The History of KU Players and the NBA
There have been 81 players to see the floor in the NBA/ABA coming from the University of Kansas. Of those players, 17 of them are still active players in the NBA. There have been two players from KU selected 1st overall in the NBA draft, eight taken with the 5th pick or better, and 16 selected within the first 10 picks of their respective drafts. This Dream Team will be based solely on stats and accolades accumulated in the NBA and certain players may be moved from their “standard” position in order to create the best rotation possible. Without further ado, what would the All-KU NBA Dream Team Look like?
Starting Point Guard – Jo Jo White
Set up to be the primary floor general for this all-Kansas team is Jo Jo White. The 6’3” point guard was a 2x NBA Champion and Hall of Famer who played at the University of Kansas from 1965-1969. He played 11 seasons in the NBA, mainly with the Boston Celtics, where he was an All-Star seven times and made All-NBA twice. Jo Jo White averaged 17.2 points, 4.9 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game. He also scored 21.5 PPG in 80 career playoff games and won NBA Finals MVP in 1975-1976. White is #3 in total points and #4 in total assists and minutes played for KU players.
Starting Shooting Guard – Paul Pierce
While Paul Pierce played 68% of his NBA minutes at SF and only 25% of his career minutes at SG, for this dream team, he slides into the SG slot. This does create a dynamic scoring Celtics backcourt with Jo Jo White. Pierce was a Jayhawk from 1995-1998 before being selected 10th overall in the NBA draft. “The Truth” was a 10x All-Star, 4x All-NBA guy, and won 2007-2008 NBA Finals MVP with the Celtics. Pierce was also recently named to the “NBA 75th Anniversary Team” and is now in the Hall of Fame after averaging 19.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists across his 19 seasons. He is #1 in total points, 3FGs made, FTs made, and total steals for KU players.
Starting Small Forward – Andrew Wiggins
At Small Forward there is a lot of depth for KU, but not much top-end talent with Pierce joining the backcourt. Andrew Wiggins will get the nod and is just one of three active players to make the Dream Team. Wiggins spent one year at Kansas in 2013-2014 and became just the second Jayhawk select #1 overall in the NBA Draft. He won rookie of the year in 2015 and has looked much better defensively and beyond the arc since being traded to the Warriors last season. He has averaged 19.5 points per game in his career so far, which is good for 4th all-time for KU players.
Starting Power Forward – Joel Embiid
This is where the lineup gets a little strange. Since Wilt Chamberlain is still to come, Joel Embiid cannot be the starting center for the KU Dream Team. With that being said, he is too dominant to not have in the starting lineup, so here he plugs in at PF. Embiid spent one season at Kansas in 2013-2014 with Wiggins and was selected #3 overall in the same draft. “The Process” is a 4x All-Star and has made both All-NBA and the All-Defensive team three times each. He has averaged 24.9 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game for his career and shot 37.7% from beyond the arc in 2020-2021 making him a reliable option to spread the floor if needed. Joel Embiid is #2 in PPG and #3 in RPG for KU players.
Starting Center – Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt the Stilt is one of the best players of all-time and played with KU from 1956-1958. His accolades are absolutely insane as Wilt was a 13x All-Star, 10x All-NBA, 7x Scoring Champ, 11x TRB Champ, 4x MVP, and 2x NBA Champion in his 14 seasons. He averaged 50.4 points per game in 1961-2962 and is obviously a Hall of Famer who made the “NBA 75thAnniversary Team”… Oh and he scored 100 points in an NBA game. Chamberlain and Embiid will make for an unstoppable two-way big man duo. Wilt is #1 in total rebounds, points, and minutes played and also would be #1 in blocks for KU players if the NBA had been recording them in the 1960s and 1970s.
Backup Point Guard – Mario Chalmers
Super Mario will get to run the backup point on this team after spending three seasons with KU from 2005-2008. This is where he made the “Mario’s Miracle” three-pointer in the NCAA final on his way to a national championship and the Most Outstanding Player award. In the NBA, he stuck to his winning ways and was a 2x NBA Champion with the Miami Heat and was also on the 2008-2009 All-Rookie team. He averaged 8.9 points and 3.7 assists per game in 646 career games. He is #4 in total steals and #7 in total assists for KU players.
Backup Shooting Guard – Kirk Hinrich
The 6’4” combo guard, Kirk Hinrich will be the backup SG for the All-Kansas Jayhawks NBA Dream Team after spending four seasons with KU from 1999-2003 and having a solid and reliable 13-season NBA career. While spending most of his career with the Chicago Bulls, he made the All-Defensive team in 2006-2007 and the All-Rookie team in 2003-2004. Captain Kirk averaged 10.4 points (including 37.7% from three) and 4.8 assists across 879 career games. He is #3 in total assists, total steals, and 3FG% for KU players.
Backup Small Forward – Marcus Morris
Marcus Morris edges out his brother, Markieff, for the backup SF spot on the KU Dream Team. He was with the Jayhawks for three seasons from 2008-2011 before being picked 14th overall in the NBA draft. He has averaged 12.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game in his career and showcases a consistent 3-pointer at 38.1% from deep. He has also shot 41.8% from long range in 64 playoff games. He is #9 in PPG and #2 in 3FG% for KU players.
Backup Power Forward – Danny Manning
Danny Manning will play the role of a change of pace forward/big for the dream team behind Wilt and Embiid. Manning was a four-year college player at Kansas from 1984-1988, including KUs 2nd National Championship where he was awarded the Most Outstanding Player. He was drafted #1 overall in the 1988 NBA Draft and became a 2x All-Star. He also won the 1997-1998 Sixth Man of the Year award. Danny Manning averaged 14.0 points and 5.2 rebounds in 883 career games and is #2 in total steals, #3 in total blocks, #4 in total points, and #6 in minutes played for KU players.
Backup Center – Clyde Lovellette
Lovellette is likely the one name on this list that most people will not recognize, but he is more than qualified to run the backup center spot to give Wilt a rest. The 6’9” Center played for KU from 1949-1952 and is the main reason that KU was able to win their first National Championship in 1952. Clyde is a Hall of Famer who was a 4x All-Star and 3x NBA champion. He also made All-NBA once in 1955-1956. Lovellette averaged 17.0 points and 9.5 rebounds in 704 career games and is #4 in total rebounds and #5 in total points for KU players.
Kansas Jayhawks NBA Dream Team Depth Chart:
PG: Jo Jo White / Mario Chalmers
SG: Paul Pierce / Kirk Hinrich
SF: Andrew Wiggins / Marcus Morris
PF: Joel Embiid / Danny Manning
C: Wilt Chamberlain / Clyde Lovellette
Other Notable Players:
PF/C Drew Gooden
PF/C Raef LaFrentz
SF/PF Markieff Morris
SF Kelly Oubre Jr.
PF Bill Bridges
PG/SG Devonte Graham