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March Madness is a tournament that garners a lot of attention every year, as 68 NCAA first division college teams go head to head to win the single-elimination competition.
There are some present-day NBA stars whose draft stock got bolstered with their incredible performances at the March Madness, which decides the winner of the National championship.
On that note, let's take a look at five current NBA stars who laid the groundwork of their ascension through March Madness.
March Madness: 5 stars who rose to NBA stardom through the competition
The NBA Draft takes place just three months after the March Madness tournament, which gives teams up to seven knock-out games to decide how talented a college player is.
However, the players listed below were able to leave their mark on the front offices, despite not winning the March Madness tournament, as they played for supposedly unpopular and weaker college teams.
Without further ado, let's get started.
#5 Blake Griffin (Oklahoma State)
Blake Griffin was a part of the Oklahoma Sooners team in 2009, averaging 28.5 points, 15 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game on a stellar 78% shooting from the field.
Griffin dominated the March Madness competition that year to the extent that in his worst outing in the tournament, he put up 23 points and 16 rebounds on 9-12 shooting against eventual champions North Carolina.
His performances in the 2009 edition of the March Madness competition led to him being selected as the no.1 overall pick in the NBA Draft by the LA Clippers. He had a fairly successful stint with them before moving to the Detroit Pistons in 2018.
Griffin recently signed with the Brooklyn Nets.
#4 Anthony Davis (Kentucky)
Anthony Davis' draft stock increased during the 2012 March Madness tournament, as the Kentucky product produced jaw-dropping averages at the defensive end.
He tallied 12.3 rebounds and 4.8 blocks per game on a stacked Kentucky team that won the title that year, making Anthony Davis a March Madness legend in the process.
Davis was later selected as the first overall pick by the New Orleans Pelicans, where he played for seven seasons. He requested a trade to the LA Lakers in 2019, where he joined forces with LeBron James, a union that led to the team winning the 2020 NBA championship.
Also Read: NBA Trade Rumors: Dallas Mavericks lining up a move for out-of-favor Kevin Love.
#3 Draymond Green (Michigan State)
Before his Swiss-knife-like skillset came to the attention of NBA fans, Draymond Green was doing similar stuff for Michigan State in NCAA Division I basketball.
Green spent four years with Michigan State, averaging 17.7 points, 13.7 rebounds, six assists and 1.3 steals per game in his final year of college basketball.
His defensive versatility and basketball IQ led the Golden State Warriors GM Bob Myers to draft him 35th overall in the 2012 NBA Draft, a decision he will always be proud of.
Draymond Green's impact was such that the Golden State Warriors developed a juggernaut that won three NBA championships.
#2 Kemba Walker (Connecticut)
By the end of his 3-year stint with the Huskies, Kemba Walker became a household name.
His impressive game, combined with his clutch shooting, made him a fan-favorite. Walker led the UConn Huskies to a championship in his final year, scoring 16 points in the final.
Walker translated his college success to the NBA, where he played for the Charlotte Hornets for eight seasons before moving to the Boston Celtics in 2019.
#1 Stephen Curry (Davidson)
Stephen Curry grabbed the spotlight in the 2008 March Madness, where he managed to average a whopping 25.9 points per game on an incredible 43.5% shooting from deep.
Despite Davidson going down to eventual champions Kansas Jayhawks, Curry ensured his performances didn't go unnoticed.
Fast forward to the present day, Stephen Curry has won three NBA championships and two MVP awards to his name. He is regarded as arguably the greatest shooter of all time in the NBA and is revered as one who prioritizes winning over individual statistics.
Also, Read: NBA Trade Rumors: Miami Heat zero in on Kyle Lowry and John Wall in their search for a point guard.
Guess the Lakers players!
