NBA History: Best NBA player born in every US state

NBA History: Best NBA player born in each state

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) /

7 of 50

1974- Close up of Calvin Murphy, basketball player for the Houston Rockets in his uniform. Undated color slide. /

Best NBA player born in Connecticut: Calvin Murphy

Connecticut is a small piece of the United States map, but it’s produced a number of NBA players. Guard Calvin Murphy was one of the smallest players to come from the state but it didn’t stop him from becoming one of the best. Standing at just 5-foot-9, Murphy was born in Norwalk, Conn. and was a star at Niagara University where he averaged 33.1 points per game. The San Diego Rockets took a chance on him with the 18th overall pick in the 1970 NBA Draft and it paid off for them.

Murphy didn’t let his size stop him from becoming a terror in the league. He used his speed, quickness and sharpshooting ability. He averaged 17.9 points, 4.4 assists, 2.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 48.2 percent from the floor during his 13-year career as a Houston Rocket.

He previously held the record for most points in a single game in Rockets’ franchise history before it was broken by James Harden last season. Murphy poured in 57 points back on March 18, 1978, in a regular season game facing off against Bernard King and the New Jersey Nets. Houston lost the game 106-104 in the end.

Murphy currently sits at first in assists (4,402) in Houston franchise history and ranks second in total points (17,949), field goals made (7,247) and steals (1,165). He made the lone All-Star appearance of his career in 1978-79, making him the shortest player to appear at that time to appear in the festivities.

He’s one of only three Rockets players to have their number retired as his No. 23 jersey has been raised to the rafters. In 1993, he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Today, the Conn. native is known for his colorful suits and analysis on the Rockets’ AT&T broadcasts.