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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ABA Basketball: Kentucky Colonels Artis Gilmore (53) in action vs Spirits of St. Louis Marvin Barnes (24) at Riverfont Coliseum.Cincinnati, OH 12/2/1975CREDIT: Manny Millan (Photo by Manny Millan /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)(Set Number: X20078 )
ABA Basketball: Kentucky Colonels Artis Gilmore (53) in action vs Spirits of St. Louis Marvin Barnes (24) at Riverfont Coliseum.Cincinnati, OH 12/2/1975CREDIT: Manny Millan (Photo by Manny Millan /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)(Set Number: X20078 ) /

Rhode Island – Marvin Barnes

Marvin Barnes is best known for being a wildly talented, wildly selfish, and ultimately underachieving NBA basketball player. However, he was born in the state of Rhode Island, and that allows Barnes to claim an honor that most people probably would not expect him to claim.

After lighting it up at Providence, Barnes was the No. 2 overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft, and while he did not play in the NBA right away, he did most of his damage early. In two ABA seasons, Barnes averaged a combined 24.1 points and 13.4 rebounds per game. But  after arriving in Philadelphia for the 1976-1977 campaign, things did not go as well.

Barnes averaged just 9.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in four NBA seasons, flaming out in grand fashion. Again, though, there is not a lot of competition for this distinction, as the names included in the pursuit are Ernie DiGregorio, Tom Garrick, Ricky Ledo, Owen Wells, Joe Hassett, and Ernie Calverley.

Now you can see why Marvin Barnes is still the choice, even if all that immense talent never came to full fruition at the NBA level.

Next: South Carolina

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