2012), Erie BayHawks (2013-14). But lets take a look at the best basketball players to come from the United States. Adam Augustyn is Managing Editor, Reference Content at Encyclopdia Britannica. In 1969, Abdul-Jabbar signed with the Milwaukee Bucks and began his storied professional career. Then she announced she would play basketball for the Blue Hens in 2009, leading the nation in scoring in her junior season in 2012. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the NBAs all-time leading scorer and a Basketball Hall of Famer. This list may not reflect recent changes . But do you know how he got to be so great? He was an eight-time All-Star and seven-time All-NBA pick who averaged 18.8 points per game over the last nine years of his career. In the NBA, Billups is most known for his first stint with the Detroit Pistons and helping the franchise win the NBA title in 2004. The Boston Celtics drafted Ainge in the second round (31st overall) in 1981 draft, and he played 15 seasons in the NBA, developing a reputation as a hard-nosed, physical , fearless player. But Maine has never seen a player as highly touted as Cooper Flagg, and social media magnifies that. Have a nice time ahead, Thank you! High school: Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (Baltimore), College: San Jacinto (1989-91), Florida State (1991-93), Pros: Houston Rockets (1993-96), Phoenix Suns (1996), Dallas Mavericks (1996-97), New Jersey Nets (1997-99), Milwaukee Bucks (1999-2003), Minnesota Timberwolves (2003-05), Los Angeles Clippers (2005-08), Boston Celtics (2008-09). His 13-year-old daughter Gianna also passed away in the crash. Already have a commenting profile? Walt Frazier took the road less traveled to stardom. 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. A battle between two dominant defenders made Georgia a tough call but we ultimately sided with Walt Clyde Frazier over Dwight Howard for the honor of being the states best baller. Plus, he was hilarious in Airplane! He racked up three championship rings and 12 All-Star appearances in his injury-shortened 13-year career. High school: McClymonds High School (Oakland, Calif.). Basketball has been a popular sport throughout history since its invention in 1891 by a Canadian physical education teacher named James Naismith. The native of Ames was named Iowas Mr. Basketball in 2010 before becoming a first-round pick for the Golden State Warriors in 2012 and would be on the NBAs All-Rookie first team after his first season. Pros: Pallacanestro Messina (2003-04), Toronto Raptors (2004-06), San Antonio Spurs (2006-16). She was an All-American as a freshman and sophomore in high school and led her team o four consecutive state championship appearances. as a member of the Miami Heat. 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. In high school basketball there before going to college at Kansas Messina ( ). Pound-For-Pound players in NBA history to reach 30,000 career points popular sport throughout history since its in... Had names like Mabel, Marion and Alice that year, Russell completely changed franchises. 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