Oklahoma: Blake Griffin
Let's turn to the tape for this two-man race:
Category | Blake Griffin | Mark Price |
|---|---|---|
Career Stats | 19.0 PTS, 8.0 REB, 4.0 AST | 15.2 PTS, 2.6 REB, 6.7 AST |
All-Star Appearances | 6 | 4 |
All-NBA Appearances | 5 | 4 |
Titles | 0 | 0 |
Win Shares | 81.1 | 71.1 |
Games Played | 765 | 722 |
Despite the nostalgia factor as we think back on Mark Price's peak years with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the desire not to apply too much recency bias, Blake Griffin has to be the choice here. Not only was he a statistically excellent forward, but the posters produced by this Sooner left an unforgettable trail of terror in his wake.
Honorable mentions: Mark Price, John Starks, Wayman Tisdale
Oregon: Domantas Sabonis
Has Domantas Sabonis shifted into underrated territory?
Sure, he's struggled with injuries in recent seasons and hasn't yet suited up for a team that has escaped the first round of the playoffs, but he's also functioned as a veritable force on the offensive end who churns out double-doubles in his sleep.
We're only a few years removed from him leading the league in rebounds for three consecutive seasons and earning a pair of All-NBA Third Team honors. Plus, he's coming off a seven-year stretch in which he's averaged 19.1 points while shooting 57.4 percent from the field.
Terrell Brandon, a two-time All-Star who emerged as a backcourt force for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the mid-'90s, is a worthy challenger, but this is Sabonis' spot to lose.
Honorable mentions: Danny Ainge, Terrell Brandon, A.C. Green
Pennsylvania: Wilt Chamberlain
Look, we understand if you're mad this isn't Kobe Bryant. But Wilt Chamberlain is the only player in NBA history with statistics so otherworldly that we constantly have to wave our hands and pretend they don't exist to highlight the exploits of others. He may have played in a vastly different league than today's Association, but the man once averaged 50.4 points for an entire season and then led basketball in total assists a few years later.
Back in 2015, I ranked the top 100 players in NBA history for Bleacher Report. I had Chamberlain at No. 4 and Bryant at No. 11. Though the last 11 years have certainly shifted the order for plenty of other players, I stand by the overall sentiment.
Honorable mentions: Paul Arizin, Kobe Bryant, Earl Monroe
Rhode Island: Ernie DiGregorio
Rhode Island hasn't exactly enjoyed much success at the NBA level with 13 representatives combining to produce just 37.1 win shares. For perspective, Yao Ming sits at No. 250 on the NBA's all-time Win Shares leaderboard with 65.9 all to himself.
Ernie DiGregorio, who grew up in North Providence and stayed local for his college career with the Friars, is one of the least impressive featured players throughout this article. But he did enjoy a stellar first season with the Buffalo Braves that saw him lead the league in assists en route to a Rookie of the Year crown. Though a knee injury led to a premature exit from the NBA ranks, that one year provided all the heavy lifting necessary.
Honorable mentions: Marvin Barnes, Tom Garrick, Joe Hassett
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