The NBA Finals begin Thursday with either the Denver Nuggets or Miami Heat set to become the 78th champion of the association going back to 1947. MaxPreps dug into the archives to explore which state has produced the most players on championship rosters.
Every player on the list of more than 400 appeared in at least one game during the season their team won the title. Players were attached to states based on where they went to high school.
California leads the way with 70 NBA champions, including Kawhi Leonard, Tyson Chandler, Klay Thompson and 11-time winner Bill Russell.
Second on the leaderboard is New York with 44. The Empire State produced legends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Julius Erving but it started long before them. In the 1948 Finals, Connie Simmons from
Flushing led the Baltimore Bullets in scoring.
Illinois is third on the list with 42 champions spanning every decade. That number includes the first five-time winner in George Mikan of
Joliet Catholic (Joliet, Ill.).
Overbrook (Philadelphia) has had five different players become NBA champions, more than any other high school – including Wilt Chamberlain. Former NBA lottery pick and Loyola Marymount star Bo Kimble is currently the program's head coach.
California – 70Trevor Ariza,
Westchester (Los Angeles)Dennis Awtrey, Blackford (San Jose)
Jeff Ayres,
EtiwandaGreg Ballard,
Garey (Pomona)Matt Barnes,
Del Campo (Fair Oaks)Brent Barry,
De La Salle (Concord)Jordan Bell,
Long Beach Poly (Long Beach)Bruce Bowen,
Edison (Fresno)Jud Buechler,
PowayBill Calhoun,
Lowell (San Francisco)Elden Campbell,
Morningside (Inglewood)Bill Cartwright,
Elk GroveTyson Chandler,
Dominguez (Compton)Michael Cooper,
Pasadena (Pasadena)Howie Dallmar, Lowell
Jared Dudley,
Horizon (San Diego)Festus Ezeli,
Jesuit (Carmichael)Jordan Farmar,
Taft (Woodland Hills)Eric Fernsten,
Skyline (Oakland)Herm Fuetsch, Polytechnic (San Francisco)
John Gianelli,
Edison (Stockton)Gail Goodrich,
Poly (Sun Valley)Dave Greenwood,
Verbum Dei (Los Angeles)Bob Gross,
Mary Star of the Sea (San Pedro)Justin Holiday,
Campbell Hall (North Hollywood)Jrue Holiday, Campbell Hall
Brad Holland,
Crescenta Valley (La Crescenta)Eddie House,
HaywardCharles Johnson,
Sequoia (Redwood City)Dennis Johnson, Dominguez
K.C. Jones, Commerce (San Francisco)
Jason Kapono,
Artesia (Lakewood)Jason Kidd,
St. Joseph Notre Dame (Alameda)Bill Laimbeer,
Palos Verdes (Palos Verdes Estates)Kawhi Leonard,
King (Riverside)Cliff Levingston,
Morse (San Diego)Steve Kerr,
Palisades (Pacific Palisades)Jeremy Lin,
Palo AltoBrook Lopez,
San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno)Jim Loscutoff, Palo Alto
Mark Madsen,
San Ramon Valley (Danville)Glenn McDonald,
Jefferson (Los Angeles)Mark McNamara,
Del Mar (San Jose)Joe McNamee,
St. Ignatius College Preparatory (San Francisco)Willie Naulls,
San PedroGary Payton, Skyline
Paul Pierce,
InglewoodJim Pollard,
Oakland Tech (Oakland)Leon Powe, Oakland Tech
Norman Powell,
Lincoln (San Diego)Tayshaun Prince, Dominguez
Kurt Rambis,
CupertinoBill Russell,
McClymonds (Oakland)Byron Scott, Morningside
Bill Sharman,
PortervilleBrian Shaw,
Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland)Lonnie Shelton,
Foothill (Bakersfield)Paul Silas, McClymonds
Phil Smith,
Washington (San Francisco)DeShawn Stevenson,
Washington Union (Fresno)Klay Thompson,
Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita)Juan Toscano-Anderson,
Castro ValleyJacque Vaughn,
Muir (Pasadena)Bill Walton,
Helix (La Mesa)Luke Walton,
Cathedral Catholic (San Diego)Paul Westphal, Aviation (Redondo Beach)
Jamaal Wilkes,
Santa BarbaraArt Williams,
San DiegoScott Williams,
Wilson (Hacienda Heights)Nick Young,
Cleveland (Reseda)
New York – 44
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Power Memorial (New York City)
Tiny Archibald,
DeWitt Clinton (Bronx)Ron Artest,
LaSalle Academy (New York)Steve Bracey,
Midwood (Brooklyn)Carl Braun,
Garden CityMarty Byrnes,
PittsfordSpeedy Claxton,
Christ the King (Middle Village)Bob Cousy, Jackson (Queens)
Billy Cunningham,
Erasmus Hall (Brooklyn)Franklin Edwards,
Richman (New York)Mario Elie, Power Memorial
Leroy Ellis,
Jefferson (Brooklyn)Julius Erving,
RooseveltJerry Fleishman, Erasmus Hall
Donnie Forman,
Boys & Girls (Brooklyn)Mal Graham,
White PlainsDanny Green,
St. Mary's (Manhasset)Phil Hankinson,
Great Neck North (Great Neck)Tom Henderson, DeWitt Clinton
Red Holzman, Lane (New York City)
Marc Iavaroni,
Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK (Plainview)Mike James,
Amityville Memorial (Amityville)Vinnie Johnson,
Roosevelt (Brooklyn)Ralph Kaplowitz, DeWitt Clinton
Billy Kenville,
Newtown (Elmhurst)Mitch Kupchak,
BrentwoodJohnny McCarthy,
Bishop Timon-St. Jude (Buffalo)Rodney McCray,
Mount VernonJack McMahon, St. Michael’s (Brooklyn)
Jim McMillian, Jefferson
Dean Meminger, Rice (New York City)
Chick Reiser,
Stuyvesant (New York)Pat Riley,
SchenectadyMike Riordan,
Holy Cross (Flushing)John Salley,
Canarsie (Brooklyn)Satch Sanders,
Seward Park (New York)Dolph Schayes, DeWitt Clinton
Connie Simmons,
FlushingKenny Smith,
Archbishop Molloy (Queens)Kevin Stacom, Holy Cross
Bobby Wanzer,
Manhattan Center for Science & Math (New York)John Warren,
Far RockawayBill Wennington,
Long Island Lutheran (Brookville)Gus Williams, Mount Vernon
Illinois – 42Mark Aguirre,
Westinghouse (Chicago)Tony Allen,
Crane (Chicago)Jim Ard,
Thornton (Harvey)Randy Brown,
Collins (Chicago)Shannon Brown,
Proviso East (Maywood)Jim Brewer, Proviso East
Em Bryant,
DePaul (Chicago)Quinn Buckner,
Thornridge (Dolton)Corky Calhoun,
WaukeganBrian Cardinal,
Tolono Unity (Tolono)Maurice Cheeks,
DuSable (Chicago)Anthony Davis,
Perspectives Charter (Chicago)Jack Dwan,
Senn (Chicago)Michael Finley, Proviso East
Craig Hodges,
Rich East (Park Forest)Kevin Garnett,
Farragut (Chicago)Joe Graboski,
Clemente (Chicago)Lew Hitch,
Griggsville-Perry (Griggsville)Juwan Howard,
Chicago Vocational (Chicago)Andre Iguodala,
Lanphier (Springfield)Johnny Jorgensen,
Robeson (Chicago)Whitey Kachan, Saint Philip (Chicago)
Red Kerr,
Tilden (Chicago)Steve Kuberski,
MolineRonnie Lester,
Dunbar (Chicago)Shaun Livingston,
PeoriaJaVale McGee,
Hales Franciscan (Chicago)George Mikan,
Joliet Catholic (Joliet)Nazr Mohammed,
Kenwood (Chicago)Don Nelson,
Rock IslandWally Osterkorn,
Amundsen (Chicago)Andy Phillip,
Granite CityGary Phillips,
QuincyFlynn Robinson,
ElginCazzie Russell,
Carver (Chicago)Iman Shumpert,
Oak Park-River Forest (Oak Park)Jack Sikma,
St. AnneIsiah Thomas,
St. Joseph (Westchester)Fred VanVleet,
AuburnDwyane Wade,
Richards (Oak Lawn)Antoine Walker,
Mt. CarmelDarrell Walker,
Corliss (Chicago) Pennsylvania – 31Paul Arizin,
La Salle College (Wyndmoor)Ernie Beck,
West Catholic (Philadelphia)Kobe Bryant,
Lower Merion (Ardmore)Wilt Chamberlain,
Overbrook (Philadelphia)Bob Davies,
HarrisburgCharles Dudley, Harrisburg
Tom Gola, La Salle College
Gene Guarilia, Duryea
Matt Guokas Jr.,
St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia)Matt Guokas Sr., Saint Joseph’s Prep
Richard Hamilton,
CoatesvilleBuddy Jeannette,
Valley (New Kensington)Wali Jones, Overbrook
Red Klotz,
South Philadelphia (Philadelphia)Kyle Kuzma,
Rise Academy (Philadelphia)Kyle Lowry, Cardinal Dougherty (Philadelphia)
Maurice Lucas, Schenley (Pittsburgh)
Carl Meinhold,
Hazleton Area (Hazleton)Earl Monroe,
John Bartram (Philadelphia)Jackie Moore, Overbrook
Angelo Musi, Overbrook
John Richter,
Frankford (Philadelphia)Malik Rose, Overbrook
Petey Rosenberg, Brown Prep (Philadelphia)
Jerry Rullo, John Bartram (Philadelphia)
George Senesky,
Mahanoy Area (Mahanoy City)Dave Twardzik,
MiddletownPhil Walker,
Central (Philadelphia)Wally Walker,
Penn Manor (Millersville)Rasheed Wallace,
Simon Gratz (Philadelphia)
Ohio – 23Jim Cleamons,
Linden-McKinley (Columbus)Norris Cole,
Dunbar (Dayton)Dick Cunningham,
Canton South (Canton)Antonio Daniels,
St. Francis DeSales (Columbus)Derrek Dickey,
Purcell Marian (Cincinnati)Wayne Embry,
Tecumseh (New Carlisle)Kevin Grevey,
Taft (Cincinnati)Ron Harper, Kiser (Dayton)
Bob Harrison,
Woodward (Toledo)John Havlicek,
BridgeportJim Holstein, Hamilton Catholic (Hamilton)
Dennis Hopson,
Bowsher (Toledo)Bill Hosket,
Belmont (Dayton)LeBron James,
St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron)Neil Johnston,
ChillicotheJerry Lucas,
MiddletownJohn Paxson,
Archbishop Alter (Kettering)James Posey, R.B. Chamberlin (Twinsburg)
Dick Schnittker,
SanduskyPaul Seymour, Woodward
Chuck Share,
Western Hills (Cincinnati)Larry Siegfried,
ShelbySamaki Walker,
Whitehall-Yearling (Whitehall)
Michigan – 19B.J. Armstrong,
Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills)Shane Battier,
Detroit Country Day (Beverly Hills)Earl Cureton, Finney (Detroit)
Johnny Davis,
Murray-Wright (Detroit)Dave DeBusschere, Austin Catholic Preparatory School (Detroit)
Terry Duerod,
Highland ParkBryn Forbes,
Sexton (Lansing)Draymond Green,
SaginawDarvin Ham, Saginaw
Spencer Haywood,
Pershing (Detroit)Magic Johnson,
Everett (Lansing)John Long,
RomulusGlen Rice,
Northwestern (Flint)Steve Smith, Pershing
John Trapp, Highland Park
Trent Tucker, Northwestern (Flint)
Sam Vincent,
Eastern (Lansing)Chet Walker,
Benton HarborKevin Willis, Pershing
Texas – 19
Chris Anderson,
IolaChris Bosh,
Lincoln (Dallas)Nate Bowman, Kirkpatrick (Fort Worth)
Devin Brown,
South San Antonio (San Antonio)Alex Caruso,
A&M Consolidated (College Station)Walt Davis,
NederlandFennis Dembo,
Fox Tech (San Antonio)Clyde Drexler,
Sterling (Houston)Terrel Harris,
South Garland (Garland)Greg Kite,
Madison (Houston)Rashard Lewis,
Alief Elsik (Houston)Slater Martin,
Northside (Houston)McCoy McLemore,
Yates (Houston)Shaquille O’Neal,
Cole (San Antonio)Kendrick Perkins,
Ozen (Beaumont)Dennis Rodman,
South Oak Cliff (Dallas)Pascal Siakam,
God's Academy (Lake Dallas)Dave Stallworth,
Madison (Dallas)Micheal Willaims,
Carter (Dallas)
New Jersey – 18Rick Barry,
Roselle ParkAndrew Bynum,
St. Joseph (Metuchen)Tony Campbell,
TeaneckGeorge Dempsey, Merchantville
Hank Finkel, Holy Family (Union City)
Chris Ford,
Holy Spirit (Absecon)Bob Greacen, Merchantville
Tom Heinsohn, Saint Michael’s (Union City)
Art Hillhouse,
RutherfordKyrie Irving,
Patrick School (Hillside)Chris Jent,
SpartaDahntay Jones,
Steinert (Hamilton)Jonathan Kuminga, Patrick School (Hillside)
Markieff Morris, APEX Academy (Pennsauken)
Joe Pace,
Franklin (Somerset)Pep Saul,
Seton Hall Prep (West Orange)J.R. Smith,
St. Benedict's Prep (Newark)Milt Wagner,
Camden
Indiana – 17Dick Barnett, Roosevelt (Gary)
Larry Bird,
Springs Valley (French Lick)Ron Bonham,
Muncie Central (Muncie)Dick Farley, Winslow
Rick Fox,
WarsawEarl Gardner, New Market
Paul Hoffman,
JasperClyde Lovellette,
Terre Haute North Vigo (Terre Haute)Jon McGlocklin,
Franklin Community (Franklin)Jordan Poole,
La Lumiere (La Porte)Oscar Robertson,
Crispus Attucks (Indianapolis)Glenn Robinson, Roosevelt (Gary)
Herm Schaefer, Central (Fort Wayne)
Jerry Sichting,
MartinsvilleLarry Steele, Bainbridge
Jeff Teague,
Pike (Indianapolis)Marv Winkler,
Washington (Indianapolis)
North Carolina – 15Chucky Brown,
North Brunswick (Leland)M.L. Carr,
Wallace-Rose Hill (Teachey)Steph Curry,
Charlotte Christian (Charlotte)Herm Gilliam,
Atkins (Winston-Salem)Happy Hairston, Atkins
Brandan Haywood,
Dudley (Greensboro)Dick Hemric, Jonesville
Bobby Jones,
South Mecklenburg (Charlotte)Sam Jones,
Laurinburg Prep (Laurinburg)Michael Jordan,
Laney (Wilmington)Cedric Maxwell,
KinstonBob McAdoo,
Ben L. Smith (Greensboro)Charlie Scott, Laurinburg Institute (Laurinburg)
P.J. Tucker,
Enloe (Raleigh)James Worthy,
Ashbrook (Gastonia)Virginia – 14Quinn Cook,
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson)Bob Dandridge,
Maggie Walker (Richmond)Gerald Henderson Sr.,
Huguenot (Richmond)Stephen Jackson, Oak Hill Academy
Jerome Kersey,
Bluestone (Skipwith)Earl Lloyd, Parker-Gray (Alexandria)
Tony Massenburg,
Sussex Central (Sussex)Moses Malone,
PetersburgJames Michael McAdoo,
Norfolk Christian (Norfolk)Alonzo Mourning,
Indian River (Chesapeake)David Robinson,
Osbourn Park (Manassas)Rajon Rondo, Oak Hill
Marreese Speights,
Hargrave Military Academy (Chatham)David West, Hargrave Military Academy
Kentucky – 13Butch Beard,
Breckinridge County (Harned)Jack Coleman,
BurginDave Cowens,
Newport Catholic (Newport)Joe Fulks, Kuttawa
Cliff Hagan,
OwensboroJeff Mullins,
Lafayette (Lexington)Paul Noel, Midway
Frank Ramsey, Madisonville
Arnie Risen,
WilliamstownGreg Smith,
Caldwell County (Princeton)Tom Thacker, William Grant (Covington)
Jim Tucker, Paris Western (Paris)
Wes Unseld,
Seneca (Louisville)
Louisiana – 13P.J. Brown,
WinnfieldDon Chaney,
McKinley (Baton Rouge)Glen Davis,
University Lab (Baton Rouge)Joe Dumars,
Natchitoches Central (Natchitoches)Elvin Hayes, Britton (Rayville)
Jaren Jackson Sr.,
Cohen (New Orleans)Luke Jackson, Morehouse (Bastrop)
Avery Johnson,
St. Augustine (New Orleans)Gerard King,
McDonogh 35 (New Orleans)Robert Parrish,
Woodlawn-Shreveport (Shreveport)Bob Pettit,
Baton RougeWillis Reed, West Side (Lillie)
Rick Robey,
Brother Martin (New Orleans)
Georgia – 12Shandon Anderson,
Crim (Atlanta)Kentavious Caldwell-Pope,
GreenvilleWalt Frazier, David T. Howard (Atlanta)
Horace Grant,
Hancock Central (Sparta)Dwight Howard,
Southwest Atlanta Christian (Atlanta)Reggie Johnson,
Cedar Grove (Ellenwood)Jordan McRae,
Liberty County (Hinesville)Jodie Meeks,
NorcrossLloyd Neal, Talbotton
Chuck Nevitt,
Sprayberry (Marietta)Norm Nixon,
Southwest (Macon)Josh Powell,
Riverdale
Minnesota – 11Don Carlson,
Edison (Minneapolis)Devean George,
Benilde-St. Margaret's (St. Louis Park)Kleggie Hermsen, Vocational (Minneapolis)
Tony Jaros, Edison
Arnie Johnson, Gonvick
Mark Landsberger,
Mounds View (Arden Hills)Kevin McHale,
HibbingVern Mikkelsen, Askov
Joe Hutton, Wilson (St. Paul)
Howie Schultz,
St. Paul Central (St. Paul)Whitey Skoog,
Brainerd
Missouri – 11Bill Bradley,
Crystal CityClay Johnson, Manuel (Kansas City)
Florida – 10J.J. Barea,
Miami Christian (Miami)Udonis Haslem,
MiamiClemon Johnson,
Florida A&M (Tallahassee)James Jones,
American (Hialeah)Vernon Maxwell,
Buchholz (Gainesville)Moses Moody,
Montverde Academy (Montverde)Will Perdue,
Merritt IslandMitch Richmond,
Boyd Anderson (Lauderdale Lakes)Mychal Thompson,
Jackson (Miami)Otis Thorpe,
Lake Worth
West Virginia – 6Jerome Anderson, Mullens
Hal Greer, Douglass (Huntington)
George King, Stonewall Jackson (Charleston)
Jerry West, East Bank
Andrew Wiggins,
Huntington Prep (Huntington)Jason Williams, DuPont (Dupont City)
Mississippi – 3Lindsey Hunter,
Murrah (Jackson)George Johnson, Gulledge (Tylertown)
Mo Williams, Murrah
