What NBA Players Came Out of MSU?

Michigan State has produced a number of great NBA players Here is a list of some of the best.

Draymond Green

Draymond Jamal Green Sr. (born March 4, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for Michigan State where he earned All-American honors. Green was selected in the second round of the 2012 NBA draft by the Warriors. He helped lead the Warriors to three NBA championships and was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2017.

Greg Kelser

Greg Kelser is a retired American professional basketball player He played in the NBA from 1979 to 1985. Kelser played small forward and was known for his slashing style of play. He played college basketball at Michigan State University where he was a two-time All-American. After his professional career, Kelser became a basketball analyst and broadcaster.

Mateen Cleaves

Mateen Cleaves is a retired American Professional Basketball player. He played collegiately at Michigan State University As a junior, he was the National Player of the Year and led MSU to the 2000 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship As a senior, he was a first-team All-American. He was drafted by the Detroit Pistons with the 14th overall pick of the 2000 NBA Draft After four seasons with Detroit, he was traded to the Sacramento Kings in 2004. He also played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Seattle SuperSonics In his NBA Career Cleaves averaged 5.4 points per game and 3.3 assists per game

Magic Johnson

Earvin “Magic” Johnson is a former American professional basketball player and current president of basketball operations of the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played point guard for the Lakers for 13 seasons. After winning championships in High School and college, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Lakers. He won a championship and an NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award in his rookie season, and won four more championships with the Lakers during the 1980s. Johnson retired abruptly in 1991 after announcing that he had contracted HIV, but returned to play in the 1992 All-Star game winning the All-Star MVP Award After protests from his fellow players, he retired again for four years, but returned in 1996 to play 32 games for the Lakers before retiring for good.

Johnson’s career achievements include three NBA MVP Awards, nine NBA Finals appearances, twelve All-Star games, and ten All-NBA First and Second Team nominations. He led the league in regular-season assists four times, and is the NBA’s all-time leader in average assists per game at 11.2. Johnson was a member of 1992 United States men’s Olympic gold medal basketball “Dream Team”, which was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010. He was rated by former ESPN analyst John Hollinger as one of top point guards of all time. His friendship and rivalry with Boston Celtics star Larry Bird whom he faced in three NBA Championship series between 1979 and 1987 as well as in several exhibition games prior to those years’ drafts, are well documented.

Steve Smith

Steve Smith is a former NBA player who played for the Atlanta Hawks Portland Trail Blazers and Charlotte Hornets He was a member of the “Fab Five” at Michigan State University and was selected as the fifth overall pick in the 1991 NBA draft Smith was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1992, and was an NBA All-Star in 1998. He won an NBA Championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2003.

Jay Vincent

Jay Vincent (born October 14, 1959) is an American former professional basketball player He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1981 to 1988. He played collegiately at Michigan State University

Morris Peterson

Morris Peterson is a former NBA player who played for the Toronto Raptors New Orleans Hornets, and Houston Rockets He was born in Flint, Michigan and played collegiately for Michigan State University Peterson was drafted by the Raptors in the first round of the 2000 NBA draft He played seven seasons for Toronto before being traded to the Hornets in 2007. Peterson spent one season in New Orleans before being traded to the Rockets in 2008. He played two seasons with Houston before retiring from the NBA in 2010.

Charlie Bell

Charlie Bell is a former professional basketball player who was a guard in the National Basketball Association He was born on September 29, 1978, in Flint, Michigan. He played College Basketball at Michigan State University where he was a four-year starter and helped lead the Spartans to the 2001 NCAA Final Four. Bell was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the 2001 NBA Draft and played six seasons with the team. He later played for the Golden State Warriors and Chicago Bulls before retiring in 2010.

Jason Richardson

Jason Richardson (born January 20, 1981) is an American former professional basketball player who played 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played College Basketball for Michigan State University, where he was the national player of the year as a sophomore. He was drafted by the Golden State Warriors with the fifth overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft Richardson won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 2002 and 2003.

Zach Randolph

Zachary “Zach” Demetrius Randolph (born July 16, 1981) is an American professional basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for Michigan State University, leading the Spartans to an NCAA championship in 2000. A Power Forward Randolph was drafted in the first round with the 19th overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers He has been selected to two All-Star teams.