The Final Four is the culmination of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, and it is often referred to as one of the most exciting and magical events in sports. The Final Four brings together the top four teams in the country, all of whom have fought through a grueling tournament to reach this stage.
The NBA draft is often the culmination of the college basketball season, and it represents a chance for fans to witness the next generation of basketball stars as they take the first steps in their NBA careers. Watching young college players move towards their NBA careers is a magical experience that captures the imagination of fans and creates excitement for the future of the sport.
Here’s a look at the Top 10 Greatest Final Fours Based on the Players Becoming NBA Stars. Overall, these Final Fours featured some of the most talented and successful players in college basketball history, many of whom went on to have great careers in the NBA. Fans will continue to debate which Final Four had the best collection of players, but one thing is for certain: these Final Fours will always be remembered for the incredible performances of their star players.
1. 2003 Final Four: Syracuse, Kansas, Texas, and Marquette. NBA stars include Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Kirk Hinrich, and T.J. Ford.
Carmelo Anthony led Syracuse to a national championship, while Dwyane Wade put on a show for Marquette with a triple-double in the semifinals. Kirk Hinrich and T.J. Ford were also key players in the Final Four and went on to have successful NBA careers.
2. 1991 Final Four: Duke, UNLV, North Carolina, and Kansas. NBA stars include Christian Laettner, Larry Johnson, Grant Hill, and Rick Fox.
This Final Four featured two of the most dominant college teams of all time in Duke and UNLV. Christian Laettner hit the game-winning shot to send Duke to the championship game, while Larry Johnson led UNLV to a perfect 34-0 record in the regular season. Grant Hill and Rick Fox were also key players in this Final Four and went on to have successful NBA careers.
3. 1992 Final Four: Duke, Michigan, Cincinnati, and Indiana. NBA stars include Christian Laettner, Jalen Rose, Nick Van Exel, and Calbert Cheaney.
Christian Laettner led Duke to a second consecutive national championship, while Jalen Rose and the “Fab Five” of Michigan made it to the championship game as freshmen. Nick Van Exel and Calbert Cheaney were also key players in the Final Four and went on to have successful NBA careers.
4. 1979 Final Four: Michigan State, Indiana State, DePaul, and Penn. NBA stars include Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Terry Cummings, and Mark Aguirre.
This Final Four is often remembered for the matchup between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird in the championship game. Magic led Michigan State to the title, while Bird went on to have a Hall of Fame NBA career. Terry Cummings and Mark Aguirre were also key players in the Final Four and went on to have successful NBA careers.
5. 2008 Final Four: Kansas, Memphis, North Carolina, and UCLA. NBA stars include Derrick Rose, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, and Mario Chalmers.
Derrick Rose led Memphis to the championship game, while Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook were key players for UCLA. Mario Chalmers hit the game-tying shot for Kansas in the championship game before they went on to win in overtime.
6. 1982 Final Four: North Carolina, Georgetown, Houston, and Louisville. NBA stars include Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, Clyde Drexler, and Hakeem Olajuwon.
Michael Jordan hit the game-winning shot for North Carolina in the championship game, while Patrick Ewing and Georgetown were dominant throughout the tournament. Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon were also key players in the Final Four and went on to have successful NBA careers.
7. 1993 Final Four: North Carolina, Michigan, Kentucky, and Kansas. NBA stars include Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Jamal Mashburn, and Rex Chapman.
Chris Webber and the Fab Five of Michigan made it back to the Final Four as sophomores, while Jamal Mashburn and Rex Chapman led Kentucky to the championship game. Jalen Rose was also a key player for Michigan and went on to have a successful NBA career.
8. 1983 Final Four: North Carolina State, Houston, Louisville, and Georgia. NBA stars include Clyde Drexler, Hakeem Olajuwon, Derek Harper, and Dominique Wilkins.
North Carolina State pulled off one of the biggest upsets in NCAA history by beating Houston in the championship game. Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon were both key players for Houston and went on to have successful NBA careers. Derek Harper and Dominique Wilkins were also key players in the Final Four and had successful NBA careers.
9. 1996 Final Four: Kentucky, Massachusetts, Syracuse, and Mississippi State. NBA stars include Antoine Walker, Marcus Camby, John Wallace, and Erick Dampier.
Kentucky won the championship behind the play of Antoine Walker, while Marcus Camby led UMass to the Final Four. John Wallace was a key player for Syracuse and Erick Dampier played a role for Mississippi State.
10. 2007 Final Four: Florida, Ohio State, Georgetown, and UCLA. NBA stars include Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Roy Hibbert, and Aaron Afflalo.
Florida won their second consecutive national championship behind the play of Joakim Noah and Al Horford, while Roy Hibbert was a key player for Georgetown. Aaron Afflalo led UCLA to the Final Four and went on to have a successful NBA career.