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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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Boston Celtics
Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images /

Best NBA player born in Indiana: Larry Bird

The best player from the state of Indiana was an Indiana State Sycamore that went by the name of Larry Bird.

One of the best shooters in the game of basketball, Bird took the nation by storm as a Sycamore, averaging 30.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game from 1976-79. After earning AP Player of the Year and the Naismith Award on his way out, he was drafted sixth overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics.

He hit the ground running his first year in, winning the Rookie of the Year award in 1979-80. In his second season, he won his first NBA title with Boston alongside Cedric Maxwell and Robert Parrish. His second title came against the Los Angeles Lakers in 1984 as part of one of the greatest rivalries in the history of the league with the Celtics.

Bird vs. Magic became one of the greatest matchups in the NBA Finals, as they met three times on the biggest stage. Bird came away victorious once in the matchup, winning the 1984 Finals MVP Award in the process. He put up 27.4 points, 14.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.1 blocks per game in the series to put the Celtics over the Lakers in seven games.

When the 3-point Contest was established at All-Star Weekend in 1985, Bird won the event three-straight seasons from 1985-88. He’s one of only two players to be named champion three times in the contest.

In his 13-year career with Boston, Bird produced 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 56.3 assists and 1.7 steals per contest while shooting 49.6 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from 3-point range. He owns the franchise record for most triple-doubles in his career with 69.

12 All-Star appearances, three NBA titles, three regular season MVP award, two Finals MVP awards later, Bird finds himself second in team history in points (21,791) and third in assists (5,695). His No. 33 jersey was retired by the Boston Celtics on Feb. 4, 1993 and he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998.