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
28 of 50
Next
Photo by NBA Photo Library/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by NBA Photo Library/NBAE via Getty Images /

Best NBA player born in Nebraska: Robert “Bob” Boozer

Nebraska hoops has seen just 13 players born from the state make waves in the NBA, but a Hall of Famer is soon to emerge somewhere. Forward Robert “Bob” Boozer is the first player that comes to mind when talking about the Hall of Fame.

Boozer was a bit of a journeyman during his career in the NBA, playing for six different squads, but he made his impact known everywhere he went. He was the first overall pick in the 1959 NBA Draft by the Cincinnati Royals, where he began his career.

He’s another player who saw success on the international stage with USA Basketball as well. He won a gold medal with the U.S. National squad in the 1960 Summer Olympics, alongside Walt Bellamy, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson.

After four seasons with the Royals, he was traded to the New York Knicks in December 1963. He spent 129 games with the Knicks before they traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers in October 1965. He had a productive stint with the Knicks, putting up 15.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.

After playing with the Lakers in 1965-66, he was taken by the Chicago Bulls in a 1966 expansion draft. He had the most productive seasons of his career with the Bulls, averaging 20.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per contest from 1966-69. He made the lone All-Star appearance of his career with the Bulls in 1967-68.

Boozer made two more stops with the Seattle SuperSonics (1969-70) and Milwaukee Bucks (1970-71). In his final season with the Bucks, he won an NBA title before retiring following the season.