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 23, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Chicago Bulls former player Scottie Pippen (center) looks on during the fourth quarter in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs game between the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 23, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Chicago Bulls former player Scottie Pippen (center) looks on during the fourth quarter in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs game between the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

Arkansas – Scottie Pippen

After combing through the state of Arizona and finding very little in the way of NBA talent to contend for this honor, Arkansas is surprisingly loaded. Players like Joe Johnson (a seven-time NBA All-Star), Glen Rice, Mike Conley, Sidney Moncrief, Derek Fisher, and others were born within the borders of the state and, under different circumstances, there could be a real debate as to which of those athletes garnered the nod.

In reality, though, this wasn’t a tough decision.

Scottie Pippen does not hold the highest scoring average of an Arkansas-born player (hello, Glen Rice), but he easily put together the top body of work in the NBA. Pippen is perhaps the greatest defensive wing in league history, appearing on either the first or second All-Defense teams in ten different seasons, serving as the second-best player on six different NBA Championship teams.

Pippen’s offensive numbers are mitigated a bit by his longevity, but over a nine-year peak with the Chicago Bulls from 1989 through 1998 the small forward from Central Arkansas averaged 19.6 points and 5.9 assists per game. Those numbers came with a massive workload on the defensive end, and Pippen is chronically underrated simply by nature of his affiliation with Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson, and those Chicago teams.

By any measure, Pippen is one of the top 50 players in NBA history and a no-doubt inclusion here from the state of Arkansas.

Next: California

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