Top 5 NBA Players Who Went to UNC

The University of North Carolina is one of the greatest college basketball programs of all time. They have won five national championships, which included some pretty impressive players. Some of these players went on to have a terrific NBA career as well. Here is my countdown of the best NBA players who were a Tar Heel:

5. Antawn Jaminson- UNC teammate with Vince Carter, Jaminson was drafted the same year as Carter by the Golden State Warriors. Since then he has played for five teams and has averaged 19.3 points per game. He has dominated the post, being picked for the all-star game in 2005 and 2008. Unfortunately for Jaminson a championship has eluded him, but he is one of only five active players to score 16,000 points and snag 6,000 rebounds. In college Jaminson dominated the ACC and the NCAA. In 1998 he not only won ACC player of the year, but also won Namith Player of the Year. His success at UNC translated to the pros and he has enjoyed a long a successful NBA career.

 

4. Bob McAdoo- McAdoo graduated from UNC in 1972 after playing there for one years, and was selected number two overall by the Buffalo Braves. That year he won rookie of the year and followed it up with an MVP award in 1975. He was hindered by a bad attitude, but that didn’t stop him from winning two NBA titles in the 1980’s with the Lakers. Over his career he averaged 22.1 PPG and 9.4 rebounds per game. In his single year at UNC he brought the Tar Heels to the final four, and was named an All American. Now he is long retired, but his second cousin James Michael McAdoo is currently the star of the 2012-2013 Tar Heel basketball team.

3. Vince Carter- Vince Carter was drafted out of UNC in 1999 by the Toronto Raptors, and since then has been dominating the NBA. Playing for five different teams over fifteen years, he has made eight all-star teams and won rookie of the year in 1999. Over his career he has become known as one of the best and flashiest dunkers of all time, even winning the slam dunk contest in 2000. He has averaged 21.3 points per game and joined the 20,000 point club in 2011. At UNC Carter help lead the Heels to back to back final four appearances, failing to win the championship either year. Carter’s career might be coming to an end, but soon enough he will find himself enshrined in the hall of fame.

2. James Worthy- James Worthy came into the NBA in 1982 as the number one pick in the draft fresh off of winning a National Championship with UNC. Over his NBA career Worthy averaged 21.1 points a game, 6 rebounds, and was a NBA all-star seven times. He was also a part of the great Lakers teams of the 1980’s, winning the NBA championship three times. During his four year career at UNC he was named to the All-American team and won the final four MVP in 1982. During that Tar Heels great 1982, Worthy was a part of the dynamic duo with number one on our countdown.

1. Michael Jordan- The best player to have come out of UNC is also the best player in NBA History. You do not need to be a NBA fan to know who Michael Jordan is, as he brand has expanded to things like movies, clothes, and shoes. In the NBA he averaged 30.1 PPG, was named to the all-star team 14 times, and won five NBA MVP awards. He won a whopping six NBA championships, being the finals MVP every time he won. Even though MJ retired and tried to play baseball, he returned to where he belonged and continued to build his legacy. At UNC Jordan only played three years for the Tar Heels, but in that time he won a National Championship in 1982, hitting the winning shot. Michael Jordan helped put UNC basketball on the map and continued that success in the pros to become the best player of all time.