What NBA Players Are From New Jersey?
New Jersey has produced some of the greatest basketball players in history. From hall of famers like Shaquille O’Neal and Dick Barnett, to modern-day stars like Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker, the Garden State has always been a hotbed for hoops talent.
Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Andrew Irving is an American professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was named NBA Rookie of the Year after being selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the first overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft. Irving played college basketball for Duke University before joining the Cavaliers in 2011.
In 2014, he led Cleveland to its first NBA Finals appearance in franchise history and was named the NBA All-Star Game MVP. He has also played for Team USA in multiple FIBA World Cup and Olympic competitions, winning gold medals in both the 2014 FIBA World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics.
Kemba Walker
Kemba Walker (born May 8, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was drafted ninth overall by the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2011 NBA draft, and went on to earn NBA All-Star and All-NBA Team honors. He has represented the United States national team twice, winning a gold medal in the 2014 FIBA World Cup.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (born September 26, 1993) is an American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the University of Kentucky. Kidd-Gilchrist was selected with the second overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft by the Charlotte Bobcats, now known as the Hornets. He was a member of Kentucky’s NCAA championship team in 2012.
Derrick Rose
Derrick Rose, shooting guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers, was born and raised in Englewood, New Jersey. He played one year of college basketball for the University of Memphis before being drafted first overall by the Chicago Bulls in 2008. Rose was named the NBA Rookie of the Year and went on to become one of the league’s most prominent players, earning MVP honors in 2011.
J.R. Smith
shooting guard and small forward who last played for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played high school basketball for Saint Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey, and college basketball for Louisville. Smith was drafted in the first round of the 2004 NBA draft with the 18th overall pick by the New Orleans Hornets.
