As basketball fans, one of the most exciting times during the year is March Madness. It is a time when 64 college teams from around the country are entered into one tournament at various locations throughout the United States, all with the same goal in mind. That goal is to win the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. Over the years, this tournament has given us fans some of the best moments we have ever seen on the basketball court and that includes the moments that have been made in the NBA.
Before they made a name for themselves in the NBA, some of the game’s greatest and most successful players participated in this tournament and were elite players at the college level. Today, we are going to take some of the biggest and most successful schools in the world and create their best lineups based on the NBA careers of those players. It will feature the greatest scorers, defenders, rebounders, playmakers, and overall players to ever make their way through college and continue that success in the NBA.
These are the 10 greatest starting lineups of college players that played in the NBA.
Honorable MentionThe University Of Texas Longhorns
Credit: Fadeaway World
Starting Lineup: T.J. Ford, D.J. Augustin, Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge, Myles Turner
At first glance, this Texas Longhorns team doesn’t look all that intimidating, but as you move down the lineup, it gets scarier and scarier. The backcourt consists of two veteran point guards who played over nine years each in the NBA. T.J. Ford will serve as the team’s point guard, and although he was never an All-Star, he averaged over 14.0 PPG and 7.9 APG in 2007 for the Raptors as well as 14.9 PPG and 5.3 APG in 2009 for Indiana. D.J. Augustin will serve as a second point guard in this lineup who, if we take him from his peak, is a double-digit scorer who can dish out 5.0 to 6.0 APG.
Our number one option and the primary star will be none other than Kevin Durant. Of course, Durant’s elite offensive ability and three-level dominance as a scorer have led him to an MVP award and two Finals MVP awards, along with a host of other individual accolades. LaMarcus Aldridge is an elite offensive and defensive option at his peak who will provide over 20.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG, and over 1.0 BPG in the paint. To round it out, Myles Turner, who was an elite rim-protector at his best, will make this frontcourt one of the most unstoppable on this whole list.
10. The University Of Michigan Wolverines
Credit: Fadeaway World
Starting Lineup: Jalen Rose, Cazzie Russell, Glen Rice, Rudy Tomjanovich, Chris Webber
The University of Michigan has had a total of 64 players make their way through its halls and into the NBA. Kicking things off is one of the members of the famous “Fab 5” crew that got so much attention and hype during the early 90s. Jalen Rose spent 13 seasons in the NBA and became a 20.0 PPG scorer who grabbed over 4.0 RPG and 4.0 APG at his peak. His backcourt partner will be Cazzie Russell, despite his career being spent at the small forward spot. Russell spent 12 seasons in the NBA and was an All-Star for the Warriors in 1972. He was also a member of the 1970 NBA champion New York Knicks team and averaged over 20.0 PPG and 5.0 RPG at his peak.
Glen Rice will be a great addition to this lineup as its best three-point shooter in the lineup by a longshot. Rice was a three-time All-Star who led the NBA in three-point shooting at his peak and averaged over 22.0 PPG on multiple occasions. Rudy Tomjanovich and Chris Webber round out the frontcourt as a smaller but respectable duo Tomjanvich was a five-time All-Star, and 20.0 PPG scorer at his peak, and Webber is one of the most versatile and lethal power forwards of all time. With this lineup, Michigan could make a case to be much higher in these rankings.
9. The Michigan State University Spartans
Credit: Fadeaway World
Starting Lineup: Magic Johnson, Steve Smith, Jason Richardson, Draymond Green, Zach Randolph
There is a little bit of everything in the all-time Michigan State University lineup. It all starts with the greatest point guard in NBA history, Magic Johnson. Magic would help lead the Lakers to five championships during the 1980s while implementing the Showtime offense that is still so beloved today. Steve Smith will join Magic in the backcourt as a former All-Star and one-time NBA champion. If we get the best version of Smith, he will provide 20.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, and 4.0 APG next to Magic, which could be more with the way Magic likes to run.
Jason Richardson will also crack our starting lineup for Michigan State. Richardson was never an All-Star, but he was a more than capable 20.0 PPG scorer and used his athleticism to become an above-average defender and rebounder. Draymond Green will provide elite defensive play and can give Magic a reprieve as the team’s primary playmaker. To round out the frontcourt, we have a physical and rugged Zach Randolph to give opponents fits. Randolph will be a perfect complement to Draymond as the more talented scorer and rebounder.
8. The University Of Kentucky Wildcats
Credit: Fadeaway World
Starting Lineup: John Wall, Devin Booker, DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, Dan Issel
Next up, we have the University of Kentucky Wildcats. Their starting backcourt will consist of John Wall and Devin Booker. At his peak, Wall was one of the fastest and smoothest point guards in basketball who made five straight All-Star games in the 2010s, including averaging 23.1 PPG, 10.7 APG, and 2.0 SPG during the 2016-17 season. Devin Booker is still at his peak as a player right now in 2022-23. Booker has averaged 25.0 PPG or better for each of the last five seasons and has been named to three All-Star teams as well as one All-NBA Team.
The rest of Kentucky’s lineup consists of three super-talented big men. DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis provide elite pressure on the offensive attack as well as great rim protection and overall defense. Cousins was one of the best centers in basketball before suffering an Achilles injury, while Davis has proven to be one of the game’s greatest bigs. For the center position, we have decided to go with Dan Issel. Between the ABA and NBA, Issel was a perennial All-Star who is going to score anywhere from 25.0 to 30.0 PPG and grab 10.0 RPG or more.
7. The Duke University Blue Devils
Credit: Fadeaway World
Starting Lineup: Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum, Grant Hill, Zion Williamson, Elton Brand
With the matchup between Duke and Kentucky being extremely close, it is only right they sit next to each other in these rankings. Kyrie Irving and Jayson Tatum will be one of the most dynamic and potent backcourts of any team on this entire list. Irving is an NBA champion and one of the most skilled players to ever play the game, and his presence will be monumental for success. Although still young, Tatum has proven to be a true three-level threat on offense and a more than capable team defender who can lead his team to the NBA Finals. This backcourt is as dangerous as any in the NBA today.
Grant Hill, before his career-altering injuries, was on pace to take the reins from Michael Jordan as the NBA’s next superstar. Hill could do it all on the court, including score, defend, and make plays at an elite level. Joining him will be Zion Williamson, who, despite all the time he has missed, is one of the best players in basketball when healthy and can finish his shots at over 60.0% shooting. Elton Brand is another talented big who will be able to provide 20.0 PPG and 10.0 RPG for Duke as well as elite rim protection with over 2.0 BPG. Do not sleep on this Duke team to be standing alone at the end of any tournament.
6. The University Of Kansas Jayhawks
Credit: Fadeaway World
Starting Lineup: Kirk Hinrich, Paul Pierce, Danny Manning, Joel Embiid, Wilt Chamberlain
At the halfway point of our top 10 sits the University of Kansas Jayhawks. Kirk Hinrich will be a decent point guard to run our offense as a 15.0 PPG scorer who will find himself with 6.0 APG or better. He can also provide some perimeter defense for an otherwise lacking team in that department. Paul Pierce is a former Finals MVP who will be Kansas’ top shot-creator and scorer from the perimeter, which they will use, especially with their frontcourt being so dominant.
Danny Manning is an x-factor for this Kansas team as a former college star with tons of professional promise. He is a former All-Star, a 20.0 PPG scorer, and former Sixth Man of the Year who will be important to winning games. Perhaps nothing will be more important towards that goal than the dominance of Joel Embiid and Wilt Chamberlain. With these two, you are getting two players who will score at will in the paint on offense while also forming one of the greatest defensive duos of all time. Taking the former seven-time scoring champion and MVP Wilt and mixing him with MVP runner-up and perennial All-Star Embiid is a recipe for massive amounts of success.
5. The Georgetown University Hoyas
Credit: Fadeaway World
Starting Lineup: Allen Iverson, Sleepy Floyd, Alonzo Mourning, Patrick Ewing, Dikembe Mutombo
The Georgetown University Hoyas come in fifth on our list today, but they certainly have a case to be higher. Georgetown boasts a starting backcourt that features Allen Iverson, a former MVP and four-time scoring champion in the NBA. Iverson will take care of the ball-handling duties as well as be Georgetown’s number-one option. He will share the backcourt with Sleepy Floyd, a former All-Star playmaker who averaged 17.7 PPG and 6.7 APG for the Warriors in the 80s.
The frontcourt of Georgetown is what makes them one of the scarier teams on this list. It starts with Alonzo Mourning, a former two-time Defensive Player of the Year who could also score 20.0 PPG at his best. Then, the Hoyas roll out Patrick Ewing, one of the best players in Knicks history and a former 21.0 PPG and 9.8 RPG player in his career. The defense will get another boost from four-time Defensive Player of the Year Dikembe Mutombo. The front line of Mourning, Ewing, and Mutombo would be the most feared of any team listed today and could certainly move them up a few spots when all is said and done.
4. The UCLA Bruins
Credit: Fadeaway World
Starting Lineup: Russell Westbrook, Reggie Miller, Kevin Love, Bill Walton, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
As we move into our top four college to NBA lineups, the UCLA Bruins boast one of the more elite lineups on our list. Former MVP, scoring champion, and triple-double king Russell Westbrook will be running the offense with his do-it-all playstyle and relentlessly pushing the pace. Paired with him in the backcourt is a perfect weapon, Reggie Miller, whose movement away from the ball will open up plenty of shots for him in his sweet spots. Miller and Westbrook will get things started for UCLA, but the rest will finish it.
Kevin Love gets the nod here over Marques Johnson for the variety he displays in his offensive repertoire and his rebounding. Love’s 20.0 to 25.0 PPG will be a massive boost for an already-loaded lineup. In the frontcourt, we have two former MVPs and Finals MVPs in Bill Walton and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Walton and Kareem’s combination of defense will make this wall of muscle difficult to penetrate. On the offensive end, it isn’t hard to figure out that the former all-time leading scorer in NBA history will have plenty of space to go to work with his signature skyhook.
3. The Louisiana State University Tigers
Credit: Fadeaway World
Starting Lineup: Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Pete Maravich, Ben Simmons, Bob Pettit, Shaquille O’Neal
The next extremely talented lineup comes from LSU, and it’s a stacked lineup of talent from top to bottom. Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf is described as Stephen Curry before Stephen Curry was even a thought in the minds of NBA fans. Abdul-Rauf could shoot and score in any way he needed to as he used his speed and control to embarrass defenders. Next to him is Pistol Pete Maravich, who was far ahead of his time when it came to shooting, scoring, and passing. This high-scoring duo could light up the scoreboard for LSU by themselves, but the way this team is constructed, they will not have to.
Ben Simmons is somewhat of an outlier here, but as we know, there was a point when he was one of the best defenders and playmakers in the NBA. For our team’s sake, we will select that version of him. This team’s frontcourt may do the most damage in any contest as it consists of Bob Pettit and Shaq. Pettit will provide a bit of an outside shot and some spacing for Shaq but will also be able to go to work on the blocks. The version of Shaq we will select is the most dominant one there ever was of him. We are talking about the version that delivered three-straight Finals MVP performances during the early 2000s and simply could not be stopped.
2. The University Of Houston Cougars
Credit: Fadeaway World
Starting Lineup: Otis Birdsong, Don Chaney, Clyde Drexler, Elvin Hayes, Hakeem Olajuwon
The second-best lineup we feature today is the one from the University of Houston Cougars. In their backcourt, Otis Birdsong will take the point guard duties as a former ABA and NBA All-Star. Birdsong will be able to provide scoring and perimeter defense with over 20.0 PPG and 1.0 SPG for most of his career. Sharing the backcourt with him is defensive specialist Don Chaney. In 12 NBA seasons, 10 with the Celtics, Chaney earned five All-Defensive team selections and won two NBA championships. In that decade with Boston, Chaney averaged 8.7 PPG, 1.9 APG, and 1.0 SPG.
The next three players all provide something as former NBA superstars. Clyde Drexler is one of the 10 best shooting guards in NBA history. Drexler was an elite scorer and defender at his peak, which will round out a well-put-together wing trio with Chaney and Birdsong. Elvin Hayes was an elite rebounder and scorer who won a scoring title as a rookie and an NBA championship with the Bullets in 1978. Rounding it out is a former MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP. Hakeem Olajuwon is possibly the greatest two-way center ever and one who could change the course of his team’s season on either side of the ball. Few have had the same impact Hakeem did on the court, just as few will have any chance to stop this monstrous lineup.
1. The University Of North Carolina Tar Heels
Credit: Fadeaway World
Starting Lineup: Vince Carter, Michael Jordan, James Worthy, Rasheed Wallace, Bob McAdoo
The final and greatest lineup of college players that played in the NBA hails from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. First, we have the greatest player in NBA history to play wherever he really wants to in the backcourt. Michael Jordan automatically gives the UNC team an edge being a five-time MVP, six-time Finals MVP, 10-time scoring champion, nine-time All-Defensive Team selection, and 11-time All-NBA Team selection. Vince Carter gives Jordan an elite scorer and athletic specimen next to him in the backcourt, which is sure to produce at a higher level than every other team on this list.
Big Games James Worthy is a former Finals MVP and All-NBA Team selection who can provide over 20.0 PPG and 6.0 RPG for this Tar Hells squad with ease. Rasheed Wallace takes this lineup to another level of toughness and attitude but make no mistakes about it, Wallace could play ball too. He could shoot from the mid-range or outside and go for 18.0 to 19.0 PPG along with 7.0 or 8.0 RPG. Bob McAdoo completes this lineup as a former NBA MVP and scoring champion who gives this UNC lineup yet another potential 30.0 PPG scorer and elite interior defender. There were quite a few schools that gave us lineups that could be considered the best. None have the firepower or star power of the team from North Carolina.
Source: fadeawayworld
