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Wisconsin Basketball: 5 best Badgers in NBA History

By Brian Sampson

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 18: Jon Leuer #30 of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket on Frank Kaminsky #44 of the Charlotte Hornets during the Inaugural NBA game at the new Little Caesars Arena on October 18, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. The Pistons defeated the Hornets 102 to 90. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 18: Jon Leuer #30 of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket on Frank Kaminsky #44 of the Charlotte Hornets during the Inaugural NBA game at the new Little Caesars Arena on October 18, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. The Pistons defeated the Hornets 102 to 90. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – OCTOBER 18: Jon Leuer #30 of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket on Frank Kaminsky #44 of the Charlotte Hornets during the Inaugural NBA game at the new Little Caesars Arena on October 18, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. The Pistons defeated the Hornets 102 to 90. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – OCTOBER 18: Jon Leuer #30 of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket on Frank Kaminsky #44 of the Charlotte Hornets during the Inaugural NBA game at the new Little Caesars Arena on October 18, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. The Pistons defeated the Hornets 102 to 90. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /

The Wisconsin Basketball team has sent a limited number of players into the NBA. Let’s rank the 5 best players to ever make it to the highest level.

Let’s be honest. The Wisconsin basketball program hasn’t had an overwhelming amount of success when it comes to sending players into the NBA. Traditionally, their program has squeezed every last ounce of talent out of its players at the college level and everyone’s been better off because of it.

Still, that doesn’t mean the University hasn’t seen some very good players go on to have success at the games highest level. There have been a handful of players go on to the NBA and have great team and individual success.

Most of the players on this list played under Bo Ryan. That’s hardly surprising considering how much success the team had under Ryan during 14 years as the head coach. Of course, Ryan doesn’t deserve full credit for turning around a program that struggled mightily for a number of years. Dick Bennett got the ball rolling in the late 1990’s and really set the table for Ryan.

Regardless, the individual talent has typically succumbed to the team talent at Wisconsin. But this is a rare time for the independent player to stand out.

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