Best NBA Players That Came From Michigan

These players have become legendary, not just in the US, but many have become global icons. Here, we’ll explore some of the best NBA players who hail from the state of Michigan.

Magic Johnson

Of course, we have to start with Magic Johnson… one of the most recognised names of the game in the world. Magic Johnson – whose real name is Earvin Johnson Jr., is an absolute basketball legend – and he hails from Lansing, Michigan. He started out playing college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans before becoming one of the most influential players with the Los Angeles Lakers – and in the entire NBA.

He is now still a big advocate for the sport as President of Basketball Operations with the LA Lakers and Co-owner of the LA Dodgers. In this capacity, has spoken openly about people of LA being able to head over to online sites such as casinos.com and sports betting sites so they can bet on their favourite teams.

To this day, Johnson is still widely regarded as one of the greatest point guards ever in NBA history. In his career, he won five NBA championships with the Lakers and was a three-time NBA MVP – Most Valuable Player.

Chris Webber

Chris Webber, another huge success story that came out of the University of Michigan, made a huge impact in the NBA. Born in Detroit, Michigan, he was the first overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft, where he was selected by the Orlando Magic – however, he was quickly traded to the Golden State Warriors.

Following this, he had an incredibly successful career with a number of top NBA teams, earning himself five NBA All-Star selections. Webber, with his famous versatility and skills, became a renowned figure in the league and has left a lasting legacy in Michigan’s basketball history.

Glen Rice

Next, we have Glen Rice, who is a native of Flint, Michigan and enjoyed a pretty incredible NBA career. He, like many of his contemporaries, started out playing college basketball for the Michigan Wolverines. There he made a huge impact and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 1989 NCAA Tournament.

After hitting the big league, Rice was a three-time NBA All-Star and, despite his varied career, is probably most well-known for his time playing for the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat.

George Gervin

George Gervin – “The Iceman” was born in Detroit, Michigan and he spent most of his NBA career playing for the San Antonio Spurs.

During this time, he became famous for his scoring ability – winning four NBA scoring titles in his career and becoming a nine-time NBA All-Star

Terry Cummings

Admittedly, Terry Cummings was actually a product of Chicago, Illinois, but he was raised in Carver Ranches, Michigan before his formidable NBA career took off. After a successful college basketball sojourn at DePaul University, he was selected as the second overall pick in the 1982 NBA Draft by the San Diego Clippers.

This was just the beginning – and he went on to become an NBA All-Star, playing for several major teams, including the Milwaukee Bucks, San Antonio Spurs and Seattle SuperSonics.

Jalen Rose

A true Michigan boy, Jalen Rose, was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and had an incredible NBA career following his college days at the University of Michigan.

Having become well-known for his versatility, he enjoyed a very varied career and played for several teams, including the Denver Nuggets, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers and Toronto Raptors. He earned his one and only NBA All-Star in 2000.

Ben Wallace

Next, we have Ben Wallace, and again, although he is a native of White Hall, Alabama, he is very closely associated with Michigan thanks to his career with the Detroit Pistons.

Wallace entered the league as an undrafted player, but despite this, he went on to become one of the most dominant defensive forces in the NBA. During his time with the team, he won four NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards and was a major player in the Pistons’ 2004 NBA championship team.

Shawn Respert

Shawn Respert is a native of Detroit, Michigan – and although his career was relatively brief, it was still one that was worthy of note. He played college basketball for Michigan State and, during that time, he became known for his scoring ability.

Because of this Respert was drafted eighth overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1995 NBA Draft and, after this, he played for the Milwaukee Bucks and other teams.

Lloyd Walton

Last on the list is Lloyd Walton, who may have been born in Washington, D.C., but he was raised in Detroit, Michigan – and had a very decent career in the NBA. Throughout his time in the league, he became known as a bit of a defensive specialist – with unrivalled tenacity on the court.

Walton spent his time playing for several NBA teams, including the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls.

So, there you have it – some of the most influential players to ever come from (or be raised in) Michigan! These have all had a huge impact on the biggest basketball league in the world and still inspire youngsters from the state to follow their NBA dreams.