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NBA History: Best NBA player born in each state

By Jerran Anderson

MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 01: Former Milwaukee Bucks player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is honored at halftime during a game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Denver Nuggets at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on March 1, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 01: Former Milwaukee Bucks player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is honored at halftime during a game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Denver Nuggets at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on March 1, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Phoenix Suns
Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images /

Best NBA player born in Hawaii: Cedric Ceballos

There have been two players to make an appearance in the NBA born in Hawaii. Considering those numbers, versatile forward Cedric Ceballos is considered the best to come from the state.

Born in Maui, Ceballos made waves early on the hoops circuit as a prolific scorer and rebounder at Cal State Fullerton. He averaged 22.1 points and 10.7 rebounds in two seasons before being drafted 48th overall in the 1990 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns.

Ceballos was one of the most efficient scorers on numerous teams across the league. He played on five different NBA teams during his 11-year career. He spent six with the Suns, three with the Los Angeles Lakers, three with the Dallas Mavericks and split his final season with the Pistons and Miami Heat.

In 1992-93, he won the Slam Dunk Contest during All-Star Weekend as a member of the Suns. He led the league in field goal percentage (57.6 percent). The team made it all the way to the NBA Finals that season. Alongside Dan Majerle, Charles Barkley, Danny Ainge and Tom Chambers, they fell to Michael Jordan and the Bulls in six games.

During the 1994-95 season, he made the lone All-Star appearance of his career with the Lakers, averaging a career-high 21.7 points and 9.0 rebounds per game while shooting 39.7 percent from 3-point land, also a career-high.

Ceballos averaged 14.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game while shooting 50 percent from the field through 609 appearances. He was a solid role player during his journeyman career and filled his role no matter where he went.