Who are the most famous NBA players from Michigan University?
With the University of Michigan Wolverines heading to take on No. 9 seeded Rutgers, we take a look at Wolverines in the NBA, both past and present.
The No. 8 seeded Michigan Wolverines are heading to Chicago today to play the No. 9 Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the second round of the 2023 Big Ten Tournament. Ahead of the game, we thought that we might take a look at the NBA talent that have worn the maize and blue.
The best NBA players to come from Michigan University
Currently, Michigan University has nine players in the NBA and most of them play a significant role on their teams.
Current players include veterans Mavericks’ Tim Hardaway, Warriors’ Jordan Poole, Clippers’ Moussa Diabate, Orlando’s Caleb Houstan, Franz Wagner, and Moritz Wagner, Cleveland’s Caris Levert, Pistons’ Isaiah Livers, and Miami’s Duncan Robinson. And while they are solid players, the current best came through different colleges. That is not to say that today’s crop won’t be tomorrow’s NBA legends.
For the best Wolverines ever to grace the NBA, you have to reach back a little further in time to the heyday of the program in the ‘70s and ‘80s. The undisputed king of the NBA Wolverines is Chris Webber.
The most prominent and successful member of the Fab Five recruiting class of 1991, Webber is primarily remembered by college basketball fans for calling a timeout the Wolverines didn’t have in the final seconds of the 1993 NCAA title game.
Selected by the Orlando Magic with the top pick of the 1993 NBA Draft, he was immediately shipped off to the Golden State Warriors. The NBA Rookie of the Year in 1994, he didn’t stay there long either, opting out of his contract and forcing his trade to the Washington Bullets.
After a stellar career with the Bullets, Kings, 76ers and Pistons, he returned to the Warriors to finish out his career, retiring as a five-time All-Star, the league’s rebounding champion in 1999 and a one-time All-NBA First Team selection.
Part of that same generation, Glen Rice spent 15 years in the NBA, starting off fast after being drafted by Miami in 1989. Rice became one of the premiere three-point shooters in the NBA sunk over 130 from behind the arc in six consecutive seasons both in Miami and later with the Charlotte Hornets.
After tenures with the Lakers, the Knicks, and Rockets, Rice retired with over 18,000 points, an NBA All-Star Game MVP, and an NBA Championship ring.
From Cazzie Russell, Rudy Tomjanovich, and Jalen Rose, if you are looking for great Wolverine talent in the NBA, there are some legendary names to look out for. They are not that difficult to spot. Who knows? In years to come we may be talking about some of the current student athletes with the same reverence.