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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Basketball: Phoenix Suns Tom Chambers (24) in action, rebound vs Los Angeles Lakers at America West Arena.Phoenix, AZ 2/12/1991CREDIT: John W. McDonough (Photo by John W. McDonough /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)(Set Number: X41035 )
Basketball: Phoenix Suns Tom Chambers (24) in action, rebound vs Los Angeles Lakers at America West Arena.Phoenix, AZ 2/12/1991CREDIT: John W. McDonough (Photo by John W. McDonough /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)(Set Number: X41035 ) /

Utah – Tom Chambers

Before we do anything else, let’s just reflect on one of the best dunks of all-time.

Now, Tom Chambers was actually quite effective as an NBA player as well, and that is enough to buoy him to the lofty perch of being the best player born in the state of Utah.

Chambers was famously uber-athletic for a 6-foot-10 power forward, and he used that to his advantage in a big way. Over the course of 16 seasons, Chambers amassed more than 20,000 points and 6,700 rebounds, earning him a quartet of All-Star nods early in his career.

While Chambers wasn’t the best defender or rebounder for his position, scoring 18 points per game over 14 seasons is noteworthy, and the other Utah contenders simply can’t match that. Byron Scott is essentially the second-best player from Utah, with Fred Roberts and Scot Pollard lagging behind. That isn’t exactly a murderer’s row of contenders, but the point remains that Tom Chambers was underrated in his time and even more so at this stage in his post-playing days.

Next: Vermont

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