Michael Jordan: Jordan is widely considered the greatest NBA player of all time. He averaged 14.1 points and 7 rebounds per game during his time in the league. Silver Spring native Victor Oladipo might have something to say about this in a few years but, for now, the title of Marylands best goes to Steve Francis. He helped his high school win its first championship in 53 years in his senior season. Danny Ainge starred at North Eugene High School in football, basketball and baseball. Before that, she helped lead Alliance High School to a state title as a freshman in 2007. He made 62 percent of his shot. 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. Cooper Flagg may end up the best basketball player to come from Maine. Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf was a basketball prodigy at Gulfport High School, averaging 29.9 points and 5.7 assists in his senior season and getting an invitation to the McDonalds All-American game. 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. Already have a commenting profile? Johnsons otherworldly passing set the stage for the Showtime L.A. Lakers teams that captured five championships during his 13 years with the franchise. Most important player ever? Accolades keep coming for Cooper Flagg. LeBron James just does things that shouldnt be humanly possible. 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). Maya Moore got an early start on winning and stardom. Sheryl Swoopes is a Texas legend. The one time in his 14-year career that he was not an All-Star was in 1970, a season in which an injured Chamberlain was limited to just 12 regular-season games and yet he still managed to will his team to the NBA finals upon his return. 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. Bullet Bob Boozer came from Omaha and remained a major part of that community until his death in 2012. Dave Cowens starred at Florida State, averaging 19 points and 17.2 rebounds per game in his collegiate career. During his historic high school career, he was named Ohios Mr. Basketball a remarkable three times before skipping college and being drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers first overall in 2003. 1 badass). 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. has been obsessively watching sports for nearly three decades and arguing about them with friends for nearly as long. High school: Springs Valley High School (French Lick, Ind.). Ainge was so good at baseball he was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1977 and made it to the major leagues in 1979 as an infielder (second baseman) and outfielder while in college at BYU. In the WNBA, she helped the Lynx win a WNBA championship in her rookie campaign in 2011 and added three more titles after that in 2013, 2015 and 2017. Morrison started to make an impact on Gonzaga in his sophomore year when he averaged 19 points per game. 2023 Latest, Top 7 Largest NBA Arena By Capacity In The World Now. 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. The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. Matt Bonner helped Concord High School to three state championships. Baylor continued his success at Seattle, leading his team to the 1958 NCAA tournament title game, eventually falling to the Kentucky Wildcats. Then, Robertson starred at Cincinnati, leading the Bearcats to two NCAA Final Four appearances and a 79-9 record when he was there. 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. Then she announced she would play basketball for the Blue Hens in 2009, leading the nation in scoring in her junior season in 2012. In college at North Carolina, Jordan made the game-winner in the 1982 NCAA championship game against Georgetown, which featured future NBA great Patrick Ewing. Anyone can access the link you share with no account required. Mims scored 80 percent of his teams points and nearly outscored Bangor himself, and he didnt score a point in the first quarter. No game would be more famous than Iversons 48-point outburst in Game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals against the Lakers, stealing the game, but eventually succumbing to them in five games. In terms of producing basketball greats, New York City tops all other locations on the planet and the state itself is second only to California in the number of NBA players it has given the world. 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). At LSU he was a star, becoming the SEC Player of the Year and a first-team All-American. 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). He led the league in free-throw shooting and assists during the 1976-77 season. DiGregorio only played six seasons in the NBA, but he left a lasting impression. In the NBA, McHale helped the Celtics become champions in 1981, 1984 and 1986 as a sixth man, and he was also a seven-time All-Star. Ridnour became a star at Oregon, helping lead the Ducks to an Elite Eight appearance in 2002 and another NCAA tournament appearance. Griffin was the first overall pick in the 2009 draft and, after sitting out his first season with an injury, made an impact right away with the Los Angeles Clippers, being named rookie of the year in 2011. Can you believe that no player from Vermont has ever played a game in the NBA? If you liked our article please leave your comments in the comment section below. Its bad form to compare any high school athlete to a professional. Then, he went pro, becoming a key component to the Lakers' "Showtime" championships. 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. Your email address will not be published. LeBron James is an American basketball player who currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). It wasnt just his God-given talent but his work ethic and determination to be the best that made him great. 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). In the NBA, Davis bounced around in his career, but had his most productive seasons in Boston, where he averaged 19.7 points per game in 2005 and 19.1 points per game in 2006. Yes, the man many fans (ignorantly) consider the most overrated choke artist in the league is actually the best player to ever set foot on a court. He walked on to Central Arkansas as a 6-foot-1 guard, then sprouted to 6-foot-8 and became a lethal weapon. But before they were pros, basketball greats had to put in work to perfect their craft. One of the greatest WNBA players of all time, Diana Taurasi was destined to be a superstar. 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. Since the 2016-17 season, hes averaged 11 points per game, typically coming off the bench. Here's where and how basketball stars, generational talents and legends were born. He was named the 4A State Player of the Year three consecutive times in high school, in addition to leading his school to back-to-back championships in 2002 and 2003. Oh my, yes. 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 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. Hes accomplished more in the NBA than nearly any other player, including four championships with three different franchises, but his 2016 title with the Cavs further made him an icon in the Buckeye State. The Hall of Famer averaged a career double double of 17.8 points and 10 rebounds per game. Yes, they played the kind of slow-paced ball that put most fans to sleep by the third quarter, but there was often a thing of pure beauty hidden among the tire-fire of a 7871 final score: Tim Duncans bank shot. A forward, Turner played 10 years in the Ceballos bounced around with five teams over his lengthy career, averaging 14.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game as a small forward. He also ranks third on the leagues all-time regular-season scoring and fourth on the all-time postseason scoring list. 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. Indeedy. Stockton is a 10-time all-star, six-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team, nine-time NBA assists leader and two-time NBA steals leader, among many other accolades. He eventually won three NBA championships and was a 13-time All-Star, all with the Miami Heat. 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. Cedric Ceballos didn't always light up scoreboards. Brandon, a sub-6-foot point guard, averaged solid numbers for his career, including 13.8 points and 6.1 assists per game. SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players Lillard Walt Frazier took the road less traveled to stardom. Create a commenting profile by providing an email address, password and display name. The 15-year old Flagg is charging ahead into an undoubtedly bright basketball future. Finally, after graduating from high school early, he got selected by his hometown Cavaliers in the 2003 NBA Draft. He helped the Lakers win their first NBA title in Los Angeles in 1972. 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. 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 earned All-Rookie first-team honors in 1975 and was a key component of the Portland Trail Blazers lone championship in 1977. The Cavs took him in the first round later that year and he had six good seasons with the franchise before playing for the Bucks and Timberwolves. But lets take a look at the best basketball players to come from the United States. 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. 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. (Or 20. Its about time another great NBA player came out of Nebraska because we had to go all the way back to the late 1950s for the states best. From Diana Taurasi at No. According to Basketball Reference, California has produced more NBA players than any state, with 416 so far. 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 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. But, well, he played alongside another top-25 talent in Scottie Pippen and was coached by the strategic genius Phil Jackson during his most productive years. 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. Before he was a two-time All-Star with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Terrell Brandon was born and raised in Portland. Kobe Bean Bryant is an American former basketball player. Ceballos was born in Maui before moving to the mainland and eventually ascending to the NBA. Before he became synonymous with South Florida hoops, Wade was a star high school player in the suburb of Oak Lawn. Speaking of Michigan basketball icons, it doesnt get any more legendary than Magic Johnson. 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 He led his high school to a 68-1 record over two years and helped them win a state championship in his senior season. High school: Ursuline Academy (Wilmington, Del. She was the No. 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. 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. But to give him that label now is at best premature, and at worst willfully ignorant Chauncey Billups became "Mr. Big Shot" long before he became one of the best clutch performers in the NBA. He averaged at least 10 points per game in seven of his seasons at the games top level. At 34 years and 104 days of age, Kobe became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 30,000 career points. The best of the best graduate to the NBA and WNBA. Then, at Nebraska, she helped the Cornhuskers reach the NCAA tournament. High school: East Bank High School (East Bank, W.Va.). ), Pros: Chicago Sky (2013-16), Washington Mystics (2017-present). Bryant died in a helicopter crash in California in 2020. 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. At the opposite end of the attractive play spectrum from Duncan is Shaquille ONeal. He is the all-time UMass leader in blocks (336) and was only the fourth college player ever to reject 300-plus shot. I am constantly seeking out new opportunities to challenge myself and grow as a professional writer. Kobe Bryant developed his closing skills in his youth on the way to greatness. Pete Maravich. High school: Mount Anthony High School (Bennington, Vt.). Can you guess what it is? In the NBA, Iverson became known for his quickness and tough drives to the basket, where he would take a lot of contact. Adam Augustyn is Managing Editor, Reference Content at Encyclopdia Britannica. I am a lover of adventure and exploration, and I strive to bring that same sense of wonder and excitement to my writing. He was a 9-time NBA All-Star and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013. 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. In the WNBA, Delle Donne has become a productive star, helping the Washington Mystics advance to their first-ever WNBA Finals in 2018. High school: Robert G. Cole High School (San Antonio, Texas), Pros: Orlando Magic (1992-96), Los Angeles Lakers (1996-2004), Miami Heat (2004-08), Phoenix Suns (2008-09), Cleveland Cavaliers (2009-10), Boston Celtics (2010-11). 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. Current Dallas Mavericks forward James Johnson is the only player born in Wyoming whos lasted more than three seasons in the NBA. The most northern state in the continental United States, Jeff Turner is the best NBA player to have been born in Maine. The Greatest UConn Basketball Players of All Time #20 of 76 Every Athlete Signed To Jay-Z's Roc Nation Sports, Ranked 6 Markelle Fultz Point guard from Upper Marlboro, Maryland 155 votes Teams: Orlando Magic #48 of 58 The Best No. 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. Elliott was a consensus All-American in his junior season at the University of Arizona and led his team to the Final Four. 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). 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. Before Michael Jordan became the greatest basketball player to walk the earth, he played at Emsley A. Laney High School in North Carolina. Please wait for the page to reload. All due respect to Mark Price and John Starks but Blake Griffin is the best Oklahoman to ever lace up in the NBA. 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. The Coeur dAlene native had a standout college career at Oregon before being drafted in the first round by the SuperSonics in 2003. Ricky Davis helped Davenport North to the state tournament, but did not reach the championship game. 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. 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. In college at Utah State, Carroll improved his shot each year and eventually won the WAC Player of the Year award in 2008. 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. While some great athletes use their skill to immediately catapult to the nations most exciting states, some stay close to home as long as they can. Listed at 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m), Olajuwon is also considered one of the greatest centers ever to play the game. While the northernmost state might not be a haven for hoops talent, it has given us a very good player in Chalmers. Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration. The man whose image is immortalized as the NBAs logo came from West Virginia to eke out a brilliant career in Los Angeles. Payton is also His free-throw shooting, on the other hand. While Chauncey Billups spent a couple of seasons with his hometown Nuggets during his long NBA career, his best years were spent with the Detroit Pistons. He was amazing, but he had a lot of help, at least more than the last guy on this list. High school: Bethel High School (Hampton, Va.), Pros: Philadelphia 76ers (1996-2006, 2009-10), Denver Nuggets (2006-08), Detroit Pistons (2008-09), Memphis Grizzlies (2009), Besiktas (2010-11). 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. WebHigh School Sports - Schedules, Scores, Rankings - MaxPreps In his sophomore season at Michigan State, Johnson led the Spartans past Larry Bird Indiana State in a legendary NCAA national championship game. Robinson had a Hall-of-Fame career with the San Antonio Spurs that lasted 14 seasons and included two championships. The commonwealth of Kentucky has given the NBA some truly great players, with Dave Cowens at the forefront. Then, he went onto the NBA, where he played on five different teams and averaged double digits in scoring six times. 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. 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). In this article, we have listed the 5 greatest basketball players ever. He finished his 11-year career with two rings and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Mike Miller may have grown up in a small town, but he was big time. WebMAINE ANTONIO CAMACHO-BUCKS MARYLAND SAM BURGESS MASSACHUSETTS HUNTER JONES MICHIGAN NOAH BREKER MINNESOTA SIDNEY STEGALL MISSISSIPPI CONNOR BURNS MISSOURI WESTON BROWN MONTANA CARSON NOECKER NEBRASKA LOGAN SCOTT NEVADA BYRON GREVIOUS NEW His mastery of basketball can be seen in his ability to make dramatic plays at crucial moments during games. 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. Robinson, who was born in York, is currently in his third year as a pro and has spent it all in Miami, which is as far down the East Coast from his home state that he could possibly go. 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. This nickname occurred in a family where Charles was always called Charles, and the women had names like Mabel, Marion and Alice. 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. With every ounce of defensive energy focused on stopping Mims, the Rams still couldnt do it. What? Cindy Blodgett starred at Lawrence High School, leading the school to an 84-4 record in the four years she was there. In the NBA, Shaq continued his dominance, first with the Orlando Magic and then with the Los Angeles Lakers. 1. He was born and raised in Concord before seeking warmer weather at the University of Florida, where he had a great college basketball career. Others play overseas. Andre Roberson is a solid perimeter on-ball defender. 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. He was a first-round draft pick by the ABAs Spirits of St. Louis and wound up with the Pistons after the merger in 1976. Born: Aug. 14, 1959, in Lansing, Michigan, High school: Everett High School (Lansing, Michigan), Pros: Los Angeles Lakers (1979-1991, 1996). Shaq then found great success at LSU, becoming a two-time All-American and SEC Player of the Year. He won the All-Star and regular-season MVPs. High school: Crispus Attucks High School (Indianapolis, Ind. Ten Greatest Basketball Players Ever. His accomplishments in the NBA are unmatched and include six championships, five MVP awards and 10 league scoring titles. This path has helped Roberson become a strong defensive 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. LeBron James learned how to be under the spotlight and shine early in life. Hello, I am a passionate and dedicated writer with a deep love for Basketball. He went across the country to UCLA for college ball, where he was the best player on the 1964 national championship team that went 30-0. 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. All-Time #NBArank continues with a countdown of the game's greatest giants -- the best centers in NBA history. Nokomis to the first boys basketball title in school history. Before David Robinson earned his nickname "The Admiral" for his military service, he attended Osbourn Park High School in Virginia, where he earned all-district honors despite never before playing organized basketball. 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. 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. In 1995 they won again, beating the Orlando Magic. 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. We are here to give the best tips on it. 1-ranked recruit and a McDonalds All-American coming out of high school. Bryant made the leap from high school to the NBA but success was not instant, and he did not become an elite guard until the 1998-99 season, when the Lakers were swept by the Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals. 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. 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. Bobby Knight who coached him in the 84 Olympics once made a statement saying he is the best player to ever play any team sport. Maine Duncan Robinson. He averaged a double double for his career, with 20.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game over 13 seasons. Former rookie of the year Mike Miller is one of just five players from South Dakota in NBA history and he had the best career of any of them by far. High school: Don Antonio Lugo High School (Chino, Calif.). He is the first guard in NBA history to play 20 seasons. Byron Scott helped the Lakers win three championships as a player. He went on to play college hoops at the University of Oregon, where he was named the Pac-10s player of the year in 1991. Initially, in 1994, with Olajuwon as the teams best player, the Rockets won their first NBA title by defeating the New York Knicks. He was the key ingredient in the Chicago Bulls dynasty of the 90s, leading them to victory in six NBA titles. Plus, he was hilarious in Airplane! 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. Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. In the NBA, Miller became a proficient three-point sniper with a career average of 40.7 percent from beyond the arc. His tenacity made him one of the best defenders in the game's history. He starred at Hibbing High School, leading his team to the AA Minnesota State Championship game as a senior. Plus his 30.1 points per game is the NBAs highest career scoring average. He grew four inches in the summer and averaged 20 points per game over his final two years in high school. 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. He was born in Spokane and stayed in his hometown through his college years, when he was a star player at Gonzaga. Murphy spent at 13 of his NBA seasons with the Rockets organization, rarely missing games and averaging 17.9 points per game. Born: June 11, 1989, in Jefferson City, Mo. He finished his 17-year career with averages of 12.2 points, 5.6 assists and 3.0 rebounds. In college, Stockton starred at Gonzaga, leading the Bulldogs to their best record in 17 years at 17-11 during his senior season. He had 63 points in a game against his old high school, Phelps. Then, the small forward helped the Spurs win the franchises first NBA championship in 1999. He also won numerous awards and achieved many accolades. Pros: Tulsa Shock/Dallas Wings (2014-16), Besiktas (2014-15), South East Queensland Stars (2015-16), Connecticut Sun (2017), Atlanta Dream (2017), Chicago Sky (2017). One of the greatest defenders in history, he was named to the leagues prestigious All-Defensive first team eight times. He finished his 14-year NBA career averaging 14.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. Michael Jordan was a player who had it all. That would mean LeBron plays another three or four years. High school: Collins Hill High School (Suwanee, Ga.). You will receive an email to complete the registration. 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. 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. 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. A lot of help, at least 10 points per game Valley high school player in.! Has helped Roberson become a strong defensive player his collegiate career a career double double his... In seven of his teams points and 10.3 rebounds per game averaged at least 10 per. Helped Concord high school win its first championship in 1977 with every ounce of defensive energy focused stopping! Jordan was a star high school ( Indianapolis, Ind. ) win its first championship in 53 in! 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