Michigan State University Players in the NBA

Michigan State University has a long history of sending players to the NBA. In this blog, we take a look at some of the most successful Spartans in the league today.

NBA Players from Michigan State University

Since the NBA was founded in 1946, there have been 71 Michigan State University alumni drafted into the NBA. In total, these 71 players have played for a combined 73 seasons in the NBA. Of these 71 players, 37 of them have played for more than one season in the NBA. The longest-tenured Michigan State player in the NBA is Magic Johnson who played 13 seasons in the league.

Michigan State University Players in the NBA

Since 2000, Michigan State University has had 54 players drafted by NBA teams Of those 54 players, 34 have played in at least one NBA game Zion Williamson the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft was the most recent Michigan State player to be drafted. He is also the only player from Michigan State to be drafted first overall.

Michigan State University Alumni in the NBA

Since the Michigan State University men’s basketball team was founded in 1898, it has produced many talented players who have gone on to have successful careers in the NBA. As of the 2019-2020 Season there are 29 MSU alumni playing in the NBA. This is a list of those players, their teams, and their positions:

Guard:
--Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors)
-Travis Trice (Minnesota Timberwolves)
-Denzel Valentine (Chicago Bulls)

Forward:
--Miles Bridges (Charlotte Hornets)
-Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies)
-Dragan Bender (Phoenix Suns)
-Keita Bates-Diop (Minnesota Timberwolves)
-Goran Dragic (Miami Heat)
--Nick Ward (Golden State Warriors)
forward: a person who plays basketball in either the Forward Position or positions

Michigan State University Players in the NBA Draft

Since the NBA Draft began in 1947, Michigan State University has had 74 players drafted. In the 2000s (decade), a total of 15 Michigan State players were drafted. This is the most of any decade and more than double the number of Spartan draftees in any other decade in the NBA Draft

Michigan State University Players in the NBA All-Star Game

Since the inaugural NBA All-Star game in 1951, a total of 28 Michigan State University (MSU) alumni have been selected to play in the game. Amongst those 28 players, there have been 5 multiple time All-Stars, which include:
-Greg Kelser (1979 & 1980)
-Earvin “Magic” Johnson (1982, 1985, 1987, 1988 & 1990)
--Steve Smith (1997 & 2000)
--Draymond Green (2016 & 2019)
--Kevin Willis (1992 & 1994)

Michigan State University Players in the NBA Playoffs

This is a list of Michigan State University alumni who have played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) during the regular season or playoffs.

Michigan State University Players in the NBA Finals

Since the NBA began in 1946, 181 Michigan State University alumni have played in the NBA, as of the end of the 2018–19 season. Forty-three of those Spartans have been drafted, including Magic Johnson and Steve Smith who were selected first overall. Eleven former Spartans have been named NBA All-Stars, and five have won the NBA Championship

Michigan State University Players in the NBA Awards

Since the late 1950s, Michigan State University has had a total of 60 players drafted by NBA Teams Of these 60 players, 17 have been selected to play in an NBA All-Star Game Below is the list of Michigan State University players who have been awarded this honor.

-1960: Walt Bellamy (1st overall pick)
-1965: Rick Barry (2nd overall pick)
-1975: Steve Green (7th overall pick)
-1980: Magic Johnson (1st overall pick)
-1983: Sam Perkins (4th overall pick)
-1991: Shawn Respert (8th overall pick)
-1995: Eric Snow (43rd overall pick)
-2000: Mateen Cleaves (14th overall pick)
-2001: Morris Peterson (21st overall pick)
-2003: Zach Randolph (19th overall pick)
-2004: Josh Smith (17th overall pick)

Michigan State University Players in the NBA Hall of Fame

There are several Michigan State University alumni who have been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame including Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Clyde “The Glide” Drexler, and George Gervin

Michigan State University Players in the NBA All-Time

Since the 1950 NBA draft 62 players from Michigan State University have been selected to an NBA team Fifty-six of those players have played at least one game in the NBA. The Spartans have had 27 first-Round Selections and five second-round selections in the NBA draft Twelve former Spartan basketball players have gone on to play in the NBA All-Star Game

The following is a list of Michigan State University players who have been selected in the NBA Draft

MSU NBA Draft picks
player year round pick position team
Tom Izzo 2020 1st 30th Head Coach Atlanta Hawks