Top 10 NBA players who stayed in college for four years

More often than not, the top basketball superstars today either didn’t play college basketball or only played one NCAA season. As a result, it’s pretty rare to see four-year college NBA players making noise in the league these days. Regardless, being patient if you stay longer at the college level has its advantages before making the leap. Here’s a look at the top 10 ranked NBA players of the last 30 years who stayed in college for four years.

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10. David Lee

David Lee played four years of college basketball at the University of Florida. In a Gators uniform, he averaged 11.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. However, the patience was worth it. Through patient development at the NCAA level, Lee was not only successfully drafted into the NBA as a late first-round pick, but also became a two-time All-Star combined with an NBA Championship.

9. Danny Granger

Danny Granger split his basketball seasons at Bradley University and the University of New Mexico, maximizing his four-year NCAA eligibility. Taking time to develop, Granger got drafted high enough in the first round. But more importantly, he became both an All-Star forward and an NBA MVP.

8. Alex Caruso

Alex Caruso has become a solid player thanks to his four-year stint at Texas A&M. Although Caruso still went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft, he has earned his spot in the NBA with his hustle and impact on intangibles. In fact, Caruso’s career has already been highlighted by two NBA championships and All-Defensive Team selections.

7. Danny Green

The University of North Carolina will forever hold Danny Green in high regard. After all, he helped the Tar Heels win the NCAA title in 2009, during his senior year. Although Green largely had to enter the NBA through the back door, his grit and hard hitting were key ingredients to a respectable career. He became one of the few players to win three NBA titles with different franchises.

Malcolm Brogdon was certainly one of those professional athletes who possess both brains and brawn. During his four seasons at the University of Virginia, Brogdon not only won the NABC Defensive Player of the Year Award, but also earned a Master’s in Public Policy. While a second-round pick, Brogdon turned heads in the NBA, winning NBA Rookie of the Year in 2017 before taking home the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award six years later.

Fred VanVleet has created one of the best NBA success stories. After a solid four-year stint at Wichita State, VanVleet even went that far reject offers from teamswho were willing to draft him for development in the NBA G League. Instead, he decided to bet on himself. In the end, it was all worth it as VanVleet broke out with the Toronto Raptors, helping the franchise win its first NBA title. Soon after, he transformed into an All-Star caliber guard.

Damian Lillard has blossomed into a superstar since his tenure at Weber State. In fact, he averaged 18.6 points per game as a Wildcat. Lillard’s college game translated seamlessly to the NBA level. He is currently a nine-time NBA All-Star and a seven-time All-NBA team. Furthermore, considered one of the premier guards in the league, Lillard also helped the Milwaukee Bucks win the NBA Cup championship.

3. Draymond Green

Many NBA teams overlooked Draymond Green in the 2012 NBA Draft, letting him slip all the way to the second round. Surprisingly, Green actually had a decent stint at Michigan State and even won NABC National Player of the Year honors in his final season.

However, his size for his position obviously made teams hesitant. However, his development with the Spartans showed that he was ready for the NBA after all. Green went on to help the Golden State Warriors win four NBA championships. He also led the league in steals while winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award that same season.

2. Steve Nash

Steve Nash was certainly a phenomenal player for Santa Clara University. In a Broncos uniform, he even led the NCAA in scoring over the past two seasons. Surprisingly, it wasn’t enough to get him in the lottery. Regardless, Nash certainly blossomed into a superstar in the NBA, winning back-to-back MVP honors and even leading the league in assists five times. Now long retired, Nash is still considered one of the greatest point guards of all time.

Tim Duncan learned basketball quite late. However, he took to the sport very quickly. In fact, he even dominated at Wake Forest, averaging 16.5 points, 12.3 rebounds and 3.8 blocks per game over four seasons. Ripe for the NBA, Duncan was ready to take over the league from the start. He won five NBA championships, three Finals MVPs and two NBA MVP awards. Duncan was then inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.