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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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Los Angeles Lakers
Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images /

Best NBA player born in New York: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

The state of New York has been a hotbed for basketball talent, producing a whopping 358 players and counting since the NBA has been established. Michael Jordan (though he grew up in North Carolina), Julius Erving, Bernard King, Chris Mullin, Bob Cousy, Richie Guerin, Bob Lanier and Tiny Archibald are just the names of some of the Hall of Famers.

The best of them all though was center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, inventor of the skyhook shot. In his early career, he was known to many as Lew Alcindor as he terrorized college opponents with the UCLA Bruins from 1966-69.

The Bruins went 88-2 during his college career, winning three National Championships and three Most Outstanding Player awards despite the dunk being banned after the 1966-67 season which was dubbed the “Lew Alcindor Rule”.

Abdul-Jabbar was selected first overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1969 NBA Draft. He played with the Bucks from 1969-75, making an All-Star appearance in each season. He averaged 30.4 points, 15.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.4 blocks per game during his tenure, winning the first of his six NBA titles during the 1970-71 campaign.

The 1969-70 Rookie of the Year would go on to win six regular season MVP awards and 2 Finals MVP awards, one with the Bucks and one as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. He was traded to the Lakers by the Bucks during the 1975 offseason.

With the Lakers his footprint only grew as he won five more NBA championships, putting up 22.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.5 blocks per game through 14 seasons. Considered one of the best ever, Abdul-Jabbar ranks first all-time in career points (38,387) and field goals made (15,837), second all-time in games played (1,560) and third all-time in career rebounds (17,440).

He’s another Lakers’ players that’s been blessed with a statue outside of Staples Center. Along with the statue, his No. 33 jersey has been retired by the Bucks and Lakers. In 1995, he was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame.