The All-Time Roster Of NBA Players From Philadelphia

• PG- Earl Monroe- Philadelphia, Pa

  

  (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

  Earl “The Pearl” Monroe has quite the NBA resume. Hall of Famer, 4-time All-Star, NBA Champion, a member of the 75th Anniversary Team, and Rookie of the Year, just to name a few of his accolades. He was more of a shooting guard, but you are not going to supplant the next guy as the team’s shooting guard. Instead, he moves over to Point Guard. Is he the ideal facilitator? No. But this team won’t exactly need that with the players they have. So instead you just get another elite scorer onto the court

• SG- Kobe Bryant- Philadelphia, Pa

  

  (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

  When you think of Basketball players from Philly, you think of Kobe. He is one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history, and led his team to 5 NBA Finals wins. From coming up playing at Lower Merion, to dominating an entire era of the NBA, Kobe is a legend. He may have played his pro basketball in LA, but he will always be part of Philly too. As evident by how he celebrated the Eagles’ first Super Bowl.

• SF- Paul Arizin- Philadelphia, Pa

  Known as “Pitching Paul”, Arizin is not exactly a household name anymore, given he played his basketball in the 50s. But he was among the most dominant players from that era. He won 2 scoring titles, made 4 All-NBA Teams, won a Championship with the Philadelphia Warriors, and eventually got inducted into the Hall of Fame. He scored at least 20 points a game in every year of his career except his rookie season.

  Would he have a hard time defending in the modern era? Yes. It is hard to compare that era to this era because the game is just so different and players are just bigger, stronger, and faster. But the team doesn’t actually have to play, and Paul is worthy of giving mention to given everything he accomplished in the league. He also got to do it all in Philly, even if it was for the wrong team that eventually left Philly.

  "Paul was a great jump shooter… and also could handle the ball and drive to the basket."
  
  Bob Pettit on the versatile skillset of 75th Anniversary Team’s Paul Arizin. #NBA75
  
  Hear more stories like this in 75 STORIES: PAUL ARIZIN here: https://t.co/2q5CBVnoxd pic.twitter.com/SgOpfJoSSn

  — NBA (@NBA) December 28, 2021

• PF- Rasheed Wallace- Philadelphia, Pa

  

  (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

  We have lots of scoring on this team, so it’s time to also add some great defensive players. Wallace had a Defensive Rating of just over 100 in his career. Rudy Gobert had the lowest Defensive rating in the NBA last year at 103. It’s a different era with more scoring, but it goes to show the caliber of defense Wallace brought to the table. He was no slouch on offense either. He is the only player on this starting 5 that is not yet in the Hall of Fame. But he does have a decent case. And even if he never does make it, he is still a fantastic player and among the best Power Forwards of his era.

• C- Wilt Chamberlain- Philadelphia, Pa

  Many people will still argue Wilt is the best player of All-Time. And with the stats he put up, there is certainly an argument to be made. Wilt was so dominant in his time, they had to change a ton of NBA rules just to even the playing field. You could argue he had more impact on changing the game than anyone in NBA history. Kobe was always at his best when paired with an elite big man, whether it be Shaq or later Pau Gasol. But imagine Kobe playing with Wilt.

  Extra Muse on X (formerly Twitter): "Wilt Chamberlain in December of 1961:52.4 PPG | 26.1 RPG | 1.9 APG21.1 FGM | 41.9 FGA | 50.3 FG%10.3 FTM | 17.1 FTA | 60.6 FT%Most dominant player in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/OXgY8EBpCJ / X"

  Wilt Chamberlain in December of 1961:52.4 PPG | 26.1 RPG | 1.9 APG21.1 FGM | 41.9 FGA | 50.3 FG%10.3 FTM | 17.1 FTA | 60.6 FT%Most dominant player in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/OXgY8EBpCJ

• Bench- Richard “Rip” Hamilton- Coatsville, Pa

  

  (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

  Rasheed was not the only Philly representation on the Pistons team that won it all in 2004. Because Coatsville native Rip Hamilton was there too. For this team, he would bring scoring and shooting off the bench. Rip led all scorers for that Pistons team in the playoffs in 2004.

• Bench- Kyle Lowry- Philadelphia, Pa

  

  (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

  We already talked about Kyle Lowry when we did the All-Time roster for active guys from the area. The difference is in this case you get Lowry in his prime. Lowry has made 6 All-Star teams, 1 All-NBA team, and won it all with the Raptors in 2019. Not a bad guy to have coming off of your bench.

• Bench- Mikal Bridges- Philadelphia, Pa

  

  (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

  Like with Lowry, we already talked about Bridges when we made the active team of guys from the area. He would bring All-NBA Caliber defense, and some scoring, off the bench. He was the star for the active team, but on a team of Hall of Famers here, he would be one hell of a role player.

• Bench- Tom Gola- Philadelphia, Pa

  If Tom Gola was a player in today’s game, Sixers fans would probably love him. He had the nickname Mr. All-Around because he played an all-around style of game. Which is exactly the type of player Philly fans love. Again, as we said with Paul Arizin, it’s hard to compare that era in the 50s to the modern game. I don’t know if Tom would be good if he played today. But he is a Hall of Famer from Philly, so he deserved a shoutout here. So the namesake for La Salle’s Basketball arena makes the team.

  Hoop History on X (formerly Twitter): "Tom Gola, a four-time All-American, 1955 National Player of the Year and a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, led La Salle to the 1952 NIT and 1954 NCAA Championships. pic.twitter.com/Fgx5EqBzLO / X"

  Tom Gola, a four-time All-American, 1955 National Player of the Year and a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, led La Salle to the 1952 NIT and 1954 NCAA Championships. pic.twitter.com/Fgx5EqBzLO

• Bench- Jameer Nelson- Chester, Pa

  

  (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

  We can’t talk Philly basketball and leave out St. Joe’s Jameer Nelson. In 2004 Nelson helped lead St Joes to the Elite 8 for the first time since 1981. He has a very strong case for being the best player in the school’s history. He went on to have a solid NBA career too, mostly playing with the Magic. He is not a Super Star or Hall of Famer like other guys on this list. But he is more than deserving of a place on the All-Time Philly team.

• Bench- Aaron Mckie- Philadelphia, Pa

  

  (Photo by Tom Pidgeon/Getty Images)

  You can’t make one of these lists and leave McKie off. Mckie may not have had as prolific of an NBA career as the rest of this team. But he was a solid player and won 6th Man of the Year. He was also a star while at Temple alongside Eddie Jones. And he has been around Philadelphia basketball longer than anyone else here. He played in College here, coached in College here, played in the pros, and coached in the pros here. How many other guys can say they did that in any Basketball city? That is deserving of the 11th roster spot.

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