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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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Detroit Pistons
(Photo by Brian Drake/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Best NBA player born in Illinois: Isiah Thomas

Illinois is the home of the Chicago Bulls, one of the most historic franchises in the NBA and the best player from the state could be considered a thorn in the side of the organization for years.

Isiah Thomas, the former point guard for the Detroit Pistons, was a Chicago native, but he was a coveted part of the Detroit franchise, being taken second overall in the 1981 NBA Draft.

Thomas stood at just 6-foot-1 but he was the proverbial leader of The Bad Boys, one of the most physically imposing teams in the history of the league. Nothing ever came easy against Thomas and the Bad Boys and with their moniker, they wreaked havoc on the league.

He was a floor general with tons of heart and competitiveness, as he played whole his 12-year career with the Pistons. He made an All-Star appearance in all but one year while in Detroit, also winning back-to-back NBA titles (1989 and 1990) and a Finals MVP award in 1989-90.

In their first run to an NBA title, Thomas and the Pistons met Chicago and Michael Jordan in the 1989 Eastern Conference Finals. They went on to sweep the Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 in the NBA Finals.

In their second run, Jordan and the Bulls pushed Thomas and the Pistons to seven games in the 1990 Eastern Conference Finals. In Game 7, Thomas put together 21 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds and two steals in a 93-74 victory. The Pistons would go on to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 4-1 in the NBA Finals.

Thomas averaged 19.2 points, 9.3 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game as a member of the Pistons. He ranks first in franchise history in points (18,822), assists (9.061) and steals (1,861) and on Feb. 17, 1996, his No. 11 jersey was retired by the Detroit organization. In 2000, he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.