This post is an updated version of a previous one written in 2016. The same standard will be followed. Thus, I will choose the greatest player ever (I will count only the pro part of the athlete’s career, both in the NBA and in the defunct ABA) of American States (the criteria will be the place of birth, regardless of where the players spent most of his life or career), the top 10 and the starting five of States that has had at least 47 players in NBA/ABA history.
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It is important to say that “greatest” does not mean necessarily “better”. Unfortunately, some local excellent players won’t make the list, while others, perhaps not as skillful, will join it because of bigger career achievements (titles, playoff success, individual awards, All NBA and star selections, protagonism, among others).
Before I begin, it is worthy mentioning greatest basketballer from the States that don’t satisfy the above criteria (at least 47 players): Mario Chalmers, PG* (Alaska); Sean Elliot, SF (Arizona); Chauncey Billups, PG (Colorado); Calvin Murphy, PG/SG (Connecticut); Walt Hazzard, PG/SG (Delaware), Cedrid Ceballos, SF (Hawaii); Luke Ridnour, PG (Idaho); Kirk Hinrich, PG (Iowa); Alvan Adams, PF/C (Kansas); Jeff Turner, SF/PF (Maine); Bill Laimbeer, C (Massachussetts); Kevin McHale, PF (Minnesota); Phil Jackson, PF (Montana); Bob Boozer, SF/PF (Nebraska); Ricky Davis, SG/SF (Nevada); Matt Bonner, PF/C (New Hampshire); Bill Bridges, PF (New Mexico); Mark Landsberger, PF/C (North Dakota); Blake Griffin, PF (Oklahoma); Domantas Sabonis, C (Oregon); Marvin Barnes, PF (Rhode Island); Kevin Garnett, SF/PF/C (South Carolina); Mike Miller, SG/SF (South Dakota); Tom Chambers, PF (Utah); Jerry West, PG/SG (West Virginia); e Kenny Sailors, PG (Wyoming).
*PG = point guard; SG = shooting guard; SF = small forward; PF = power forward; C = center.
Let’s begin (alphabetical order).
ALABAMA
TOP 10 (alphabetical order, by first name, here and in every other State)
Andrew Toney — SG
Ben Wallace — C
Charles Barkley — PF
DeMarcus Cousins — C
Derrick Coleman — PF
Eric Bledsoe — PG
Jeff Malone — SG
John Drew — SF
Larry Kenon — SF/PF
Robert Horry — SF
STARTING 5 (from PG to C here and in every other State)
Eric Bledsoe
Andrew Toney
Jeff Malone
Charles Barkley
Ben Wallace
Greatest Player: Charles Barkley.
ARKANSAS
TOP 10
Antonio Davis PF/C
Archie Clark — PG/SG
Fat Lever — PG
Glen Rice — SF
Joe Barry Carroll — C
Joe Johnson — SG/SF
Mike Conley — PG
Paul Silas — SF/PF
Scottie Pippen — SF
Sidney Moncrief — SG
STARTING 5
Fat Lever
Sidney Moncrief
Scottie Pippen
Paul Silas
Joe Barry Carroll
Greatest Player: Scottie Pippen.
CALIFORNIA
TOP 10
Bill Walton — C
Damian Lillard — PG
Dennis Johnson — PG
Gary Payton — PG
James Harden — SG
Jason Kidd — PG
Kawhi Leonard — SF
Paul Pierce — SF
Ray Allen — SG
Russell Westbrook — PG
STARTING 5
Jason Kidd
Ray Allen
Paul Pierce
Kawhi Leonard
Bill Walton
Greatest Player: Kawhi Leonard.
WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
TOP 10
Adrian Dantley – SF
Austin Carr – SG
Dave Bing – PG/SG
Elgin Baylor – SF
Johnny Dawkins — PG
Kermit Washington – PF
Kevin Durant – SF
Sherman Douglas – PG
Theo Ratliff– C
Thurl Bailey – SF/PF
STARTING 5
Dave Bing
Adrian Dantley
Kevin Durant
Elgin Baylor
Theo Ratliff
Greatest Player: Kevin Durant.
FLORIDA
TOP 10
Amar’e Stoudemire — PF/C
Artis Gilmore — C
David Robinson — C
Eddie Jones — SG/SF
Gilbert Arenas — PG
Mitch Richmond — SG
Otis Birdsong — PG/SG
Tracy McGrady — SG/SF
Truck Robinson — PF
Vince Carter — SG/SF
Honorable mention: Udonis Haslem. He was never an all-star, but he was a fan favourite who played all his 20 seasons for Florida based Miami Heat, where he won 2 NBA titles.
STARTING 5
Gilbert Arenas
Tracy McGrady
Vince Carter
Amar’e Stoudemire
David Robinson
Greatest Player: David Robinson.
GEORGIA
TOP 10
Dale Davis — PF/C
Derek Harper — PG
Dwight Howard — C
Horace Grant — PF/C
Jaylen Brown — SF
Mike Mitchell — SF
Norm Nixon — PG
Shareef Abdur-Rahim — SF/PF
Walt Frazier — PG
World B. Free — G
STARTING 5
Walt Frazier
World B. Free
Jaylen Brown
Horace Grant
Dwight Howard
Greatest Player: Walt Frazier.
ILLINOIS
TOP 10
Anthony Davis — PF/C
Dan Issel — PF/C
Derrick Rose — PG
Dwyane Wade — SG
George Mikan — C
Isiah Thomas — PG
Jack Sikma — C
Johnny “Red” Kerr — C
Mark Aguirre — SF
Tim Hardaway — PG
STARTING 5
Isiah Thomas
Dwyane Wade
Mark Aguirre
Anthony Davis
George Mikan
Greatest Player: Isiah Thomas.
INDIANA
TOP 10
Clyde Lovellette — PF/C
Dick Barnett — SG/SF
Dick Van Arsdale — SG/SF
George McGinnis — PF/C
Glenn Robinson — SF
Larry Bird — SF
Louie Dampier — PG
Shawn Kemp — PF
Tom Van Arsdale — SG/SF
Zach Randolph — PF
STARTING 5
Louie Dampier
Dick Barnett
Larry Bird
Shawn Kemp
George McGninnis
Greatest Player: Larry Bird.
KENTUCKY
TOP 10
Allan Houston — SG
Arnie Risen — C
Cliff Hagan — SF
Darel Carrier — SG
Darrell Griffith — SG
Dave Cowens — C
Frank Ramsey — SG/SF
Joe Fulks — PF
Rajon Rondo — PG
Wes Unseld — C
STARTING 5
Rajon Rondo
Allan Houston
Joe Fulks
Wes Unseld
Dave Cowens
Greatest Player: Dave Cowens.
LOUISIANA
TOP 10
Bill Russell — C
Bob Love — SF/PF
Bob Pettit – PF/C
Clyde Drexler — SG/SF
Elvin Hayes — PF/C
Joe Dumars — PG/SG
Karl Malone — PF
Robert Parish — C
Willis Reed — C
STARTING 5
Joe Dumars
Clyde Drexler
Bob Love
Karl Malone
Bill Russell
Greatest Player: Bill Russell.
MARYLAND
TOP 10
Gene Shue — PG/SG
Jeff Green — SF/PF
Marvin Webster — C
Muggsy Bogues – PG
Quintin Dailey — SG
Reggie Lewis — SG
Rudy Gay — SF
Sam Cassell — PG
Steve Francis — PG
Victor Oladipo — PG/SG
STARTING 5
Sam Cassell
Gene Shue
Reggie Lewis
Rudy Gay
Marvin Webster
Greatest Player: Gene Shue.
MICHIGAN
TOP 10
Chris Webber — PF/C
Dan Majerle — SG/SF
Dave DeBusschere — SF/PF
Devin Booker — SG
Don Nelson — SF/PF
Draymond Green — PF
George Gervin — SG/SF
Magic Johnson — PG
Mel Daniels — C
Rudy Tomjanovich — SF/PF
STARTING 5
Magic Johnson
George Gervin
Dave DeBusschere
Chris Webber
Mel Daniels
Greatest Player: Magic Johnson.
MISSISSIPI
TOP 10
Al Jefferson — PF/C
Antonio McDyess — PF
Chet Walker — SF/PF
Danny Manning — PF
John Johnson — SF
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf — PG
Mo Williams — PG
Monta Ellis — PG/SG
Purvis Short — SF
Spencer Haywood — C
STARTING 5
Mo Williams
Monta Ellis
Danny Manning
Chet Walker
Spencer Haywood
Greatest Player: Spencer Haywood.
MISSOURI
TOP 10
Bill Bradley — SF
Bradley Beal — SG
David Lee — PF
Ed Macauley — PF
Gene Moore — C
Jayson Tatum — SF/PF
Jo Jo White — PG
Larry Hughes — PG/SG
Les Selvage — PG
Steve Stipanovich — C
STARTING 5
Jo Jo White
Bradley Beal
Bill Bradley
Jayson Tatum
Ed Macauley
Greatest Player: Jayson Tatum.
NEW JERSEY
TOP 10
Andrew Bynum — C
Bam Adebayo — C
Bob Verga – PG/SG
David West — PF
Dennis Rodman — PF
Karl-Anthony Towns C
Kelly Tripucka — SF
Rick Barry — SF
Shaquille O’Neal — C
Tom Heinsohn — PF
STARTING 5
Mike Bibby
Bob Verga
Ricky Barry
Dennis Rodman
Shaquille O’neal
Greatest Player: Shaquille O’neal.
NEW YORK
TOP 10
Bernard King — SF
Billy Cunningham — SF/PF
Bob Cousy — PG
Carmelo Anthony — SF
Chris Mullin — SF
Dolph Schayes — PF/C
Julius Erving — SF
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — C
Michael Jordan — SG/SF
Tiny Archibald — PG
STARTING 5
Bob Cousy
Michael Jordan
Julius Erving
Dolph Schayes
Kareem Abdul—Jabbar
Greatest Player: : Michael Jordan (Kareem could easily be here; he probably would be the greatest in every other State).
NORTH CAROLINA
TOP 10
Bob McAdoo — PF/C
Brad Daugherty — C
Chris Paul — PG
David Thompson — SG/SF
James Worthy — SF
John Wall — PG
Lou Hudson — SG/SF
Sam Jones — SG
Walt Bellamy — C
Walter Davis — SG/SF
STARTING 5
Chris Paul
Sam Jones
James Worthy
Bob McAdoo
Walt Bellamy
Greatest Player: Chris Paul.
OHIO
TOP 10
Alvin Robertson – SG
Gus Johnson — PF/C
Jerry Lucas — PF/C
John Havlicek — SG/SF
LeBron James — SG/SF/PF
Michael Redd — SG
Nate Thurmond — C
Neil Johnston — C
Stephen Curry — PG
Wayne Embry — C
STARTING 5
Stephen Curry
John Havlicek
Lebron James
Jerry Lucas
Nate Thurmond
Greatest Player: Lebron James.
PENNSYLVANIA
TOP 10
Bob Davies — SG/SF
Earl Monroe — PG/SG
Guy Rodgers – PG
Jack Twyman – SG/SF
Kobe Bryant — SG/SF
Kyle Lowry — PG
Paul Arizin — SF
Pete Maravich — PG/SG
Rasheed Wallace — PF
Wilt Chamberlain — C
STARTING 5
Pete Maravich
Kobe Bryant
Paul Arizin
Maurice Lucas
Wilt Chamberlain
Greatest Player: Wilt Chamberlain (Kobe would also be the greatest in most States).
TENNESSEE
TOP 10
Bailey Howell — PF
Bingo Smith — SG/SF
Campy Russell — SF
Clyde Lee — C
Johnny Neumann — SG/SF
Lou Williams — PG/SG
Oscar Robertson — PG/SG
Penny Hardaway — PG/SG
Rich Jones — PF
Ron Mercer — SG/SF
STARTING 5
Oscar Robertson
Penny Hardaway
Campy Russell
Bailey Howell
Clyde Lee
Greatest Player: Oscar Robertson.
TEXAS
TOP 10
Bill Sharman — SG
Chris Bosh — PF
Grant Hill — SF
Jimmy Butler – SG/SF
LaMarcus Aldridge — PF
Larry Johnson — PF
Slater Martin — PG
Trae Young — PG
Willie Naulls — PF/C
Zelmo Beaty — PF/C
STARTING 5
Trae Young
Bill Sharman
Jimmy Butler
Grant Hill
Chris Bosh
Greatest Player: Bill Sharman.
VIRGINIA
TOP 10
Allen Iverson — PG/SG
Alonzo Mourning — C
Bob Dandridge — SG/SF
Dell Curry — SG
Jerome Kersey — SF
Jimmy Walker — SG
Joe Smith — PF
Moses Malone — C
Paul Pressey — SF
Ralph Sampson — C
STARTING 5
Allen Iverson
Jimmy Walker
Bob Dandridge
Alonzo Mourning
Moses Malone
Greatest Player: Moses Malone.
WASHINGTON
TOP 10
Brandon Roy — SG
Byron Beck — PF/C
Doug Christie — SG/SF
Isaiah Thomas — PG
Jamal Crawford — PG/SG
James Edwards — C
Jason Terry — PG/SG
John Stockton — PG
Nate Robinson – PG
Rodney Stuckey — PG
STARTING 5
John Stockton
Brandon Roy
Doug Christie
Byron Beck
James Edwards
Greatest Player: John Stockton.
WISCONSIN
TOP 10
Carl Landry — PF
Caron Butler — SF
Devin Harris — PG
Don Kojis — SF
Fred Brown — PG/SG
Jim Chones — PF/C
John Mengelt — SG
Latrell Sprewell — PG/SG/F
Nick Van Exel — PG/SG
Terry Porter — PG
STARTING 5
Terry Porter
Nick Van Exel
Latrell Sprewell
Caron Butler
Jim Chones
Greatest Player: Latrell Sprewell.
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