Championship Legacies
Over the past seven decades, nine former Oregon State men’s basketball players have stood atop the NBA’s podium, each contributing to title‑winning campaigns that ranged from the mid‑1950s to the early 2020s. Their achievements reflect a rare continuity of excellence that few colleges can claim.
The first wave began with Red Rocha, who helped the Syracuse Nationals capture the 1955 championship, followed by Mel Counts, whose two titles with the Boston Celtics in 1965 and 1966 cemented his place in Celtics lore. Dave Gambee added a 1967 crown with the Philadelphia 76ers, while Lonnie Shelton’s role in the Seattle SuperSonics’ sole championship in 1979 marked a Pacific Northwest milestone.
A Legacy Across Decades
The next generation featured A.C. Green, a durable starter for the Los Angeles Lakers who collected titles in 1987, 1988 and 2000, and Gary Payton, the “Glove” who finally secured a ring with the Miami Heat in 2006. Brent Barry contributed to two San Antonio Spurs championships in 2005 and 2007, Eric Moreland was part of the Toronto Raptors’ 2019 triumph, and most recently Gary Payton II capped the lineage with a 2022 Golden State Warriors title.
What unites these players is not only the hardware they have earned but also the imprint they have left on the culture of each franchise, from the fast‑break intensity of the 1970s to the three‑point‑heavy schemes of today. Their stories illustrate how a single program can ripple through the league’s history, inspiring future generations of Beavers to chase the same destiny.