Two Michigan State Spartans Make ‘Top 100 NBA Players Of All Time’

Michigan State University (MSU) Basketball has been a powerhouse college basketball program, winning two National Championships (1979, 2000), 10 Final Fours, 25 consecutive NCAA March Madness Tournament appearances, 17 regular-season championships, and 6 Big Ten Tournament championships. So, yeah, despite being the last Big Ten team to win a National Championship 25 years ago, the Spartans continue to be a team people can keep an eye on.

When you've been a staple school for as long as MSU has, in that time, you tend to have some pretty talented players come through the halls of the Breslin Center. In recent years, the Spartans have landed several first-round picks, but more importantly, two former players have been named among the top 100 players of all time in the Bleacher Report's latest ranking.

Bleacher Report's Annual Top 100

Each year, Bleacher Report undertakes the daunting task of ranking every NBA player who has ever played the sport, narrowing it down to only the top 100 who have made an impact on the hardwood. As the Bleacher Report notes in its introduction, accurately comparing players from different eras of the sport is nearly impossible, but that didn't stop them from trying.

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That being said, it decided to place two Spartans from very different eras on different sides of the top 100, with PF/C Draymond Green and PG Ervin "Magic" Johnson both being named on the top 100. (For those curious - the GOAT Michael Jordan is #1).

Magic Johnson (Ranked 4th All Time)

Magic Johnson played for the Spartans for two years and was part of the 1979 National Championship team, where he and Larry Bird battled in one of the most iconic championships of all time. Magic outlasted Larry and Indiana State, earning the Championship MVP award (then known as the Gillette MVP).

He was drafted 1st overall by the Lakers, where he played his entire career. He boasts an impressive list of accomplishments, including: 5-time Champion, 3-time MVP, 3-time Finals MVP, 12-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA, 4-time Assist Champion, and 2-time Steal Champion, spanning his 13 seasons.

He is widely regarded as the best point guard of all time and is one of only three players to win three league MVPs and three Finals MVPs.

Draymond Green (Ranked 88th All Time)

In recent history, Draymond Green is undoubtedly one of Tom Izzo's most excellent examples of his coaching style. Between Green's freshman year and his senior year, Izzo crafted him from a bench player to a star player, going on to be drafted in the second round (35th) by the Golden State Warriors.

In his time at MSU, he earned Big Ten All-Defense honors, Big Ten Tourney MVP, 09-10 Big Ten 6th Man of the Year, and the 11-12 Big Ten Player of the Year. He reached the Final Four twice and lost in the National Championship in 2009.

His time in the NBA has been marked with high highs and controversial lows. His NBA accomplishments include:

4x Champion, 1x Defensive Player of the Year, 2x All-NBA, 4x All-Star, 9x All-Defense, 1x Steal Champion

The defense he honed at MSU only improved in the NBA, and Bleacher Report considered him one of the most outstanding defensive players of the modern era. His partnership with Stephen Curry led to a Warriors Dynasty, winning three championships in four years (2015, 2017, 2018).

However, his physical play and temper have led to multiple suspensions throughout his career, resulting in 163 technical fouls. While Green is still playing in the NBA, Magic's career ended years ago. Yet, his legacy remains. With Izzo continuing to create NBA prospects, it's possible another former Spartan could grace this list.