Keeping It Heel
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Ranking the 15 best UNC basketball NBA careers ever

By Nick Delahanty

2 Jun 1997: Guard Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls speaks to reporters during a press conference at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport
2 Jun 1997: Guard Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls speaks to reporters during a press conference at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport /
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The UNC basketball program has had plenty of players go on to have successful NBA careers. Which former Tar Heels have had the best professional careers?

Over the years, fans of the UNC basketball program have had the pleasure of watching former Tar Heels put together successful professional careers in the NBA.

There have been over 100 former Tar Heels that have suited up for NBA squads. Plenty of them have put together impressive resumes, which makes it difficult to decide on the top among former UNC basketball standouts.

The two at the top of the list won’t surprise anyone, but the rest could certainly be up for debate. We decided to rank our top 15 list, one that features plenty of individual accomplishments, longevity as well as some players who made a habit out of winning.

Before we get into our rankings, let’s identify some of the guys who just missed the cut.

Greatest UNC basketball NBA careers honorable mentions

There were a few former Tar Heels that came up just short of making our top 15 list.

Let’s start with Raymond Felton, who had high expectations as the fifth overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft. Although he never developed into an NBA star, Felton put together a solid 14-year career playing for seven different franchises.

After starting his career with the Boston Celtics, Rick Fox went on to be a main contributor for the Celtics’ biggest rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers. During his seven seasons in Los Angeles, Fox helped the Lakers bring home three consecutive NBA titles.

Danny Green is still an active player but has proven to be a strong contributor for championship clubs. The former Tar Heel has won three NBA titles with three different organizations, as his three-point shooting and defensive ability have been areas that he’s thrived in over his 13-year career.

Marvin Williams doesn’t have the postseason resume as guys like Fox and Green, but still put together a strong 15-year career. In 1,072 games, Williams was a starter in 828 of them, as he averaged 10.2 points and 4 rebounds per-game playing for four different franchises.

Now, let’s get to our list, starting at No. 15.

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