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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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San Antonio Spurs
Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images /

Best NBA player born in Arizona: Sean Elliott

The state of Arizona hasn’t had it’s first Hall of Famer yet, but there has been a recent influx of talent being injected in the NBA. Marvin Bagley III, Kevin Knox and Carrick Felix are a few of the latest faces to hail from the state. Small forward Sean Elliott is one player that has set the bar for them.

Elliott became a sharpshooting threat for the San Antonio Spurs during his career. He was drafted third overall by the Spurs in 1989 NBA Draft from the Arizona Wildcats.

He earned All-Rookie honors in 1989-90, averaging 10.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. In his fourth season, he earned his first All-Star appearance in the 1993 All-Star Game. As the seasons progressed, Elliott’s 3-point shooting prowess went up.

He shot 41.1 percent from behind the arc in 1995-96, the year he earned the second All-Star selection of his career. Elliott made a career-high 2.1 3-pointers per game that year, though the Spurs still couldn’t win a coveted title.

Elliott won the only NBA title of his career during 1999 NBA Playoffs. During that postseason run, Elliott played a memorable game dubbed the “Memorial Day Miracle.” With 12.0 seconds left to play, Elliott caught an inbound pass while tip-toeing the sideline and drained a 3-pointer to give the Spurs an 86-85 victory.

The shot was Elliott’s sixth make of the contest as he went 6-of-7 from behind the arc with 22 points in that decisive Game 2 victory in the 1999 Western Conference Finals.

Elliott put up 10,544 points and drained 589 3-pointers during his 12-year career in the league. He ranks eighth all-time in franchise history in total points and sixth all-time in 3-pointers made. His No. 23 jersey was retired by the Spurs in 2005.