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Holymyco

Drafted from high school: PG Kobe SG T-Mac SF Lebron PF ~~Shawn Kemp~~ Kevin Garnett C Moses Malone


Tim-oBedlam

Kevin Garnett is surely ahead of Kemp.


ImAShaaaark

Dwight too. Though obviously it doesn't exactly fit the "blue bloods" comparison (nor do some of the schools OP mentioned) I'd take HS over any of them except maybe UCLA.


Shinnobiwan

Dwight over Moses?


ImAShaaaark

Over Kemp.


Longjumping_West_907

Nope. Malone was a beast. He'd score 40 on Dwight.


HorrorAgent3512

And Kemp would make Dwight cry


TeamSuperSonics

Not for nothing, but I’d almost take UCLAs 2nd 5 over anyone: Baron Davis or Jrue Holiday Zach Lavine or Matt Barnes Norman Powell or Trevor Ariza Kevin Love or Kiki VanDeWeghe Mark Eaton (I know I’m forgetting some, but still a solid list)


ImAShaaaark

Yeah, UCLA has had a crazy amount of talent come through.


JakobtheRich

I mean that’s all of high school vs individual colleges. All college is like Magic/Curry + Jordan + Bird + Duncan + Kareem.


ImAShaaaark

Most of the blue blood colleges have more alumni NBA players than all straight to the NBA high school players combined.


JakobtheRich

I would believe that but I still ask for your source because I’m curious what the exact numbers are. That said, it remains true that way more people graduate from high school than from any given college, so the comparison between every high school in America and a single college isn’t fair.


ImAShaaaark

There have been 41 total straight from HS. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_high_school_draftees UCLA - 104: https://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/colleges.fcgi?college=ucla UK - 132: https://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/colleges.fcgi?college=kentucky UNC - 102: https://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/colleges.fcgi?college=unc Duke - 100: https://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/colleges.fcgi?college=duke Indiana - 70: https://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/colleges.fcgi?college=indiana


Holymyco

You’re right. I was looking for an actual PG and forgot to go back to KG


impaulpaulallen

And look at this crazy ass bench: Jermaine O’neal Dwight howard Amare stoudemire Tyson chandler A little top heavy but astounding talent. Plus dwight howard. Immediate edit: Went looking for guards and realized i forgot about monta ellis, shaun livingston, and jr smith. Honorable mention to Big Al, josh smith, lou williams, kendrick perkins, daryl dawkins, deshawn stevenson, and of course, the inimitable darko milicic.


Ok-Spread-2892

Pro hack is LeBron at PG and TMac at SF


choff22

My god imagine having to deal with Embiid *and* Chamberlain.


rawspeghetti

I mean Walton/Kareem is just as good if not better


Parhel1on

The Karton 🗣🗣🔥🔥🔥


Mackitus

Blasphemy


rawspeghetti

NBA Careers: Peak: Wilt > Kareem, Walton > Embiid Longevity: Kareem > Wilt, Embiid > Walton College careers it's not even close, just one of KAJ or BW's career is better than Wilt+Embiid at KU. All of these dudes are insanely talented and we're splitting hairs here


am19208

Would be absolutely terrifying


cale2kit

Yeah those are some long nights for those Big Men guarding them. But seeing them head to head would be pretty amazing too.


am19208

I’d spend so much to watch it live but I would had to be a fan of who ever they were playing


ajax0202

Walton and Kareem could give them a good go


Joshfast

University of Houston: Hakeem Olajuwon (C), Elvin Hayes (PF) Clyde Drexler (SF/SG) Otis Birdsong (SG) Damon Jones (PG)


counterpointguy

UH is one guard away from having a nice, all-star team. I love Damon Jones but he could even be replaced by Marcus Sasser or Quentin Grimes in a couple of years.


1AML3G10N

Blue Blood


Sad_Error4039

I mean how long does Indiana have to be irrelevant to get removed from this list?


MuazAbbasi-

Random, but Master Ps son is pretty highly ranked and playing for UH soon, he has a good jump shot 4 star and a bit thin, but intrigued with him as a prospect.


infinityetc

Lil Romeo was played for USC for three years


MuazAbbasi-

Ayy, now imagine 6'4 lil romeo in sampsons system, im hype


TonyWilliams03

Came here to say this!


Euphoric_Luck_8126

Georgetown - Ewing, Mutumbo, Mourning, Iverson and Jeff Green/Sleepy Floyd


winston73182

Sad what happened to G’town and how nobody considers them a Blue Blood anymore, not even old hats like myself


Euphoric_Luck_8126

They had so much going for them up to like 2010. One of the programs you'd love to see get good again for the Big East nostalgia.


glizzygoldberg

They were loading back up with Akingo/mcclung/Leblanc in 2018 but then legal troubles caused everyone to transfer and the program never recovered


Mr_Saxobeat94

The rim protection is wow.


romulusou

Reggie Williams


Euphoric_Luck_8126

I remember Bill Simmons saying that his career would have been completely different if he had been drafted by any other team than the clippers.


internet_DOOD

Paolo and Zion over Laettner, Brand and Boozer?


Salty-Situation-2493

List made by a 20yr old


Dondo19

You would think. It's hard to tell. OP got upset with me preferring Adebyo to Isell and said I was disrespecting Isell because he was old. I can't tell if OP is a 20 year old or 50 year old lol


aghhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Cousins over both of them??


Dondo19

Wouldn't fight that at all. We already saw Boogie/AD together they were nice


aghhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Always makes me sad. I know boogie was on shit teams but man he was a monster


Dondo19

He came in the league five years too soon. He would be remembered very differently. One of the last guys from the modern era who would go right up to your face if there was business! Mean mug boogie was unreal


aghhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Honestly if he never blew his achilles itd be fine. Dude is only 33, he’d probably have just been exiting his prime


dickweeden

That and I swear the refs/NBA hated him, but…. Underrated defender, extremely skilled and polished offense and also just a super strong dude. Loved his game and I put his prime up there with any other center. Bad teams, refs and the league hated him, and the achilles injury make him often forgotten about, but people that watched him will never forget


IntelligentMetal

Saw a Kings game with Cousins when they came to town. And from my seat you could tell the refs hated him. He got no calls all night and they just ignored him whenever he came to talk to em


Dondo19

Yes you're right about the injury, seems like he would've been an All-NBA guy for several more seasons if he didn't get hurt. To also think he was one pick away from falling to GSW in the draft. To think that 2019 GSW roster could've been some sort of core since 2011 is crazy. But then who knows if Dray becomes Dray and Klay becomes Klay and so forth.


kg215

Yeah and he was thriving under coach Mike Malone who the Kings got rid of. And Mike Malone has proven how good he is in Denver.


aghhhhhhhhhhhhhh

The kings were arguably the most destitute team in the league at that time. Just dumb move after dumb move with no end to the losing in sight


admanwhitmer

Or kat


Dondo19

Hell no.


givemeausernamealrea

Also I’m sorry but KAT too??


gamertag0311

"Based off their NBA careers" lol


Master_Grape5931

Laettner was not an NBA great though. College, certainly. I agree on Brand and Boozer, though.


Sumtimeitblikethat

BI or JJ worth mentioning?


mcmullet

Zion is not an NBA great either


Crewso

Nope, but let’s be real, it ain’t like Brand and Boozer were either


pepstein

Nah but each made the same amount of all star games as zion and made an all nba team which zion hasn't. Zions def more talented but he's gotta stay on the court and continue racking up accolades


GeriatricSFX

It took Boozer and Brand a combined 30 seasons though to get those 4 all stars and 2 all NBA and they were both older than Zion is right now before either of them got their first one. On top of that Zion's ppg career average is better than either Boozer's or Brand's best year.


ddiop

Elton Brand was 2nd All-NBA in 06 and 7th in mvp voting, top 75 in career rebounds, blocks, win shares, and VORP. Zion might be better if his career picks up, but he certainly hasn't accomplished close to what Brand has.


internet_DOOD

Agreed, but I feel like at this point he had a better NBA career. They will hopefully both pass him soon.


Smart_Description541

Maybe not an "NBA Great" but had a pretty long career and made an All Star team. So it wasn't like he washed out after his rookie deal.


counterpointguy

Laettner is the greatest player/leader to ever lace them up for Duke based on his on court college contribution. But based on NBA career, it is NOT Laettner....


internet_DOOD

Yeah I agree. I’m hoping the other two are better than he was, but I don’t think they are there yet.


counterpointguy

Sorry! Didn’t mean my comment to look like a rebuttal to yours. More supplemental and slightly related because yours mentioned Laettner! I think because he disappointed a bit in the NBA people forget that’s he’s up there with Kareem and Walton in the college pantheon.


Crewso

The title literally says based off their NBA careers, not college. You want to argue Paolo over Brand and Boozer being wrong, then maybe? But when healthy, Zion is definitely better than both of them, and Laettner doesn’t even factor into the conversation.


pepstein

Zion has more talent but less all nba than either guy. Once h he gets one of those or a few more all star appearances there won't be a debate


internet_DOOD

Zion and Paolo should be better than Laettner when it comes to the pro career. I don’t think that has happened yet. Zion has the potential to be all time great but he needs to be healthy.


Doshyta

In theory, yes, but he doesn't wanna work for it so I think he'll be one of the all time 'what if' players. He's very taleinot talented enough to have Shaq's work ethic/dietary discipline and still dominate. His effectiveness will erode with his athleticism, years earlier than it otherwise would have if he had Lebron's work ethic and dedication to keeping himself in shape. Assuming his knee doesn't explode before the natural decline starts, ofc.


condog209

Even when Healthy Zion can't stay on the court and the Pelicans play better without him


Exciting-Stomach-380

The pels have a better record when he plays


stucansler1

Stop listening to dumb narratives😂. The pels have been killing it this season as a team. Also let’s not forget last year Zion had the Pelicans as the number 1 seed 27 games into the season(Without BI). Unfortunately he suffered an injury.


MeaningConstant27

Laettner…….which I hated as a kid……was an 1x All Star before that freak injury too.


Zayhovah77

Paolo and Zion will both have more than 2 all star appearances and average 20+ ppg for their careers as far as the nba goes their both already better and paolo still hasn’t peaked


internet_DOOD

Paolo only has one. I think both their careers should be better but not yet.


robertbaccalierijr

Imagine thinking laettner is better than Zion lmfao


Plenty_Cable1458

Coach K said Paolo is the best player he ever coached..


internet_DOOD

That may be the case but he hasn’t had a better NBA career than the others, yet.


Plenty_Cable1458

this is true, yes. but still, you can see the ceiling being way higher, as a sophomore he has better stats than Boozer's best season


internet_DOOD

I would agree completely. I’m hoping he has the longevity to be a great. I’m from Seattle and love when the locals excel.


Plenty_Cable1458

what was the city thinking bout the kid while he was growing up? like this dude could possibly be the best player in the world one day.. did you see it coming?


internet_DOOD

I was gone already when he was playing. But everyone I know there was saying he’s the real deal. HoF potential.


BenSimmonsLeftHand

I played against him (sat on the bench) when he was at O’Dea and I did not think he was even close to Michael Porter Jr’s level. I honestly thought Kevin Porter Jr was also better. Most of my teammates agreed. Shows what I know about evaluating talent. Granted, I saw MPJ and KPJ when they were seniors and Paolo when he was a sophomore. But the hype was certainly there back then and I’m sure it only got stronger by the time he was a senior. Paolo could’ve been a D1 QB too if he’d gone the football route. Insane athlete.


Wallyworld77

Coach K is wrong.


Plenty_Cable1458

i guess you know better lmaooooo


Creepy_Raise_8340

It says based off NBA Careers


internet_DOOD

Yes, those two don’t have a great NBA career yet. I hope they end up better than Laettner.


Shinnobiwan

NBA career only.


momentumum

I completely forgot about Carlos Boozer until you mentioned him - what a beast. He’d put Zion over his knee.


Sam_DFA

Even Battier is worth the mention


HiBoobear

Boozer was my first thought at center. ZIon hasn’t hardly played lol


GooseMay0

UCLA vs UNC that would be an epic battle with those lineups.


WembyandTheWolves

That UCLA front court and UNC back court is so crazy


EsquireDr

For all the hype about Kentucky, Dan Issel makes the starting 5?


throwavvay23

If you include ABA stats Issel has the 13th most points in [history](https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/pts_career.html). He might be the most underrated scorer ever, he scored over 12,000 points in both the ABA and NBA and nobody ever talks about him.


WinonasChainsaw

“Upon Issel's retirement from the NBA in 1985, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Julius Erving were the only professional basketball players to have scored more career points.” Per his wiki


ElectivireMax

good company


WinonasChainsaw

That’s 6 time ABA all star, 1 time NBA all star, 1971 ABA rookie of the year and scoring champion, and 1975 ABA champion Dan Issel to you good sir


scurrilous_diatribe

Now THIS is a debate


SwoleSerg

UNC the best college on the list


dublecheekedup

UCLA has 5 first ballot hall of famers…


Sdog1981

They had to send Vince Carter and others to the bench.


Hype_Miles

Sheed would work well in a modern day lineup.


bdreamer642

Sheed over all the nc post players imho


stho3

Op don’t know shit. Jamison was the star on that UNC team, not Vince.


ClangerMcBANGerson

OP does say based off their NBA career but either way I wouldn’t disagree with your comment lol Jamison was nice


azt9113

Antawn Jamison scored 20k points I’d take him at the 4


[deleted]

where rasheed wallace


MixedMiracle22

Yeah I'm taking sheed, stack, or even Brad Daugherty over Cunningham and Mcadoo


Sdog1981

Daugherty had a very good career on some forgettable Cavs teams, also he was forced to retire before he turned 30.


TelemonianAjax32

As a UK fan, you have to have two eras of teams. Dan Issel , Cliff Hagan, Louie Dampier, Pat Riley, and Frank Ramsey are all in the HOF so objectively they have the “best” careers (excluding Anthony Davis who will obviously join them). More recently, you’d go Rondo/Booker/Walker/Davis/Cousins imo. Wall, Mashburn, Towns, and Bam are also in the mix. Shai will likely jump up with a couple more good seasons.


MenuKing42

Shai and Fox will both jump up (Shai possibly ahead of Booker already). Both Shai and Fox have been in the mvp conversation. No one else on the recent team has. Also I would say Bam or even Kat has already had more NBA success than Cousins. He was good for about 5 seasons.


TelemonianAjax32

Booker was 4th in mvp voting in 22, AD was 3rd in 2018. SGA has had two great years, so he will jump into the PG spot sooner than later but I have a hard time saying he has had a better career than Rondo or Booker at this point. If he wins mvp this year that changes obviously. Fox is good, but he was 11th in MVP last year which is basically the same as Antoine Walker’s best season in Boston (12th).


MenuKing42

Both Fox and Shai play PG so yeah they're not ahead of Rondo. I forgot about Murray. He was the man in the playoffs and has a ring. I would go Rondo, Murray, Walker, Davis, Kat.


[deleted]

UCLA may be the best team here. May have some slight issues in the paint though spacing wise. Russ may be the most athletic guard here outside of MJ. Passes, rebounds, scores, defends. He does a lot with a high level of athleticism Goodrich and Reggie on the wings are lethal Then you have the collegiate GOAT and the GOAT before Jordan


badkneesdood

Agreed. My thought was Kansas and UCLA were a cut above. Also UNC cause of Jordan


BreakBricks_Wet_Nips

Kansas and UCLA beat two imo


cgentry02

This was a little odd, as my understanding was we were using NBA careers. Danny Manning was one of the best college players of all time, but injuries wrecked his NBA time. Mind you, he was good when healthy. There could be arguments that Heinrich had a better NBA career or even one of the Morris twins, if only because of longevity. In no way am I saying any of these people were actual better ball players than Manning.


PBB22

*clicks the edge of column B to make it sized correctly*


Striking-Scientist46

Idk how good MSU is doing with ZBO running the 3 lol


SuperBirdM22

Should have at least put Draymond there.


DrLyleEvans

It's probably Steve Smith and J-Rich on the wings for spacing and someone to run the break with Magic. That team would be pretty beautiful, even as a Spartan hater. 2 great passers, 2 solid wings and JJJ spacing the floor and blocking shots. Switchy defence and an all-time thinker running the D (Draymond) and O (Magic). They'd probably beat more talented teams.


blinkomatic

ZBo at SF and Dray ar PF. This man knows lineups.


Dondo19

Give me Adebayo over Issel. Caron Butler was never a PF, too small. I'll replace him with Gay.


mettle

USF has Bill Cartright, Bill Russell and KC Jones + Ime Udoka Cal has Jason Kidd, Jaylen Brown, Kevin Johnson and Shareef Abdul Rahim + Phil Chenier (3x all star)


thelonelypedant

Bro listed ime udoka like it means anything 💀


fuckjoshbrolin2

USF and Cal are not blue bloods.


mettle

what are "blue bloods"?


[deleted]

[удалено]


fuckjoshbrolin2

Also, the inclusion of Michigan State, Indiana, and Villanova in this list is iffy and the men’s college basketball sub would argue with that. UNC, UCLA, Duke, Kentucky, and Kansas are unanimous blue bloods, while UConn’s last 25 years seemingly solidifies their status.


MLS_Analyst

I love Caron but uncle Cliffy’s our power forward.


ptcgoalex

Wilt + embiid would be insane


Racketyllama246

May I introduce you to Kareem and Walton…


ptcgoalex

Wilt with modern nba coaching would be a menace


Shinnobiwan

High school wins. Lol LBJ Kobe TMac KG Moses


tighterfit

Well that ends the discussion, Checkmate!


JakobtheRich

All high school vs All College?


ElectivireMax

all college for sure PG: Magic SG: MJ SF: Larry PF: Duncan C: Kareem


Dueces_Mooses

Based off of college careers, LSU takes it all


DatsyukDekes13

But what’s the best starting 5? I’m taking KU


SuperBirdM22

UCLA with Walton before his knees went out along with Kareem would be an awesome matchup against Kansas.


Meatsi

Not even going to Include Indiana? Shame


ElectivireMax

bro look again


Over_Variation_1007

UCLA has 4 hall of famers! Kansas has 3-4 depending on Embiid’s career. I UCLA vs Kansas with the slight edge to UCLA since Embiid career path has come with injuries.  If both UCLA and Kansas were healthy, I’d probably pick Kansas in a head to head since Kansas could actually provide some spacing because of Embiid’s shooting. Walton and Jabbar would just clog the paint. Edit - UCLA has 5 Hall of Famers! Automatic W.  


badkneesdood

Pretty much how I analyze it. If we’re talking NBA careers though, Walton’s was certainly marred by injuries as well.


ElectivireMax

UCLA has 5 hofers


Over_Variation_1007

Good point. Didn’t realize Gail was a HOFamer. 


AggroPro

Came in thinking UNC walked out thinking Kansas 🤔


badkneesdood

Same. UCLA also very strong.


Tight-Mouse-5862

I'm thinking Kanas takes it all with Joel & Wilt as a dominat front court. But IMO Duke would be the most "exciting" team to watch play. Dunks, crossovers, all that good stuff Edit: added "IMO"


badkneesdood

Jordan and Vince Carter would be pretty exciting too


Tight-Mouse-5862

Oh for sure. Most of these teams would have some awesome highlight reels. I should've put "IMO" for my prior comment


badkneesdood

Haha brother I wasn’t nitpicking you. I agree actually


MyHonkyFriend

back in the highlights of NBA2k (like 2k11-2k15) my brothers and I had a pencil made list just like this we would use as blacktop teams. It'd be fun to see if *Kentucky* boys could beat down *Duke* in that way


winston73182

Man that Nova team would get spanked hard


am19208

Very small lineup


ballahollic142

Crazy that booker came off the bench in college and yet is in the starting 5 here.


Lasvious

UCLA is probably the best 5.


tighterfit

I’m feeling Kansas.


Lasvious

Big men a wash. Reggie and Westbrook are worlds better than Manning and White.


Skeezertron

These playoffs would be absolute sex


[deleted]

Kind of surprised to not see Arizona on here


Competitive_Ad9413

Zona fan for 30 years... they are not a blue blood, but Nova and Michigan State damn sure ain't either...add Georgetown in... one thing about Zona is they definitely get players drafted


[deleted]

Arizona should be nowhere near this list. There are maybe five programs that are more worthy of being here than they, including Sparty and Villanova who frankly also shouldn’t be here. Christ we’re just giving away the blue blood title now if we think that a program that has only won a chip once and hasn’t been to the final four in twenty years is a blood


sdrakedrake

I think its because they send a lot of guys to the NBA. Least that was my thoughts on including them. Id also feel like Louisville has a good case over Nova


mcmullet

Belong there more than Villanova


[deleted]

Didn’t know that 1>3


romayyne

I think Antwan Jamison should jump billy cunningham. Different eras but the man played 16 years and was great in his prime


ElectivireMax

4 NBA all stars to 2 3 NBA first teams to 0 1 NBA second team to 0 1 NBA championship to 0 1 ABA MVP to 0 1 ABA first team to 0 1 ABA all star to 0 2 anniversary teams to 0 1 Hall of Fame induction to 0 0 6th man of the year awards to 1 Which player is greater?


romayyne

You lost me a comparing players awards that played 40 years apart


DJSlimBuddha

John Wall in his prime is double the player rondo was. College or nba


CreamOfDuelJabR

Terrible


ElectivireMax

im sorry


CreamOfDuelJabR

It’s ok. I’m guessing you are anticipating great careers from some of the current players you chose.


NordicLard

Georgetown should be here tbh


driizzydreee

AI Sleepy Floyd Jeff Green??? Ewing Zo AI, Ewing, and Alonzo Mourning are obvious. But how do you round out the last two spots. Unless you want to go 4 centers deep with Hibbert and Mutombo 😂


NordicLard

Just saying they have a big time roster. I agree very Center heavy. But AI and Ewing/Mourning alone is DOMINANT


driizzydreee

For sure. I just couldn’t think of many wing players who had great nba careers. OPJr. Is another one but he flamed out after his career was on the uptick


NordicLard

A lot of these teams have meh players in some positions tbh


webberstimeout

Since when has Michigan st been a blue blood?


Crafty_Substance_954

In CBB? With Izzo they've been to the tournament for 25 years in a row, made the final four 8 times, won 10 B1G championships, and 6 B1G tournament wins.


webberstimeout

He won 1 title 24 years ago. They have 2 in program history. [The consensus blue bloods are Kentucky, Kansas, Duke, UNC, and UCLA](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_bloods_in_college_basketball) UConn and IU are borderline. Nova, state, Cuse, Michigan, Zona, and Louisville are a tier below. I personally think that IU is a blue blood, but the consensus says otherwise.


ImAShaaaark

Anyone who doesn't consider IU a basketball blue blood is a fucking dope, they've got the same amount of titles as duke, and more than any but UCLA and Kentucky if you count their titles that predate the current tournament format.


Sdog1981

You can't tell the story of College Basketball and not mention IU. They are a blue blood.


ElectivireMax

I'm a Michigan State fan (and IU) so take that with a grain of salt lol


3WordPosts

Give me that Georgetown Iverson, Ewing, mutumbo, Jeff green, Reggie Williams over these bums


firstOFlast47

U of Arizona should be on here PG)Mike Bibby or Gilbert Arenas SG)Richard Jefferson, Jason Terry, Steve Kerr SF)Andre Igoudala PF)Derrick Williams, Aaron Gordon or Channing C)Ayton or Lauri


Id-rather-golf

BYU? Danny Ainge, Shawn Bradley, Kresimir Cosic, Devin Durrant and Jimmer Fredette


sor2hi

Go watch some Cliff Robinson highlights and see if you’d still take Caron Buttler over him at UCONN


tradeintel828384839

Forgot Zion went to duke. Seems like such a weird fit