Ranking the 25 best Kansas basketball NBA careers of all-time

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - APRIL 04: Paul Pierce and Drew Gooden attend the game between the Kansas Jayhawks and the North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament National Championship at Caesars Superdome on April 04, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

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Kansas Jayhawks logo on a basketball (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

PG. Jayhawks . Darnell Valentine. 13. player. 462.

Career statistics: 620 games, 8.7 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 5.0 APG, 43.7% FG

Portland Trail Blazers, 1981-1986
Los Angeles Clippers, 1986-1988
Cleveland Cavaliers, 1988-1991

Valentine’s average of 5.0 assists per game ranks No. 1 of all Kansas NBA players all-time. In 1984-85 with the Portland Trail Blazers, he averaged a career-high 7.0 assists and 1.9 steals per game. His playmaking and defensive ability made him a thriving NBA player.

Although his forte was creating opportunities for his teammates, he also could take it to the rack and score himself. Valentine played in a time when the three-point shot was not as prevalent, but he was a pass-first guard anyways.

Nearly all of his success came in the early stages of his career, as he didn’t play another NBA game after turning 31 years old. He spent multiple seasons playing in Italy before his subsequent retirement.

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