Top 5 NBA players of all time who played for Kentucky Wildcats ft. Anthony Davis
Since its inception in 1903, the University of Kentucky has become one of the most decorated college men's basketball programs in the country. Winners of four National Championships, the Wildcats have a rich history at the collegiate level.
With the third most Final Four appearances in NCAA history, and the most appearances in the tournament itself, along with the Elite Eight, it even represented the USA in the Olympics, bagging gold in 1948.
Kentucky also boasts a litany of players that eventually made it to the NBA via the draft, holding the record for most such names among all programs at 128, with three first-overall selections as well.
Here's a closer look at the top five NBA players of all time who played for the Kentucky Wildcats.
Top 5 NBA players to play for Kentucky
#5. Dan Issel
With a career that spanned both the NBA and the ABA, Dan Issel was a wildly productive scorer averaging 22.6 points per game over his 15-year career for a total of over 27,000 points.
A seven-time All-Star combined between both leagues, Issel won the ABA Championship as a member of the Kentucky Colonies in 1975. A Rookie of the Year winner and scoring champion, he would go on to have his jersey retired by the Denver Nuggets.
#4. Frank Ramsey
A name from a bygone era of basketball, Frank Ramsey was a mainstay of the Boston Celtics dynasty under Bill Russell, averaging 13.4 ppg to go with 5.5 rebounds after being drafted in the first round with the No. 5 pick in 1953.
The "Kentucky Colonel" as he was commonly known, Ramsey was part of seven Championship-winning teams with the Boston Celtics, playing a pivotal role in their dynastic run.
#3. Devin Booker
A dynamic scorer, Devin Booker is one of seven players to ever score 70 points in an NBA game. The No. 13 pick in the 2015 NBA draft, Booker has established himself as a "professional scorer", tallying over 25 ppg every year since his third for a career average of 24.3.
A four-time All-Star, Booker has evolved his game, masquerading as shooting as well as point guard, while he earned a spot on the All-NBA First Team in 2022, a year after leading the Phoenix Suns to their first NBA Finals in nearly 30 years.
#2. Rajon Rondo
A basketball genius in every sense of the word, Rajon Rondo was the quintessential point guard, becoming one of the premier assist men in the game, with his basketball IQ, defense, and leadership making him a valuable commodity for every team he was on.
After playing a huge role as one of the Big 4 for the Boston Celtics in their quest for their first NBA Championship in 20 years, Rondo would evolve further as a playmaker, earning four-straight All-Star nods as he led the league in assists and steals multiple times over.
For his efforts, he also earned four All-Defensive honors, before winding down his career with a second Championship, this time with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Finishing his career in the top 10 for most assists all-time with a career average of 7.9 dimes a night, Rajon Rondo is among the best point guards to ever play the game.
#1. Anthony Davis
After a legendary run at Kentucky where he led them to an NCAA Championship (their last to date), thanks to his stellar defense as he led the country in blocks over entire teams, Anthony Davis arrived in the NBA with much fanfare as the No. 1 pick by the then New Orleans Hornets.
A nine-time All-Star, NBA champion, four All-NBA first-team selections, four All-Defensive team selections and three-time leading the league in blocks just give a preview of the production that Davis has had in the NBA.
A member of the NBA's 75th-anniversary team, "AD" is recognized as one of the 75 greatest players to ever play the game, with career averages of 24.1 ppg, 10.6 rpg and 2.3 bpg.
Do you agree with this list? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.