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Top 10 NBA/ABA careers by an Illinois basketball player

ByRees 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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27 Jan 2001: Kendall Gill #13 of the New Jersey Nets looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers defeated the Nets 113-101. NOTE TO USER: It is expressly understood that the only rights Allsport are offering to license in this Photograph are one-time, non-exclusive editorial rights. No advertising or commercial uses of any kind may be made of Allsport photos. User acknowledges that it is aware that Allsport is an editorial sports agency and that NO RELEASES OF ANY TYPE ARE OBTAINED from the subjects contained in the photographs.Mandatory Credit: Harry How /Allsport
27 Jan 2001: Kendall Gill #13 of the New Jersey Nets looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers defeated the Nets 113-101. NOTE TO USER: It is expressly understood that the only rights Allsport are offering to license in this Photograph are one-time, non-exclusive editorial rights. No advertising or commercial uses of any kind may be made of Allsport photos. User acknowledges that it is aware that Allsport is an editorial sports agency and that NO RELEASES OF ANY TYPE ARE OBTAINED from the subjects contained in the photographs.Mandatory Credit: Harry How /Allsport

No. 7 Kendall Gill

Illinois had some special players suit up for the program in the late 1980s. Nick Anderson was already mentioned on this list, and now I have to put his teammate Kendall Gill a few spots higher.

Coming out of Rich Township High School in Illinois, Gill was one of the best players in the country. He entered the Illinois program and was dominant from day one. He would earn consensus All-American honors and was All-Big Ten in 1989-90. Gill would also lead Illinois to four straight NCAA tournament appearances and a Final 4.

After being selected with the No. 5 pick in the 1990 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets, Gill would go on to have a long NBA career. He would end up playing in the NBA for 15 years with seven different franchises.

For his career, Gill would average 13.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. His best years were with the Hornets, where he would have a season where he averaged 20.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.9 steals per game.

Gill also has some solid accolades. He made the All-Rookie team in 1990-91, and then nearly a decade later, he would be the 1998-99 steals champion in the NBA.

Having a 15-year NBA career is an impressive achievement. You can then couple in the accolades and the numbers, and this produces one of the greatest NBA careers by an Illinois player. I have Gill checking in at No. 7 on this list.

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