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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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Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images /

Best NBA player born in South Carolina: Kevin Garnett

South Carolina is the stomping grounds of one Hall of Famer already in Alex English, but a guy awaiting his nod to the shrine of greatness also hails from the state.

Kevin Garnett, also known as The Big Ticket, is another high school player to make the successful leap to the pros. He dominated the big stage with the Minnesota Timberwolves from 1996-2006 then created the super team movement, pairing with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce in Boston in 2007.

Garnett made 10 All-Star appearances with the Timberwolves and in 2003-04, he took home the regular season MVP award, averaging 24.2 points, 13.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.2 blocks and 1.5 steals per game that year. It was the furthest Garnett had ever made it in the playoffs in Minnesota, losing in six games to the Lakers in the 2004 Western Conference Finals.

After missing the postseason in 2005, 2006 and 2007, Garnett initiated a change prior to the 2007-08 season, and soon he became a member of the Boston Celtics. Joining Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, the Celtics ran through their competition on their way to Garnett’s lone NBA championship.

Garnett won Defensive Player of the Year that year, averaging 18.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.3 blocks per contest. Garnett and company didn’t win another title but his legacy was sealed with a title, not to mention they Celtics made it to another NBA Finals before breaking up in 2013.

After 15 All-Star appearances, 12 All-Defensive selections and nine All-NBA selections, Garnett retired from the NBA in 2016. Now, he just awaits his call to the Hall of Fame.