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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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Ray Allen Boston Celtics
Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images /

Best NBA player born in California: Ray Allen

The state of California is home to over 390 retired and current players in the NBA. Damian Lillard, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Klay Thompson and DeMar DeRozan are just a few of the current All-Stars that have roots in California. The best player from the state can be taken a number of ways.

Shooting guard Ray Allen became a household name during his career on and off the hardwood. Off of it, he became Jesus Shuttlesworth, a fictional basketball star in the movie, “He Got Game”.

The Merced native burst into the spotlight on the hardwood as a star in the collegiate ranks for the UConn Huskies. He led the Huskies and the Big East Conference in 3-point field goal percentage from 1994-96, finishing 44.8 percent from behind the arc in his career.

He was the fifth overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft after that by the Minnesota Timberwolves. They traded Allen away to the Milwaukee Bucks for Stephon Marbury. Allen made waves with the Bucks and the Supersonics before he found his first NBA title.

Allen won two NBA titles, one as a member of the Celtics and another as a member of the Heat. He joined the Boston Celtics in 2007 and along with Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins, and won his first ring.

At 37 years old, he won the second ring of his career,  joining LeBron James and the Miami Heat in 2012. He was the unsung hero for them in Game 6 when he tied the game in regulation at 95 to force overtime. The Heat went on to win the game, 103-100, in overtime.

He announced his retirement from the league in November 2016 and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame this past September. Not a bad way to represent the state if you ask me.