NBA Players Who Went to Colleges You Didn’t Expect

These 10 NBA players attended colleges you may not have expected. Players like Lebron James Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant all have interesting stories about their college days.

Introduction

In the National Basketball Association (NBA), players from all over the world compete at the highest level of Professional Basketball In recent years the league has seen an influx of International Players from countries like Serbia, France, and Croatia.

While many of these players attended well-known basketball powerhouses like the University of Kentucky or Duke University there are also a Number of players who came from colleges that you may not have expected. In this article, we’ll take a look at 10 NBA players who went to colleges you didn’t expect.

Players Who Went to Big Colleges

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the premier professional Basketball League in the world. Players who attend big colleges often have an advantage over those who attend smaller schools because they are more likely to be scouted by NBA scouts

However, there are many successful NBA players who attended small colleges or even no college at all. Here are 10 of the most successful NBA players who did not attend a big college.

Players Who Went to Small Colleges

Players Who Went to Small Colleges
In the National Basketball Association (NBA), there are a number of players who attended small colleges that you may not have expected. Here is a look at some of those players:

--Giannis Antetokounmpo Milwaukee Bucks The Greek Freak attended the tiny school of Filathlitikos B.C. in Athens, Greece before coming over to the NBA.
--Jimmy Butler Miami Heat Before Butler became an All-Star with the Chicago Bulls he played his college basketball at Marquette University a mid-sized private school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
--Isaiah Thomas Washington Wizards Thomas was a Standout Player for the University of Washington but he actually started his college career at South Kent School, a small prep school in Connecticut.
--Pau Gasol Portland Trail Blazers Gasol entered the NBA straight from High School but he actually started his pro career with FC Barcelona of the Spanish League

players Who Went to Community Colleges

NBA players who went to community colleges are often overlooked. These players have worked hard to earn their place in the NBA, and many of them have gone on to have successful careers.

Some of the most successful NBA players who began their careers at community colleges include Amar’e Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer, and Jason Kidd Each of these players went on to have successful NBA careers, despite coming from humble beginnings.

players Who Went to Online Colleges

There are a few players in the NBA who took the non-traditional route of going to college online. Here are a few of them:

-Amir Johnson, Philadelphia 76ers: Johnson went to West Virginia University for one semester before leaving to focus on his NBA Career He later got his degree from Penn Foster College.
-Shaquille O’Neal, retired: One of the most successful players in NBA history O’Neal famously left LSU after just three semesters to pursue an NBA career He later got an MBA from Arizona State University Online.
--Kobe Bryant retired: Another legendary player, Bryant skipped college altogether to go pro. However, he later got a degree in business administration from Grantham University.

players Who Went to Trade Schools

There are quite a few players in the NBA who went to trade schools instead of your typical four-year universities. Here are some of the most notable ones.

Enes Kanter, C, New York Knicks Kanter attended Stoneridge Preparatory School in Simi Valley California for a post-graduate year before going to Turkey to play professionally. He was eventually drafted by the Utah Jazz with the third overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft

Patty Mills, PG, San Antonio Spurs: Mills played his college ball at Saint Mary’s College of California, but he actually started his collegiate career at Northwest Florida State College, a two-year school. He was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 55th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft

Isaiah Canaan, PG, Houston Rockets Canaan played his collegiate ball at Murray State University but he actually started his career at Kilgore College, a junior college in Texas. He was drafted by the Rockets with the 34th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft

players Who Went to Art Schools

You may not think of NBA players as being particularly artsy, but there are a surprising number of players who have a background in the arts. Some players have even gone to art school! Here are just a few examples:

Rudy Gobert, center for the Utah Jazz went to France’s Lycée Saint-Louis de Gonzague, an art school known for its photography program.

Shawn Marion, former NBA player and current Assistant Coach for the Milwaukee Bucks went to Vincennes University an art school in Indiana.

Dwyane Wade, shooting guard for the Miami Heat went to the Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago.

players Who Went to Music Schools

Many people know that some of the biggest names in the NBA today such as Lebron James and Kobe Bryant chose to forego college and go straight to the pros. But there are also a number of players in the league who have made headlines for their unique choice of college, including those who went to music schools. Here are a few examples:

--Dwyane Wade After attending Marquette University on a scholarship, Wade was drafted into the NBA in 2003. He is now a three-Ime Nba champion and one of the league’s most popular players.
--Steve Nash Nash was drafted into the NBA after spending two years at Santa Clara University. He is now a two-time NBA MVP and considered one of the best point guards of all time.
-Shaquille O’Neal: Shaq is one of the most iconic players in NBA history and he attended Louisiana State University on a Basketball Scholarship before being drafted by the Orlando Magic in 1992.

players Who Went to Acting Schools

It might surprise you to know that some of your favorite NBA players got their start in acting school. From Shaquille O’Neal to Lebron James these athletes took their talents to the stage before they ever stepped onto a basketball court

Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most iconic players in NBA history but before he was “The Diesel”, he was studying drama at Syracuse University He even considered pursuing a career in acting, but ultimately decided to focus on basketball.

LeBron James is another player who considered a career in acting before he became one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He took drama classes in high school and even appeared in a few movies, including “trainwreck”. However, his love for basketball led him to pursue that instead.

Kobe Bryant is another player who has had a successful career in both basketball and film. He started his acting career while he was still playing for the Lakers, appearing in movies like “Mr. 3000” and “Jack and Jill”. Kobe has also won an Oscar for his animated short film “Dear Basketball”.

These are just a few of the NBA players who got their start in acting school. So next time you’re watching a game, remember that some of your favorite players might have been better suited for the silver screen than the hardwood!

players Who Went to Culinary Schools

NBA players who went to culinary schools might surprise you. Many of them had successful careers in the NBA, and some are now known for their work in the culinary world. Here are some of the most notable NBA players who went to culinary school.

1. Shaquille O’Neal: Shaq is one of the most dominant players in NBA history and he’s also a well-known businessman and television personality. After retirement, Shaq decided to pursue his passion for food and enrolled at the Culinary Institute of America. He’s now a successful restaurateur and has even released his own line of breakfast foods.

2. Damian Lillard Damian Lillard is one of the best guards in the NBA, and he’s also a talented chef. He attended Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts before embarking on his NBA career Lillard has said that he loves cooking because it allows him to be creative and express himself in a different way than basketball does.

3. Matt Barnes Matt Barnes is a former NBA Journeyman who spent time with several different teams during his career. After retiring from basketball, Barnes enrolled at the Art Institute of California-Los Angeles’ School of Culinary Arts. He’s now a successful chef and restaurateur, and he even has his own line of spices and seasonings.

4. Chris Webber Chris Webber is a retired NBA All-Star who had an impressive career with several different teams. These days, Webber is pursuing his passion for food by attending classes at the Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) in New York City He eventually plans to open his own restaurant.