Hoosier State of Mind
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Indiana Basketball: The 10 best Indiana Hoosiers in NBA history: 10-5

By Zach Breton

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 02: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Eric Gordon #10 of the Houston Rockets in action against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 02, 2020 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Rockets 125-123. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 02: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Eric Gordon #10 of the Houston Rockets in action against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 02, 2020 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Rockets 125-123. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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New York Knicks, Mike Woodson
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 01: Mike Woodson of the New York Knicks looks on against the Boston Celtics during Game five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 1, 2013 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

#9: Mike Woodson

After being recruited by Bob Knight, Woodson proved how valuable he would be for the Hoosiers averaging 18.5 points per game in his freshman year. Woodson only got better as his Indiana career progressed, wracking up a total of 2,062 for the cream and crimson before turning pro. Woodson’s junior and senior years were particularly impressive. In his Junior year, Woodson was the leading scorer for the 1979 NIT tournament and the following year, Woodson and Isiah Thomas led the Hoosiers to a B1G championship and a sweet sixteen appearance.

After Woodson’s collegiate career, he was picked 12th overall by the New York Knicks in the 1980 NBA draft. Woodson spent a couple of years in New York with both the Knicks and the Nets before being traded to the Kansas City Kings. Woodson found his stride with the Kings. In four seasons with the Kings, Woodson averaged over 16 points a game and led the team with 18.2 points per game during a 1983 playoff run. Eventually, Woodson moved on from the Kings and played in New Jersey, Los Angeles (Clippers), Houston, and Cleveland before retiring. Woodson finished his NBA career with 10,981 career points.

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Soon after retiring as a player, Woodson got involved with coaching in the NBA and landed multiple gigs around the NBA before winning a ring as an assistant coach with the 2004 Pistons. Woodson was then hired as a head coach for the Atlanta Hawks and coached there for six years with incredible success before moving on to coach the Knicks. With the Knicks, Woodson was also successful. He coached the Carmelo Anthony-led Knicks into the playoffs multiple times over his short two and a half year term.

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