It’s not a secret that Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia is a Michigan State superfan.
MSU is Ishbia’s alma mater, where the 5-foot-10 walk-on won an NCAA championship back in 2000. His connections to Michigan State now run deep within the Suns organization, as GM Brian Gregory (assistant coach during Ishbia’s tenure), developmental coach Mateen Cleaves, and head coach Jordan Ott all have ties to the Spartans.
Recent trade acquisition Miles Bridges is also a Michigan State product, something Gregory admitted played a role in the front office’s decision to give up Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale and an unprotected 2033 first-rounder to add him to the fold.
But what if Ishbia had access to the full NBA slate of Michigan State Spartans? Who would make up the perfect Ishbia bias-fueled starting five?
Here’s what we’re thinking:
Point guard: Magic Johnson
The most obvious choice for a Michigan State starting five, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, was a 12-time All-Star, three-time MVP, three-time Finals MVP, and five-time NBA champion. Now a Hall of Famer, Johnson was selected with the No. 1 overall pick of the 1979 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers.
His flashy passes led the “Showtime” Lakers to multiple titles while making Johnson a four-time assists champ. The Lansing, Michigan, native is the only choice to lead Ishbia’s MSU-based squad.
Shooting guard: Steve Smith
Although former Suns guard Jason Richardson got consideration at this spot, Steve Smith’s standing as an All-Star and NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs gets him the nod here at two-guard.
A former No. 5 overall pick, the Michigan State product played 14 years in the NBA. He averaged more than 20 points per game twice during his stint with the Atlanta Hawks and finished as a career 35.8 percent shooter from beyond the arc.
Small forward: Draymond Green
The only active NBA player in the mix for this list, Draymond Green, proved every team in the league wrong for passing on him in the 2012 NBA Draft (Suns included). The former Spartan was taken at No. 35 overall in the second round by the Golden State Warriors, where he’s since enjoyed a Hall of Fame-quality career with four championship rings, four All-Star nods, and nine All-Defensive teams (including a Defensive Player of the Year award in 2017).
A defensive menace and offensive orchestrator, he’s no doubt among the best MSU players to lace up the sneakers in the NBA.
Power forward: Zach Randolph
Affectionately known as Z-Bo, Zach Randolph is MSU’s all-time leading scorer at the NBA level with 18,578 points to his name. A bruising interior power forward, Randolph was a maestro on the low block, creating space with his punishing frame only to display a feathery, soft shooting touch.
The former No. 19 overall draft pick made two All-Star teams, both with the Memphis Grizzlies, where he and defensive pest Tony Allen helped coin the infamous “Grit and Grind” Grizzlies.
Center: Kevin Willis
Kevin Willis gets the final nod at the center position more for his elite longevity than a sustained peak. Willis only made one All-Star team in his 21 NBA seasons, but he played until he was 44 years old and was also a member of the 2003 Spurs team that won a championship with Steve Smith.
Willis played his best basketball during the 1991-92 campaign with the Atlanta Hawks when he averaged 18.3 points, 15.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists while making 80.4 percent of his free throws as a big man.
Out of every Michigan State Spartan who’s made it to the NBA, none have played more games (1,424) nor minutes (38,362) than Willis.
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