Best NBA Player from every Power 5 School
Glen Combs. 40. player. 447. . PG. Hokies
Best NBA player who played for Virginia Tech Hokies — Glen Combs
- ABA Champion
- 3X All-Star
Glen Combs — nicknamed ‘The Kentucky Rifle’ — spent his entire professional career in the ABA. He made three All-Star appearances and helped the Utah Stars to the ABA championship in 1971.
A 6-foot-2 guard prized for his outside shooting, Combs was a 3-point bomber well before it became commonplace. In his second season, 1969-70, he attempted 4.4 triples per game with a 35.1 percent success rate. Not special by today’s standards, but innovative at the time.
At Virginia Tech, Combs made an Elite Eight appearance as a junior and averaged over 20 points per game in both of his final two years. He was drafted to both the NBA and ABA, but spurned the San Diego Rockets in favor of the ABA’s Dallas Chaparrals.
Runner-up: Dell Curry — Curry spent most of his career in Charlotte, where he set the nets aflame as a 40.2 percent 3-point shooter. He then fathered two of the best shooters in NBA history — Steph and Seth.
Tim Duncan. 21. player. 448. . PF. Demon Deacons
Best NBA player who played for Wake Forest Demon Deacons — Tim Duncan
- 5X NBA Champion
- 2X MVP
- 15X All-Star
Widely considered the best power forward in NBA history, Tim Duncan was a silent killer. He avoided the spotlight and was seldom expressive. He would instead pick apart defenses with fundamentally-sound basketball, using a series of post moves to demoralize even the best interior defenders.
Duncan spent his entire 19-year career in San Antonio, winning five NBA championships, earning two MVPs, and appearing in 15 All-Star games. He was also named to 15 All-NBA teams and 15 All-Defensive teams.
Spending four years at Wake Forest, Duncan quickly developed into one of college basketball’s top two-way forces. He averaged 20.8 points and 14.7 rebounds as a senior, leading the NCAA in rebounding. He was two-time ACC player of the year and the 1997 national player of the year. He was selected first by San Antonio in the ‘97 draft.
Runner-up: Chris Paul — Paul will soon enough join Duncan in the Hall of Fame. The appropriately labeled Point God has made 10 All-Star appearances, but a championship has remained elusive.