There is no definitive answer to who the best college basketball player ever is, as opinions differ based on personal preferences and criteria used for evaluation.
Detailed responses to the query
The question of who the best college basketball player ever is a highly debated topic among basketball fans. With so many talented players over the years, it’s difficult to identify just one player as the absolute best. However, some players have achieved legendary status and are consistently mentioned in discussions on the topic.
One player who is often considered a top contender for the title of best college basketball player ever is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then known as Lew Alcindor) who played for UCLA from 1966-1969. Abdul-Jabbar led UCLA to three consecutive national titles and was named the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player each year.
Another player that is often mentioned is Bill Walton, also a UCLA alum. Walton led his team to two national titles and was named the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player both times. His performances in college are still praised by experts today.
Aside from Abdul-Jabbar and Walton, other players that are often mentioned in discussions on the topic include:
- Christian Laettner (Duke University)
- Michael Jordan (University of North Carolina)
- Magic Johnson (Michigan State University)
- Larry Bird (Indiana State University)
When it comes to evaluating the best college basketball players ever, criteria such as team success, individual stats, and NBA success are often considered. However, as ESPN analyst Jay Bilas puts it: “Picking a single best college basketball player of all time would be like trying to pick the best flavor of ice cream. It’s impossible.”
Despite the debate, it’s inspiring to look back on the achievements of these players and appreciate the impact they had on the game of basketball.
Here is a table summarizing the accomplishments of the aforementioned players:
| Player | College(s) | NCAA Titles | NCAA Tournament MOPs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | UCLA | 3 | 3 |
| Bill Walton | UCLA | 2 | 2 |
| Christian Laettner | Duke University | 2 | 1 |
| Michael Jordan | University of North Carolina | 1 | 0 |
| Magic Johnson | Michigan State University | 1 | 0 |
| Larry Bird | Indiana State University | 0 | 0 |
Video answer
The video presents the top NBA starting lineups from various colleges. The top five are highlighted with LSU’s Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Pete Maravich, Ben Simmons, Bob Pettit, and Shaquille O’Neal coming in fifth and Kansas’ JoJo White, Andrew Wiggins, Paul Pierce, Marcus Morris, and Wilt Chamberlain in fourth. North Carolina’s lineup of Kenny Smith, Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, Anton Jameson, and Bob McAdoo is third, with UCLA’s lineup including Russell Westbrook, Zach Lavine, Reggie Miller, Kevin Love, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar taking the top spot. The video also highlights other lineups, such as Florida’s Jason Williams, Bradley Beal, Mike Miller, Al Horford, and Joakim Noah, and Duke’s Kyrie Irving, JJ Redick, Grant Hill, Jason Tatum, and Zion Williamson.
Here are some more answers to your question
Updating and ranking the 25 greatest college basketball players of all time 1. Lew Alcindor (UCLA) 2. Bill Russell (San Francisco) 3. Pete Maravich (LSU) 4. Bill Walton (UCLA) 5. Oscar Robertson (Cincinnati) 6. Elvin Hayes (Houston) 7. Jerry Lucas (Ohio State) 8. David Thompson (North Carolina
The 50 Greatest College Basketball Players of All-Time Matt Ravida July 5, 2010 50. James Worthy, North Carolina (1980-1982) 1 of 50 49. Hank Luisetti, Stanford (1935-1938)
More intriguing questions on the topic
Besides, Who is the best men’s college basketball player ever?
Pete Maravich, LSU
He is the all-time leading scorer in NCAA history. He averaged 44.2 points per game, 5.1 assists, and 6.4 rebounds. Maravich was a two-time National Player of the Year, a three-time All-American, and a three-time scoring champion.
Also Know, Who is the best Duke player ever?
Grant Hill. Possibly the greatest player ever at Duke. Trajan Langdon: the Alaskan Assassin was a superb three point shooter and a very solid all-around player. Chris Carrawell: a very unusual player, C-Well just got it done, and it didn’t matter who he was up against.
People also ask, Who is the best basketball player in NBA history?
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan is widely known as the game’s greatest player—and for good reason. "MJ" accomplished everything possible in the game, piling up on the stats and awards. On the game’s biggest stage—the NBA Finals—Jordan went a perfect 6-for-6, also sweeping Finals MVP in his appearances.
Keeping this in consideration, Who is the all-time leading scorer in NCAA men’s basketball? Response: Pete Maravich
1. Pete Maravich, LSU: 3,667 points (1967-68 to 1969-70) "Pistol Pete" stands alone. He averaged at least 43 points per game in his three seasons on the varsity team.
Consequently, Who is the best college basketball player of all time?
The response is: 1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Talking about the best college basketball players of all time, Kareem is one of them at the top of our list. All-time leading scorer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a former American professional basketball player who won six National Basketball Association (NBA) with Los Angeles Lakers for over 20 years.
Similarly, Who are the best actors in the NBA? As an answer to this: 1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2. Larry Joe Bird 3. Bill Walton 4. Christian Donald Laettner 5. Peter Press Maravich 6. Earvin “Magic” Johnson Jr. 7. Patrick Aloysius Ewing 8. Oscar Palmer Robertson 9. William Felton Russell 10. Danny Ricardo Manning 11. Jerry Ray Lucas 12. David O’Neil Thompson 1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Additionally, Who is the best college player in Ivy League history? As a response to this: The best player in Ivy League history, and the conference’s only player in this list, Bill Bradley was sensational in college, before he was a pro player and a U.S. Senator. Choosing to play Princeton despite initially choosing to play for Duke, Bradley averaged 27.3 points and 12.2 rebounds in his first playing year.
Who is the oldest player in college basketball? Williams very well might be the oldest player in college basketball – he turned 26 years old in October – but that experience is on his side in this top-50 ranking. He’s a proven commodity. And for Memphis, he’s a very valuable one.
Thereof, Who is the best college basketball player of all time?
Response: 1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Talking about the best college basketball players of all time, Kareem is one of them at the top of our list. All-time leading scorer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a former American professional basketball player who won six National Basketball Association (NBA) with Los Angeles Lakers for over 20 years.
Similarly, Who are the best actors in the NBA?
In reply to that: 1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2. Larry Joe Bird 3. Bill Walton 4. Christian Donald Laettner 5. Peter Press Maravich 6. Earvin “Magic” Johnson Jr. 7. Patrick Aloysius Ewing 8. Oscar Palmer Robertson 9. William Felton Russell 10. Danny Ricardo Manning 11. Jerry Ray Lucas 12. David O’Neil Thompson 1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Moreover, Who is the best college player in Ivy League history? The response is: The best player in Ivy League history, and the conference’s only player in this list, Bill Bradley was sensational in college, before he was a pro player and a U.S. Senator. Choosing to play Princeton despite initially choosing to play for Duke, Bradley averaged 27.3 points and 12.2 rebounds in his first playing year.
Consequently, Who is the oldest player in college basketball? As an answer to this: Williams very well might be the oldest player in college basketball – he turned 26 years old in October – but that experience is on his side in this top-50 ranking. He’s a proven commodity. And for Memphis, he’s a very valuable one.