The NCAA tournament has been an annual event since 1939. Through the years, we have seen several legendary performances. And looking at the field each year, the achievement gets even harder to beat as players strive to set new records.
Often, the record-setters are the group of few players who have the skills to lead their team to the Final Four game. So if you’ve ever wondered which players set the best March Madness records on Pickboss.com, our experts have compiled a list.
Top 8 March Madness Players of All Time
While countless outstanding players have competed in the NCAA tournament, however, after careful consideration, our team of experts has ascertained that the following players top the list.
1. Christian Laettner
Christian Laettner was a player for Duke University. Christain significantly impacted the Blue Devils, leading them to the national championships in 1991 and 1992. The most games Christian has played is 23, while the most points scored is 407, the freest throws made is 142, and the most free-throw attempts are 167.
2. Bill Russel
Bill Russell, a University of San Francisco player, helped lead the Dons to consecutive national championships in 1955 and 1956. As a dominant force in the defense line, he was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament in both championship seasons.
3. Lew Alcindor
Also known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a player for UCLA, Lew helped lead the Bruins to three consecutive national championships from 1967 to 1969. He played for the freshman squad and hit a double-double to defeat the No. 1-ranked Bruins. Also, Alcindor was the inaugural Naismith College Player of the Year winner.
4. Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson played for Michigan State University, leading the Spartans to the national championship in 1979. He and the Spartan went to the Elite Eight in his freshman season in 1978. The following year, he first encountered Larry Bird in the 1979 NCAA finals when they won against the undefeated Indiana State.
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5. Jerry Lucas
Jerry Lucas, a player at the Ohio State University, is a star of the Spartans, leading them to the national championship in 1979. At Ohio State, Lucas made it to three consecutive NCAA finals between 1960 and 1962. And during this period, he was the Most Outstanding Player in 1960 and 1961.
6. Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan is one of the best basketball players; no doubt they played for the University of North Carolina. As a freshman, he scored the game-winner in the 1982 championship game, making the Tar Heels victorious over Patrick Ewing’s Georgetown team.
7. Larry Bird
Larry Bird played for Indiana State University, leading the Sycamores to the national championship game in 1979. However, they lost to Magic Johnson’s Michigan State team. Nonetheless, Larry was the fifth-highest scorer in NCAA history when he left and averaged over 30 points a game in his three seasons.
8. Danny Manning
Danny Manning, a University of Kansas player, led the Jayhawks to the national championship in 1988. He dominated the college scene over his final two years at Kansas with 23 points and nine rebounds per game. Alongside epic performance and memories, Danny left on his resume contesting in the Final Four and national titles.
Conclusion
Overall, these are some of the top players of all time. While their days competing on the NCAA levels are over, they indeed left a track record for many prospective players. Basketball is truly a fun and intriguing game. And if you crave more fun, placing a wager on the game can spice things up.
