North Carolina Sports Network: From The Archives
Duke-Turned-Celtics Star Jayson Tatum Continues
Impressive Tradition Of NBA Champions With NC Ties
By David Glenn
North Carolina Sports Network
When former Duke star Jayson Tatum led Boston to the 2024 National Basketball Association title on Monday night, he won his first NBA championship ring and helped the Celtics to their record 18th crown.
Already a rare three-time first-team All-NBA player at only 26 years old, Tatum also extended the state of North Carolina’s impressive track record for helping to produce players who go on to become NBA champions.
Indeed, whether the Celtics or the Dallas Mavericks had won the NBA Finals, the North Carolina-NBA champion “streak” would have reached 16 years in a row.
Thanks in part to multi-time NBA champions and perennial All-Stars such as Michael Jordan (six) and Steph Curry (four) — each played both high school and college basketball in North Carolina — the state has had at least one player on 32 of the league’s last 34 title teams.
The list below also includes NBA champions, such as Tatum, whose only connection to North Carolina was their college basketball career.
That college-only list also includes living legends such as five-time NBA champion Tim Duncan (Wake Forest) and Earl “The Pearl” Monroe (Winston-Salem State), as well as college stars who became NBA role players on multiple championship teams, such as Rick Fox (UNC, three rings), Danny Green (UNC, three rings), Mitch Kupchak (UNC, three rings) and Scott Williams (UNC, three rings).
Below is the complete list of players with North Carolina ties who participated in the postseason for at least one NBA championship team from 1970 through 2024.
Year—NBA Champion, Player, NC (HS and/or College) Connection
1970—New York Knicks, none
1971—Milwaukee Bucks, none
1972—Los Angeles Lakers, F Happy Hairston, Winston-Salem Atkins HS
1973—New York Knicks, G Henry Bibby, Franklinton Person-Albion HS; F Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, Winston-Salem State (1963-67); F Harthorne Wingo, Tryon HS
1974—Boston Celtics, none
1975—Golden State Warriors, G Jeff Mullins, Duke (1961-64)
1976—Boston Celtics, G Charlie Scott, Laurinburg Institute, UNC (1967-70)
1977—Portland Trail Blazers, F Herm Gilliam, Winston-Salem Atkins HS
1978—Washington Bullets, F Mitch Kupchak, UNC (1972-76)
1979—Seattle SuperSonics, F Tom LaGarde, UNC (1973-77); G Dick Snyder, Davidson (1963-66)
1980—Los Angeles Lakers, none
1981—Boston Celtics, G M.L. Carr, Teachey Wallace-Rose Hill HS, Guilford (1969-73); F Cedric Maxwell, Kinston HS, Charlotte (1973-77)
1982—Los Angeles Lakers, F Mitch Kupchak, UNC (1972-76); F Bob McAdoo, Greensboro Smith HS, UNC (1971-72)
1983—Philadelphia 76ers, F Bobby Jones, Charlotte South Mecklenburg HS, UNC (1971-74)
1984—Boston Celtics, G M.L. Carr, Teachey Wallace-Rose Hill HS, Guilford (1969-73); F Cedric Maxwell, Kinston HS, Charlotte (1973-77)
1985—Los Angeles Lakers, F Mitch Kupchak, UNC (1972-76); F Bob McAdoo, Greensboro Smith HS, UNC (1971-72); C Chuck Nevitt, NC State (1978-82); F James Worthy, Gastonia Ashbrook HS, UNC (1979-82)
1986—Boston Celtics, none
1987—Los Angeles Lakers, F James Worthy, Gastonia Ashbrook HS, UNC (1979-82)
1988—Los Angeles Lakers, F James Worthy, Gastonia Ashbrook HS, UNC (1979-82)
1989—Detroit Pistons, none
1990—Detroit Pistons, none
1991—Chicago Bulls, G Michael Jordan, Wilmington Laney HS, UNC (1981-84); C Scott Williams, UNC (1986-90)
1992—Chicago Bulls, G Michael Jordan, Wilmington Laney HS, UNC (1981-84); C Scott Williams, UNC (1986-90)
1993—Chicago Bulls, G Michael Jordan, Wilmington Laney HS, UNC (1981-84); C Scott Williams, UNC (1986-90)
1994—Houston Rockets, G Kenny Smith, UNC (1983-87)
1995—Houston Rockets, F Chucky Brown, Leland North Brunswick HS, NC State (1985-89); F Pete Chilcutt, UNC (1987-91); G Kenny Smith, UNC (1983-87)
1996—Chicago Bulls, G Michael Jordan, Wilmington Laney HS, UNC (1981-84)
1997—Chicago Bulls, G Michael Jordan, Wilmington Laney HS, UNC (1981-84)
1998—Chicago Bulls, G Michael Jordan, Wilmington Laney HS, UNC (1981-84); G Rusty LaRue, Greensboro Northwest Guilford HS, Wake Forest (1992-96)
1999—San Antonio Spurs, C Tim Duncan, Wake Forest (1993-97); F Brandon Williams, Davidson (1992-96)
2000—Los Angeles Lakers, F Rick Fox, UNC (1987-91)
2001—Los Angeles Lakers, F Rick Fox, UNC (1987-91)
2002—Los Angeles Lakers, F Rick Fox, UNC (1987-91)
2003—San Antonio Spurs, C Tim Duncan, Wake Forest (1993-97); F Danny Ferry, Duke (1985-89)
2004—Detroit Pistons, F Rasheed Wallace, UNC (1993-95)
2005—San Antonio Spurs, C Tim Duncan, Wake Forest (1993-97)
2006—Miami Heat, none
2007—San Antonio Spurs, C Tim Duncan, Wake Forest (1993-97)
2008—Boston Celtics, none
2009—Los Angeles Lakers, F Josh Powell, NC State (2001-03)
2010—Los Angeles Lakers, F Josh Powell, NC State (2001-03)
2011—Dallas Mavericks, C Brendan Haywood, Greensboro Dudley HS, UNC (1997-2001)
2012—Miami Heat, F Shane Battier, Duke (1997-2001)
2013—Miami Heat, F Shane Battier, Duke (1997-2001)
2014—San Antonio Spurs, C Tim Duncan, Wake Forest (1993-97); G Danny Green, UNC (2005-09)
2015—Golden State Warriors, F Harrison Barnes, UNC (2010-12); G Steph Curry, Charlotte Christian HS, Davidson (2006-09); F James Michael McAdoo, UNC (2011-14)
2016—Cleveland Cavaliers, G Kyrie Irving, Duke (2010-11); F Dahntay Jones, Duke (2001-03)
2017—Golden State Warriors, G Steph Curry, Charlotte Christian HS, Davidson (2006-09); F James Michael McAdoo, UNC (2011-14); F David West, Garner HS
2018—Golden State Warriors, G Quinn Cook, Duke (2011-15); G Steph Curry, Charlotte Christian HS, Davidson (2006-09); F David West, Garner HS
2019—Toronto Raptors, G Danny Green, UNC (2005-09)
2020—Los Angeles Lakers, F Devontae Cacok, UNC Wilmington (2015-19); G Quinn Cook, Duke (2011-15); G Danny Green, UNC (2005-09)
2021—Milwaukee Bucks, F Justin Jackson, UNC (2014-17); G Jeff Teague, Wake Forest (2007-09); F P.J. Tucker, Raleigh Enloe HS
2022—Golden State Warriors, G Steph Curry, Charlotte Christian HS, Davidson (2006-09)
2023—Denver Nuggets, G Ish Smith, Concord Central Cabarrus HS, Wake Forest (2006-10)
2024—Boston Celtics, F Jayson Tatum, Duke (2016-17)
