Wisconsin has just under 2% of the American population, but makes up about 4% of the NBA’s native-born players.
By Nathan Denzin, BADGER STRIPES
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4317615640364969 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});You might not know it, but the state of Wisconsin has been punching well above its weight when it comes to producing NBA players in the last 15 years.
We all know about Johnny Davis from La Crosse, Sam Dekker from Sheboygan and NBA Champion Kevon Looney from Milwaukee, but there are plenty of other guys hailing from Wisconsin who have excelled at the sports’ top level.
All in all there are at least 26 players born in Wisconsin who are currently playing professional basketball in the NBA, the G-League or abroad. Of those 26, 11 are in the NBA.
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4317615640364969 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Using that data, Wisconsin’s population is about 1.7% of the US population but makes up 2.4% of roster spots in the NBA. If you take out the 125 international players, athletes from Wisconsin make up about 3.4% of the NBA’s American population. That means players from Wisconsin are about twice as likely to make the NBA than your average player from a different state.
To get the whole picture, here are all 11 NBA players who were born in, or grew up in Wisconsin.
Tyrese Haliburton – Oshkosh
Haliburton has become a bona-fide superstar with the Indiana Pacers in 2023-24. Haliburton hails from Oshkosh and was one of the top prospects in the state entering 2019, but was never offered by Wisconsin. Unfortunately scholarship spots were held by Tyler Herro and for Joey Hauser – who both ended up at different schools – so Haliburton went to Iowa State instead.
Now in the NBA, Haliburton looks like the next big thing. The fourth-year player has led his team to a 21-15 record so far this year, including four wins over the Milwaukee Bucks. He’s averaging 23.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 12.5 assists per game so far this season. A recent hamstring strain will cost him at least two weeks while he recovers.
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4317615640364969 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Jordan Poole – Milwaukee
Poole played his college ball at the University of Michigan before being drafted to the Golden State Warriors in 2019. He took a key role on the team for their 2021 playoff push, and led the NBA in free throw percentage that year. The Warriors won the championship that year, giving Poole and fellow Milwaukee native Kevon Looney a ring.
Poole is now with the Washington Wizards, and plays as their top dog – though he does have one of the worst plus/minus stats in the league. He’s averaging 16.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists a game in 2023-24.
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4317615640364969 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Tyler Herro – Greenfield
It pains me to say, but Tyler Herro is one of the best players out of Wisconsin right now. His recruitment story (or lack thereof) was well documented after he committed, then decommitted to the Badgers at the last minute in favor of Kentucky. Now, in his fifth season as an NBA player, Herro is known nationwide as a sharpshooter.
Herro is a regular starter with the Miami Heat, where he averages 22.7 points a game, 5.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists a game. He was also a part of the 2020 Heat team that lost in the NBA Finals to the Lakers in the bubble.
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4317615640364969 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Jalen Johnson – Wausau
Born in Wausau, Johnson played for two teams in high school: Sun Prairie and Nicolet in the Milwaukee suburbs. Johnson was the 13th-ranked prospect in the country as a senior, and committed to Duke over a host of other blue bloods.
Johnson was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks, and is now a locked-in NBA starter. The third-year player averages 15 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists a game on 58% shooting from the field.
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4317615640364969 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Brandin Podziemski – Greenfield
If you haven’t been paying attention, this is a name that might not look familiar, but it should. Podziemski was named Mr. Basketball in Wisconsin in 2021, earning himself a scholarship at the University of Illinois. But Podziemski faltered in Champaign, and transferred to Santa Clara.
He was able to thrive in California, and was picked 19th in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Warriors. The rookie is averaging 9.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists a game as a role player, but looks to have a bright future.
Sam Hauser – Green Bay
Hauser is the son of Stephanie Hauser, the Executive Director of the WIAA, so he has some very deep Wisconsin roots. Hauser was courted by the Badgers, but he wound up at Marquette before transferring to Virginia for his senior season.
Hauser went undrafted in 2021, but was snapped up by the Celtics immediately after the draft and has become an important rotation piece. He averages 8.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and an assist in about 22 minutes a game in 2023-24.
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4317615640364969 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Kevon Looney – Milwaukee
Looney might be the most decorated Wisconsin basketball player to ever play in the NBA. The eighth year veteran was a part of three Golden State Warrior championship teams, and he played critical roles in all three.
The power forward/center anchored the Warriors “big four” lineup with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green, then played rotation minutes during the 2022 run that included Poole. Looney is now a rotation guy off the bench, but still averages 5.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists a game for Kerr.
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4317615640364969 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Ochai Agbaji – Milwaukee
This is kind of cheating since he grew up in Kansas City, but Agbaji was born in Milwaukee. The Badgers offered the talented shooting guard coming out of high school, hoping for the Wisconsin connection, but he ended up choosing Kansas instead.
Agbaji is now in his second season as an NBA pro, coming off the bench for the Utah Jazz. He averages 6.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and an assist per-game.
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4317615640364969 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Wes Matthews Jr. – Madison
Now in his 15th season, Matthews has had an unbelievable run in the NBA. After growing up in Madison as the son of a Badger basketball player, he played his college ball for Marquette before he was drafted by the Utah Jazz in 2009. Matthews has played for eight franchises over his career, including a couple of stints in Milwaukee with the Bucks.
As an Atlanta Hawk this year, Matthews has become more of a bench leader for young guys like Tre Young. The veteran hasn’t played in every game, and only averages 2.1 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.6 assists when he does play.
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4317615640364969 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Patrick Baldwin Jr. – Sussex
This is also kind of cheating since Baldwin Jr. wasn’t born in Wisconsin, but he did play his high school ball at Sussex-Hamilton high school. He was a 5-star recruit, and had offers from just about every major program in the country, but committed to UW-Milwaukee to play for his dad, who was the head coach.
After one injury plagued-season, Baldwin Jr. was drafted by the Warriors (who else), but was included in the Jordan Poole trade to Washington. He doesn’t get off the bench much for the Warriors though, averaging just six minutes a game in nine appearances. In those minutes Baldwin Jr. averages 1.9 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.3 assists.
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4317615640364969 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Johnny Davis – La Crosse
Wisconsin’s most recent golden boy, Davis has not found his footing in the NBA. Davis often splits time between the Washington Wizards, his NBA team, and their G-League affiliate. He’s only averaging 8.2 minutes a game in 18 appearances so far, with a 2.6 points, 1.1 rebound and 0.3 assist in his second year in the League.
One big trend during his short NBA career so far, Davis seems to have completely lost his shooting form. While he was dependable from deep, and lethal in the midrange for the Badgers, his form looks broken and disjointed now. Hopefully he’s able to pick his form back up soon and make a contribution to the NBA.
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4317615640364969 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Badger Stripes is a sports news organization that provides in-depth coverage of Wisconsin athletics. Follow us on Facebook.
Badger Stripes 