Yahoo! ranks the best NBA Wildcats ever

On3 imageby:Drew Franklin02/10/11

DrewFranklinKSR

Yahoo!.. er... Rivals.com - whatever you wanna call it - ranked the top professional basketball players from the University of Kentucky.  The list ranks the 11 best pros out of the 71 Wildcats to ever receive an NBA paycheck. A very simple formula was used to determine the rankings and it's very similar to the formula we use here at KSR to determine BTI's approval rating. The formula looks like this: (fg + 3g*.5 + (fga - fg)*.7 + ft*.85 - fta*.35 + orb*.7 + drb*.3 + ast*.8 + stl + blk*.8 - to) Yeah, it's that easy.  That makes sense, right? Anyway, the list... ------------------------------------- 11. Rajon Rondo (2007-2011) Points - 7.4 Rebounds - 4.4 Assists - 10.7 Rondo may jump a bit on this list if he continues his improvement. Rondo just keeps getting better. Currently in his fifth year, Rondo is leading the lead in assists and is second in steals. Many Wildcat fans didn't see this coming from Rondo when he left Kentucky but he is the best player on the Boston Celtics. 10. DeMarcus Cousins (2010-2011) Points - 13.8 Rebounds - 7.9 Assists - 1.8 Cousins came to the NBA with some maturity issues. However, he has settled in nicely in his first year and is rapidly becoming a monster for the Sacramento Kings. 9. Frank Ramsey (1955-1964) Points - 13.4 Rebounds - 5.5 Assists - 1.8 Ramsey played for the dominant Celtics of his day so he was a member of seven championship teams. He is in the Hall of Fame and his #23 was retired by the Celtics. 8. Louie Dampier (1968-1979) Points - 15.9 Rebounds - 2.6 Assists - 4.9 Dampier played his best years in the ABA and is one of the best three point shooters of all-time. His 199 three pointers in 1968-69 was a pro record until 1995. 7. Antoine Walker (1997-2008) Points - 17.5 Rebounds - 7.7 Assists - 3.5 Walker was a great player who played in three all-star games. He and Paul Pierce made up a 1-2 punch for the Boston Celtics. Walker could do it all - he hit threes, rebounded, and was an exceptional passer. He averaged more than 20 points per game five times. 6. Cliff Hagan (1957-1970) Points - 17.7 Rebounds - 6.6 Assists - 3.2 Hagan was known for his hook shot. The Celtics traded him and Ed Macauley to the St. Louis Hawks for the draft rights to Bill Russell. Hagan played in five all-star games. 5. Ralph Beard (1950-1951) Points - 15.9 Rebounds - 3.8 Assists - 4.4 Beard only played two seasons in the NBA. He and Alex Groza were banned for their participation in a point shaving scandal at Kentucky. He did well in his short stint, though. 4. John Wall (2011-2011) Points - 14.8 Rebounds - 4.2 Assists - 9.1 Wall was the first pick in the NBA draft in 2010 and obviously has a terrific career ahead of him. In his first 28 games, Wall racked up 259 assists which is second all-time. Wall has dealt with nagging injuries all year but he will be a fantastic player for years to come. 3. Jamal Mashburn (1994-2004) Points - 19.1 Rebounds - 5.4 Assists - 4 Mashburn is another player who could do it all. He was one of the best forwards in the league during his career but played in only one all-star game. 2. Alex Groza (1950-1951) Points - 22.5 Rebounds - 10.7 Assists - 2.4 Like Beard, Groza was banned from the NBA for point shaving. He would certainly be known as an all-time great if not for that. 1. Dan Issel (1971-1985) Points - 22.6 Rebounds - 9.1 Assists - 2.4

Any casual UK fan should not be surprised that Issel is at the top of this list. His first six years were spent in the ABA where he dominated. He put up 30.6 points and 11.2 rebounds per game in the 1971-72 season. He is 8th on the all-time scoring list in ABA/NBA history with 27,482 points. Issel is in the Hall of Fame.

Top players by category Points - Dan Issel (22.6) Rebounds - Alex Groza (10.7) Assists - Rajon Rondo (10.7) Steals - Rajon Rondo (1.9) ------------------------------- For those of you ready to argue that Rajon Rondo didn't average 10+ assists at Kentucky, the averages are figured over each individual's entire NBA career.  It also doesn't factor in shoe deals or John Wall would be #1 and Patrick Patterson would rank right above the greatest UK player to come out of Madisonville, Frank Ramsey. Go NBA Cats.

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2024-03-28