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Top 10 NBA/ABA careers by an Illinois basketball player

By Rees Woodcock

Nov 5, 2013; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams (8) advances the ball during the first quarter against the Utah Jazz at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2013; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams (8) advances the ball during the first quarter against the Utah Jazz at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /
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1 Apr 1998: Guard Nick Anderson of the Orlando Magic (right) in action against guard Greg Minor of the Boston Celtics during a game at the Orlando Arena in Orlando, Florida. The Celtics defeated the Magic 98-87. Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons /Allsport /

Throughout the long history of Illinois basketball, there have been some great players who have prosperous NBA/ABA careers.

Most of the young Illini fans will remember some of the more recent NBA players to come out of Illinois, but there are also extremely talented players from 30, 40, or 50 years ago who made an impact in the professional ranks.

I wanted to lay out the best of the best. I wanted to see which Illinois basketball players had the best NBA/ABA careers.

Here are the top 10 NBA/ABA careers by an Illinois basketball player

No. 10 Nick Anderson

If you were going to chart the greatest college careers among Illinois basketball players, Nick Anderson would be in consideration for the greatest. He was one of the best to ever put on an Illinois jersey.

Coming out of the prestigious Simeon High School in Chicago, Anderson was one of the biggest gets for Lou Henson and the Illini. He would join the Orange and Blue, and in two seasons with the program, he would help lead us to the second round of the NCAA tournament and the Final 4.

Anderson had high expectations coming out of Illinois. He was selected with pick No. 11 in the 1989 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic, which was the first draft pick in franchise history.

For his NBA career, Anderson would play for three franchises and would average 14.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.

While Anderson wouldn’t make an All-Star appearance and didn’t have much in the way of accolades, he did have some pretty memorable moments.

In 1994-95, the Magic were able to make the NBA Finals with the help of Anderson. He was a part of a big three that featured him, Shaquille O’Neal, and Penny Hardaway. He also took down Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the 1995 playoffs. His big steal of the ball from Jordan still lives on today.

If Anderson had more accolades, he would be much higher on this list. Regardless, he still had a great NBA career and checks in at No. 10 on this list.

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