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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 Focus on Sport/Getty Images /

Best NBA player born in Minnesota: Kevin McHale

The state of Minnesota has seen a rich history in the NBA with the upstart Minneapolis Lakers franchise. As far as players go, its lone Hall of Famer, Kevin McHale, takes the cake as the state’s best player.

He attended college in-state at the University of Minnesota where he was a solid contributor for four seasons. He was the third overall pick in the 1980 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics, joining a roster of Larry Bird and Cedric Maxwell.

McHale is another player who had the ability to impose his physical will on any game he played in, regardless of how it made him look. He was a key piece in the Celtics runs to NBA titles during the 1981, 1984 and 1986 Finals.

He won his first NBA title during his rookie season as a reserve, earning two Sixth Man of the Year awards during his first five seasons. He also earned six All-Defensive teams and made seven All-Star appearances during his time with the Celtics and led the league in field goal percentage from 1986-88 and finished Top 10 in the league ranks in seven seasons with Boston.

During his best season (1986-87), he averaged 26.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.2 blocks per contest while shooting a league-best 60.4 percent from the field. He also owns the second-best single-game scoring record in team history with 56 points on March 3, 1985, in a 138-129 victory over the Detroit Pistons.

McHale retired from the league in 1993 after 13 seasons with the Celtics. He ranks second all-time in franchise history in blocks (1,690), fifth in points (17,335) and sixth in rebounds (7,122). On Jan. 30, 1994, his No. 32 jersey was retired and in 1999, he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.