Alexander Brown
Naismith Award winners are recognized as the best players in college basketball, but in recent years winning the Naismith Trophy has not translated well into NBA stardom. The 2021 and 2022 winners – Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe and Iowa’s Luka Garza – are fighting to establish themselves in the NBA. Obi Toppin, the 2020 award winner, is just a Pacers actor.
Even 2019 winner Zion Williamson has been something of a disappointment in the NBA – at least relative to expectations – because of a bad run with injuries and the Pelicans’ lack of a playoff series win with Williamson on their roster. . The NBA’s inconsistency has been a theme for many Naismith Award winners in the 21st century.
In this context, the achievements of New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson stand out even more.
A second-round pick of the Dallas Mavericks in 2018 after winning the 2018 Naismith Award, Brunson is ascending to stardom as the Knicks prepare to begin an Eastern Conference semifinals series with the Pacers on Monday. Besides Williamson, the 6-foot-1 guard is the only Naismith winner since Anthony Davis (2012) to be named an NBA All-Star.
Naismith winners of the 1980s often enjoyed stellar NBA careers. Among them were North Carolina’s Michael Jordan (1984), Georgetown’s Patrick Ewing (1985) and Navy’s David Robinson (1987). This trio alone was responsible for 35 All-Star Game appearances and eight NBA titles. But over the past 35 years, the high-profile professional careers of Naismith winners have been fewer and fewer.
In light of Brunson’s incredible season and postseason, here is a ranking of the best NBA careers of Naismith Award winners in the 21st century.
Observation: The year in parentheses indicates when the player won the Naismith Award. PER stands for Performance Efficiency Rating, which is a comprehensive metric used to evaluate player performance.
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1.Kevin Durant, Texas (2007)
Star appearances: 14
NBA Titles: two
Best BY: 29.8 (2013-14)
Durant averaged 25.8 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 40.4% from 3-point range in his only collegiate season at Texas, leading the Longhorns to a 25-10 record and fourth place in the NCAA tournament. He was second choice in 2007 NBA Draft behind Ohio State’s Greg Oden, but won Rookie of the Year in 2008 and never looked back. Durant is a 14-time NBA All-Star and two-time NBA champion. In terms of all-time great NBA careers among Naismith winners, only Michael Jordan (1984) and Tim Duncan (1997) can compete when it comes to Durant’s combined appearances and All-Star titles (Jordan and Duncan have 29 All-Stars combined). Star appearances and 11 NBA titles).
2. Anthony Davis, Kentucky (2012)
Star appearances: 9
NBA Titles: 1
Best BY: 30.8 (2013-14)
Davis averaged 14 points, 10.4 rebounds and an impressive 4.7 blocks per game in 2011-12 for a Kentucky team that went 38-2 and won the national title. The New Orleans Hornets selected him No. 1 overall in the 2012 draft, and he has proven to be one of the biggest pros of this century. A nine-time All-Star and 2020 NBA champion with the Lakers, Davis isn’t done yet. At age 31, he still has time to add to his resume, although clinching Durant for the best NBA career among 21st century Naismith winners will likely require him to win a few more championships.
3. Blake Griffin, Oklahoma (2009)
Star appearances: 6
NBA Titles: 0
Best BY: 23.9 (2013-14)
Brunson could put Griffin on this list in the relatively near future, or even within a few weeks, if the Knicks make a legendary playoff run. For now, though, Griffin is third after a 13-year NBA career highlighted by six All-Star appearances. The ultra-athletic forward and 2011 dunk contest winner was the first overall pick by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2009 after averaging 22.7 points and 14.4 rebounds on 65.4% shooting for Oklahoma as a sophomore. Griffin led the Sooners to a 30-6 record and an Elite Eight appearance in the 2008-09 season, while besting DeJuan Blair (Pitt), Hasheem Thabeet (UConn) and Tyler Hansbrough (North Carolina) in the Naismith vote.
4. Jalen Brunson, Villanova (2018)
Star appearances: 1
NBA Titles: 0
Best BY: 23.4 (2023-24)
Brunson seemed destined to be just another forgettable pro on a long list of 21st century Naismith winners when he opted to turn pro after three seasons at Villanova. Although his career included two national titles, Brunson’s relatively limited size and lack of explosive athletic ability left him teetering on draft boards in 2018. His first two seasons in the NBA also offered some hints of the stardom to come, when he ceded the spotlight to megastar Luka Doncic in Dallas. But since landing in New York for the 2022-23 season, Brunson has exploded, culminating in his first All-Star appearance this season at age 27.
5. Zion Williamson, Duke (2019)
Star appearances: two
NBA Titles: 0
Best BY: 27.1 (2020-21)
Williamson isn’t a failure as a pro, but he’s still finding his way through the physical rigors of a league that has taken a toll on his 284-pound frame. The strong but frighteningly athletic and versatile forward averaged 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 1.8 blocks while shooting an obscene 68% in his lone season at Duke in 2018-19 . A difficult series of injuries has prevented Williamson from realizing his full potential thus far. But he will only be 24 next season and will have plenty of time to climb this list.
Other Naismith Prize winners
Here’s a summary of the other Naismith Prize winners who didn’t make the cut.
2000 | Kenyon Martin, Cincinnati
Star appearances: 1
NBA Titles: 0
Best BY: 18.7 (2003-04)
2001 | Shane Battier, Duke
Star appearances: 0
NBA Titles: two
Best BY: 15.3 (2003-04)
2002 | Jay Williams, Duke
Star appearances: 0
NBA Titles: 1
Best BY: 12.2 (2002-03)
2003 | TJ Ford, Texas
Star appearances: 0
NBA Titles: 0
Best BY: 20.3 (2007-08)
2004 | Jameer Nelson, San José
Star appearances: 1
NBA Titles: 0
Best BY: 19.5 (2005-06)
2005 | Andrew Bogut, Utah
Star appearances: 0
NBA Titles: 1
Best BY: 20.7 (2009-10)
2006 | JJ Redick, Duke
Star appearances: 0
NBA Titles: 0
Best BY: 17.5 (2015-16)
2008 | Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina
Star appearances: 0
NBA Titles: 0
Best BY: 16.4 (2010-11)
2010 | Evan Turner, Ohio State
Star appearances: 0
NBA Titles: 0
Best BY: 13.6 (2015-16)
2011 | Jimmer Fredette, BYU
Star appearances: 0
NBA Titles: 0
Best BY: 14.6 (2012-13)
2013 | Trey Burke, Michigan
Star appearances: 0
NBA Titles: 0
Best BY: 16.5 (2018-19)
2014 | Doug McDermott, Creighton
Star appearances: 0
NBA Titles: 0
Best BY: 15.6 (2020-21)
2015 | Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin
Star appearances: 0
NBA Titles: 0
Best BY: 16.8 (2018-19)
2016 | Friend Hield, Oklahoma
Star appearances: 0
NBA Titles: 0
Best BY: 17.5 (2018-19)
2017 | Frank Mason III, Kansas
Star appearances: 0
NBA Titles: 0
Best BY: 13.0 (2017-18)
2020 | Obi Toppin, Dayton
Star appearances: 0
NBA Titles: 0
Best BY: 18.3 (2021-22)
2021 | Luka Garza, Iowa
Star appearances: 0
NBA titles; 0
Best BY: N/A (has not yet appeared in 50 games during an NBA season)
2022 | Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky
Star appearances: 0
NBA Titles: 0
Best BY: N/A (appeared in eight career NBA games)
2023 Winner: Zach Edey, Purdue
2024 Winner: Zach Edey, Purdue
