Sports

The Best NBA Players from North Carolina 

Ranker NBA
Updated April 17, 2020 5.7k votes 676 voters 17.4k views 118 items

List Rules Only NBA players born in North Carolina.

Here are the best NBA players from North Carolina. Featuring Hall of Fame greats, superstars, and active players, this list of basketball players who were born in North Carolina includes Chris Paul, John Wall, Brandon Ingram, and James Worthy. Who is the greatest NBA player from North Carolina?

Vote up the top North Carolina NBA players, and add your favorite players if they're missing from the list. Then head over and check out some more North Carolina star athletes with the best NFL players from North Carolina.

list ordered by
1
Michael Jordan is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list The Best NBA Players from North Carolina
135045 added Shooting guard and Small forward from New York City, New York, United States of America

Age: 56

Teams: Washington Wizards, Chicago Bulls

Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963), also known by his initials MJ, is an American former professional basketball player and the principal owner of the Charlotte Hornets of the ...more

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Wild Stories And Rumors About Michael Jordan #1 of 873 The Top NBA Players Of All Time #7 of 2,181 The Best Athletes Of All Time

2
Chris Paul is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list The Best NBA Players from North Carolina
Point guard from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States of America

Age: 34

Number: 3

Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder

Christopher Emmanuel Paul (born May 6, 1985) is an American professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has won the NBA Rookie ...more

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The Coolest Chris Paul Signature Shoes, Ranked #45 of 873 The Top NBA Players Of All Time #2,128 of 2,181 The Best Athletes Of All Time

3
John Wall is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list The Best NBA Players from North Carolina
Point guard from Raleigh, North Carolina

Age: 29

Number: 2

Teams: Washington Wizards

Johnathan Hildred Wall Jr. (born September 6, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A Raleigh, North ...more

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#90 of 873 The Top NBA Players Of All Time #2 of 148 The Greatest Kentucky Basketball Players of All Time #49 of 151 The Best NBA Players With No Championship Rings

4
James Worthy is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list The Best NBA Players from North Carolina
Small forward from Gastonia, North Carolina, United States of America

Age: 58

Teams: Los Angeles Lakers

James Ager Worthy (born February 27, 1961) is an American former professional basketball player who is currently a commentator, television host, and analyst. Named one of the 50 Greatest Players ...more

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#34 of 873 The Top NBA Players Of All Time #2,070 of 2,181 The Best Athletes Of All Time #13 of 137 The Best Small Forwards of All Time

5
David Thompson is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list The Best NBA Players from North Carolina

Age: 65

Teams: Seattle Supersonics, Denver Nuggets

David O'Neil Thompson (born July 13, 1954) is an American retired professional basketball player. He played with the Denver Nuggets of both the American Basketball Association (ABA) and National ...more

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#592 of 873 The Top NBA Players Of All Time #881 of 2,181 The Best Athletes Of All Time #53 of 151 The Best NBA Players With No Championship Rings

6
Bob McAdoo is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list The Best NBA Players from North Carolina
Power forward and Center from Greensboro, North Carolina

Age: 68

Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, Buffalo Braves, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, + more

Robert Allen McAdoo (born September 25, 1951) is an American former professional basketball player and coach. He played 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), where he was a ...more

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#64 of 873 The Top NBA Players Of All Time #884 of 2,181 The Best Athletes Of All Time #43 of 133 The Best Boston Celtics of All Time

7
Brandon Ingram is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list The Best NBA Players from North Carolina
Brandon Ingram Small forward from Kinston, North Carolina

Number: 14

Teams: New Orleans Pelicans

Brandon Xavier Ingram (born September 2, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected by the Los ...more
8
Jerry Stackhouse is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list The Best NBA Players from North Carolina
Shooting guard and Small forward from Kinston, North Carolina, United States of America

Age: 45

Number: 42

Teams: Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers, Detroit Pistons

Jerry Darnell Stackhouse (born November 5, 1974) is an American basketball coach and retired professional basketball player. He is currently the head coach of the Vanderbilt Commodores, and he ...more

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#171 of 873 The Top NBA Players Of All Time #80 of 151 The Best NBA Players With No Championship Rings #43 of 178 The Greatest Shooting Guards in NBA History

9
Hassan Whiteside is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list The Best NBA Players from North Carolina
Center from Gastonia, North Carolina

Age: 30

Number: 21

Teams: Portland Trail Blazers

Hassan Niam Whiteside (born June 13, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball ...more

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#221 of 873 The Top NBA Players Of All Time #67 of 320 The Top 100+ NBA Players Today #31 of 94 The Most Overrated Players In The NBA Today

10
Montrezl Harrell is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list The Best NBA Players from North Carolina
Forward from Tarboro, North Carolina

Age: 25

Number: 5

Teams: Los Angeles Clippers

Montrezl Dashay Harrell (born January 26, 1994) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college ...more
11
Dennis Smith Jr. is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list The Best NBA Players from North Carolina

Number: 5

Teams: New York Knicks

Dennis Cliff Smith Jr. (born November 25, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was ranked among the top ...more

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#484 of 873 The Top NBA Players Of All Time #105 of 320 The Top 100+ NBA Players Today #14 of 94 The Most Overrated Players In The NBA Today

12
Seth Curry is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list The Best NBA Players from North Carolina
Guard from Charlotte, North Carolina

Age: 29

Number: 30

Teams: Dallas Mavericks

Seth Adham Curry (born August 23, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for one ...more

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#384 of 873 The Top NBA Players Of All Time #1,408 of 2,444 The Most Influential People of All Time #2,168 of 2,181 The Best Athletes Of All Time

13
P. J. Tucker is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list The Best NBA Players from North Carolina
Small forward from Raleigh, North Carolina

Age: 34

Number: 17

Teams: Houston Rockets

Anthony Leon "P. J." Tucker Jr. (born May 5, 1985) is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

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#142 of 320 The Top 100+ NBA Players Today #150 of 175 The Greatest Power Forwards in NBA History #14 of 25 NBA Stars You Should Definitely Follow On IG

14
Brad Daugherty is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list The Best NBA Players from North Carolina
Center from Black Mountain, North Carolina, United States of America

Age: 54

Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers

Bradley Lee Daugherty (born October 19, 1965) is an American retired basketball player, analyst, and co-owner of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series team JTG Daugherty Racing. He played college ...more

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#201 of 873 The Top NBA Players Of All Time #92 of 151 The Best NBA Players With No Championship Rings #47 of 168 The Greatest NBA Centers of All Time

15
Devonte' Graham is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list The Best NBA Players from North Carolina
Point guard from Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Number: 4

Teams: Charlotte Hornets

Devonte' Terrell Graham is an American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the University of ...more

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#32 of 73 The Best Charlotte Hornets Players of All Time, Ranked #172 of 320 The Top 100+ NBA Players Today #11 of 50 The Greatest Kansas Jayhawks Basketball Players of All Time

16
T. J. Warren is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list The Best NBA Players from North Carolina
Small forward from Durham

Age: 26

Number: 1

Teams: Indiana Pacers

Anthony "T. J." Warren Jr. (born September 5, 1993) is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Originally from ...more

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#167 of 320 The Top 100+ NBA Players Today #53 of 94 The Most Overrated Players In The NBA Today #2 of 31 The Best NC State Basketball Players Ever

17
Sleepy Floyd is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list The Best NBA Players from North Carolina
Point guard from Gastonia, North Carolina

Age: 59

Teams: Brooklyn Nets, Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors

Eric Augustus "Sleepy" Floyd (born March 6, 1960) is an American retired professional basketball player.

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#154 of 869 The Top NBA Players Of All Time #117 of 151 The Best NBA Players With No Championship Rings #103 of 162 The Greatest Point Guards in NBA History

18
Lou Hudson is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list The Best NBA Players from North Carolina
Shooting guard and Small forward from Greensboro, North Carolina

Age: Dec. at 70 (1944-2014)

Teams: Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, St. Louis Hawks

Louis Clyde Hudson ("Sweet Lou") (July 11, 1944 – April 11, 2014) was an American National Basketball Association (NBA) player, who was an All-American at the University of Minnesota ...more

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#646 of 873 The Top NBA Players Of All Time #849 of 2,181 The Best Athletes Of All Time #143 of 151 The Best NBA Players With No Championship Rings

19
Sam Jones is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list The Best NBA Players from North Carolina
Point guard and Shooting guard from Wilmington, North Carolina

Age: 86

Teams: Boston Celtics

Samuel Jones (born June 24, 1933) is an American retired professional basketball player at shooting guard. He was known for his quickness and game-winning shots, especially during the NBA ...more

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#85 of 873 The Top NBA Players Of All Time #2,063 of 2,181 The Best Athletes Of All Time #11 of 133 The Best Boston Celtics of All Time

20
Walter Davis is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list The Best NBA Players from North Carolina
Shooting guard and Small forward from Pineville, North Carolina

Age: 65

Teams: Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets

Walter Pearl Davis (born September 9, 1954) is a retired American basketball player. A 6'6" forward/guard, Davis spent 15 years in the National Basketball Association, spending the bulk of ...more

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#627 of 873 The Top NBA Players Of All Time #1,827 of 2,181 The Best Athletes Of All Time #138 of 178 The Greatest Shooting Guards in NBA History

21
John Harding Lucas II is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list The Best NBA Players from North Carolina

Age: 66

Teams: Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets, Seattle Supersonics, Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks

John Harding Lucas II (born October 31, 1953) is a retired American professional basketball player and coach. He currently works as the player development coach of the Houston Rockets. He played ...more

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#373 of 873 The Top NBA Players Of All Time #19 of 20 The Best 80s NBA Point Guards #47 of 73 The Best Houston Rockets of All Time

22
Walt Bellamy is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list The Best NBA Players from North Carolina
Power forward and Center from New Bern, North Carolina

Age: Dec. at 74 (1939-2013)

Teams: Atlanta Hawks, Baltimore Bullets, New Orleans Jazz, Chicago Zephyrs, Detroit Pistons, + more

Walter Jones Bellamy (July 24, 1939 – November 2, 2013) was an American professional basketball player. A four-time NBA All-Star, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of

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23
Kent Bazemore is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list The Best NBA Players from North Carolina
Shooting guard from Kelford, North Carolina

Age: 30

Number: 24

Teams: Portland Trail Blazers

Kenneth Lamont "Kent" Bazemore Jr. (born July 1, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). As a ...more

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#610 of 873 The Top NBA Players Of All Time #151 of 320 The Top 100+ NBA Players Today #135 of 137 The Best Small Forwards of All Time

24
John Henson is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list The Best NBA Players from North Carolina
Power forward from Greensboro, North Carolina

Age: 29

Number: 31

Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers

John Allen Henson (born December 28, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball ...more
25
Nate McMillan is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list The Best NBA Players from North Carolina
Nate McMillan

Age: 55

Teams: Seattle Supersonics

Nathaniel McMillan (born August 3, 1964) is an American basketball coach and former player who is the head coach for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He coached ...more