Best NBA Player from every Power 5 School
Don Nelson. 15. player. 483. . SF. Hawkeyes
Best NBA player who played for Iowa Hawkeyes — Don Nelson
- 5X NBA Champion
After spending the first three years of his career in Chicago and LA, Don Nelson embarked on a historic 11-year stretch with the Boston Celtics. He won five championships between 1966 and 1976, playing the role of sixth man behind the likes of Bill Russell and John Havlicek.
One of the best sixth men in NBA history, Nelson was known for both his consistency and his efficiency. He was also notable for his funky one-handed free throw form, which yielded percentages in excess of 70 percent in all but one year of his career.
Nelson’s collegiate career at Iowa got off to a rocky start, as he was caught in a 1961 gambling scandal. Nothing came of it legally, however, and the NBA swiftly reinstated him after initially banning the college star. Iowa never won much under Nelson due in part to scandals around him, but he was a double-double machine.
Runner-up: Fred Brown — A one-time All-Star who spent his most productive years in Seattle, Brown helped the Sonics to a championship in 1979.
. PG. Cyclones . Jeff Hornacek. 14. player. 461
Best NBA player who played for Iowa State Cyclones — Jeff Hornacek
- 1X All-Star
- 2X 3-Point Contest Champion
A career 40.3 percent shooter from deep, Jeff Hornacek was ahead of his time. He spent the first six years of his career in Phoenix, where he reached his peak in 1991-92. He averaged 20.1 points and 5.0 assists that season, making his lone All-Star appearance.
After a brief and tumultuous stint in Philadelphia after the Charles Barkley trade, Hornacek was shipped to Utah to finish his career. As a tertiary option next to Karl Malone and John Stockton, his floor-spacing abilities were put to good use. He won two 3-point contests with Utah.
Hornacek spent his collegiate career at Iowa State, where he spent four years after walking on in 1982. Hornacek became an all-conference player in the Big Eight, leading the Cyclones to Sweet 16 glory as a senior in 1986. Hornacek held the Big Eight record for career assists at the time of his departure.
Runner-up: Monte Morris — A high-I.Q. playmaker who rarely makes mistakes, Morris has quickly carved out an important role in the Nuggets’ deep backcourt rotation.