Best NBA players who were born in Chicago

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These are the best NBA players who were born in Chicago, Illinois. Players are ranked according to their scoring averages in the NBA. This is an impressive list that is also very timely. The two highest players on the list are now facing each other in the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals.

To date, a total of 112 players who were born in Chicago have gone on to play in the NBA. Two players who were born in Chicago both set NBA records while playing for my favorite NBA team, the New Jersey Nets. On February 24, 1978, Kevin Porter dished out 29 assists runescape power leveling for the Nets against the Houston Rockets. That broke Bob Cousy's record of 28 assists in a game. Scott Skiles has since broken Porter's record by dishing out 30 assists in a game.

On April 3, 1999, while playing for the Nets, Kendall Gill had 11 steals vs the Miami Heat. The 11 steals tied Gill for the all-time most steals in a game with Larry Kenon. This record still stands today. Though both Gill and Porter would good NBA players, neither makes this list of best NBA players born in Chicago. Only one of these players is currently in the Basketball Hall runescape gold of Fame. But a number of players on this list will likely be inducted some day.

Best NBA Players Born in Chicago

1. Dwyane Wade(notes) - 25.4

Dwyane Wade was born on the South Side of Chicago on January 17, 1982. He attended Marquette University in college, and averaged 19.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game in 2002 and 2003. In the 2003 NBA Draft, the Miami Heat took Dwayne Wade rs gold with the fifth overall pick.

Over eight seasons, Dwyane Wade is averaging 25.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game in regular season NBA play. He won the scoring title in 2009 with a 30.2 points per game average. His career average of 25.4 points per game ranks 10th best all-time among eligible players.

In the playoffs, Dwyane Wade is averaging 25.89 points per game in his career. That is also the 10th best all-time average among eligible players. Wade led the Heat to the 2006 NBA Championship, and was the NBA Finals MVP that season. In the 2011 playoffs, Dwayne Wade is averaging 23.9 points per game as he faces off against another NBA star who was born in Chicago in the Eastern Conference Finals.

2. Derrick Rose(notes) - 20.9

Derrick Rose was born in Chicago on October 4, 1988. He went to the University of Memphis for one season in 2008, and averaged 14.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. He was drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the first overall pick of the 2008 NBA Draft. In three NBA regular seasons, Derrick Rose is averaging 20.9 points and 6.7 assists per game. He was named Rookie of the Year in 2009.

In the 2010-11 regular season, Derrick Rose runescape money averaged 25.0 points and 7.7 assists per game and was named MVP of the league. So far in his playoff career, Derrick Rose has played in 27 total games and is averaging 25.2 points and 7.3 assists per game.

In the 2011 playoffs, Derrick Rose is averaging 27.3 points and 7.7 assists per game. In his first two playoff series he averaged 41.8% shooting from the field. So far in four playoff games against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, Derrick Rose is shooting just 36.3% from the field. He is having a tough time going up against Dwyane Wade, LeBron James(notes) and Chris Bosh(notes), and the Bulls trail the Heat three games to one.

3. Mark Aguirre - 20.0

Mark Aguirre was born in Chicago on December 10, 1959. He played at DePaul University from 1979 to 1981 and averaged 24.5 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. He was the first overall pick in the 1981 NBA Draft, taken by the Dallas Mavericks. Aguirre played 13 seasons in the NBA and retired with a career scoring average of 20.0 points per game.

Mark Aguirre won two NBA Championships in his career in 1989 and 1990, both with the Detroit Pistons. He was a three time all-star in his career, and scored 18,458 points in the NBA. His NBA career is probably a little short for the Basketball Hall of Fame, but when you add in his college career (Aguirre was the consensus college player of the year in 1980) he will likely get in some day.

4. Isiah Thomas - 19.2

Isiah Thomas was born in Chicago on March 30, 1961. He played at Indiana University in 1980 and 1981, and averaged 15.4 points and 5.7 assists per game. He led the Hoosiers to the 1981 NCAA Championship, and was named MVP of the tournament. In the 1981 NBA Draft, the Detroit Pistons runescape items took Isiah Thomas with the second overall pick in the draft (Mark Aguirre was the first pick).

Isiah Thomas played 13 years in the NBA, all with the Pistons. He averaged 19.2 points and 9.3 assists per game. He was a 12 time all-star, and led the Pistons to two NBA Championships in 1989 and 1990. Thomas was the NBA Finals MVP in 1990. He was also named MVP of the NBA All-Star Game in 1984 and 1986.

Isiah Thomas was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000. Since his playing days ended, Isiah has had a very spotted record as a coach and GM in the NBA. In 2010 and 2011, he was head coach of Florida International University and compiled an 18-44 overall record.

5. Tim Hardaway - 17.7

Tim Hardaway was born on September 1, 1966 in Chicago. He played at the University of Texas at El Paso from 1986 to 1989 and averaged 12.8 points per game (22.0 as a senior). The Golden State Warriors took Hardaway with the 14th overall pick in the 1989 draft.

Hardaway played 13 seasons in the NBA and averaged 17.7 points and 8.2 assists per game. He was a five time all-star. In a 1991 playoff game vs the Los Angeles Lakers, Tim Hardaway dished out 20 assists.

6. Antoine Walker(notes) - 17.5

Antoine Walker was born in Chicago on August 12, 1976. He played at the University of Kentucky in 1995 and 1996, and averaged 11.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. The Boston Celtics took Walker with the sixth overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft.

Antoine Walker played 12 season in the NBA and averaged 17.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Walker was a three time all-star and won an NBA Championship in 2006 with the Miami Heat. He earned some $108 million in salary in his career, and filed for bankruptcy in 2010.

7. Lee Shaffer - 16.8

Lee Shaffer was born in Chicago on February 23, 1939. He played college ball at the University of North Carolina, and then played three years in the NBA from 1962 to 1964. Shaffer averaged 16.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. He was an all-star in 1963.

8. Terry Cummings - 16.4

Terry Cummings was born in Chicago on March 15, 1961. He played college basketball at DePaul University (with Mark Aguirre for a couple years) from 1980 to 1982, and averaged 16.4 points and 10.1 rebound per game (22.3 points and 11.9 rebounds his last year). The San Diego Clippers drafted Cummings with the second overall pick in the 1982 draft.

Terry Cummings played 18 years in the NBA. He scored 19,460 points and averaged 16.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. He was Rookie of the Year in 1983. Cummings was one of the best players in the league, and headed for the Basketball Hall of Fame, until he injured his knee in a pickup game in 1992. Though he would play eight more years after the injury, he was never the same player.

Cummings averaged 21.3 points per game before his knee injury in 768 games, and 7.5 points per game after the injury in 415 games. A good case can still be made for him getting into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

9. Eddie Johnson - 16.0

Eddie Johnson was born in Chicago on May 1, 1959. He played four years at the University of Illinois from 1978 to 1981, and averaged 14.0 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. Johnson would go on to play 17 years in the NBA. He averaged 16.0 points per game, and scored 19,202 points in his NBA career.

10. Cazzie Russell - 15.1

Cazzie Russell was born in Chicago on June 7, 1944. He played college basketball at the University of Michigan from 1964 to 1966, and averaged 27.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Russell led the Wolverines to the NCAA Final Four in 1964 and 1965. They lost in the semifinals in 1964, and in the finals in 1965 (to UCLA). In 1966, Cazzie Russell averaged 30.8 points per game and was named College Player of the Year.

The New York Knicks took Cazzie Russell with the first overall pick in the 1966 NBA Draft. Cazzie would play 12 years in the NBA, and averaged 15.1 points per game. He won a championship with the Knicks in 1970.

By Joe Dorish - Yahoo! Sports