Best NBA players by state (current/most recent)

Born in Mobile, Ala., Sacramento Kings star DeMarcus Cousins has become the best center in the NBA today. Cousins, 25, averaged 26.9 points, 12 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game this past season. Still, “Boogie” has yet to play a postseason game.

The most recent NBA player from the state of Alaska to play in the NBA is Carlos Boozer. Although he was born in Germany, Boozer grew up in Alaska and starred at Juneau-Douglas High School. A two-time All-Star, he has enjoyed successful seasons playing for the Cavaliers, Jazz, Bulls and Lakers. Boozer was not on an NBA roster this past season.

Bucks guard Jerryd Bayless is currently the best player in the NBA born in the state of Arizona. The 11th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Bayless has proved himself to be a reliable rotation player. The 27-year-old averaged 10.4 points and three assists per game this past season in Milwaukee.

It’s a small travesty the Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley has never played in an All-Star Game. One of the most competent floor generals in the NBA, Conley has averaged 15.3 points, 5.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game for his career. Born in Fayetteville, Ark., Conley is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Perhaps the most explosive player the NBA has ever seen, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook plays basketball with a psychotic intensity. A triple-double machine, Westbrook is unstoppable in transition and has the ability to set up his teammates as well with pinpoint precision passing. He won his second straight All-Star Game MVP this year and is looking to guide his Thunder to a playoff series upset over the mighty Golden State Warriors.

Although he was born in Italy, the Detroit Pistons point guard attended high school in Colorado Springs, Colo.. Along with sharing the name of an all-time great baseball player, Jackson has established himself as an All-Star point guard in Detroit. He averaged career highs in point, assists and three-point shooting percentage this past year for Stan Van Gundy’s team.

Although he played entirely in the NBA Development League this past season, Ryan Gomes is the most recent basketball player from Connecticut to play in the Association. Born in Waterbury, Gomes last played in the NBA in 2014 with the Thunder. His best season as a pro came in 2009 with the Minnesota Timberwolves, when he averaged 13.3 points a night.

Former Raptors, Nuggets and Cavaliers forward Joey Graham is the last player born in Delaware to play in the NBA. The 16th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft out of Oklahoma State, Graham last played in the NBA with Cleveland in 2011. His twin brother, Stephen, has also played in the NBA.

When he’s healthy, Brandon Knight is easily the most underrated point guard in the NBA. The Suns player averaged nearly 20 points a night this past season for a Phoenix team that needs all the help it can get. Knight was born in Miami.

The third overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, Derrick Favors finally came into his own this past year with the Utah Jazz. A traditional power forward, Favors averaged 18.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game for a Jazz team that has one of the brightest futures in the NBA.

With no current NBA players from Hawaii, former Suns, Lakers, Mavericks and Pistons forward Cedric Ceballos is the best NBA player to be born in the island state. Playing his best years with the post-Magic Johnson Lakers, Ceballos averaged a career-high 21.7 points in 1995 and was named an All-Star that year as well. He played 11 years in total in the NBA before retiring in 2001.

Of the four NBA players to have been born in Idaho, Luke Ridnour is the state's finest. Although he did not play last season, the point guard is a 12-year NBA veteran. Ridnour’s best season as a pro came with the Seattle SuperSonics in 2006, when he averaged 11.5 points and seven assists per game.

Although injuries hampered his play at times this past season, there is no doubt that Pelicans big man Anthony Davis is currently the best NBA player from the state of Illinois. A dominant force on both sides of the floor, “The Brow” averaged 24.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks this past year for New Orleans. And the craziest part of it all is that Davis is just 23 years old!

Jazz small forward Gordon Hayward has developed into one of the most complete point forwards in the NBA. Born in Indianapolis, most basketball fans remember Hayward as the Butler star who nearly hit a game-winning half-court shot in the 2010 National Championship Game against Duke. Since arriving in the NBA, however, Hayward has proved his worth, averaging 17.1 points and 4.1 assists per game for his career.

The seventh overall pick of the 2003 NBA Draft, Kirk Hinrich has been a quality floor general over the course of his career. He played his best years in the NBA with the Bulls, averaging a career-high 16.6 points in 2007. Hinrich, who was born in Sioux City, Iowa, just completed his 13th season in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks.

Although Kansas is the home of one of college basketball’s most storied programs, the state itself hasn’t produced too many NBA players. Its finest one at the moment is Kings big man Willie Cauley-Stein. Cauley-Stein just completed his first season in the NBA and looks well on his way to becoming one of the better defensive players in the league.

One of the most captivating passers in the NBA, point guard Rajon Rondo revitalized his career this past season with the Kings. Along with being the starting point guard on the Celtics' 2008 championship-winning team, Rondo was a four-time All-Star in Boston before a knee injury seemingly derailed his career. That being said, Rondo looked like his old self again in Sacramento this year, as he led the NBA in assists at 11.7 per game.

Perhaps the most underrated player of this generation, Atlanta Hawks power forward Paul Millsap is one of the best two-way players in the NBA. A three-time All-Star in Atlanta, he can beat opposing defenders off the dribble, in the post and even with his jump shot. Millsap also nearly averaged two blocks and steals per game this past season.

Only one NBA player has been born in the state of Maine, and that is former Magic forward Jeff Turner. One of the original players on the expansion Orlando franchise, Turner played 10 years in the NBA, averaging six points per game.

Although it’s looking more and more likely he’ll return to Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant’s impending free agency will be the talk of the summer and with good reason. Durant, the 2014 NBA MVP, is one of the best scorers in the NBA and a seven-time All-Star. KD looks like a lock to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame when his career is all said and done. Born in Washington, D.C., Durant played his AAU ball and parts of his high school career in Maryland.

There aren’t too many bright spots on the Philadelphia 76ers, but Nerlens Noel is one of them. Born in Malden, Mass., Noel has quickly become one of the NBA’s best all-around defenders in the paint and low post. The sixth overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, he averaged 11.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, and both 1.8 steals and blocks per game for Philly this past year.

Who would have ever guessed that Warriors power forward Draymond Green would become one of the best 10 players in the NBA? Well, it’s happened. Along with being a fantastic passer and three-point shooter, Green is universally considered the NBA's second best defender (next to Kawhi Leonard), as he can guard all five positions on the floor. If the Warriors repeat as champions this year, Green will be a major reason why.

Wizards shooting guard Alan Anderson is currently the best NBA player born in the state of Minnesota. Anderson, who also played professional basketball in Italy and Spain, averaged a career-high 10.7 points per in 2013 as a member of the Toronto Raptors.

Born in Jackson, Miss., Pacers guard Monta Ellis has been lighting up NBA arenas the past 10 years. A career 18.7 points per game scorer, Ellis is a threat to score any time he touches the basketball.

Although he is yet to truly hit his stride, Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal is the best player in the NBA today from the state of Missouri. The third overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, he can fill it from deep and averaged over 20 points per game this year for the first time his NBA career. Expect the 22-year-old Beal to get even better in the coming years.

Although the state of Montana has given the NBA its greatest coach of all time in Phil Jackson, it has also given us Adam Morrison. A punchline to many basketball jokes, Morrison is the most recent basketball player from the state of Montana to play in the NBA. After a successful college career at Gonzaga, he turned out to be a bust in the NBA. He did, however, win a championship riding the Lakers' bench in 2010.

Currently the head coach of the Chicago Bulls, Fred Hoiberg is the most recent player from the state of Nebraska to play in the NBA. Born in Lincoln, Neb., Hoiberg averaged just 5.4 points per game over the course of his 10-year career with the Pacers, Bulls and Timberwolves.

A nine-year NBA veteran, guard C.J. Watson was born in Las Vegas. Watson played this past season with the Magic, where he averaged 7.8 points and 4.8 assists per game. The 31-year-old has played for five different NBA teams.

The only NBA player ever to be born in the state of New Hampshire, Matt Bonner has won two championships as a role player with the San Antonio Spurs. Bonner, a center who attended the University of Florida, just completed his 12th season in the NBA.

The 2015-16 NBA Rookie of the Year, Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns is well on his way to becoming one of the NBA’s elite. As a 20-year-old, Towns averaged 18.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and shot 34.1 percent from beyond the arc. The sky is the limit for the first overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.

Thunder guard Andre Roberson is currently the only NBA player born in the state of New Mexico. Now in his third season, Roberson has developed into one of OKC’s most reliable defenders.

Although he might finally be on the downside of his NBA career, Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony is still the NBA’s best player from New York. A nine-time All-Star, Anthony is a deadly shooter and even led the NBA in scoring in 2012. A career 24.9 points per game scorer, he is also a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist in basketball with the United States.

The world of basketball is currently owned by Stephen Curry, and we’re just lucky enough to live in it with him. The first unanimous MVP in NBA history, Curry has already established himself as the greatest shooter ever to grace a basketball court and now is attempting to lead his Warriors to their second straight NBA title. Curry also broke his own record for three-pointers made in a season this past year with 402 made, 116 more than he made in his previous record-setting year. Though born in Akron, Ohio, Curry grew up in Charlotte, N.C.

Born in Grand Forks, N.D., Chicago Bulls forward Doug McDermott is one of just six NBA players ever to be born in the Roughrider State. The 11th overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft, McDermott also won the John R. Wooden Award for most outstanding player in college basketball as a member of the Creighton University Bluejays.

Whether or not LeBron James can bring the city of Cleveland its first NBA title remains to be seen, but there is no question that King James is the greatest NBA player to be born in the state of Ohio. A four-time NBA MVP, James will likely go down as one of the five greatest players ever to play in the league. Love him or hate, LeBron is one of the best ever.

Originally from Oklahoma City, Blake Griffin is the NBA’s best player from the Sooner State. Along with being an awe-inspiring dunker, Griffin is also one of the NBA’s best players when healthy. The No. 1 overall pick the of the 2010 NBA Draft, the Clippers power forward has been an All-Star five of his six years as a pro.

Through his first four years in the NBA, Raptors swingman Terrence Ross has proved he can be a contributing player on playoff team. The 2013 NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion, Ross is an absurdly athletic wing whose finest moment as a pro came in 2014 when he scored 51 points in a game against the Clippers. Ross was born in Portland, Ore.

A teammate of Terrence Ross, Kyle Lowry is one of the best point guards in the NBA. He averaged a career-high 20.6 points per game this season and is now looking to lead his Raptors to an upset victory in their Eastern Conference Finals series against the Cavs. A two-time All-Star, Lowry was born in Philadelphia and attended Villanova.

The most recent NBA player to come out the state of Rhode Island is former Mavericks and Knicks guard Ricky Ledo. Although Ledo only played a total of 28 games in NBA, his professional basketball continues with Santeros de Aguada in Puerto Rico.

Born in Charleston, S.C., Bucks small forward Khris Middleton is the type of swingman every NBA team would love to have. The 24-year-old Middleton averaged a career-high 18.2 points this past season, is quality three-point shooter, and can lock down opposing players on defense with his long arms and quick feet. Middleton could develop into an All-Star for Milwaukee in the coming years.

A 16-year NBA veteran, Mike Miller was born in Mitchell, S.D. The fifth overall pick of the 2000 NBA Draft from the University of Florida, Miller’s most memorable time as an NBA player came in the 2012 NBA Finals, when he simply could not miss a three-pointer for the Miami Heat. The 2001 NBA Rookie of the Year spent this past season with the Denver Nuggets.

One of the best three-point shooters in the NBA, J.J. Redick was born in Cookeville, Tenn. Redick's 2015-16 campaign with the Los Angeles Clippers was the best of his career, as he averaged 16.3 points a night, shooting an NBA-high 47.5 percent from beyond the arc. He is also one of the best free throw shooters in NBA history.

Over the past two seasons, Bulls shooting guard Jimmy Butler has developed into one of the NBA’s premier two-way players. A two-time All-Star, Butler averaged career highs in points, shooting percentage and assists this past year for Chicago. The 26-year-old from Houston is just now entering the prime of his career and should be one of the Eastern Conference's top players for years to come.

Born in Pleasant Grove, Utah, C.J. Wilcox is still looking to make a name for himself in the NBA. He just completed his second season in the NBA with the Clippers. Although the sample size is small, in the sparse amount of playing time Wilcox has received, he has shown signs that he can be a reliable three-point shooter.

Not only does the state of Vermont not have a player in the NBA today, but it's never had one! That being said, the state is responsible for producing some of most delicious maple syrup in the world.

Although Meyers Leonard out in Portland is also a quality player from the state, presently the best player in the NBA from Virginia is Jeremy Lamb. The centerpiece of the James Harden trade, Lamb has found a home in Charlotte after riding the bench on Oklahoma City for two years. The 23-year-old showed major signs of improvement this past year for the Hornets, posting career highs in points, rebounds and shooting percentage. And while he grew up in Georgia, Lamb was born in Henrico, Va.

Despite only being five-foot-nine, point guard Isaiah Thomas has blossomed into an All-Star this past season for the Boston Celtics. In fact, Thomas actually averaged more points a night this season than Carmelo Anthony and became the clear alpha dog on a Celtics team that is quickly turning into a contender out East. The last pick of the 2011 NBA Draft, Thomas has defied the odds and become a true star.

Born in Huntington, W.V., Bucks shooting guard O.J. Mayo hasn’t developed into the star many scouts thought he would become but is still a quality NBA player. The third overall pick of the 2008 NBA Draft out of USC by the Grizzlies, Mayo has averaged 13.8 points per game for his career.

With Caron Butler retiring and Devin Harris regressing with age, Sixers forward Carl Landry is currently the best NBA player born in Wisconsin. A power forward, Landry has always produced when given playing time and even averaged 16.8 points per game with the Kings and Rockets in 2010. Unfortunately for Landry, injures and an inability to make three-pointers have limited his opportunities in the NBA. Still, he’s a pretty underrated player.

Raptors small forward James Johnson is one of just seven NBA players to have been born in the state of Wyoming. Now in his seventh year in the NBA, Johnson has also spent time with the Bulls, Kings and Grizzlies. Don’t be shocked if Raptors head coach Dwane Casey utilizes Johnson’s services in the Eastern Conference Finals matchup against the Cavs.