Which State Produces The Most NBA Players?

We all know that California is the home of basketball in the United States. But which state actually produces the most NBA players?

Kentucky

Although Kentucky is not one of the traditional basketball hotbeds, it has produced more NBA players than any other state. A total of 42 players from Kentucky have been drafted into the NBA, including some of the biggest names in the game such as Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, and John Wall.

The state’s success can be attributed to a number of factors, including the fact that it has a very strong high school basketball program. In addition, many of the state’s top players have chosen to play their college ball at the University of Kentucky, which is one of the most successful programs in the country.

California

As of the 2019-2020 NBA season, California has produced the most NBA players of any state in the country. There are a total of 85 Californian players in the NBA, representing nearly 12% of the league. California is followed by Texas (56 players), Louisiana (30 players), and New York (29 players).

Texas

Texas has produced the most NBA players of any state in the U.S., with a total of 55 players as of the 2019-2020 season. California is second, with 50 players, followed by Georgia (34), New York (33), and Pennsylvania (30). Texas has produced more NBA players than any other state in part because it has the second-largest population in the U.S., after California. But Texas also has a strong basketball culture, with a high number of youth and high school basketball programs.

Louisiana

According to a 2018 report, Louisiana produced the most NBA players per capita of any US state. The state’s population is 4.6 million, and there have been 26 NBA players from Louisiana, for a ratio of one player for every 176,923 people. In comparison, the second-most productive state, California, has a ratio of one player for every 340,399 people.

The report also found that Louisiana is the top producer of NFL players per capita, with a ratio of one player for every 48,789 people. California is second in the NFL with a ratio of one player for every 94,683 people.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is often considered a basketball state, and for good reason. The state has produced more NBA players than any other, with 82 players hailing from Pennsylvania. Of those 82 players, 23 have been All-Stars, including Kobe Bryant, Patrick Ewing, Wilt Chamberlain and Allen Iverson.