Hoops Habit
Fansided

Each State’s All-Time NBA Starting Five

By Ben Gibson

Jan 26, 2014; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels mascot waves a flag before the game at Dean E. Smith Student Activities Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 26, 2014; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels mascot waves a flag before the game at Dean E. Smith Student Activities Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 28, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) during media day at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) during media day at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

Georgia

Walt Frazier, Dale Ellis, Mike Mitchell, Horace Grant, Dwight Howard

Total of 17 All-Star appearances, 6 NBA/ABA championships

Hall of Famer Walt Frazier leads the charge for Georgia as the seven-time NBA All-Star averaged 18.9 points and 6.1 assists per game during his career. He may be known for his visually-assaulting suits now, but during his hey-day the New York Knicks dominated with his offensive prowess. He and Earl “the Pearl  came together to form the “Rolls Royce Backcourt” and won the 1973 NBA Finals together.

Next up for Georgia is Dale Ellis and his 15.7 points per a game that earned him one All-Star appearance. After struggling for a few seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, Ellis’ career took off with the Seattle SuperSonics where he earned the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award in 1987 and went on to earn that All-Star appearance a year later.

In his best year, 1988-89 he averaged 27.5 points a game while settling for 15.7 points per game in his career.  He’s quietly one of the better shooters in NBA history as he’s in the top 12 for field goals and three-pointers made.

Mike Mitchell’s 19.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per a game earned him a spot on the Peach State’s list and he never hesitated to shoot the ball as he was in the top 10 in field goals attempted in made for a six-season stretch in the early 80s.

Horace Grant and his rec specs are iconic to anyone who watched basketball in the 80s and 90s but most probably forget the All-Star averaged 11.2 points and 8.1 rebounds per a game throughout his career. He would win three championships with the Chicago Bulls before earning one with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2001. Grant took his shots when they were available and pulled down plenty of rebounds in his career but never led the league despite ranking 43rd in NBA history for total rebounds.

Rounding out the Peach State posse is Dwight Howard. The eight-time NBA All-Star and five-time All-NBA First Teamer also earned three Defensive Player of the Year Awards. He’s gotten a basketball phenomenon named after him, yet we always obsess over how unlikable he can be at times.

If you take your opinion of him off the court out of the way, it is easy to see he’s a defensive force wherever he’s been as he’s led the league in blocks and rebounds several times. If he wins one championship, he might finally get the respect he deserves for his play.

Grade: B

Next: Hawaii