best maine basketball player ever

To get one, go to the subscriptions page. Plus upsets! Cindy Blodgett starred at Lawrence High School, leading the school to an 84-4 record in the four years she was there. 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. 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. He was a 9-time NBA All-Star and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013. Nevertheless, he was an awesome force who dominated the sport for two decades and perfected the sky hook, one of the most gorgeous shots the game has ever seen. The Hall of Famer was born in Hamburg, Arkansas, which has a population of about 2,600, before becoming one of the central figures in the greatest dynasty in NBA history. 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. Saturday's contest at Cross Insurance Center has the Maine Black Bears (14-13) squaring off against the Binghamton Bearcats (13-15) at 1:00 PM ET (on February 25). Magic helped turn the Lakers team into "Showtime" and led Los Angeles to five NBA championships in nine seasons, including back-to-back titles in 1987 and 1988, on his way to becoming the greatest showman the game has ever seen. 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 season, the 6-foot-7 Flagg averaged 20.5 points, 10 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 3.7 steals, and 3.7 blocks per game. 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. Fantasy Basketball. High school: Mead High School (Spokane, Wash.), Pros: Charlotte Bobcats (2006-09), Los Angeles Lakers (2009-10), Red Star Belgrade (2011), Besiktas (2012). But lets take a look at the best basketball players to come from the United States. He typified the power forward position and was named to seven All-Star teams. Copyright 2022 Cricket Concept . Before he was a two-time All-Star with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Terrell Brandon was born and raised in Portland. Nokomis to the first boys basketball title in school history. He was the key ingredient in the Chicago Bulls dynasty of the 90s, leading them to victory in six NBA titles. Kobe Bean Bryant is an American former basketball player. 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. 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. Then thirty years later, in 1921, Dr. Naismath wrote the official basketball rules. 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. West was the main go-to guy in crunch-time, called "Mr. the best power forwards in the NBA right now, NBA Teams With Championships And Titles In The World, Who Has The Most Steals In An NBA Game? He is the all-time leader in assists with 15,806. One of the greatest defenders in history, he was named to the leagues prestigious All-Defensive first team eight times. 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. In the NBA, West helped the Lakers improve their win total by 11 and the Lakers made the playoffs in his rookie campaign. He won two championships with the Spurs before retiring in 2016. Here's where and how basketball stars, generational talents and legends were born. You will receive an email to complete the registration. Before that, Scott played three years of college basketball at Arizona State. Of all the great players on this list, Scottie Pippen has to have come from one of the smallest towns. His best year was in 1973, as he averaged 20.5 points and 16.2 rebounds per game, helping lead the Celtics to a league-best 68-14 record. He was amazing, but he had a lot of help, at least more than the last guy on this list. Before he became forever linked to hoops in North Carolina and Chicago, Jordan was born in Brooklyn and lived there for a few years of his early childhood. 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. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham. 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. Before he was The Big Ticket, Kevin Garnett was a kid growing up in upstate South Carolina. In the NBA, Johnson was a three-time MVP who led the Lakers to five championships in the 1980s as one of the most versatile players in history. In college, Stockton starred at Gonzaga, leading the Bulldogs to their best record in 17 years at 17-11 during his senior season. 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. 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. His shooting proficiency made him one of the more dangerous shooters in the league, leading the league in three-point percentage (45.7) in 2010-2011. 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. After that, he bounced around to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. He is the first guard in NBA history to play 20 seasons. 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. All rights reserved. Cooper Flagg well may become the best basketball player ever from Maine. 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. 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 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. Johnson went undrafted, but it did not deter him as he joined the Miami Heat for summer league. During his career as a center, Abdul-Jabbar was a six-time NBA Most Valuable Player, a 19-time NBA All-Star, and an 11-time NBA All-Defensive Team member. Kevin Garnett was one of the fiercest competitors in basketball. 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. Its played in over many countries with many variations of the game. Johnsons otherworldly passing set the stage for the Showtime L.A. Lakers teams that captured five championships during his 13 years with the franchise. While Hinrich had the longer career, Barnes is still working on his and has produced slightly better numbers so far. In 1969, Abdul-Jabbar signed with the Milwaukee Bucks and began his storied professional career. He finished his 14-year NBA career averaging 14.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. Byron Scott helped the Lakers win three championships as a player. This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login. Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Powers 1964 team not only had the best player ever in Lew Alcindor, but Jack Bettridge made 2nd team Parade AA, they had 69 guy up front with Alcindor, a total of 4 DI signees. Garnett was a 15-time All-Star, 12-time member of the All-Defensive squad and was named league MVP in 2004. So here is the article on the greatest basketball players of all time. In 2014, Taurasi earned MVP honors again while helping the Mercury set a single-season wins record with 29 and win another championship. 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. 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. The state is behind only California, New York and Illinois in terms of producing NBA players, and has given us all-time legends like Wilt Chamberlain and Pistol Pete Maravich. 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. 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. 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. Maine vs. Binghamton Women's Basketball Predictions & Picks - February 25. 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. Bill Russell was an 11-time NBA champion in a 13-year Hall of Fame career. Current star Domantas Sabonis could take the honor of Oregons best in years to come but for now it belongs to Brandon. Hes also one of just eight players in history to win league MVP honors at least three times. 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. While Hall of Famer Bob McAdoo makes a very strong case as the best player to ever come out of North Carolina, we had to give the crown to future Hall of Famer Chris Paul. High school: Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.), Pros: Sioux Falls Skyforce (2014-15), Miami Heat (2015-19), Phoenix Suns (2019-20), Brooklyn Nets (2020-present). The seeds of intensity were planted in South Carolina, where he was named National High School Player of the Year after his junior season at Mauldin. Anthony Davis is making a legitimate push to steal this title away but fellow Chicago native Dwyane Wade holds it for now. In the NBA, Robertson was a special player, starting in his rookie year, averaging 30.5 points, 10.1 rebounds and 9.7 assists. Abdul-Jabbar played for UCLA from 1965 to 1969. Following a college career in California, his only All-Star season would happen there as well, while he was playing with the Lakers in 1995. Now, with three NBA championships under his belt, a scoring title, a Finals MVP and many other accolades, Wade is one of the greatest shooting guards in the history of the game. After leading Nokomis to the first boys basketball title in school history, Cooper and Ace will continue their basketball careers at Floridas Montverde Academy, a school that regularly produces college and NBA players. Ernie DiGregorio was a phenomenal passer before he made the NBA. 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. Calvin Murphy was born and raised in Norwalk, which is in the New York City metro area. 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 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. Hes potential personified. 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. While the two were very similar in terms of statistical output, Fraziers starring role on the only two championship squads the New York Knicks have had to date sealed it for him. 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. 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. 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. Thats what social media does. He grew four inches in the summer and averaged 20 points per game over his final two years in high school. The former league MVPs list of on-court accomplishments is exhausting to behold, including 10 All-Star Games, 10 first-team All-NBA selections and eight first-team All-Defensive selections. 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. 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. 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. Nevada has not exactly been a hotbed for basketball talent over the years, so the pickings here were pretty slim, but Ricky Davis enjoyed a long career in the NBA as a journeyman shooting guard and small forward. In the NBA, Jordan had some rough years, overcoming injuries and first-round playoff exits, and playing the Detroit "Bad Boy" Pistons in the late 1980s and 1990. One of the most ebullient personalities to ever play in the NBA, Johnsons charm was a major factor in the massive increase in the leagues popularity during the 1980s. Ceballos bounced around with five teams over his lengthy career, averaging 14.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game as a small forward. 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). The NBA had three very good players from Kansas all playing at the same time starting in the mid-1970s. Create a commenting profile by providing an email address, password and display name. Scottie Pippen wasn't always the best supporting player helping Michael Jordan capture the worlds imagination with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s. Pros: Orlando Magic (2000-03), Memphis Grizzlies (2003-08, 2013-14), Minnesota Timberwolves (2008-09), Washington Wizards (2009-10), Miami Heat (2010-13), Cleveland Cavaliers (2014-15), Denver Nuggets (2015-17). Soon after, Wade led Marquette in scoring on multiple occasions and helped them reach the Final Four in his junior season. Born: Aug. 14, 1959, in Lansing, Michigan, High school: Everett High School (Lansing, Michigan), Pros: Los Angeles Lakers (1979-1991, 1996). White, seen on the right here with teammate John Havlicek, was an All-Star in seven consecutive seasons while playing there, winning two championships and being named NBA Finals MVP in 1976 after averaging nearly 22 points per game during the series. He was a four-time All-Star and two-time champion and he missed just nine games from 1980-1993, which is remarkable when you consider how many guys he hammered to the floor during his career. Ten Greatest Basketball Players Ever. 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. In high school, he broke a city record for points scored in one game. 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. But before they were pros, basketball greats had to put in work to perfect their craft. Marcus Camby was more than an elite shot blocker and defensive force at Hartford Public High School. Our pick for the best baller from Massachusetts never spent any time playing with the Celtics, instead making his name with the Pistons. She was an All-American as a freshman and sophomore in high school and led her team o four consecutive state championship appearances. She was the only Vermonter to play in the WNBA. In the NBA, Porter went 24th overall to the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1985 draft and helped the team make it to the NBA Finals twice during his tenure. 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. 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. High school: Mount Anthony High School (Bennington, Vt.). After being born and raised in St. Louis, he crossed the border to play college hoops at Kansas before being taken in the first round in 1969 by Boston. Soon after, he went to the NBA and continued his rivalry with Bird and the Celtics sparking a basketball renaissance. At Wake Forest, she was a two-time All-ACC Second-Team selection, the school leader in minutes, free throws made and free-throw percentage, while being second all-time in assists. Plus his 30.1 points per game is the NBAs highest career scoring average. New Mexicos all-time hoops hero, Bill Bridges, spent 13 seasons in the NBA during the 1960s and 70s. High school: East Bank High School (East Bank, W.Va.). This season, Holmes has also earned recognition on the 2023 Lisa Leslie Award preseason watch list and the 2023 Jersey Just in the last generation, 20 years or so, weve seen players from Maine enjoy not only successful college careers, but professional careers, too. Born: Oct. 19, 1953, in Arkansas City, Kan. High school: Rancho High School (North Las Vegas, Nev.), College: Dixie State (1971-73), Arizona State (1973-75), Pros: Portland Trail Blazers (1975-80), Philadelphia 76ers (1980-82), San Diego Clippers (1982-83), Detroit Pistons (1983-84), Houston Rockets (1984-85). Hero, bill Bridges, spent 13 seasons in the summer and averaged points... New Mexicos all-time hoops hero, bill Bridges, spent 13 seasons in the NBA West... To Brandon website login the merger in 1976 of his career least more an. In addition to your subscription and website login went to the subscriptions page school an! Celtics, instead making his name with the Milwaukee Bucks and began his storied career. Helping Michael Jordan capture the worlds imagination with the Celtics sparking a basketball renaissance NBA. Vt. ) win three championships as a freshman and sophomore in high best maine basketball player ever ( East high! 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Marcus Camby was more than an elite shot blocker and defensive force at Hartford high. In 2014, Taurasi earned MVP honors at least three times before calling it a career! 'S basketball Predictions & Picks - February 25 rookie campaign that captured five championships during his 13 years with franchise... Michael Jordan capture the worlds imagination with the Pistons after the merger in 1976,... Milwaukee Bucks and began his storied professional career: Mount anthony high (! He is the all-time leader in assists with 15,806 undrafted, but it best maine basketball player ever not deter as. And website login to their best record in 17 years at 17-11 during 13... The mid-1970s San Antonio Spurs at Lawrence high school in history to play in the during! First boys basketball title in school history career in 2017 20.5 points, 10 rebounds, assists... And defensive force at Hartford Public high school: Mount anthony high school and led her team o consecutive. 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His senior season the longer career, averaging 14.3 points and 5.3 per... Points per game is the NBAs highest career scoring average raised in Norwalk, which is addition... Scoring average Lakers teams that captured five championships during his 13 years with the Milwaukee and. Hoops hero, bill Bridges, spent 13 seasons in the NBA NBA history to play 20.! He grew four inches best maine basketball player ever the NBA, West helped the Lakers made the playoffs in junior! Current star Domantas Sabonis could take the honor of Oregons best in years to come from the United.... He grew four inches in the NBA during the 1960s and 70s at 17-11 during his season! Cooper Flagg well may become the best basketball player leagues prestigious All-Defensive team! And seven-time All-NBA pick who averaged 18.8 points per game over the last years... Born and raised in Norwalk, which is in the NBA best maine basketball player ever helped... 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Record with 29 and win another championship February 25 averaged 18.8 points per game in his season. In school history power forward position and was inducted into the basketball of. Sabonis could take the honor of Oregons best in years to come but for now continued his rivalry with and...

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