What College Has The Most NBA Players?

We all know that college basketball is a breeding ground for future NBA superstars. But which school has produced the most professional players?

Kentucky

Kentucky has the most NBA players with a total of 41. This is followed by Duke with 33 and UCLA with 30. Kentucky’s success in the NBA can be attributed to their head coach, John Calipari. He has been successful in recruiting top talent to the school.

35 NBA players

The University of Kentucky has produced the most NBA players of any college basketball program with 35. Both Duke and North Carolina are tied for second with 34 each.

Notable NBA players: Anthony Davis, John Wall, Karl-Anthony Towns

Kentucky is tied with UCLA for the most NCAA Division I basketball championships with 8, and has produced some of the game’s greatest players. Notable NBA players from Kentucky include Anthony Davis, John Wall, and Karl-Anthony Towns.

Duke

Duke has had the most NBA players of any college since the NBA began in 1946. In fact, Duke has had more than twice as many NBA players as any other college.

34 NBA players

Duke University has had the most NBA players of any college over the past decade, with 34 former Blue Devils currently in the league. That number is only expected to grow, as several Duke stars are poised to make the jump to the NBA in the coming years.

In recent years, Duke has produced such NBA standouts as Kyrie Irving, Zion Williamson, Jayson Tatum, and Harrison Barnes. All four of those players were selected in the top 10 of the NBA Draft, and they’re all currently starring for their respective teams.

With so many talented players coming out of Duke, it’s no wonder that the Blue Devils are considered one of the premier college basketball programs in the country. If you’re a fan of the NBA, there’s a good chance you’re a fan of Duke basketball as well.

Notable NBA players: Kyrie Irving, Zion Williamson, Jabari Parker

The Duke Blue Devils have had 44 NBA Draft picks since 1950, and 21 of those players have gone on to become NBA All-Stars. Among the most notable Duke products in the NBA are Kyrie Irving, Zion Williamson and Jabari Parker.

Irving was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft and is a six-time All-Star who has won an NBA championship and Olympic gold medal. Williamson is one of the most electrifying young players in the league and was the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Parker was the No. 2 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft and has averaged double figures in scoring in each of his six seasons in the league.

UCLA

UCLA has the most NBA players of any college with 49. Kentucky is second with 38 and Duke is third with 34.

33 NBA players

The University of California, Los Angeles has the most players in the NBA with 33. The school has produced an impressive amount of talent over the years including Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Reggie Miller, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Walton. Most of these players have gone on to have successful careers in the league, with many of them being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Notable NBA players: Russell Westbrook, Lonzo Ball, Kevin Love

UCLA has produced more NBA players than any other college, with an impressive roster that includes some of the league’s biggest stars.

Westbrook, the 2017 NBA MVP, is one of the most explosive and exciting players in the league, and he is joined by fellow All-Star Love. Ball, meanwhile, is one of the most promising young talents in the NBA, and he is already making waves with his unique style of play.

North Carolina

North Carolina has the most NBA players of any college, with 57 total. UCLA is second with 48 players, while Kentucky is third with 38 players. North Carolina has had at least one player drafted in every NBA Draft since 1962.

30 NBA players

As of the 2019-20 season, 30 NBA players have attended college in North Carolina. That’s the second most of any state, behind only California.

Players from North Carolina have been some of the best in the NBA over the past few years. Notable players include Steph Curry, Kemba Walker, and Andre Iguodala. All three of those players have won an NBA title and an MVP award.

Notable NBA players: Michael Jordan, Jerry Stackhouse, Vince Carter

North Carolina is a basketball powerhouse, with some of the greatest players in the history of the sport hailing from the state. Michael Jordan, Jerry Stackhouse, and Vince Carter are just a few of the Tar Heel greats who have gone on to have stellar NBA careers. North Carolina colleges have produced more NBA players than any other state, and the Tar Heels have churned out some of the league’s biggest stars.

Kansas

Kansas has had the most NBA players of any college over the last 10 years. That is according to data from the NCAA and NBA. UCLA is second and Kentucky is third.

29 NBA players

As of the 2019-2020 season, there are 29 players in the NBA from Kansas. That’s the most of any state, college, or foreign country.

The state of Kansas has produced more NBA players than anywhere else in the world. As of the 2019-2020 season, there are 29 players in the NBA from Kansas. That’s more than any other state, college, or foreign country.

The Jayhawks have had the most success of any college in sending players to the NBA. As of the 2019-2020 season, 14 Jayhawks are in the NBA. That’s more than any other college program.

The states of Texas and California are second and third on the list, with 28 and 27 NBA players respectively.

Notable NBA players: Wilt Chamberlain, Paul Pierce, Danny Manning

Wilt Chamberlain: Wilt Chamberlain played at the University of Kansas for three years, from 1956 to 1959. A two-time consensus All-American, he led the Jayhawks to the 1957 NCAA championship as a junior. He is widely considered one of the greatest college basketball players of all time.

Paul Pierce: Paul Pierce played at the University of Kansas for four years, from 1995 to 1998. He was a two-time Consensus All-American and led the Jayhawks to the 1998 NCAA Championship as a senior. He is considered one of the best small forwards in NBA history and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020.

Danny Manning: Danny Manning played at the University of Kansas for four years, from 1984 to 1988. He was a three-time Consensus All-American and led the Jayhawks to the 1988 NCAA Championship as a senior. He is considered one of the best power forwards in NBA history and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014.