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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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PHOENIX – MAY 06: Michael Finley #4 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during a free throw in Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Phoenix Suns during the 2007 NBA Playoffs at US Airways Center on May 6, 2007 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)
PHOENIX – MAY 06: Michael Finley #4 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during a free throw in Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Phoenix Suns during the 2007 NBA Playoffs at US Airways Center on May 6, 2007 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images) /

1. Michael Finley

Per 36 Minutes Table
Season Age Tm G MP FG% 3P% FT% TRB AST STL BLK TOV PTS
1995-96 22 PHO 82 3212 .476 .328 .749 4.2 3.2 1.0 0.3 1.5 13.8
1996-97 23 TOT 83 2790 .444 .361 .808 4.8 2.9 0.9 0.3 2.1 16.1
1996-97 23 PHO 27 796 .475 .255 .812 5.4 3.1 0.8 0.2 2.0 15.9
1996-97 23 DAL 56 1994 .432 .387 .807 4.5 2.8 0.9 0.4 2.2 16.2
1997-98 24 DAL 82 3394 .449 .357 .784 4.6 4.3 1.4 0.3 2.3 18.7
1998-99 25 DAL 50 2051 .444 .331 .823 4.6 3.8 1.2 0.3 1.9 17.7
1999-00 26 DAL 82 3464 .457 .401 .820 5.4 4.6 1.1 0.3 2.0 19.3
2000-01 27 DAL 82 3443 .458 .346 .775 4.4 3.8 1.2 0.3 2.0 18.5
2001-02 28 DAL 69 2754 .463 .339 .837 4.7 3.0 0.8 0.3 1.5 18.6
2002-03 29 DAL 69 2642 .425 .370 .861 5.5 2.8 1.0 0.3 1.6 18.1
2003-04 30 DAL 72 2778 .443 .405 .850 4.2 2.7 1.1 0.5 1.1 17.4
2004-05 31 DAL 64 2358 .427 .407 .831 4.0 2.6 0.7 0.3 0.9 15.3
2005-06 32 SAS 77 2038 .412 .394 .852 4.4 2.0 0.7 0.1 1.1 13.8
2006-07 33 SAS 82 1823 .412 .364 .918 4.4 2.1 0.6 0.3 0.9 14.6
2007-08 34 SAS 82 2204 .414 .370 .800 4.1 1.9 0.5 0.2 0.9 13.5
2008-09 35 SAS 81 2336 .437 .411 .823 4.2 1.8 0.6 0.3 0.9 12.1
2009-10 36 TOT 46 709 .440 .390 .533 3.6 2.2 0.5 0.3 1.1 10.3
2009-10 36 SAS 25 395 .381 .317 .667 3.5 1.7 0.5 0.4 1.2 8.5
2009-10 36 BOS 21 314 .506 .463 .333 3.8 2.8 0.5 0.2 0.9 12.5
Career 1103 37996 .444 .375 .811 4.6 3.1 0.9 0.3 1.5 16.4

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Michael Finley is the true old-school player on this list and comes in as the best NBA player to ever come out of the University of Wisconsin.

Finley never played for Bennett or Ryan, having attended Wisconsin from 1992-1995. Still, that didn’t stop him from putting up some monster seasons including three straight seasons where he averaged 20 or more points per game.

That led to Finley being selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 21st overall pick in the 1995 draft. Although he played for the Suns and the Boston Celtics, he’s most known for spending a lot of his career with the Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs.

He made two All-Star games in 2000 and 2001 as a member of the Mavericks and was a very steady scorer during his time in Dallas. He signed with the Spurs as a free agent in 2005 and played a critical role for the Spurs during the 2007-08 NBA Championship season.

Overall, he was a very durable player, having lasted in the league for 15 seasons and proving himself time and time again. Finely will ever go down in Badgers’ history as the best Wisconsin product to ever play in the NBA.

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