From Rupp Arena to NBA Glory: Ranking the Top 5 Former Kentucky Wildcats Who’ve Captured an NBA Championship — Featuring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Meteoric Rise and the Elite Company He’s Now Poised to Join… But Will He Be the Next Legend or the Biggest What-If Yet?
They came, they saw, they conquered — not just in Lexington, but on the biggest stage in basketball. From NCAA hardwood to NBA parades, a select few Kentucky Wildcats have taken their college dominance to championship heights. But now, all eyes are on one rising superstar: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. After a jaw-dropping season that saw him finish top-5 in MVP voting and lead the Thunder back into serious contention, fans and analysts alike are asking: Is Shai next in line for NBA greatness… or will he fall short of the Wildcats’ most elite alumni?
Before we crown the next king, let’s rewind the championship tapes.
At No. 5, Jamal Murray — the Canadian sniper who helped deliver the Denver Nuggets’ first-ever title alongside Nikola Jokić. Injuries slowed him, but when it mattered most, Murray exploded, earning his place in history.
Coming in at No. 4, Anthony Davis — a one-man wrecking crew who anchored the Lakers’ 2020 title run inside the bubble. Say what you will about the asterisk, but Davis was unreal on both ends of the court.
At No. 3, Rajon Rondo, the floor general and defensive savant, won not just one but two rings, with the Celtics in 2008 and the Lakers in 2020. His basketball IQ? Off the charts.
No. 2, Devin Booker — okay, not a champion yet, but he’s come painfully close. And if he finally gets that ring, he might just leap to the top of this list with a Finals MVP in hand.
And No. 1? John Wall? Boogie Cousins? Close… but it’s Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Wait — just kidding. The crown still belongs to Anthony Davis, for now.
But here comes SGA, smooth, unguardable, and ice-cold in the clutch. If he breaks through and hoists that Larry O’Brien trophy, he could rewrite the entire conversation around Kentucky legends in the NBA.
The only question now is: Will Shai Gilgeous-Alexander become the next banner bearer of Big Blue greatness — or the most painful almost-champion of them all?
We may be just one season away from finding out.
