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Best Players of Louisiana: Bayou State’s Finest on the Court
Louisiana has consistently produced exceptional basketball talent, with some of the most gifted and influential players in NBA history hailing from the state. The competitive high school programs and passionate sports culture in Louisiana have been instrumental in nurturing these athletes to reach the highest level.
Louisiana players have showcased a unique blend of skill, athleticism, and determination, making significant impacts in the NBA. This list highlights the top 12 best NBA players from Louisiana who were born and played high school basketball in Louisiana, celebrating their remarkable achievements, career statistics, championships, and overall contributions to the game.
Table of Contents
#12: Alvin Robertson (1984-1996)
Position: Shooting Guard
Height/Weight: 6’4″, 185 lbs
High School: Plain Dealing High School (Plain Dealing, Louisiana)
Alvin Robertson was known for his exceptional defensive skills and versatility. During his 12-year NBA career, he played for the San Antonio Spurs, Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, and Toronto Raptors.
Robertson was a four-time NBA All-Star (1986, 1987, 1988, 1991), the 1986 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and a two-time All-NBA Defensive First Team selection. He is one of only four players in NBA history to record a quadruple-double, achieving this feat with 20 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 steals in a game in 1986. Robertson averaged 14.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.7 steals per game over his career, and he holds the NBA record for the highest career steals per game average.
#11: Thaddeus Young (2007-Present)
Position: Power Forward/Small Forward
Height/Weight: 6’8″, 235 lbs
High School: McDonogh 35 High School (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Thaddeus Young is known for his versatility, defensive skills, and consistent scoring. Throughout his NBA career, he has played for several teams, including the Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls, and Toronto Raptors.
Young has averaged 12.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game over his career. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2008 and has been a reliable contributor on both ends of the floor.
#10: Don Chaney (1968-1980)
Position: Shooting Guard
Height/Weight: 6’5″, 210 lbs
High School: McKinley High School (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
Don Chaney was a versatile and tenacious defender, known for his significant contributions to the Boston Celtics. Over his career, he helped the Celtics win two NBA championships in 1969 and 1974 and was a five-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection. Chaney averaged 8.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game, and is noted for being the only Celtic to have played with both Bill Russell and Larry Bird.
#9: PJ Brown (1993-2008)
Position: Power Forward/Center
Height/Weight: 6’11”, 239 lbs
High School: Winnfield Senior High School (Winnfield, Louisiana)
PJ Brown was a reliable and consistent power forward/center known for his defensive prowess and rebounding skills. Over his 15-year NBA career, he played for six teams, including the home state New Orleans Hornets. Brown was a three-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection (1997, 1999, 2001) and won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008.
Brown averaged 9.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game in 1,089 regular-season games. His impact on the court extended beyond his statistics, as he was also known for his leadership and professionalism.
#8: Danny Granger (2005-2015)
Position: Small Forward
Height/Weight: 6’8″, 222 lbs
High School: Grace King High School (Metairie, Louisiana)
Danny Granger was a prolific scorer and versatile forward for the Indiana Pacers. He was named an NBA All-Star in 2009 and won the NBA Most Improved Player award in 2009. Granger averaged 16.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game over his career. Injuries cut his career short, but his impact on the court was significant during his prime.
#7: Paul Millsap (2006-2022)
Position: Power Forward
Height/Weight: 6’7″, 257 lbs
Born: Monroe, Louisiana
High School: Grambling High School (Grambling, Louisiana)
Paul Millsap has been a versatile and dependable power forward in the NBA, known for his scoring ability, rebounding, and defensive skills. Millsap is a four-time NBA All-Star and has been named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team.
Throughout his career, he has averaged 13.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. Notably, Millsap played college basketball at Louisiana Tech University, where he led the NCAA in rebounding for three consecutive years,
#6: Joe Dumars (1985-1999)
Position: Shooting Guard
Height/Weight: 6’3″, 195 lbs
Born: Shreveport, Louisiana
High School: Natchitoches Central High School (Natchitoches, Louisiana)
Joe Dumars spent his entire career with the Detroit Pistons, where he was a key player in their back-to-back NBA Championships in 1989 and 1990. Dumars was the Finals MVP in 1989 and a six-time NBA All-Star.
Known for his defense and clutch shooting, he also earned four All-Defensive First Team selections. Dumars retired with career averages of 16.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.
Post-retirement, he served as the Pistons’ President of Basketball Operations, leading them to a 2004 NBA Championship. Currently, Dumars is the NBA’s Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations.
#5: Robert Parish (1976-1997)
Position: Center
Height/Weight: 7’0″, 230 lbs
High School: Woodlawn High School (Shreveport, Louisiana)
Robert Parish, known as “The Chief,” was a key member of the Boston Celtics’ dynasty in the 1980s. Over his 21-year NBA career, Parish won four NBA championships (three with the Celtics and one with the Chicago Bulls) and was a nine-time NBA All-Star.
He retired with 23,334 points and 14,715 rebounds, ranking him among the top in both categories. Parish’s longevity and consistency were hallmarks of his career, and he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.
#4: Willis Reed (1964-1974)
Position: Center
Height/Weight: 6’9″, 235 lbs
High School: West Side High School (Lillie, Louisiana)
Willis Reed was a dominant force for the New York Knicks, leading them to two NBA championships in 1970 and 1973. He was named Finals MVP for both championships and was the NBA MVP in 1970.
A seven-time NBA All-Star, Reed was known for his physical play and leadership on the court. He averaged 18.7 points and 12.9 rebounds per game over his career and is best remembered for his inspirational return in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals. Reed was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982.
#3: Elvin Hayes (1968-1984)
Position: Power Forward/Center
Height/Weight: 6’9″, 235 lbs
High School: Eula D. Britton High School (Rayville, Louisiana)
Elvin Hayes, known as “The Big E,” was a dominant scorer and rebounder throughout his 16-year NBA career. Hayes was a 12-time NBA All-Star and won an NBA championship with the Washington Bullets in 1978.
He led the league in scoring as a rookie and in rebounding twice. Over his career, Hayes averaged 21.0 points and 12.5 rebounds per game, finishing with over 27,000 points and 16,000 rebounds. His work ethic and competitive spirit left a lasting impact on the game. Hayes was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990.
#2: Bob Pettit (1954-1965)
Position: Power Forward/Center
Height/Weight: 6’9″, 205 lbs
High School: Baton Rouge High School (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
Bob Pettit was one of the NBA’s first true superstars and a pioneer at the power forward position. An 11-time NBA All-Star, Pettit won the NBA MVP award twice (1956, 1959) and was named to the All-NBA First Team 10 times.
He led the St. Louis Hawks to an NBA championship in 1958, famously scoring 50 points in the decisive Game 6. Pettit averaged 26.4 points and 16.2 rebounds per game over his career and was the first player in NBA history to surpass 20,000 career points. His contributions to the game were recognized with his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970.
#1: Karl Malone (1985-2004)
Position: Power Forward
Height/Weight: 6’9″, 250 lbs
High School: Summerfield High School (Summerfield, Louisiana)
Karl Malone, known as “The Mailman,” is one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history. Over his 19-year career, Malone was a 14-time NBA All-Star, two-time NBA MVP (1997, 1999), and an 11-time All-NBA First Team selection.
He is the third all-time leading scorer in NBA history with 36,928 points. Malone played 18 seasons with the Utah Jazz, leading them to two NBA Finals appearances in 1997 and 1998, where they faced Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls.
Malone also played his final season with the Los Angeles Lakers, reaching the Finals again in 2004. Known for his scoring ability, durability, and physical play, Malone also holds records for the most free throws made and attempted.
He played college basketball at Louisiana Tech University, where he led the Bulldogs to their first NCAA tournament appearance in 1984. Malone was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010 and was a member of the 1992 and 1996 gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic teams.
