Best NBA Player from every Power 5 School
. C. Jayhawks . Wilt Chamberlain. 13. player. 462
Best NBA player who played for Kansas Jayhawks — Wilt Chamberlain
- 2X NBA Champion
- 4X MVP
- 13X All-Star
Wilt Chamberlain needs no introduction. A two-time champion, four-time MVP, and 13-time All-Star, Chamberlain is still in the conversation as one of the best players in NBA history. He was the most impressive athlete of his generation, plowing through ill-equipped 60s and 70s defenses.
At 7-foot-1, 275 pounds, Chamberlain had little issue getting what he wanted at the rim. He won seven NBA scoring titles, doing so for six consecutive years to begin his career. As a rookie, Chamberlain averaged 37.6 points and 27.0 rebounds. His numbers only got better.
In his college career, Chamberlain was often the target of triple teams and ball-freezing tactics, with opposing defenses dedicating entire strategic maneuvers to keeping the ball out of Chamberlain’s hands. Even so, he averaged 30.1 points and 17.5 rebounds as a junior. He led Kansas to the championship game as a sophomore but lost in heartbreaking fashion in triple overtime to a controversial North Carolina gameplan.
Runner-up: Paul Pierce — A 10-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer, Paul Pierce was named MVP of the Celtics’ 2008 Finals win.
player. 463. . SG. Wildcats . Mitch Richmond. 23
Best NBA player who played for Kansas State Wildcats — Mitch Richmond
- NBA Champion
- 6X All-Star
- 1989 Rookie of the Year
A high-octane scorer, Mitch Richmond averaged over 20 points per game in each of his first 10 NBA seasons. He started in Golden State, where he formed a dynamic triumvirate with Tim Hardaway and Chris Mullin before transitioning to Sacramento, where he experienced his greatest individual success.
After winning Rookie of the Year in 1989, Richmond went on to make six consecutive All-Star appearances between 1993 and 1998, all with the Kings. He also won the Olympic Gold Medal in 1996. Richmond won his only NBA title in 2002 as a member of the Lakers. That was his last season, however, and he was only a fringe contributor on that team.
Richmond started his collegiate career at Moberly Area Community College before transferring to Kansas State as a junior. He quickly became one of the best players in Wildcats history, scoring 1,327 points across two seasons.
Runner-up: Rolando Blackman — Blackman spent the bulk of his career in Dallas, where he scored in bunches from the wing and made four All-Star appearances.