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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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Cleveland Cavaliers Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James
Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images /

Best NBA player born in Ohio: LeBron James

The state of Ohio has seen the best player grow up right before their eyes. Since taking the national stage at St. Vincent-St. Mary’s High School, forward LeBron James has created quite the legacy for himself in the NBA.

14-time All-Star, four-time MVP, three-time Finals MVP, 2007-08 scoring champion (30.0 points per game) and three-time NBA champion are some of the accolades he’s already achieved as he joins the Los Angeles Lakers franchise in 2018-19.

James joined the Cleveland Cavaliers straight out of high school as the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. He won the 2003-04 Rookie of the Year award after producing 20.9 points, 5.9 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game and stamping his name as one of the best all-around players in the game.

After seven seasons with the Cavaliers, he joined Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the Miami Heat to start his quest for a title run in 2010. From 2010-14, he won two titles with the group across four seasons before returning to Cleveland in 2014.

James won the Cavalier’s first title in franchise history in 2016, putting together a masterful Finals performance. He put up 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 2.6 steals and 2.3 blocks per game to take home the Finals MVP award in a 4-3 series win over the Golden State Warriors.

He will go down as one of the best players of his era with 16 seasons of experience under his belt and counting. As a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, he’s building the latest chapter in his legacy and so far, it’s fit the bill.