Overview of Former Kentucky Wildcats in NBA Finals

With the NBA Finals in full swing, here is a quick look at former Kentucky players who emerged as World Champions. 13 Kentucky Wildcats have won 20 total NBA Championship rings:

Paul Noel (Royals, 1951): UK's first NBA Champion, won second-ever NBA Finals.

Frank Ramsey (Celtics; 1957, 1959-64): Won 7 NBA Championships as Celtics dynastic core, along with fellow Hall of Famers Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Sam Jones, K.C. Jones, and Tom Heinsohn.  UK teammate Lou Tsioropoulos was a reserve for two of these championships (1957, 1959).

NBA.com

1959 NBA Champions: #20 Tsioropoulos (back row, 3rd from left) and #23 Ramsey (back row, far right)

Cliff Hagan (Hawks, 1958): Averaged 27.7 ppg in the 1958 playoffs to lead all scorers, led St. Louis to a NBA Finals series win over Ramsey’s Boston Celtics.  In 1961, scored 40 points in game 2 of a Finals rematch vs. Boston, becoming just the third player to score 40+ points in a Finals game.

Pat Riley (Knicks, 1972): Also won 5 titles as a head coach (with Lakers and Heat)

Larry Steele: (Blazers, 1977): Former NBA steals leader (217 steals in 1974) came off the bench for the Bill Walton-led Trail Blazers.

NBA.com

Former Wildcat Larry Steele holds the NBA record for most games with 9 or more steals. He did so four times from 1971-80 (@UK_CatFacts)

Kevin Grevey (Bullets, 1978): 27 points in Game 1 and 22 points in Game 6; Washington defeats Seattle in 7 games.

Rick Robey (Celtics, 1981): Served as backup to Hall of Famer Robert Parish.

Tayshaun Prince (Pistons, 2004): Defensive stopper holds Kobe Bryant to 38% shooting for the series; Pistons win in 5.

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Nazr Mohammed (Spurs, 2005): Averaged 18 minutes/game for world champion Spurs.

Antoine Walker & Derek Anderson (Heat, 2006): Anderson was among the early Jordan Brand athletes; Walker was the predecessor to Steph Curry’s shimmy.  Both now past their primes, Anderson and Walker joined other aging stars – and young Dwyane Wade- to finally win a championship after being part of The Untouchables in 1995-96. This team was also coached by UK great Pat Riley, who won his fifth and final NBA title as a head coach.

Rajon Rondo (Celtics, 2008): Went for 21 pts, 8 ast, 7 reb, 6 stl in Game 6 blowout of Lakers.  In 2009, averaged near triple-double in 14 playoff games – 16.9 PTS, 9.8 AST, 9.7 REB

Other notes: 7 of 13 players won a NCAA Championship at Kentucky: Hagan, Ramsey and Tsioropoulos in 1951; Robey in 1978; Walker and Anderson in 1996; Mohammed in 1996/1998.

Sources: Basketball-Reference.com, Kentucky Statistics Main Page, @UK_CatFacts