From Alonzo Mourning to Allen Iverson, Virginia has contributed many memorable players to NBA rosters over the years.
Virginia’s contributions to NBA rosters have included trailblazers who helped forge a more inclusive path, and plenty of Hall of Famers. From modern great Allen Iverson from Hampton to legends like Alonzo Mourning, Moses Malone, and Ralph Sampson, the Commonwealth has long been a state that produces players who have left their mark on professional basketball.
Here are 12 NBA players with Virginia roots that the Commonwealth can be proud of.
Bob Dandridge
Born in Richmond in 1947, Bob Dandridge started his career playing at Norfolk State University before joining the NBA in 1969 and becoming a four-time NBA All-Star. In 1970, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team. The guard forward played for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Washington Bullets, and he was a two-time NBA champion. Most recently, he was enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.
Earl F. Lloyd
In 1950, Alexandria’s Earl F. Lloyd became the first African American to play in an NBA game. Before making NBA history, he played for West Virginia State. His career included stints with the Capitols, Syracuse Nationals, and Detroit Pistons. The power forward was instrumental in helping the Syracuse Nationals clinch the NBA Championship in 1955. He later became the first African American bench coach in the league with the Detroit Pistons. Born in 1928, Lloyd died in 2015. He’s remembered for setting a model that others followed during segregation by comporting himself with professionalism.
Moses E. Malone
When Moses E. Malone passed in 2015, he left behind a strong legacy in the NBA. Born in 1955 in Petersburg, he went on to earn career accolades, including being a three-time NBA MVP and 12-time NBA All-Star. He was also part of the 1983 NBA Championship team. The center played for such teams as the Atlanta Hawks, Buffalo Braves, and Philadelphia 76ers during his 19-year career. With an average of 20.6 points per game, he was enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001. He played an impressive 1,212 games throughout his career. He’s remembered for being mild-mannered off the court but quite aggressive on the court.
Ralph Sampson
Ralph Sampson, born in Harrisonburg in 1960, played for the University of Virginia before being drafted into the NBA as a center in 1983. The following year, he was named the NBA Rookie of the Year. Playing with teams like the Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, and the Houston Rockets, he was named an NBA All-Star four times. Sampson is credited as the first center to demonstrate all-court versatility, which manifested in his speed, rebounding, and shooting abilities. His career ended in 1992 after playing 456 games. His average points per game statistic is 15.4. In 2012, he was honored in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Dell Curry
Although he’s perhaps best known now as the father of current NBA player Stephen Curry, Dell Curry had a distinguished career of his own. Born in Harrisonburg in 1964, he attended Virginia Tech before being drafted into the NBA in 1986. He is most associated with the Charlotte Hornets, where he played as a guard-forward, but he finished his career during the 2001-02 season with the Toronto Raptors. Having played in 1,083 games, he scored an average of 11.7 points per game.
His son, Stephen, who was born in Ohio, followed in Dell’s footsteps. With 16 years of NBA experience, he currently plays as a guard for the Golden State Warriors.
Terry Davis
Danville native Terry Davis was born in 1967. He attended Virginia Union University, which eventually led to his being drafted into the NBA in 1990 as a center. He launched his career with the Miami Heat but retired with the Denver Nuggets after the 2000-01 season. He played a total of 480 games with an average of 6.4 points per game.
Tony Massenburg
Born in Sussex in 1967, Tony Massenburg played for the Maryland Terrapins before being drafted into the NBA as a power forward in 1990. He played for several teams, but both started and concluded his career with the San Antonio Spurs. He retired after the 2004-05 season after 683 games. His average points per game were 6.2.
J.R. Reid
Born in Virginia Beach in 1968, J.R. Reid played for the North Carolina Tar Heels before being drafted into the NBA in 1989. His career ran until the 2000-01 season. After playing for such teams as the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers, he concluded his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Having played 672 games, his average points per game were 8.5. He’s now the assistant coach for the Monmouth University men’s basketball team.
Alonzo Mourning
Seven-time NBA All-Star Alonzo Mourning was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014. Born in 1970 in Chesapeake, he played for Georgetown before going on to become the second overall pick in the 1992 draft. He started with the Charlotte Hornets but retired from the Miami Heat following the 2007-08 season. During his time with the Miami Heat, he briefly had to step away from the game due to being diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a disease that impacted his kidneys. Upon his return, he contributed to the team’s winning of the 2006 NBA Championship. Having played 838 games, his average points per game came to 17.1. He’s now Vice President of Player Programs for the Miami Heat.
Cory Alexander
Point guard Cory Alexander was drafted into the NBA during the 1995-96 season. Born in 1973 in Waynesboro, the University of Virginia alum played for four teams, including the San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, and Charlotte Hornets, throughout his nine-season career. Having played 307 games, his average points per game came to 5.5.
Allen Iverson
Allen Iverson is such a well-known NBA figure in Virginia that Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared March 5, 2024, as Allen Iverson Day in the Commonwealth. In signing the proclamation, Youngkin pointed to Iverson’s success in the NBA and his contributions to the Hampton Roads community.
Iverson, who was born in Hampton in 1975, played in the NBA for more than a decade from 1996-2010. The guard had stents with the Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, and Memphis Grizzlies over the course of his 914-game career. During that time, he accumulated a number of accolades, including being named the 1997 Rookie of the Year, the 2001 NBA MVP, and an NBA All-Star 11 times. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. His points per game average was an impressive 26.7. Iverson is remembered for bringing a hip-hop fashion influence to the NBA.
Dorian Finney-Smith
Born in Portsmouth in 1993, Dorian Finney-Smith played for the Florida Gators before joining the NBA during the 2016-17 season with the Dallas Mavericks. With nine seasons under his belt, he’s played in 591 games. Although the forward isn’t currently playing, he played for the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2024-2025 season. His average points per game score was 8.7.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Aila Boyd
Aila Boyd
Aila Boyd is a Virginia-based educator and journalist. She received her MFA in writing from Lindenwood University.
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