Michigan’s Top 10 Best NBA Players [List]
As this year's NBA playoffs reach a fever pitch, I began to think about Michigan's rich basketball tradition and how impressive an all-time team of Michiganders would be stacked up against a similar line up from any other state.
Could you imagine Magic Johnson dishing off to George Gervin? As Michigan's own sportscaster extraordinaire Dick Enberg would say, 'Oh, my!'
- 1
Point Guard -- Magic Johnson
Of course, Ervin 'Magic' Johnson would succeed any where you put him on an all-star court, but the Lansing native and Michigan State alum was best when he could dish and deal from the point, where his 6-9 height was unmatchable.
- 2
Shooting Guard -- George Gervin
One of the most prolific scorers in NBA (and ABA) history, the 'Ice Man' learned his pure shooting technique on the playgrounds of Detroit and mastered them at Eastern Michigan.
- 3
Center -- Mel Daniels
Although he only played in one NBA season, Daniels was a standout in the old ABA, which was known for scoring. Daniels was a product of the great Detroit Public School League and played his college ball in New Mexico. He averaged over 20 points per game while excelling for the Indiana Pacers glory years in the early '70s.
- 4
Small Forward -- Glen Rice
Flint has been known as a hotbed of high school basketball for years, but before Michigan State's 'Flint-stones' put the city on the map in 2001, Rice led Michigan to its only NCAA title in 1988. He backed that up by helping the Los Angeles Lakers to a NBA title in 2000.
- 5
Power Forward -- Dave DeBusschere
DeBusschere played his high school, college and pro ball in Detroit, moving from Austin High, to the University of Detroit, and on to the Pistons. It wasn't until he was traded to the New York Knicks that Dave finally got a championship ring in 1971. In 1996, DeBusschere was named as one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history.
- 6
Bench -- Chris Webber
The much maligned member of the controversial member of the famous University of Michigan Fab Five, Webber was a prolific pro, averaging over 20 points a game with five teams.
- 7
Bench -- Rudy Tomjanovich
A versatile forward from Hamtramck and the University of Michigan, 'Rudy T' was involved in a notorious fight in which he blind sided Laker Kermit Washington with a punch. As a coach, he later led the Houston Rockets to back to back titles in the '90s.
- 8
Bench -- Jason Richardson
One of the best ballers to emerge from Saginaw, Richardson spent two seasons under Tom Izzo at Michigan State before becoming a consistent scorer in the pros, working from either the shooting guard or small forward position.
- 9
Bench -- Danny Roundfield
After leading Central Michigan to their first ever NCAA tournament trip, Roundfield became a solid forward in the NBA, hauling down over 7500 rebounds and averaging a respectable 14 points a game in his 12 year career. Roundfield drowned tragically in Aruba in 2012 while trying to save his wife.
- 10
Bench -- Jalen Rose
Currently an ESPN commentator, the outspoken Rose was another Fab Five member, who later led the Indiana Pacers to three consecutive Eastern Conference Finals as a pro player. Rose has a basketball pedigree, as his estranged dad was Detroit Piston guard Jimmy Walker. Rose also produced a TV documentary on the Fab Five.
Honorable Mention
Don Nelson -- Muskegon (Boston Celtics, coach of the Bucks and the Nuggets
John Brisker -- Detroit (Seattle Supersonics)
Dan Majerle -- Traverse City (Phoenix Suns)
Ralph Simpson -- Detroit (Denver Rockets)