Best NBA Player from every Power 5 School
521. . SF. Huskies . Detlef Schrempf. 22. player
Best NBA player who played for Washington Huskies — Detlef Schrempf
- 3X All-Star
- 2X Sixth Man of the Year
- All-NBA Third Team
Detlef Schrempf spent his NBA career between Dallas, Indiana, Seattle, and Portland. He appeared in three All-Star games, won Sixth Man of the Year twice, and went to the NBA Finals with Seattle in 1996, but lost to Michael Jordan’s Bulls.
At 6-foot-10, Schrempf was uniquely perimeter-oriented. He spent several seasons listed at small forward despite his size, and he was among the top 3-point shooters in basketball. He shot 51.4 percent on 2.2 attempts per game in 1994-95. It’s safe to say he would have enjoyed the modern NBA.
Before spending 16 years in the NBA, Schrempf spent four years at Washington. He led the Huskies to conference titles as a junior and senior, including a run to the Sweet 16 in 1984. Schrempf was the eighth overall pick in the 1985 NBA Draft.
Runner-up: Brandon Roy — His career was cut frustratingly short by injuries, but Brandon Roy was must-see TV when healthy. He made three All-Star appearances in five seasons with Portland.
player. 522. . SG. Cougars . Klay Thompson. 1
Best NBA player who played for Washington State Cougars — Klay Thompson
- 3X NBA Champion
- 5X All-Star
- 2X All-NBA
Klay Thompson is probably the second-best shooter of all-time, behind only his teammate Stephen Curry. Thompson has spent nine years in Golden State, winning three championships and appearing in five All-Star games. He has also received All-NBA and All-Defense nods.
The Warriors revolutionized the game of basketball, and while Curry was the headliner, Thompson’s ability to warp defenses alongside him was also critical. Thompson is a career 41.9 percent 3-point shooter on 7.0 attempts per game. He’s much more than a standstill shooter, too, competently defending the NBA’s best wings.
At Washington State, Thompson was — you guessed it — a knockdown shooter. He shot 39.0 percent across three seasons and earned All-Pac-10 first-team honors twice. As a junior, he led the conference in scoring. He was selected 11th overall by Golden State in 2011.
Runner-up: James Donaldson — Donaldson split his career between Seattle and Dallas, providing a stable double-double threat and making one All-Star appearance.