Fansided

Picking the best NBA player from each state

By Brad Rowland

Apr 10, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; A general view of the American Flag being displayed prior to the game between the Denver Nuggets and the Utah Jazz at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; A general view of the American Flag being displayed prior to the game between the Denver Nuggets and the Utah Jazz at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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BOSTON – SEPTEMBER 20: Celtics Hall of famer Jo Jo White, left, greets Earvin Magic Johnson, Jr. as the two met each other at the preview of the new Mezzo Design Lofts in Charlestown. Johnson and the Canyon-Johnson Urban Fund joined local partner Cathartes Private Investments , and Mass. State Treasurer Tim Cahill to show the condo development featuring 146 units near Sullivan Square. (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
BOSTON – SEPTEMBER 20: Celtics Hall of famer Jo Jo White, left, greets Earvin Magic Johnson, Jr. as the two met each other at the preview of the new Mezzo Design Lofts in Charlestown. Johnson and the Canyon-Johnson Urban Fund joined local partner Cathartes Private Investments , and Mass. State Treasurer Tim Cahill to show the condo development featuring 146 units near Sullivan Square. (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /

Missouri – Jo Jo White

Jo Jo White is not, by any stretch of the imagination, the most famous NBA player to be born in the state of Missouri. Bill Bradley easily holds that honor, as a former New York Knicks standout and NBA Championship winner who was later elected to the United States Senate. Indeed, it’s a notoriety that White simply can’t duplicate. In fact, present day NBA fans probably identify Missouri more with long-time power forward David Lee (who holds career averages of 14.2 points and 9.2 rebounds per game) than they do with White.

Still, Jo Jo White gets the nod, and it wasn’t a terribly difficult choice.

The 6-foot-3 guard played 12 seasons in the NBA from 1969 through 1981, tallying a whopping seven NBA All-Star appearances. White was perhaps best known for his time with the Boston Celtics, when he was a part of two championship teams (1974 and 1976) while earning NBA Finals MVP honors for the second title run.

White’s career numbers, which include averages of 17.2 points and 4.9 assists per game, don’t quite do his performance justice. Still, they would be good enough for inclusion here based on the benchmark set by the remaining candidates, and White’s longevity (nearly 30,000 NBA minutes) pushes things over the top.

Next: Montana

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