Greatest Chicago-Born Basketball Players

Terry Cummings

Mar 15, 1959

The all-time leading Chicago-born NBA scorer, Cummings played at Carver and with Mark Aguirre at DePaul prior to an 18-year NBA career and two All-Star appearances

Mark Aguirre

Dec 10, 1959

Aguirre was a stud at Westinghouse and hometown DePaul who went on to win two NBA titles with the Detroit Pistons and Isaiah Thomas.

Isaiah Thomas

Apr 30, 1961

Named one of the NBA's All-Time 50 Greatest Players, Thomas was born in Chicago and ran the point at St. Joseph High School and at Indiana under the legendary coach Bobby Knight. Thomas later became an NBA champion at the helm of the "Bad Boy" Detroit Pistons in the 1980s.

Glenn "Doc" Rivers

Oct 13, 1961

Currently the coach of the Boston Celtics, Rivers starred at Proviso East and Marquette on his way to a 12-year NBA career. His son Austin is a freshman at Duke.

Marcus Liberty

Oct 27, 1963

Liberty, the top-ranked player in his class, redefined the high school game as a 6'8" forward with guard skills. Illinois' Mr. Basketball in 1987, Liberty took King High School to a state title in '86. He went on to play at Illinois and briefly in the NBA before taking his talents overseas.

Tim Hardaway

Sep 1, 1966

Owner of one of the most devastating crossover moves in NBA history, Hardaway played at Carver High School and the University of Texas-El Paso before making himself known running the point for the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat.

Juwan Howard

Feb 17, 1973

One of Michigan's famed "Fab Five," Howard played for Chicago Vocational and currently plays for the Miami Heat as the third-oldest active player in the league, age 39. The 6'8" Howard has played for 8 NBA teams and was an all-star in 1996.

Michael Finley

Mar 6, 1973

Starring for Proviso East High School in Maywood and taking them to the state title in 1991, Finley stood out at Wisconsin and played a 15-year NBA career, notably with the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs.

Quentin Richardson

Apr 3, 1980

Leading Whitney Young to a state title in 1998, Richardson was the last true Chicago star to stay and play for hometown DePaul University. Richardson currently plays for the Orlando Magic.

Dwyane Wade

Jan 17, 1982

Attendng Richards high school in Oak Lawn, Wade became a star at Marquette and an NBA champion with the Miami Heat.

Derrick Rose

Oct 4, 1988

Born and raised in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood, Rose attended Simeon and the University of Memphis on his way to NBA stardom with the hometown Bulls.

Anthony Davis

Mar 11, 1993

Starring for the University of Kentucky as a freshman, Anthony Davis shot up scouts' radars late in his high school career for Perspectives Math and Science Academy after a massive growth spurt turned him into a freakish shot-blocker but retaining his guard skills. Davis will be the consensus number one pick in this year's NBA draft.

Jabari Parker

Mar 15, 1995

Junior Jabari Parker of Simeon is already rated the #1 high school player in the country and has college coaches knocking on his door. A two-time state champion, Parker aims for his third this March.

Jahlil Okafor

Dec 15, 1995

Labeled the next great big man by many, Jahlil Okafor of Chicago Whitney Young stands nearly seven feet tall at age 16 and is the #2 player in the class of 2014. Okafor faced off with fellow 2014 star center Cliff Alexander of Chicago Curie for the first time this season.