Arkansas isn’t just famous for having the only active diamond mine in the United States. It is also home to some of the greatest NBA players in history. This article spotlights the best NBA players Arkansas has produced in history, featuring hall of famers, superstars, and present-day players born or raised in Arkansas.
From the cradle of college basketball to the peak of the NBA championship, here’s a list of the best NBA players from Arkansas.
Scottie Pippen
Born in Hamburg, Arkansas 1965, Scottie Pippen is a highly decorated American professional basketball player. He played for his college, University of Arkansas, until he was drafted into the NBA in 1987. Scottie played 17 seasons in the NBA and won six championships with the Chicago Bulls.
His ability to excel as a rock-solid defense and scorer makes him one of the NBA’s most versatile players in history. Scottie is famed for his incredibly high basketball IQ, which explains why he is the only player to win an Olympic gold medal and the NBA title twice in the same year. Partnering with Michael Jordan was a defining curve for Scottie as they transformed the Chicago Bulls into a formidable dream team in the 1990s, making Scottie an all-time legend of the game.
Competitive collegiate games, a need to preserve heritage, and high-profit sports betting in Arkansas may explain the state’s love and excitement for basketball. However, grass-to-grace stories like Scottie’s have remained a constant source of inspiration for many others on this list.
Sidney Moncrief
Sidney Moncrief was a three-time All-American who played at Arkansas from 1975 to 1979 and was famed for popularizing the Razorback’s basket program across the US. A superstar shooting guard, Sidney played in the NBA All-Star game for five consecutive years.
He earned his Consensus First Team All-American designation in 1979; the same year, he was named Consensus Second Team All-American. He averaged over 20 points per game for four seasons, earning him a spot in the league of Arkansas’ all-time greatest.
Joe Johnson
Joe Johnson played for the University of Arkansas during college and remains a highly decorated player in the state’s Razorbacks history. Named Mr. Basketball in 1999, Joe made the NBA All-Star team seven times.
His first spell as a pro began with the Boston Celtics when he was drafted tenth overall in 2001. He played there for one season and recorded some fantastic stints playing for six other teams: Phoenix Suns, Brooklyn Nets, Utah Jazz, Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, and Atlanta Hawks. In 2021, Joe returned to the Boston Celtics, and on that same night, he made an appearance against the Cleveland Cavaliers, making a lone basket and joining Dirk Nowitzki as the second player to score a basket with the same team at age 20 and 40.
Corliss Williamson
Corliss Williamson was born in Russellville, where he played for Russellville High School and achieved numerous awards, including Gatorade National Player of the Year in 1991 and 1992. Between 1992 and 1995, Williamson played at the University of Arkansas, where he averaged 5.1 rebounds and 14.6 points per game.
He was drafted to the NBA by the Sacramento Kings and proceeded to play for Detroit, Atlanta Hawks, and Pistons, to name a few. Williamson boasts several awards to his name and is famed as one of the few basketball players to win championships at three different levels, namely the AAU (American Athletic Union), NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) with Arkansas, and the NBA with Detroit Pistons.
He began his coaching career in 2007, and in his 12-year career, he has coached six teams, including his home state’s Arkansas Baptist.
Alvin Robertson
Alvin Robertson was drafted into the NBA in 1984 as the 7th overall pick and is today famed as a four-time All-Star. He played for the San Antonio Spurs from 1984 to 1989, and in this spell, in 1986, he was named the Most Improved Player of the Year and NBA Most Defensive Player.
Robertson has the highest average steal per game per game at 2.71. He is also the only player with over 300 steals in a season. He joined Milwaukee Bucks in 1989, recording impressive spells at Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, and Florida Beach Dogs in the following years.
Oliver Miller
Oliver Miller played college basketball for the Razorbacks at the University of Arkansas until the Phoenix Suns drafted him into the NBA in 1992. He earned the nickname “The Big O” for his huge frame, 6 ft 9, and weighing about 140 kg.
After a successful six-year spell in the NBA, from 1992 to 1998, Miller moved overseas, playing in Greece, China, and Poland. He returned to the NBA again in 2003 and then transitioned to minor-league and semi-pro basketball. He retired in 2010 as the heaviest basketball player in NBA history.
Todd Day
Todd Day dazzled as a shooting guard for the Razorbacks from 1989 to 1992. He had a highly successful run at the University of Arkansas, being the University’s all-time leading scorer. The Razorbacks were highly successful during his time with them, and he was a second and third-team All-American in 1991 and 1992. He won the SWC Co-Player of the Year Award in 1992, among many others.
Day was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1992 and played eight seasons in the NBA. He played for ten different teams, both in the US and overseas, in countries like Brazil and Cyprus. In 2016, Day became a coach at Philander Smith, a role he continues to play.
Mike Conley Jr.
In 2007, Micheal Alex Conley Jr was drafted into the NBA by the Memphis Grizzlies as the fourth overall pick. He enjoyed a good 12-season spell at the Grizzlies and today ranks as the team’s all-time leading scorer. He joined the Utah Jazz in 2019 and the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2023.
Mike is a floor general with an unnatural ability to control the game’s rhythm and boasts excellent court vision, superstar ball-handling skills, and high basketball IQ, which most Arkansas-bred stars bring to the hardwood.
An exceptional playmaker whose selfless play, leadership, and commitment to excellence exemplify the values you find in Arkansas, cementing its place as a diamond mine of American professional basketball.
