Best NBA Player from every Power 5 School
. C. Fighting Irish . Bill Laimbeer. 52. player. 443
Best NBA player who played for Notre Dame Fighting Irish — Bill Laimbeer
- 2X NBA Champion
- 4X All-Star
Bill Laimbeer spent the first year and a half of his career in Cleveland, but his legend resides in Detroit, where he spent the remaining 12 years of his career. A physical 7-footer infamous for his hard fouls and intimidating physicality, Laimbeer was often an object of hatred for opposing players. Even former teammate Dennis Rodman referred to him as a “thug.”
A four-time All-Star, Laimbeer was much more than a bruiser. He was a genuinely skilled defender, and his soft touch from 3-point range was ahead of his time. That said, Laimbeer was the backbone of the ‘Bad Boy’ Pistons, and he made sure his reputation was centered on toughness, not talent. It did yield two NBA championships.
Prior to his fruitful NBA run, Laimbeer anchored the paint for Notre Dame. It was a tumultuous college run for Laimbeer, who flunked out at one point in his freshman year. That said, he did spend four years with the Irish and make an Elite Eight appearance in 1979.
Runner-up: John Paxson — A three-time champion with Chicago, Paxson went to battle against Laimbeer’s Pistons. He served a mostly complementary role next to Michael Jordan and Co., but was an important contributor at point guard.
490. . SF. Buckeyes . John Havlicek. 5. player
Best NBA player who played for Ohio State Buckeyes — John Havlicek
- 8X NBA Champion
- 13X All-Star
- 11X All-NBA
John Havlicek — nicknamed Hondo — is one of the most accomplished players in NBA history. He has eight championship rings, all with Boston. In fact, he spent all 16 years of his career in Boston, which makes his years played-to-rings ratio 2:1. Not too shabby in this writer’s opinion.
A hard-nosed defender and a dynamic offensive engine, the 6-foot-5 Havlicek was one of the original “sixth men.” He made his living early on like a shot of caffeine in Boston’s second unit, but eventually evolved into one of Boston’s primary weapons. He won Finals MVP in 1974, has 13 All-Star appearances under his belt, and earned All-Defense honors eight times. He’s the Celtics’ all-time leading scorer — a particularly impressive accomplishment when you consider Boston’s history.
Hondo spent three years on Ohio State’s varsity team from 1959 to 1962, averaging 14.6 points and 8.6 rebounds. Playing with future NBA All-Star Jerry Lucas, Havlicek lifted the Buckeyes to the NCAA championship in 1960.
Runner-up: Neil Johnston — Johnston made six All-Star appearances, led the NBA in scoring three times, and won a championship with the Philadelphia Warriors in 1956. He, too, made the Hall of Fame.