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Indiana basketball: 10 best NBA careers in Hoosiers history

ByJosh Yourish|
Jan 7, 2013; University Park, PA, USA; Indiana Hoosiers guard Victor Oladipo (4) dribbles the ball up court in front of forward Cody Zeller (40) and Penn State Nittany Lions forward Sasa Borovnjak (21) during the second half at the Bryce Jordan Center. Indiana defeated Penn State 74-51. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2013; University Park, PA, USA; Indiana Hoosiers guard Victor Oladipo (4) dribbles the ball up court in front of forward Cody Zeller (40) and Penn State Nittany Lions forward Sasa Borovnjak (21) during the second half at the Bryce Jordan Center. Indiana defeated Penn State 74-51. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
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Calbert Cheaney #40, Shooting Guard for the Washington Wizards makes a one handed lay up to the basket over #7 Dee Brown and #34 Charles Oakley of the Toronto Raptors during their NBA Atlantic Division basketball game on 21st April 1999 at the MCI Center arena in Washington, D.C. United States. The Raptors won the game 107 – 91. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Calbert Cheaney #40, Shooting Guard for the Washington Wizards makes a one handed lay up to the basket over #7 Dee Brown and #34 Charles Oakley of the Toronto Raptors during their NBA Atlantic Division basketball game on 21st April 1999 at the MCI Center arena in Washington, D.C. United States. The Raptors won the game 107 – 91. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

No. 9 best Indiana basketball NBA career: Calbert Cheaney

  • Drafted: 1993 No. 6 overall (first round)
  • NBA games played: 825
  • NBA PPG: 9.5
  • Total seasons: 13 years

Longevity places Cheaney ahead of Anunoby, though Anunoby’s talent is greater than Cheaney’s was in the NBA. Cheaney was a superstar at Indiana in winning the Naismith Award and the Wooden Award, but his NBA was not as decorated.

Cheaney got off to a hot start with Washington, who drafted him in 1993. He averaged 12.0 points his first year and in year two he averaged 16.6 on 45% shooting. That remained his career-high scoring average.

Cheaney settled into the league as a role player, staying in Washington for six seasons, then bouncing between, Golden State, Denver, Utah, and Boston. His career ended in 2006 as a 34-year-old with the Warriors.

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