The Greatest Arkansas Basketball Players of All Time

Arkansas basketball has a rich history, and while the Razorbacks have had some of the best players in the game over the years, they’ve also had their fair share of disappointments. From the rising stars of college basketball to some of the most celebrated players in the NBA, here’s a list of some incredible Arkansas players:

1. Sidney Moncrief

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Sidney Moncrief, who played at Arkansas from 1975 to 1979, was a three-time All-American and can be credited with putting the Razorbacks’ basketball program on the national map.

The shooting guard’s accolades include playing in the NBA All-Star game for 5 consecutive years. In addition to his consensus First Team All-American designation during one of those seasons (1979), he was also named Consensus Second Team All-American in 1979. His scoring average of over 20 points per game for four seasons surely makes him deserving of his spot on our list.

2. Joe Johnson

Another notable player in Razorbacks history, Joe Johnson spent his collegiate days playing for the University of Arkansas. He was named the state’s Mr. Basketball in 1999 and has made the NBA All-Star team a grand total of 7 times.

When turning professional, he was drafted tenth overall by the Boston Celtics, where he stayed for just one season. He played for six other teams before returning to the Celtics in the 2021 season.

3. Corliss Williamson

Born in Russellville, Corliss Williamson played basketball at Arkansas (1992-95) before going on to play in the NBA for the Sacramento Kings (twice), Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, and others.

He won a range of titles over his career and also became a coach in 2007. His 12-year coaching career included a few seasons with a team from his home state, Arkansas Baptist.

4. Alvin Robertson

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Alvin Robertson is a four-time All-Star who played for the San Antonio Spurs from 1984 to 1989. He was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1986 and was part of the All-NBA Second Team in the same year.

Robertson remains the only player ever to have over 300 steals in a season and also holds the record as the player with the highest average steals per game – 2.71. He started his NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs and played for four other teams during his career, including the Detroit Pistons.

5. Oliver Miller

Oliver Miller, also known as the ‘Big O’ thanks to his huge 6’9″ frame, played for the Razorbacks until his graduation in 1992. The center was named CBA All-Star in 2003 and drafted 22nd overall in the 1992 NBA Draft, where he was selected by the Phoenix Suns.

Miller played for a considerable number of teams during his career, including several international ones in countries such as Greece, Poland, and China.

6. Todd Day

Todd Day was a shooting guard who played for the Arkansas Razorbacks from 1989 to 1992. He was a second and third-team All-American in 1991 and 1992, and the Razorbacks saw considerable success when he was part of the team.

Day was also named SWC Co-Player of the Year in 1991 before being drafted in the first round of the 1992 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. He then played for a range of teams, including in Cyprus and Brazil, before becoming a coach in 2016 at Philander Smith, a role he continues with today.

7. Bobby Portis

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A professional basketball player, Portis was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas. He played college basketball at the University of Arkansas before being drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft. He went on to play for the Washington Wizards and New York Knicks before moving to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2020, where he still plays today.

He was an SEC Player of the Year in 2015 and made it to the NBA Championships three times, playing for the winning team in 2021.

Conclusion

Arkansas is a state with a rich history of basketball, and these players are just a few of the many who have made their mark. We know you’re going to agree that they deserve to be on this list.