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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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Best NBA player born in Delaware: Walt Hazzard

The state of Delaware hasn’t produced 10 NBA players just yet and it’s yet to see it’s first Hall of Famer, but there has still been enough production to find the best player from the state.

Point guard Walt Hazzard takes the crown after a decorated career in college as a UCLA Bruin. He won the first title under head coach John Wooden and the Bruins during the 1963-64 season. Hazzard took home the Most Outstanding Player award that year, putting up 19.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game during the NCAA Tournament.

In the 1964 NBA Draft, he was selected fifth overall by the Los Angeles Lakers. He didn’t make much of an impact during his rookie season but by his second season, the Lakers found a role for him.

He averaged 9.4 points, 3.8 assists and 2.5 rebounds in 21.2 minutes per game for the Lakers before he was shipped to the Seattle Supersonics in an expansion draft in May 1967.

In his first year with Seattle, he put up a career-high 24.0 points per game and made the only All-Star appearance of his career in 1967-68.

He jumped around quite a bit after that via the trade market, showing his value in that regard. He spent three seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, two with the Buffalo Braves and finished up his career with a return to the Supersonics. Hazzard ended up averaging 12.6 points, 4.9 assists and 3.0 rebounds across 724 games in the league when it was all said and done.