Top 3 NCAA champions who went on to have great NBA careers, featuring Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and more
While the NBA is still the ultimate goal for basketball players, cutting down the nets and winning an NCAA championship is a feat that will be remembered forever. This is the case for a select few stars who managed to succeed at each level of the sport.
Here are the top three NCAA champions who went on to to even greater success on the NBA stage.
Top 3 NCAA champions with siccessful NBA careers
#3, Bill Russell
Left out of the GOAT debate far too often, Bill Russell was truly one of the pioneers of the sport of basketball. The Hall of Famer has 12 All-Stars, 11 NBA championships and five MVPs on his resume, a tally that will likely never be matched. His career averages of 15.1 points and 22.5 rebounds were vital to the Celtics' success, and he should be recognized for the basketball royalty he is.
This illustrious career kicked off with three seasons at the University of San Francisco, the only college to show interest in Russell coming out of high school. This proved to be a terrific decision for the school, as Russell led them to NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956. He posted career averages of 20.7 ppg and 20.3 rpg across three seasons before becoming the second pick in the 1956 draft.
#2, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, well known for his sky hook and impressive NBA production, had perhaps the most impressive college career in history. Under iconic coach John Wooden, Abdul-Jabbar led UCLA to three NCAA championships (in an era when freshmen were ineligible to play varsity basketball). The 7-foot-2 center also secured three National Player of the Year awards and averaged 26.4 ppg and 15.5 rpg throughout his three seasons.
The Milwaukee Bucks selected him first in the 1969 draft. Abdul-Jabbar spent six seasons with Milwaukee, leading the NBA in scoring for two of them before being traded to the LA Lakers, where he rose to further stardom. In total, Abdul-Jabbar has taken home six MVP awards, six NBA championships, 11 All-NBA team nominations and 19 All-Star appearances.
#1, Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan is as synonymous with the sport of basketball as any player could possibly be. He has one of the most impressive on-court careers, currently owns and is active in the management of the Charlotte Hornets and has an apparel brand that will outlive his influence on the game.
However, this all started with a three-year career at the University of North Carolina. Jordan helped lead the team to the 1982 NCAA championship, which included him knocking down the game-winning shot with just 14 seconds to go. He was also honored with the Wooden Award, the Naismith Award, AP Player of the Year and a two-time All-American during his three years at the school.
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He was picked third in a stacked 1984 draft by the Chicago Bulls. Jordan went on to have what is regarded as the most successful career in NBA history, driven by his unwavering work ethic. In his 15 seasons, he secured 10 scoring titles, nine All-Defensive team selections, five MVPs and six NBA championships. He averaged 30.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 5.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game in his career.