Hoops Habit
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
25 of 50
Next
Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images /

Best NBA player born in Mississippi: Spencer Haywood

Mississippi has produced only two Hall of Famers in the NBA so far, but more are on the way. One of those Hall of Famers to make a name for himself is power forward Spencer Haywood.

Prior to his career in the NBA, he also won a gold medal as a member of the 1968 U.S. National team. He led the team in points per game (16.1) and rebounds per game as its youngest player.

The 6-foot-8 big man was a model of consistency in the frontcourt during his tenure in the NBA. He started his career with the Seattle SuperSonics as a member of the 1971 NBA Draft class.

Haywood spent five seasons in Seattle, putting up 24.9 points, 12.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game while making four All-Star appearances. He put a career-high 51 points during the 1972-73 season against the Kansas City Kings,107-100, back on Jan. 3, 1973.

After the 1974-75 season, he was traded to the New York Knicks, where his production dropped some, but he still managed to average double figures in scoring.  With the Knicks, he averaged 17.1 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game from 1975-79.

He jumped around again during the 1978-79 season, moving from the Knicks to the New Orleans Jazz in another trade. He won an NBA title during his career with the Los Angeles Lakers as a key reserve off the bench. During that year (1979-80), Haywood averaged 9.7 points and 4.6 rebounds on 48.7 percent shooting from the floor.

Haywood played a season overseas in Italy in 1980-81 before returning to the NBA and playing for the Washington Bullets from 1981-83, where he finished his career. In February 2007, Haywood’s No. 24 jersey was retired by the Supersonics for his contributions and in 2015, he inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.