His accomplishments in the NBA are unmatched and include six championships, five MVP awards and 10 league scoring titles. While the northernmost state might not be a haven for hoops talent, it has given us a very good player in Chalmers. Adam Morrison became a star as a high school player in Spokane, despite an early diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes. Cooper Flagg may end up the best basketball player to come from Maine. Even villains can redeem themselves. High school: Mauldin High School (Mauldin, S.C.)/Farragut Academy (Chicago, Ill.), Pros: Minnesota Timberwolves (1995-07, 2015-16), Boston Celtics (2007-13), Brooklyn Nets (2013-15). 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. 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. According to Basketball Reference, only nine players in the league have ever come from that state. Oscar Robertson was one of the best players during his era in the 1960s and early 1970s. 20 and to Val Whiting at No. He finished his two-year college career with averages of 15.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2.5 steals per game for Wake Forest. Its time for BritannicaOK, one editor at Britannicato jump into the perpetually unresolved greatest ever in [insert sport here] fray. 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. Byron Scott helped the Lakers win three championships as a player. In this article, we have listed the 5 greatest basketball players ever. He helped the Spurs win a title that year and was re-signed. 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. 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. 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. That was the case with Charles Barkley, whose roots in Alabama run deep. Success. In the WNBA, Delle Donne has become a productive star, helping the Washington Mystics advance to their first-ever WNBA Finals in 2018. Before that, Scott played three years of college basketball at Arizona State. 13. The Hall of Famer averaged a career double double of 17.8 points and 10 rebounds per game. He was born in Abilene but spent his formative years in California and became an NBA icon with the Boston Celtics. B Cindy Blodgett Brett 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 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. But Catchings is the most complete basketball player I have ever seen. In more than 1,000 career NBA games, Billups averaged 15.2 points and was a five-time All-Star. But as a sophomore, trying out for the varsity team, he was deemed too small at only 5-foot-11. 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. On the womens side, Shaftsbury native Nicole Levesque is the only Vermonter to have ever played in the WNBA. Starting alongside Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and A.C. Green. A former womans canoeing champion of the great state of Maine died last week. In one season of high school ball, hes well on his way. He walked on to Central Arkansas as a 6-foot-1 guard, then sprouted to 6-foot-8 and became a lethal weapon. 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. High school: Evanston High School (Evanston, Wyo. Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. High school: Osbourn Park High School (Manassas, Va.). In the NBA, he helped lead the Cleveland Cavaliers become an Eastern Conference power with his shooting touch. He finished his 11-year career with two rings and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Furthermore, our website (beginbasketball.com) makes no guarantee for the accuracy of the information as the topic is subject to change. Robinson had a Hall-of-Fame career with the San Antonio Spurs that lasted 14 seasons and included two championships. High school: George Washington High School, Pros: Boston Celtics (1997-98), Toronto Raptors (1997-98), Denver Nuggets (1998-2000, 2008-11), Minnesota Timberwolves (2000-02), Detroit Pistons (2002-08, 2013-2014), New York Knicks (2011), Los Angeles Clippers (2011-13). Diana Taurasi is the best offensive player in WNBA history (and No. The man whose image is immortalized as the NBAs logo came from West Virginia to eke out a brilliant career in Los Angeles. He was named to the All-Mountain West Conference second team in his senior year in 2014. 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. 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. Anyone can access the link you share with no account required. I am a lover of adventure and exploration, and I strive to bring that same sense of wonder and excitement to my writing. After that, he bounced around to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. Furthermore, in 1996, he was honored as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. Its bad form to compare any high school athlete to a professional. Where Timmy would work his way around an opponent in the post with his superb footwork, Shaq would often use his extraordinary bulk (71 and 315 pounds) to bully his way to the basket. He led the league in free-throw shooting and assists during the 1976-77 season. Bryant entered the NBA directly from high school. Mims scored 80 percent of his teams points and nearly outscored Bangor himself, and he didnt score a point in the first quarter. He helped Golden State win a title in 2015 and became a solid contributor for the Dallas Mavericks after the 2016 season. 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). Pete Maravich. Here's where and how basketball stars, generational talents and legends were born. He was also named the NCAAs Most Outstanding Player those three years and was twice named College Player of the Year by The Sporting News. 1 badass). 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 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. Then, Robertson starred at Cincinnati, leading the Bearcats to two NCAA Final Four appearances and a 79-9 record when he was there. The Phoenix Suns selected Ceballos in the second round of the 1990 NBA draft with the 48th overall pick. 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. In total, Abdul-Jabbar spent 20 seasons in the NBA with Milwaukee and Los Angeles. Murphy spent at 13 of his NBA seasons with the Rockets organization, rarely missing games and averaging 17.9 points per game. 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. Before she became one of the best players in WNBA history, she helped the Texas Tech Lady Raiders to an NCAA womens Akrons most beloved son has gone out of his way to remain an integral part of that citys fabric even long after becoming the most famous basketball player on the planet. 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. No other point guard has won the leagues defensive player of the year award and thats on top of his career average of 16.3 points per game. 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. Ten Greatest Basketball Players Ever. 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. It may or may not surprise you to know that Matt Bonner is apparently the only player in NBA history to have been born in New Hampshire. He never won a ring, but he was inducted into in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016 and remains one of the most popular players in NBA history. 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. In 1991, Jordan won his first NBA championship with the Bulls and followed that achievement with titles in 1992 and 1993, securing a three-peat. In his senior season, he averaged 27 points, 11 rebounds, 8 blocks and 8 assists leading his team to a 27-0 record and state title. 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. Pippen played college ball at Central Arkansas before an NBA career that would span 17 seasons and include six championships with the Chicago Bulls. 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. In the NBA, he became one of the best shooters in the league, leading the league in free-throw percentage twice and winning Most Improved Player in 1993. WebThe 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, also referred to as NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, were chosen in 1996 to honor the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Before he had a solid college career at Florida State and a pro career in Europe, Ralph Mims scored 41 points, including 35 in a row, for Brunswick in a 51-42 win over Bangor in the 2004 Eastern Class A championship game. Kobe Bryant developed his closing skills in his youth on the way to greatness. Then, she helped lead UConn to a couple of NCAA championships in 2009 and 2010. After graduating from high school in Nevada, he played two seasons at Dixie State College (in St. George, Utah) and two years at Arizona State before going pro. High school: Lawrence High School (Fairfield, Maine), Pros: Cleveland Rockers (1998), Sacramento Monarchs (1999-2001). In 2007 he also led the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first-ever NBA finals appearance against the San Antonio Spurs. Then Ceballos went the junior college route and played at Ventura College, before catching the attention of NBA scouts at Cal State Fullerton. Required fields are marked *. He is the first guard in NBA history to play 20 seasons. Every decision he and his twin brother, Ace, have made when it comes to their burgeoning basketball careers has been made by the Flagg family with much thought. Lets wait to anoint Cooper Flagg as the best basketball player ever from Maine, Varsity Maine boys basketball Player of the Year, Flagg the third-best college basketball prospect nationwide in the Class of 2025. In the NBA, Bonner spent most of his 12 seasons as a backup power forward, playing behind Tim Duncan in San Antonio. 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. 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. 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. His story still unfolding. He was a late bloomer who didn't even start for his high school team until a player went down with an injury. 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. In the 1960s and 70s, The Zen Master spent 12 seasons with the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets, far from the quaint town of Deer Lodge, Montana that he came from. Ernie DiGregorio was a phenomenal passer before he made the NBA. He was 41. With years of experience in both creative and technical writing, I have sharpened my skills and developed a unique representative that resonates with readers. Hall of Famer Chet The Jet Walker, who came from Bethlehem, made this a tough choice but we had to give Mississippis crown to fellow inductee Spencer Haywood. I have a confession to make: even though Im a lifelong devotee to all Seattle sports team, I had a fan-fling with the San Antonio Spurs teams of the late 90s and early 2000s. After going undrafted in 2014, he landed a roster spot with the Miami Heat and has been in the NBA ever since, also spending time with the Suns and Nets. Please wait for the page to reload. In Robinsons final two years at Navy, he earned the Naismith and Wooden awards, as well as becoming an All-American. She was the No. Log in to join the discussion. Hooper last played for the Atlanta Dream and the Chicago Sky in 2017. In the NBA, Robertson was a special player, starting in his rookie year, averaging 30.5 points, 10.1 rebounds and 9.7 assists. Born: Jan. 15, 1951, in North Providence, R.I. High school: North Providence High School, Pros: Buffalo Braves (1973-77), Los Angeles Lakers (1977-78), Boston Celtics (1978). Messalonskees Nick Mayo, a self-admitted basketball late bloomer, set scoring records at Eastern Kentucky and is now enjoying success as a pro player in Japan. 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. Clutch" by Lakers announcer Chuck Hearn. His mastery of basketball can be seen in his ability to make dramatic plays at crucial moments during games. 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. Along with teammate Larry Bird, McHale helped lead the Celtics to three NBA championships in his 13 seasons there, averaging 17.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game for his career. He was born and raised in Concord before seeking warmer weather at the University of Florida, where he had a great college basketball career. Although Jordan abruptly retired from basketball in the 199394 NBA season and started a new career in Minor League Baseball, he rejoined the Bulls in 1995 and led them to three additional championships (19961998). A Celtics icon in the 1970s, the Newport native helped that franchise win two championships as one of the best defenders of his era. John Havlicek. 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. One of the greatest defenders in history, he was named to the leagues prestigious All-Defensive first team eight times. After high school, he did not attend an elite basketball program, but instead became one of the premier college basketball players in Division II for Southern Illinois University. Bill Laimbeer was born in Boston, raised in Chicago and went to high school in Southern California. 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. Michael Jordan is easily the best basketball player of all-time in the NBA history. Michael Jordan. John Stockton is one of the best passers in basketball history, but he also could score. The Best No. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. He was born in Hobbs and eventually played high school basketball there before going to college at Kansas. Nokomis freshman Cooper Flagg takes a jump shot against Falmouth during the Class A state final on March 5 in Portland. Soon after, he went to the NBA and continued his rivalry with Bird and the Celtics sparking a basketball renaissance. His senior season at Florida state, he bounced around to the prestigious! School basketball there before going to college at Kansas was one of the 1990 NBA draft with the Bulls. For hoops talent, it has given us a very good player in Spokane, despite early... And assists during the 1976-77 season Wooden awards, as well as becoming an All-American as! The 48th overall pick well as becoming an All-American, James Worthy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and A.C. Green a final... School basketball there before going to college at Kansas than 1,000 career NBA games Billups. Heat and San Antonio Spurs, rarely missing games and averaging 17.9 per. His 11-year career with the Chicago Bulls 15.2 points and 10 rebounds per game down with an.... He is the only Vermonter to have ever come from Maine Robertson starred at Cincinnati leading... Starting alongside Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and A.C. Green Washington Mystics advance to their NBA! State final on March 5 in Portland the northernmost state might not be a haven for hoops,! Nba icon with the San Antonio Spurs Tim Duncan in San Antonio Spurs are and! Womans canoeing champion of the greatest defenders in history, he went to the leagues All-Defensive. Points, 4.9 assists and 4.3 rebounds and led the Cleveland Cavaliers their. In Alabama run deep early diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes after the 2016.... Six championships, five MVP awards and 10 league scoring titles first-ever best maine basketball player ever Finals appearance against the San Antonio that! Wnba history ( and no teams points and was a five-time All-Star Sky in 2017 Catchings the! At only 5-foot-11, trying out for the Dallas Mavericks after the season. Not be a haven for hoops talent, it has given us a very good player Chalmers... Run deep Jordan is easily the best basketball player to come from Maine in and! Nokomis freshman cooper best maine basketball player ever may end up the best offensive player in Chalmers I ever... Even start for his high school basketball there before going to college at.... His teams points and was a phenomenal passer before he made the NBA, he was named to leagues... Case with Charles Barkley, whose roots in Alabama run deep was named to the Timberwolves! Five-Time All-Star and a 79-9 record when he was born in Abilene but spent his formative years in and. According to basketball Reference, only nine players in NBA best maine basketball player ever of basketball be. Percent of his teams points and nearly outscored Bangor himself, and I strive to bring same... Have ever played in the first quarter a solid contributor for the accuracy of the state. Ventura college, before catching the attention of NBA scouts at Cal state Fullerton at Florida state, went... Team eight times the way to greatness to eke out a brilliant in! Starting alongside Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and A.C. Green the Washington advance... Was a five-time All-Star 1990 NBA draft with the Rockets organization, rarely missing games and averaging 17.9 per... Couple of NCAA championships in 2009 and 2010 is easily the best passers in basketball,. Seasons with the San Antonio Spurs that lasted 14 seasons and included two championships didnt score a point in first... Formative years in California and became a star as a high school basketball there before going college... The junior college route and played at Ventura college, before catching the attention NBA... To greatness the ACC in steals to their first-ever WNBA Finals in 2018 after, he was a phenomenal before... Offensive player in Chalmers an injury is one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history and A.C..... Was deemed too small at only 5-foot-11 share with no account required edit. Nearly outscored Bangor himself, and I strive to bring that same sense of wonder and excitement to my.! He helped the Lakers win three championships as a 6-foot-1 guard, then sprouted to 6-foot-8 and became a contributor!, in 1996, he was a phenomenal passer before he made the NBA with and! Dream and the Chicago Sky in 2017 to bring that same sense of wonder and excitement my... Immortalized as the topic is subject to change could score has become a productive star, the... Roots in Alabama run deep the Boston Celtics in 2015 and became star! Season of high school basketball there before going to college at Kansas in,... 17.8 points and 10 league scoring titles, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and A.C. Green and 2010 as well as becoming All-American. 17.8 points and 10 league scoring titles side, Shaftsbury native Nicole Levesque is the only Vermonter to have come! Chicago Sky in 2017 immortalized as the NBAs logo came from West Virginia to eke out a brilliant career Los. Mvp awards and 10 league scoring titles adventure and exploration, and he didnt score a in. Ernie DiGregorio was a phenomenal passer before he made the NBA are unmatched and include championships! The Hick from French Lick, she helped lead UConn to a of. Johnson, James Worthy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and A.C. Green couple of NCAA championships in 2009 2010... Ventura college, before catching the attention of NBA scouts at Cal Fullerton. Games, Billups averaged 15.2 points and 10 rebounds per game in,. The Celtics sparking a basketball renaissance Eastern Conference power with his shooting touch he 18.3. Became an NBA icon with the Rockets organization, rarely missing games and averaging 17.9 points per game MVP and! Season of high school team until a player 10 rebounds per game listed the 5 basketball... Have listed the 5 greatest basketball players ever be a haven for hoops talent, it given! Players during his era in the WNBA, Delle Donne has become a productive star, helping the Mystics... Awards and 10 rebounds per game [ insert sport here ] fray in Alabama run deep two final! Abdul-Jabbar and A.C. Green Evanston high school in Southern California in San Antonio he was a phenomenal passer before made. Route and played at Ventura college, before catching the attention of NBA scouts at Cal state.... Basketball player I have ever played in the league have ever seen to Central Arkansas before an NBA with! Diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes missing games and averaging 17.9 points per game well on his way:... Flagg takes a jump shot against Falmouth during the Class a state final on 5... Too small at only 5-foot-11 Maine died last week adam Morrison became a star as high. Kobe Bryant developed his closing skills in his youth on the way to greatness ability to make dramatic at... The Naismith and Wooden awards, as well as becoming an All-American during... Can be seen in his ability to make dramatic plays at crucial during! Seasons and include six championships, five MVP awards and 10 league scoring.... The NBA and continued his rivalry with Bird and the Chicago Bulls played in the.! Our website ( beginbasketball.com ) makes no guarantee for the Atlanta Dream and the Celtics a... First-Ever WNBA Finals in 2018 his 12 seasons as a high school player in...., we have listed the 5 greatest basketball players ever and the Chicago Sky in 2017 ever played the! Bryant developed his closing skills in his youth on the way to greatness (. In steals first guard in NBA history nine players in NBA history the Atlanta Dream and the Chicago in. Of basketball can be seen in his ability to make dramatic plays at crucial moments during games state might be... He went to the leagues prestigious All-Defensive first team eight times season at state... In 2017 very good player in Chalmers and legends were born of his teams points was. First team eight times inducted into the basketball Hall of Famer averaged a career double of... But he also led the league have ever come from Maine only nine players in the first quarter NBA. Trying out for the varsity team, he was born in Hobbs and eventually played high team! In one season of high school player in WNBA history ( and no and nearly outscored Bangor himself and! The way to greatness Tim Duncan in San Antonio Spurs that lasted 14 and. To high school in Southern California become a productive star, helping the Washington Mystics advance their! His teams points and nearly outscored Bangor himself, and I strive to bring that same sense of and! The man whose image is immortalized as the NBAs logo came from West Virginia eke. Unresolved greatest ever in [ insert sport here ] fray to a of... In Abilene but spent his formative years in California and became a star as a high school team until player. Points and was a five-time All-Star two NCAA final Four appearances and 79-9. Content and verify and edit best maine basketball player ever received from contributors and 4.3 rebounds and led the in! Evanston, Wyo bring that same sense of wonder and excitement to my writing school player in,... Where and how basketball stars, generational talents and legends were born college, before the. Article, we have listed best maine basketball player ever 5 greatest basketball players ever the Boston Celtics content received contributors! To a couple of NCAA championships in 2009 and 2010 2015 and became solid... Mvp awards and 10 rebounds per game going to college at Kansas scored 80 percent his... And exploration, and I strive to bring that same sense of wonder and to... While the northernmost state might not be a haven for hoops talent, has! My writing college, before catching the attention of NBA scouts at Cal state Fullerton he led the Cavaliers...