Best of the Best: The Top 20 All-Time NBA Players with an NCAA Championship

It is rare for a professional athlete to dominate their sport for a prolonged period of time. There have been numerous cases of college superstars not panning out professionally, and professional players who could not capture that illusive championship in their college days.

This is the list of the best and most successful professional basketball players who have also hoisted the NCAA Championship trophy.

20. Carlos Boozer

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CHICAGO, IL - FEBRUARY 17: Carlos Boozer #5 of the Chicago Bulls waves to members of the San Antonio Spurs after a win at the United Center on February 17, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Spurs 109-99. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknow

Boozer was a highly recruited player going into college, deciding to play for coach Mike Krzyzewski at Duke. He helped the Blue Devils win the 2001 National Championship, defeating Arizona. 

Boozer has had a successful NBA career as a two-time All-Star.

19. Carmelo Anthony

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DALLAS, TX - MARCH 10: Forward Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks at American Airlines Center on March 10, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is cons

Carmelo Anthony made a name for himself in Syracuse’s run for the National Title in 2003. He was then drafted by the Nuggets, where he played seven-plus seasons before being recently traded to the New York Knicks. 

An NBA championship has so far eluded that four-time All-Star selection.

18. Richard Hamilton

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AUBURN HILLS, MI - APRIL 24: Richard Hamilton #32 of the Detroit Pistons drives the ball up court in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Palace of Auburn Hills on April 24

“Rip” Hamilton won his National title at the University of Connecticut in 1999. Hamilton would also be a key piece in the Detroit Piston’s NBA Championship in 2004. 

The three-time All-Star is still playing for the Pistons.

17. K.C. Jones

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UNDATED: Head coach K.C. Jones of the Boston Celtics looks on during a NBA season game. K.C. Jones was the head coach of the Boston Celtics from 1983-1988. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

K.C. Jones, along with Bill Russell, led the University of San Francisco to two NCAA Championships in 1955 and 1956. Jones would go on to win eight NBA Championships with the Boston Celtics. 

Jones would also coach the Celtics to two more titles in the 80s.

16. Glen Rice

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25 Nov 2001: Forward Glen Rice #41 of the Houston Rockets dribbles the ball during the NBA game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Clippers defeated the Rockets 90-83. NOTE TO USER: User expressly ack

Glen Rice was an essential part of Michigan’s one and only NCAA title in 1989. Rice scored 184 points that year in tournament play, the highest point total ever, and a record that still stands today. He won an NBA Championship with the Lakers in 2000. 

Rice will stay atop the record books until he is outscored.

15. David Thompson

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DENVER - MAY 23: NBA legend David Thompson attends Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs between the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Lakers at Pepsi Center on May 23, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expr

“The Skywalker” is undoubtedly the best player in North Carolina State’s history, leading the Wolfpack to its first National Title in 1974. Thompson had a successful NBA career, eventually becoming a four-time All-Star. 

He is widely considered one of the greatest players in the history of the ACC.

14. Grant Hill

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PHOENIX - DECEMBER 15: Grant Hill #33 of the Phoenix Suns during the NBA game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at US Airways Center on December 15, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and

“G-Money” played all 4 years under Duke legend Mike Krzyzewski, winning the title in his first two seasons in 1991 and 1992. He would lead the Blue Devils to the title game in 1994, only to come up short against Arkansas. 

The seven-time All-Star has yet to capture a title in the NBA. 

13. Jerry Lucas

Jerry Lucas won his NCAA championship with Ohio State in 1960, in what is still their only championship to date. The perennial NBA All-Star would also win an NBA title in 1973 with the New York Knicks. 

Lucas is widely considered one of the greatest players of his time.

12. Clyde Lovellette

Clyde Lovellette was the first basketball player in history to win an NCAA Championship, an Olympic gold medal and an NBA Championship. He captured his NCAA title with Kansas in 1952. 

The four-time All-Star won three NBA Championships in his career.

11. Bill Walton

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1980: Center Bill Walton of the San Diego Clippers stands on the court during a game against the Chicago Bulls at Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport

Bill Walton was the big man for the “Wizard of Westwood,” John Wooden, in their 1972 and 1973 National Championships. Walton went on to have a successful career in the NBA, winning an NBA Championship with both the Portland Trail Blazers and the Boston Celtics. 

Walton was the NBA MVP in 1978.

10. Tom Gola

Tom Gola was one of the best all-around players of his generation, and won his National Title at La Salle University in 1954. He went on to have a successful career in the NBA, capturing a championship with the Philadelphia Warriors in 1956. 

The five-time All-Star was an elite defender in his day.

9. James Worthy

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Undated: James Worthy #42 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball during a game against the Detroit Pistons. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart /Allsport

“Big Game James” Worthy captured his NCAA title in 1982 alongside Michael Jordan at the University of North Carolina. While Jordan overshadowed Worthy, the seven-time All-Star and three-time NBA Champion held his own as one of the best in the league. 

Worthy played his entire career as a Laker, and is one of the franchise’s best.

8. Patrick Ewing

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12 Dec 2000: Patrick Ewing #33 of the Seattle SuperSonics dribbles the ball as John Amaechi #13 of the Orlando Magic gaurds him during the game at the Key Arena in Seattle, Washington. The SuperSonics defeated the Magic 97-92. NOTE TO USER: It is exp

Ewing was one of the most highly recruited freshmen at the time, and for good reason. Ewing decided to join coach John Thompson at Georgetown, where he led the Hoyas to a National Title in 1984.

He then went on to join the NBA, garnering 11 NBA All-Star selections. 

The long-time Knick was never able to win an NBA Championship.

7. Bob Cousy

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BOSTON - APRIL 20: Boston Celtic great Bob Cousy waves to fans as he heads out to the mound to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the start of the Boston Red Sox versus the New York Yankees on April 20, 2007 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachuset

Cousy will be remembered for his run with the Boston Celtics in the 50s and 60s that includes six championships.

He will also forever be remembered at Holy Cross, as he helped the school capture it’s only National Title in 1947. 

The 13-time All-Star is a legend of the sport of basketball.

6. Isiah Thomas

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11 May 1994: DETROIT POINT GUARD ISIAH THOMAS DRIBBLES THE BALL WHILE CALLING AN OFFENSE DURING THE PISTONS GAME AT THE DENVER NUGGETS.

His sophomore season at Indiana under Bob Knight was all Thomas needed to vault himself into the NBA. The 1981 champion Hoosiers were led by their star Thomas, who received the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award. 

Thomas went on to the NBA, and enjoyed 12 NBA All-Star selections and a pair of championships with the Detroit Pistons.

5. John Havlicek

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RANCHO MIRAGE, CA - MARCH 28: Basketball legend John Havlicek poses with LPGA player Nicole Castrale and her husband Craig during the pro-am at the Kraft Nabisco Championship at Mission Hills Country Club on March 28, 2007 in Rancho Mirage, California. (

Havlicek’s lone National Championship in 1960 with Ohio State is overshadowed by his eight NBA Championship titles with the Boston Celtics in the 1960s.

Overlooked at Ohio State for then star Jerry Lucas, Havlicek had the last laugh. 

Havlicek is on the shortlist for the greatest NBA players of all time.

4. Bill Russell

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LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 20: NBA legend Bill Russell is acknowledged for recieving the Medal of Freedom on the court at the 2011 NBA All-Star Game at Staples Center on February 20, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowled

Russell did not receive one letter of interest until Hal DeJulio of the University of San Francisco gave him a chance. Two National Championships later (one in 1955, another in 1956), it's pretty obvious DeJulio made the right choice. 

Russell overcame adversity to become a once in a generation player for the Celtics in the late 50s and early 60s.

3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

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1989: Center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a hook shot during the Lakers versus Seattle Supersonics game at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. Mandatory Credit: Tim DeFrisco/ALLSPORT

Kareem captured not one, not two but three NCAA Championship titles under legendary coach John Wooden at UCLA from 1967-1969. 

Wooden would not be the only legend to make a name at UCLA, as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar would go down in history as one of the most successful NBA athletes ever.

2. Magic Johnson

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ATLANTA - FEBRUARY 8: Ervin 'Magic' Johnson of the Los Angeles Team looks on before the Jeep Hoop it Up Game during the 2003 NBA All Star weekend at Philips Arena on February 8, 2003 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agr

Johnson earned his Championship in 1979 in what was the most watched NCAA Final to date. Johnson’s Michigan State Spartans defeated Larry Bird and Indiana State in an epic clash between the two combatants in a rivalry that would continue for years in the NBA. 

Johnson is widely considered one of the best players ever to play the game, if not the best.

1. Michael Jordan

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13 Feb 1998: Guard Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls goes up for two during a game against the Atlanta Hawks at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Hawks 112-110. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport

"His Airness" is the greatest basketball player of all time, winning championships at every level. Jordan grabbed his NCAA Championship playing with the University of North Carolina in 1982, playing under Dean Smith. 

Jordan may be the greatest player to ever grace the NBA.