Current NBA Players from the State of Kentucky (2023-2024)
Basketball players, and indeed competitors across all athletic fields, carry a badge of honor for their birthplaces. It could be their home state, the neighborhood they grew up in, or the area code they associate with; there’s always a noticeable desire to represent one’s beginnings.
The same holds true for the fan base. There’s an added thrill in supporting a player who shares your state lines or even the same local stomping grounds, especially when that athlete plays for the team you root for above all others.
Bearing this in mind, we scoured through NBA.com to extract the home states or, in some instances, the home countries of every player listed on the active rosters of each team.
Our findings included 4 players originating from the state of Kentucky.
NBA Players from Kentucky
Below is a list of all 4 players on NBA rosters at the commencement of the 2023 season, detailing their hometowns and the respective teams they represent.
| Name | City | State | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luke Kornet | Lexington | Kentucky | Boston Celtics |
| Terry Taylor | Bowling Green | Kentucky | Chicago Bulls |
| P.J. Washington | Louisville | Kentucky | Charlotte Hornets |
| D’Angelo Russell | Louisville | Kentucky | Los Angeles Lakers |
Player Bios
Here is a closer look at a few of the standout players from the state of Kentucky.
D’Angelo Russell
D’Angelo Russell was born in Louisville, Kentucky, a city known for its rich basketball history and passionate fanbase. He attended Central High School in Louisville before transferring to Montverde Academy in Florida, where he gained national recognition.
Russell’s high school career was distinguished by his exceptional ball-handling, scoring ability, and court vision. He played college basketball at Ohio State University, where he was named a consensus first-team All-American.
Russell’s journey from Louisville to becoming a high-profile player in the NBA reflects his natural talent, creative playmaking, and scoring capabilities.
Luke Kornet
Luke Kornet is a bit tricky in the sense that according to what we could find he was born in Lexington, Kentucky but soon after moved to Lantana, Texas.
He attended Liberty Christian School in Argyle, Texas, where he developed his basketball skills and grew into a standout player (literally grew seven inches his junior and senior years). Kornet’s high school career was marked by his outstanding shooting ability for someone his size.
He played college basketball at Vanderbilt University, where he set the NCAA record for most career 3-pointers made by a 7-footer, showcasing his unique skill set. So, whether Luke considers Kentucky or Texas his “hometown” is really only for him to say (and maybe it’s both?).
Conclusion
From the driveways of small-town Kentucky to the gleaming hardwood of NBA arenas, these players carry with them a piece of their home state, a testament to the talent and determination that Kentucky instills in its athletes.
Whether they are rookies making their debut or seasoned veterans known by every fan, the pride of Kentucky continues to shine on the national stage. To the fans back home, these players are more than just athletes; they are local heroes, each with a story that resonates with the dreams of young ballers across the state.
As the season unfolds, we will watch their stories develop further, cheering for not only the skills they display but also the communities they represent. The spirit of Kentucky basketball is alive and well in the NBA, and perhaps, in the cheers of the crowd, the players can hear a little bit of home calling back to them.
