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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Apr 22, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; A detailed view of basketballs in front of the NBA Playoffs logo at the FedexForum before the game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Portland Trail Blazers in game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; A detailed view of basketballs in front of the NBA Playoffs logo at the FedexForum before the game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Portland Trail Blazers in game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /

Nebraska – Bob Boozer

In the interest of full disclosure, I did not know much about Bob Boozer before beginning this exercise. Much of that is due to the era in which he played, as Boozer starred from 1960 to 1971, but time has not been kind to the remembrance of a player that was very, very good in his era.

Boozer was selected as an NBA All-Star in 1968, and was also a member of the 1971 NBA Championship team with the Milwaukee Bucks. Over an 874-game career, the 6-foot-8 forward averaged 14.8 points and 8.1 rebounds per game while shooting a highly respectable (again, for the era) 46.2 percent from the field. Moreover, Boozer strung together back-to-back seasons in which he averaged a double-double (as a member of the Cincinnati Royals).

In terms of his competition for this honor, there really isn’t any. Boozer finished with more than 12,900 career points and 7,100 rebounds over 25,500-plus minutes, and those numbers dwarf any other player from Nebraska. Current Chicago Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg is the second-most decorated athlete from the state, but as a player wasn’t nearly as prolific as someone like Boozer.

It may be a good idea to take a deep dive into Bob Boozer’s career, but trust me when I tell you that he’s the one and only choice here.

Next: Nevada

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