Arkansas: Scottie Pippen
No disrespect meant to Archie Clark, Mike Conley, Derek Fisher, Joe Johnson, Fat Lever, Sidney Moncrief, Glen Rice, Paul Silas, or any of the other great NBA players in the surprisingly rich history of Arkansas basketball, but Scottie Pippen is the obvious choice here.
Famously offered no college scholarships after his career at Hamburg High School, Pippen defied the odds by walking on at Central Arkansas and wasted no time turning himself into a legend. His stock soared in college until he became the No. 5 overall pick of the 1987 NBA Draft, and it didn't stop rising there.
Pippen, as just about every basketball fan knows, was the dream sidekick to Michael Jordan on the dynastic Chicago Bulls, stuffing the stat sheet with his all-around game, dominating on the defensive end, and becoming one of the best, most versatile two-way stars in league history.
Honorable mentions: Mike Conley, Sidney Moncrief, Glen Rice
California: James Harden
California is the most competitive of any state due not to a dearth of options but the sheer absurdity of the talent coming out of the pipeline. Forty-seven All-Stars have been born in the Golden State, as well as some of the best non-All-Stars in league history (Andre Miller, Richard Jefferson, Tayshaun Prince, Michael Cooper, Aaron Gordon, etc.). Seventeen have been enshrined in the Hall of Fame. It's an embarrassment of riches.
You can make a compelling case for the triple-double stylings of Jason Kidd or Russell Westbrook, the two-way prowess of Kawhi Leonard (when he's available to play), the sharpshooting excellence of Ray Allen or Reggie Miller, or the fierce competitiveness of Paul Pierce or Gary Payton. But we're going with James Harden, owner of the Association's most legendary follicular forest and a ridiculous amount of offensive ability.
Harden has received plenty of criticism throughout his career for his exaggeration of contact, his postseason shortcomings, and the way his step-back three-pointers have altered the sport's aesthetics. He's also racked up some of the greatest offensive numbers the sport has witnessed, averaging an uber-efficient 24.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 7.3 assists as he enters his age-37 season while somehow still in his extended prime.
Honorable mentions: Jason Kidd, Kawhi Leonard, Russell Westbrook
Colorado: Chauncey Billups
The lone Hall of Famer from Colorado, Chauncey Billups is also responsible for five of the six All-Star selections from players eligible in this section. Jalen Williams claimed the other for the Oklahoma City Thunder, but, especially given his recent injury issues, it's hard to fathom him ever challenging Mr. Big Shot himself for the Mile High Throne.
Billups was a smooth operator at point guard during his peak years with the Detroit Pistons, thriving as a dual-threat point guard who could beat defenders to his spots or set up his teammates with aplomb. Throw in some tough-nosed defense, remarkable basketball I.Q., and a genuine love of high-stakes moments, and you'll have a guard who was never a true superstar but was certainly good enough to be the best player on the title-winning 2003-04 Detroit Pistons squad.
Honorable mentions: Jason Smith, Jalen Williams, Derrick White
Add us as a preferred source on Google