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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 Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images /

Best NBA player born in South Dakota: Mike Miller

Mike Miller is one of five players in the NBA that hails from South Dakota. Despite the low number, Miller’s production isn’t hard to consider the best.

As one of the best 3-point shooters in the history of the NBA, Miller has a 2000-01 Rookie of the Year award, a 2005-06 Sixth Man of the Year award and two NBA titles under his belt since entering the league in 2000.

Miller was the fifth overall pick out of the University of Florida by the Orlando Magic in the 2000 NBA Draft. As a rookie, he averaged 11.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists per contest while shooting 40.7 percent from 3-point range.

He won the Sixth Man of the Year award with the Memphis Grizzlies. He averaged 13.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game while shooting 40.7 percent from behind the arc through 74 appearances that season. His knack for the 3-ball took him into career performances in Memphis. He made a career-high nine 3-pointers twice against the Golden State Warriors during the 2006-07 season.

His two NBA titles came as a reserve member of the Miami Heat. When LeBron James or Dwyane Wade needed a big 3-pointer, Miller was their guy from 2010-13. He shot 58-of-148 (39.2 percent) from 3-point range during the postseason with Miami.

Through 17 seasons, Miller never shot below 30 percent from behind the arc during the regular season despite playing with seven different teams across the league. For his career, he’s made 1,590 3-pointers, which ranks 23rd all-time in the history of the NBA.