Who are the top former Michigan players in NBA history?
The Michigan Wolverines might be better known for producing football talent than basketball standouts.
But to overlook Michigan as one of the top schools in developing NBA athletes would be a mistake. From Cazzie Russell and Rudy Tomjanovich to Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose and Chris Webber, the Wolverines have sent talent to the NBA on a consistent basis for decades. Check out our other articles of top alumni in the NBA, including lists from Duke, Gonzaga, Kentucky, North Carolina and UCLA.
With that in mind, Rookie Wire compiles a list of the 10 former Michigan players with the most career games in NBA history below.
1. Jamal Crawford
Suns guard Jamal Crawford (11) looks to pass as Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) defends on March 4, 2019, in Phoenix. AP Photo/Matt York
Career NBA games: 1,327 (2000-2020)
Michigan highlights: Crawford played just one season at U-M and was limited to 17 games because of eligibility issues. He averaged 16.6 points and 4.5 assists for the Wolverines.
NBA highlights: One of the great role players in recent NBA history, Crawford is a three-time winner of the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award. He averaged 14.6 points and 3.4 assists per game in a 20-season NBA career with the Bulls, Knicks, Warriors, Hawks, Trail Blazers, Clippers, Timberwolves Suns and Nets. Crawford registered a career-high 52 points for the Knicks against the Heat on Jan. 26, 2007.
2. Juwan Howard
Wizards forward Juwan Howard (5) attempts to drive past Heat forward Clarence Weatherspoon (35) on Feb. 4, 2000, in Miami. AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee
Career NBA games: 1,208 (1994-2013)
Michigan highlights: The first member of the famed Fab Five to commit to the Wolverines, Howard was named All-Big Ten in all three of his collegiate seasons. The current Wolverines head coach averaged 15.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game as a collegian.
NBA highlights: Howard was drafted No. 5 overall by Washington in 1994 and went on to play 19 NBA seasons with the Bullets/Wizards, Mavericks, Nuggets, Magic, Rockets, Bobcats, Trail Blazers and Heat. He averaged 13.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, earning an All-Star selection in 1996 and winning two NBA titles with Miami.
3. Glen Rice
Hornets forward Glen Rice drives against Bulls guard Michael Jordan on Feb. 11, 1997, in Chicago. AP Photo/Michael S. Green
Career NBA games: 1,000 (1989-2004)
Michigan highlights: Rice is Michigan’s career scoring leader with 2,442 points and was the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament when the Wolverines won the 1989 national championship. He averaged 18.2 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in four college seasons.
NBA highlights: The No. 4 overall draft pick by Miami in 1989, Rice earned three All-Star selections during a 15-year NBA career with the Heat, Hornets, Lakers, Knicks, Rockets and Clippers. Rice, who averaged 18.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game as a pro, won the 2000 NBA title with the Lakers.
4. Rickey Green
Rickey Green of the Jazz dribbles during a game at The Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1988. Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
Career NBA games: 946 (1977-1992)
Michigan highlights: Green played two seasons at Michigan and was named All-Final Four in 1976 and first-team All-America in 1977. He averaged 19.7 points and 4.2 rebounds while helping the Wolverines to 51 victories.
NBA highlights: The No. 16 draft pick in 1977, Green was known as one of the NBA’s top defenders during a 14-season career with the Warriors, Pistons, Jazz, Hornets, Bucks, Pacers, 76ers and Celtics. He averaged 9.4 points, 5.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game, led the league in steals twice and was named an All-Star in 1983-84.
5. Jalen Rose
Pacers guard Jalen Rose is defended by Bucks guard Ray Allen during a playoff game in Indianapolis on April 23, 2000. AP Photo/Michael Conroy
Career NBA games: 923 (1994-2007)
Michigan highlights: The emotional leader of the Fab Five in the early 1990s, Rose was a three-time All-Big Ten selection for the Wolverines. He averaged 17.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.
NBA highlights: Rose was named to the All-Rookie team in 1994-95 after being drafted No. 13 overall and earned Most Improved Player honors in 1999-2000. He averaged more than 20 points per game in three consecutive seasons from 2000-01 through 2002-03. Over the course of his 14-year pro career with the Nuggets, Pacers, Bulls, Raptors, Knicks and Suns, he averaged 14.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.
6. Chris Webber
Kings forward Chris Webber reaches for a rebound as Spurs forward Tim Duncan defends on Nov. 3, 2004, in San Antonio. AP Photo/Eric Gay
Career NBA games: 831 (1993-2008)
Michigan highlights: Widely regarded as the top recruit in the nation, Webber joined forces with Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose, Ray Jackson and Jimmy King to form the fabled Fab Five. Webber helped lead the Wolverines to consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament championship game in 1992 and 1993. He averaged 17.4 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game in two seasons for U-M and is the only men’s college basketball player to be named to the NCAA All-Tournament team as both a freshman and a sophomore.
NBA highlights: Webber was drafted No. 1 overall and honored as the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1993-94 with the Golden State Warriors. He was named to five All-Star teams during a 15-year career with the Warriors, Bullets/Wizards, Kings, 76ers and Pistons. Webber averaged 20.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game as a pro and won the NBA rebounding crown in 1999. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.
7. Cazzie Russell
Warriors forward Cazzie Russell dribbles against the Hawks at The Omni in Atlanta on Nov. 22, 1973. Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
Career NBA games: 817 (1966-1978)
Michigan highlights: A three-time consensus All-America selection, Russell was a transformative figure for the Wolverines, helping elevate the program from afterthought to three-time Big Ten champion. The standout forward averaged a school-record 27.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in leading the Wolverines to two Final Fours and an NCAA regional final.
NBA highlights: Russell earned NBA All-Rookie Team honors after being selected No. 1 overall in the 1966 NBA draft. He averaged 15.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game over a 12-year career with the Knicks, Warriors, Lakers and Bulls. Russell won an NBA title in 1970 with New York and was an All-Star in the 1971-72 season with Golden State.
8. Rudy Tomjanovich
Rockets forward Rudy Tomjanovich is defended by Hawks forward George Trapp at The Omni in Atlanta on Jan. 9, 1973. Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
Career NBA games: 768 (1970-1981)
Michigan highlights: Tomjanovich was a scoring and rebounding savant for the Wolverines, racking up 50 double-doubles in three varsity seasons. His career mark of 14.4 rebounds per game is a Michigan record, and he ranks second in program history with 25.1 points per game. Tomjanovich was a two-time All-Big Ten selection.
NBA highlights: The No. 2 pick in the 1970 NBA draft, Tomjanovich was named to five All-Star teams during an 11-year career with the Rockets. He averaged more than 20 points per game four times as a pro, finishing his career with averages of 17.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. He went on to a successful NBA coaching career, winning more than 900 games and piloting the Rockets to the 1994 and 1995 league championships. Tomjanovich was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in 2020.
9. Loy Vaught
Clippers forward Loy Vaught attempts to drive between Jazz defenders Bryon Russel and Greg Ostertag during a playoff game on April 27, 1997, in Los Angeles. Hector Mata / AFP via Getty Images
Career NBA games: 689 (1990-2001)
Michigan highlights: Vaught teamed with fellow U-M stars Glen Rice, Rumeal Robinson and Terry Mills on the Wolverines’ 1989 national championship team. Vaught averaged 15.5 points and 11.2 rebounds per game as a senior in 1989-90, and the Wolverines’ annual rebounding award is now named for him.
NBA highlights: Drafted No. 13 overall in 1990, Vaught went on to play 11 NBA seasons with the Clippers, Pistons, Mavericks and Wizards. In a three-season stretch during his prime, he averaged 16.2 points and 9.9 rebounds per game for the Clippers from 1994-95 through 1996-97. Over the course of his entire NBA career, he averaged 10.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.
10. Terry Mills
Pistons forward Terry Mills tries to control the ball against Kings forward Michael Smith on Feb. 3, 1996, in Auburn Hills, Michigan. AP Photo/Duane Burleson
Career NBA games: 678 (1990-2001)
Michigan highlights: Like Glen Rice and Loy Vaught, Mills was a key contributor to Michigan’s 1989 national championship, averaging 11.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. After the departure of Rice, Mills played a larger role as a junior and raised those averages to 18.1 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.
NBA highlights: The No. 16 selection in the 1990 NBA draft, Mills would enjoy an 11-year career with the Nuggets, Nets, Pistons, Heat and Pacers. He spent his best seasons in Detroit, averaging 15.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game from 1993-94 through 1995-96. Over the course of his entire NBA career, he averaged 10.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
Current players
Active NBA players who played college basketball at the University of Michigan:
• Trey Burke: 2013-14 to present
• Tim Hardaway Jr.: 2013-14 to present
• Glenn Robinson III: 2014-15 to present
• Nik Stauskas: 2014-15 to present
• Caris LeVert: 2016-17 to present
• Derrick Walton: 2017-18 to present
• D.J. Wilson: 2017-18 to present
• Jordan Poole: 2018-19 to present
• Duncan Robinson: 2018-19 to present
• Moe Wagner: 2018-19 to present
• Iggy Brazdeikis: 2019-20 to present
• Chaundee Brown Jr.: 2021-22 to present
• Isaiah Livers: 2021-22 to present
• Jon Teske: 2021-22 to present
• Franz Wagner: 2021-22 to present
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