25 NBA Players You Didn’t Know Came From Upstate New York

Pat Riley of the Los Angeles Lakers goes for a lay-up against the Golden State Warriors in 1974. Photo: Los Angeles Times / UCLA Library, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

When sports media talks about New York basketball royalty, the conversation almost instantly locks onto the legendary asphalt playgrounds of the five boroughs: Rucker Park, Dyckman, Lincoln High, and Christ the King. But the hardwood heritage of New York stretches far beyond the shadow of the subway tracks.

North of Westchester and west along the Erie Canal corridor, Upstate New York has produced Hall of Fame centers, championship players, first-round draft picks, long-range shooters, defensive anchors, and floor generals. For this list, “came from Upstate New York” means a player was born in the region or spent substantial formative basketball years there. Every player below appeared in at least one NBA regular-season game.

1. Bob Lanier – Buffalo (Erie County)

Bob Lanier was born and raised in Buffalo and starred at Bennett High School before putting St. Bonaventure University on the national basketball map. The 6-foot-11 center led the Bonnies to the 1970 NCAA Final Four and was selected first overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 1970 NBA Draft. Lanier became an eight-time NBA All-Star, averaged 20.1 points and 10.1 rebounds during a 14-year career with Detroit and Milwaukee, and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992.

2. Christian Laettner – Angola / Buffalo (Erie County)

Christian Laettner was born in Angola and attended the Nichols School in Buffalo before becoming one of the most accomplished college players in history at Duke. He won two NCAA championships, hit the unforgettable shot against Kentucky in the 1992 East Regional final, and was the only college player selected for the original 1992 U.S. Olympic Dream Team. Drafted third overall by Minnesota, Laettner played 13 NBA seasons and earned an All-Star selection in 1997.

3. Pat Riley – Rome / Schenectady (Oneida and Schenectady Counties)

Pat Riley was born in Rome and raised in Schenectady, where he starred at Linton High School before playing at the University of Kentucky. Riley was selected seventh overall in the 1967 NBA Draft and played nine NBA seasons, winning a championship as a reserve with the 1971–72 Los Angeles Lakers. His playing career was only the beginning: Riley later won five NBA championships as a head coach and accumulated nine championship rings across his roles as player, assistant coach, head coach, and executive.

4. Rick Carlisle – Ogdensburg / Lisbon (St. Lawrence County)

Rick Carlisle was born in Ogdensburg and attended Lisbon Central School before playing college basketball at Maine and Virginia. The Boston Celtics selected him in the third round of the 1984 NBA Draft, and Carlisle played five NBA seasons, including a championship season with Boston in 1985–86. He later became one of the league’s longest-tenured coaches and led the Dallas Mavericks to the 2011 NBA championship.

5. Kevin Huerter – Albany / Clifton Park (Albany and Saratoga Counties)

Kevin Huerter was born in Albany and starred at Shenendehowa High School in Clifton Park before playing at Maryland. Selected 19th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft, the 6-foot-6 shooting guard became an important perimeter scorer for Atlanta during the Hawks’ run to the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals. After later playing for Sacramento and Chicago, Huerter joined Detroit and re-signed with the Pistons in 2026.

6. Thomas Bryant – Rochester (Monroe County)

Thomas Bryant was born in Rochester and played at Bishop Kearney before finishing his high school career at Huntington Prep in West Virginia. After two seasons at Indiana, Bryant entered the NBA in 2017 and developed into an efficient scoring and rebounding center. He won an NBA championship with the Denver Nuggets in 2023 and, after later stops with Miami, Indiana, and Cleveland, re-signed with the Cavaliers in 2026.

7. Isaiah Stewart – Rochester (Monroe County)

Isaiah Stewart was born in Rochester and played at McQuaid Jesuit before transferring to La Lumiere School in Indiana. Selected 16th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft, the 6-foot-8, 250-pound frontcourt player earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors and became known for his physical defense and rebounding. After six seasons with Detroit, Stewart was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in June 2026.

8. Jimmer Fredette – Glens Falls (Warren County)

Jimmer Fredette grew up in Glens Falls and became a high-scoring star at Glens Falls High School before taking his long-range shooting to BYU. In 2011, Fredette won the major national college player of the year awards and was selected tenth overall in the NBA Draft. He appeared in six NBA seasons with Sacramento, Chicago, New Orleans, New York, and Phoenix before extending his career overseas and in 3×3 basketball.

9. John Wallace – Rochester (Monroe County)

John Wallace was born in Rochester and starred at Greece Athena High School before becoming a Syracuse University standout. Wallace carried the Orange to the 1996 NCAA championship game and was selected 18th overall by the New York Knicks later that year. He played seven NBA seasons and 381 regular-season games with the Knicks, Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons, Phoenix Suns, and Miami Heat.

10. Jonny Flynn – Niagara Falls (Niagara County)

Jonny Flynn was born in Niagara Falls and starred at Niagara Falls High School before becoming one of Syracuse University’s most exciting point guards. He helped create one of the most famous games in Big East history during Syracuse’s six-overtime victory over Connecticut in 2009. Minnesota selected Flynn sixth overall in the 2009 NBA Draft, and he earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors after averaging 13.5 points and 4.4 assists as a rookie.

11. Cliff Robinson – Buffalo (Erie County)

Cliff Robinson was born in Buffalo and played at Riverside High School before attending the University of Connecticut. Selected in the second round of the 1989 NBA Draft, “Uncle Cliffy” became one of the league’s most durable and versatile frontcourt players. Robinson played 18 NBA seasons and 1,380 regular-season games, won the 1993 Sixth Man of the Year Award, made the 1994 All-Star team, and earned two NBA All-Defensive Second Team selections.

12. Billy Gabor – Binghamton (Broome County)

Billy Gabor was born in Binghamton and starred at Binghamton Central High School before becoming one of Syracuse University’s early basketball stars. Nicknamed “The Bullet” because of his speed, Gabor played six NBA seasons for the Syracuse Nationals, averaged 9.8 points per game, and was selected to the 1953 NBA All-Star Game. He was also a member of the Nationals’ 1954–55 championship team.

13. Al Cervi – Buffalo (Erie County)

Al “Digger” Cervi was born in Buffalo and starred at East High School before becoming one of the great early figures in professional basketball. After success in the National Basketball League, Cervi became player-coach of the Syracuse Nationals and earned All-NBA honors during the league’s formative years. He played four NBA seasons, was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1985, and later coached Syracuse to the 1955 NBA championship.

14. Walter Dukes – Rochester (Monroe County)

Walter Dukes was born in Youngstown, Ohio, but his basketball development brought him to Rochester, where he attended East High School before continuing at Seton Hall. The 7-foot center was selected by the New York Knicks in the 1953 NBA Draft and played eight NBA seasons with the Knicks, Minneapolis Lakers, and Detroit Pistons. Dukes averaged 11.3 rebounds per game over his career and earned consecutive NBA All-Star selections in 1960 and 1961.

15. Al Butler – Rochester (Monroe County)

Al Butler was born in Birmingham, Alabama, but became an Upstate New York basketball product at East High School in Rochester before starring at Niagara University. The Boston Celtics selected him in the 1961 NBA Draft. Butler played four NBA seasons and 234 games for Boston, the New York Knicks, and the Baltimore Bullets, averaging 14.0 points per game during his rookie season.

16. Joe Arlauckas – Rochester (Monroe County)

Joe Arlauckas was born in Rochester and played at Jefferson High School before attending Niagara University. Sacramento selected the 6-foot-9 forward in the 1987 NBA Draft, and he appeared in nine NBA games for the Kings during the 1987–88 season. Arlauckas then built a far more extensive career in Europe, becoming one of Real Madrid’s prominent scorers during the 1990s.

17. Anthony Lamb – Rochester (Monroe County)

Anthony Lamb was born in Rochester and starred at Greece Athena High School before becoming a two-time America East Player of the Year at the University of Vermont. Undrafted in 2020, Lamb fought his way into the NBA and appeared in 88 regular-season games with Houston, San Antonio, and Golden State. His largest NBA role came with the Warriors during the 2022–23 season.

18. Jalen Pickett – Rochester (Monroe County)

Jalen Pickett was born in Rochester and attended Aquinas Institute before finishing high school at SPIRE Academy in Ohio. He starred at Siena College and Penn State before being selected 32nd overall in the 2023 NBA Draft. Pickett spent his first three NBA seasons with Denver and agreed to a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2026.

19. Lionel Chalmers – Albany (Albany County)

Lionel Chalmers was born in Albany and played at Albany High School before starring at Xavier University. The Los Angeles Clippers selected the point guard 33rd overall in the 2004 NBA Draft, and he appeared in 36 NBA games during the 2004–05 season. Chalmers later built a lengthy international playing career and eventually returned to the NBA in player-development and coaching roles.

20. Tyler Lydon – Hudson / Pine Plains (Columbia and Dutchess Counties)

Tyler Lydon was born in Hudson and played at Stissing Mountain High School in Pine Plains before finishing his prep career in New Hampshire. The 6-foot-10 forward became an important part of Syracuse University’s run to the 2016 Final Four and was selected 24th overall in the 2017 NBA Draft. Lydon appeared in 26 NBA games over two seasons with the Denver Nuggets.

21. Andre Jackson Jr. – Amsterdam / Albany (Montgomery and Albany Counties)

Andre Jackson Jr. was born in Amsterdam and starred at Albany Academy before playing at the University of Connecticut. As a junior, Jackson captained UConn’s 2023 national championship team and established himself as an elite defender and transition playmaker. He entered the NBA as the 36th pick in 2023 and spent his first three professional seasons with Milwaukee before joining Toronto in 2026.

22. Marty Byrnes – Syracuse / Pittsford (Onondaga and Monroe Counties)

Marty Byrnes was born in Syracuse and attended Pittsford Sutherland High School before playing college basketball at Syracuse University. Phoenix selected the 6-foot-7 forward 19th overall in the 1978 NBA Draft. Byrnes played four NBA seasons and 263 regular-season games for five teams and was a member of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 1980 NBA championship team.

23. James Thomas – Schenectady (Schenectady County)

James Thomas was born in Schenectady and played at Schenectady High School before starring at the University of Texas. The rugged 6-foot-8 power forward reached the NBA as an undrafted player and appeared in 33 regular-season games over two seasons. His NBA stops included Portland, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Chicago before he continued his professional career overseas.

24. Johnny McCarthy – Buffalo (Erie County)

Johnny McCarthy was born in Buffalo and starred at Bishop Timon High School before playing at Canisius College. Drafted by the Rochester Royals in 1956, the guard played six NBA seasons and 316 regular-season games for Rochester, Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Boston. He later returned to Western New York as head coach of the Buffalo Braves during the 1971–72 season.

25. Art Long – Rochester (Monroe County)

Art Long was born in Rochester and played at East High School before continuing his college career at Cincinnati. The 6-foot-9 power forward reached the NBA in 2001 and played 98 regular-season games over three seasons. Long appeared for Sacramento, Seattle, Philadelphia, and Toronto, with his largest role coming during the 2001–02 season with the SuperSonics.

Upstate New York NBA Pipeline: Quick Reference

For more New York basketball history, read our Complete History of the New York Knicks, Complete History of the Brooklyn Nets, and Was Michael Jordan Born in New York? The True Story of His Brooklyn Birth. For a broader look at notable people from the region, see 25 Famous People You Didn’t Know Were From Upstate New York.