Top 5 Louisville Cardinal NBA Careers

To be perfectly honest, the Louisville Cardinal basketball program hasn't produced a lot of NBA talent. In fact, very few players have been able to successfully transition into the NBA after stellar college careers.

The Cards are notoriously known for producing one of the all-time biggest NBA draft busts. Pervis Ellison had a decent professional career, but could never get close to his No. 1 overall pick expectations.

Let's take a look at the top five Louisville Cardinal NBA careers.

5. Pervis Ellison

Pervis Ellison: 6’9" 210 lb. Center

Birthplace: Savannah, GA.

Louisville: 1985-1989

NBA: Sacramento Kings 1989-1990, Washington Bullets 1990-1994, Boston Celtics 1994-2000, Seattle Supersonics 2000

Career Averages: 9.5 PPG 6.7 RPG

Honors/Awards: NBA’s Most Improved Player 1992.

4. Junior Bridgeman

Junior Bridgeman: 6’5" 210 lb. Guard

Birthplace: East Chicago, IN.

Louisville: 1971-1975

NBA: Milwaukee Bucks 1975-1984, L.A. Clippers 1984-1986, Milwaukee Bucks 1986-1987 

Career Averages: 13.5 PPG 4.3 RPG 2.4 APG

Highlights/Awards: Jersey retired by Milwaukee in 1988

3. Rodney McCray

Rodney McCray: 6’7" 220 lb. Small Forward

Birthplace: Mount Vernon, NY

Louisville: 1979-1983

NBA: Houston Rockets 1983-1988, Sacramento Kings 1988-1990, Dallas Mavericks 1990-1992, Chicago Bulls 1992-1993

Career Averages: 11.7 PPG 6.6 RPG 3.3 APG

Highlights/Awards: NBA Champion 1993, All NBA Defensive First Team 1988, All NBA Defensive Second Team 1987

2. Darrell Griffith

Darrell Griffith: 6’4" 190 lb. Guard

Birthplace: Louisville, KY

Louisville: 1976-1980

NBA: Utah Jazz 1980-1991

Career Averages: 16.2 PPG 3.3 RPG 2.1 APG

Highlights/Awards: NBA Rookie Of The Year 1981, NBA Dunk Contest 1985, NBA record for most three-point field goals in a season (record was later broken). The Utah Jazz retired Griffiths jersey in 1993.

1. Wes Unseld

Wes Unseld: 6’7" 245 lb. Center.

Birthplace: Louisville, KY

Louisville: 1965-1968

NBA: Baltimore/Capital/Washington Bullets 1968-1981

Career Averages: 10.8 PPG 14.0 RPG 3.9 APG

Highlights/Awards: NBA Champion 1978, NBA MVP 1969, NBA Rookie Of The Year 1969, NBA Finals MVP 1978, 5-time NBA All Star 68, 70, 71, 72 and 74

Unseld had his number retired by the Bullets franchise in 1981. He was featured in the NBA’s 1996 50th anniversary team, also knows as the NBA top 50.