In honor of LeBron James' 24th NBA season, what better time to take a look at the best player born in each of the 50 states?
What's that? The 2026-27 season is only his 24th year in the league? Well, we're still going to feature the biggest NBA standout from each and every American state, starting in Alabama and traveling all the way to Wyoming on our hardwood roadtrip. You can check back in 2052 as we approach LeBron's actual 50th year in the league if you want, too. A few of the entries will probably have changed.
In all likelihood, you'll disagree with at least a few choices whether you're perusing the states in 2026, 2052, or anytime in between. Good! Plenty about basketball can't be quantified, and each individual should prioritize different things.
I tend to favor longevity over peak performance, though the equation is never that simple when considering box-score and advanced statistics, accolades, playing style, intangibles, and every other feasible greatness barometer.
Alabama: Charles Barkley
Even with another Hall of Famer (Ben Wallace) in the mix, Charles Barkley rises head and shoulders above the rest of the pack. Born in Leeds, Alabama, the forward remained in the Yellowhammer State through high school and then enjoyed a sterling collegiate career at Auburn before becoming the fifth overall pick of the 1984 NBA Draft and uprooting to Philadelphia.
Throughout his 16-year professional career, Barkley showed ahead-of-his-time passing chops and ball-handling ability while asserting himself as one of the most dominant rebounding forces in league history. He thrived statistically (22.1 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game), won MVP for the Phoenix Suns in 1992-93, and made 11 All-Stars squads before earning induction in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Honorable mentions: John Drew, George McGinnis, Ben Wallace
Alaska: Mario Chalmers
One of only two players in NBA history born in Alaska, Mario Chalmers was often used as a punchline for the LeBron James-era Miami Heat, who seemed to love nothing more than poking fun at him. The joke lasted so long and drew enough widespread recognition that even President Barack Obama got in on it during the Heat's 2014 trip to the White House.
But Chalmers wasn't just a punchline. The Anchorage native was a three-time Player of the Year in Alaska as a high schooler, a 5-star recruit who thrived at Kansas, and a clutch two-way competitor in the NBA who was never afraid to take shots in the biggest moments, always looked for off-ball opportunities, and never stopped pestering opposing ball-handlers.
Honorable mention: Daishen Nix
Arizona: Sean Elliott
Despite the blue-blood status of the Arizona Wildcats basketball program — and the many alumni who have gone on to succeed in the NBA — the Grand Canyon State has a checkered history of homegrown products. Twenty-two players born in Arizona have logged at least a minute of action in the Association, but 16 have combined to spend less time on the floor than Sean Elliott did by himself.
The first player to suit up after receiving a kidney transplant, Elliott showed plenty of his characteristic resiliency bouncing back from a 1999 diagnosis of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. But before the tail end of his career, he'd already done enough to get his No. 32 jersey retired by the San Antonio Spurs, who saw him make two All-Star squads and submit the Memorial Day Miracle as one of the most memorable moments in franchise history.
Honorable mentions: Marvin Bagley III, Jerryd Bayless, Mattise Thybulle
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