The Greatest Players Dean Smith Coached

Michael Jordan was one of many greats from the Tar Heels.

Michael Jordan Was One of Many Greats Dean Smith Coached - As the basketball community continues to mourn the loss of Hall of Fame coach Dean Smith, who died at the age of 83 on Saturday, BET.com highlights more than a dozen of the greatest players he has ever coached at the University of North Carolina. Michael Jordan, hands-down, turned out to have a better career than anyone else, but he was far from the only great Tar Heel that Smith coached. (Photo: REUTERS /ELLEN OZIER /LANDOV)

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Michael Jordan Was One of Many Greats Dean Smith Coached - As the basketball community continues to mourn the loss of Hall of Fame coach Dean Smith, who died at the age of 83 on Saturday, BET.com highlights more than a dozen of the greatest players he has ever coached at the University of North Carolina. Michael Jordan, hands-down, turned out to have a better career than anyone else, but he was far from the only great Tar Heel that Smith coached. (Photo: REUTERS /ELLEN OZIER /LANDOV)

Michael Jordan - Before Michael Jordan ever splashed onto the NBA scene and subsequent international super-stardom, Dean Smith was molding his skills at the University of North Carolina from 1981-84. In fact, his game-winning shot in the 1982 NCAA championship game really put MJ on the basketball map. That shot would serve as the springboard for a Hall of Fame career, which included 14 All-Star selections, six NBA titles to go with six Finals MVPs, and five league MVPs with the Chicago Bulls, as arguably the greatest player ever. Through the years, MJ would not only credit Smith as a great basketball mentor, but he would refer to the coaching legend as his "second father."  (Photo: Jerry Wachter/Sports Imagery/Landov)

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Michael Jordan - Before Michael Jordan ever splashed onto the NBA scene and subsequent international super-stardom, Dean Smith was molding his skills at the University of North Carolina from 1981-84. In fact, his game-winning shot in the 1982 NCAA championship game really put MJ on the basketball map. That shot would serve as the springboard for a Hall of Fame career, which included 14 All-Star selections, six NBA titles to go with six Finals MVPs, and five league MVPs with the Chicago Bulls, as arguably the greatest player ever. Through the years, MJ would not only credit Smith as a great basketball mentor, but he would refer to the coaching legend as his "second father."  (Photo: Jerry Wachter/Sports Imagery/Landov)

James Worthy - Michael Jordan hit the game-winning shot in the 1982 NCAA championship game, but UNC teammate James Worthy was named the tourney's Most Outstanding Player. Months later within that same year, Worthy became the NBA's No. 1 draft pick. He went on to earn seven All-Star selections, three NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and the 1987 Finals MVP in his Hall of Fame career.(Photo: Jerry Lodriguss/UPI archive/TIMES-PICAYUNE /LANDOV)

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James Worthy - Michael Jordan hit the game-winning shot in the 1982 NCAA championship game, but UNC teammate James Worthy was named the tourney's Most Outstanding Player. Months later within that same year, Worthy became the NBA's No. 1 draft pick. He went on to earn seven All-Star selections, three NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and the 1987 Finals MVP in his Hall of Fame career.(Photo: Jerry Lodriguss/UPI archive/TIMES-PICAYUNE /LANDOV)

Sam Perkins - Sam Perkins was teammates with Michael Jordan and James Worthy on the Tar Heels' national-championship team of 1982 under Dean Smith. After finishing his UNC tenure (1980-84), Perkins went on to win a gold medal with the U.S. national team in the 1984 Olympics, before enjoying a 17-year NBA career from 1984-2001. (Photo: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill/Collegiate Images/Getty Images)

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Sam Perkins - Sam Perkins was teammates with Michael Jordan and James Worthy on the Tar Heels' national-championship team of 1982 under Dean Smith. After finishing his UNC tenure (1980-84), Perkins went on to win a gold medal with the U.S. national team in the 1984 Olympics, before enjoying a 17-year NBA career from 1984-2001. (Photo: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill/Collegiate Images/Getty Images)

Rasheed Wallace - Dean Smith was a great mentor to Rasheed Wallace during the forward's years (1993-95) at the University of North Carolina. Wallace teamed with Jerry Stackhouse to lead the Tar Heels to the NCAA Final Four in 1995, before being selected as the fourth overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft. Sheed also went on to be named an All-Star four times and won an NBA title with the Detroit Pistons in 2004. That Pistons team was coached by Larry Brown, who was also mentored by Smith. (Photo: Doug Pensinger/ALLSPORT)

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Rasheed Wallace - Dean Smith was a great mentor to Rasheed Wallace during the forward's years (1993-95) at the University of North Carolina. Wallace teamed with Jerry Stackhouse to lead the Tar Heels to the NCAA Final Four in 1995, before being selected as the fourth overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft. Sheed also went on to be named an All-Star four times and won an NBA title with the Detroit Pistons in 2004. That Pistons team was coached by Larry Brown, who was also mentored by Smith. (Photo: Doug Pensinger/ALLSPORT)

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Jerry Stackhouse - Some analysts unfairly slapped the "Next Michael Jordan" tag on Jerry Stackhouse and although the shooting guard's career never panned out like Mike's, he did enjoy a solid career. After playing under Dean Smith at UNC from 1993-95, Stack was named national Player of the Year by Sports Illustrated in 1995 before going on to play 17 seasons in the NBA. While a member of the Detroit Pistons during the 2000-01 season, Stackhouse averaged a whopping 29.8 points per game. (Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

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Jerry Stackhouse - Some analysts unfairly slapped the "Next Michael Jordan" tag on Jerry Stackhouse and although the shooting guard's career never panned out like Mike's, he did enjoy a solid career. After playing under Dean Smith at UNC from 1993-95, Stack was named national Player of the Year by Sports Illustrated in 1995 before going on to play 17 seasons in the NBA. While a member of the Detroit Pistons during the 2000-01 season, Stackhouse averaged a whopping 29.8 points per game. (Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Phil Ford - Phil Ford was an absolute star for Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina from 1974-78. By the time the point guard left the Tar Heels program in 1978, he was their all-time scoring leader. Ford went on to become the NBA's Rookie of the Year in 1979. (Photo: North Carolina/Collegiate Images)

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Phil Ford - Phil Ford was an absolute star for Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina from 1974-78. By the time the point guard left the Tar Heels program in 1978, he was their all-time scoring leader. Ford went on to become the NBA's Rookie of the Year in 1979. (Photo: North Carolina/Collegiate Images)

Antawn Jamison - Antawn Jamison was quite frankly one of the best players Dean Smith ever coached, averaging 19 points and 9.9 rebounds per game during his tenure with the Tar Heels. The power forward would enjoy a 16-year NBA career, before retiring just last season.  (Photo: Craig Jones /Allsport)

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Antawn Jamison - Antawn Jamison was quite frankly one of the best players Dean Smith ever coached, averaging 19 points and 9.9 rebounds per game during his tenure with the Tar Heels. The power forward would enjoy a 16-year NBA career, before retiring just last season.  (Photo: Craig Jones /Allsport)

Vince Carter - Vince Carter teamed with Antawn Jamison under the guidance of Dean Smith at UNC and he too blew up on the national basketball scene. After being selected fifth overall in the 1998 NBA Draft — to Jamison's fourth — it was Carter who went on to win the 1999 Rookie of the Year. Vinsanity is still playing in the NBA today, off the bench for the Memphis Grizzlies.  (Photo: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images)

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Vince Carter - Vince Carter teamed with Antawn Jamison under the guidance of Dean Smith at UNC and he too blew up on the national basketball scene. After being selected fifth overall in the 1998 NBA Draft — to Jamison's fourth — it was Carter who went on to win the 1999 Rookie of the Year. Vinsanity is still playing in the NBA today, off the bench for the Memphis Grizzlies.  (Photo: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images)

Charlie Scott - Charlie Scott remains one of the most important players that Dean Smith ever coached at UNC because he was the first scholarship Black athlete to ever play for the school. Smith saw to that from 1967-1970. Scott averaged 27.1 points per game his senior season with the Tar Heels and went on to play 10 years in the NBA, winning a league title with the Boston Celtics in 1976. (Photo: Collegiate Images/Getty Images)

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Charlie Scott - Charlie Scott remains one of the most important players that Dean Smith ever coached at UNC because he was the first scholarship Black athlete to ever play for the school. Smith saw to that from 1967-1970. Scott averaged 27.1 points per game his senior season with the Tar Heels and went on to play 10 years in the NBA, winning a league title with the Boston Celtics in 1976. (Photo: Collegiate Images/Getty Images)

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Billy Cunningham - Billy Cunningham was one of Dean Smith's first big stars at the University of North Carolina, averaging 24.8 points and 15.4 boards per game for the legendary coach from 1962-65, before playing 11 years in the NBA. The forward/center won a title with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1967. (Photo: North Carolina/Collegiate Images/Getty Images)

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Billy Cunningham - Billy Cunningham was one of Dean Smith's first big stars at the University of North Carolina, averaging 24.8 points and 15.4 boards per game for the legendary coach from 1962-65, before playing 11 years in the NBA. The forward/center won a title with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1967. (Photo: North Carolina/Collegiate Images/Getty Images)

Brad Daugherty - Brad Daugherty had his NBA career cut short at the age of 28 due to injury, but the center was an absolute stud for Dean Smith, averaging more than 20 points per game during his senior season at UNC in 1986. That season powered his way to becoming the top overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft. (Photo: University of North Carolina/Collegiate Images/Getty Images)

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Brad Daugherty - Brad Daugherty had his NBA career cut short at the age of 28 due to injury, but the center was an absolute stud for Dean Smith, averaging more than 20 points per game during his senior season at UNC in 1986. That season powered his way to becoming the top overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft. (Photo: University of North Carolina/Collegiate Images/Getty Images)

Bob McAdoo - Dean Smith made the most of coaching Bob McAdoo for one season at UNC from 1971-72. The 6-foot-9 power forward and center posted a dominating 19.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game for Smith and helped lead them to a Final Four appearance in 1972. He then went on to have a Hall of Fame career, which included and NBA MVP win in 1975 and two league title wins with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1982 and 1985. (Photo: Bettmann/CORBIS)

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Bob McAdoo - Dean Smith made the most of coaching Bob McAdoo for one season at UNC from 1971-72. The 6-foot-9 power forward and center posted a dominating 19.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game for Smith and helped lead them to a Final Four appearance in 1972. He then went on to have a Hall of Fame career, which included and NBA MVP win in 1975 and two league title wins with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1982 and 1985. (Photo: Bettmann/CORBIS)

Kenny Smith - Kenny Smith was a trusted point guard by Dean Smith at UNC from 1983-87, joining the team a year after they had won the national title. Although Smith didn't get to taste that victory, he went on to savor back-to-back NBA title wins with the Houston Rockets from 1994-95 in between a pair of three-peats by ex-college teammate Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. (Photo: North Carolina/Collegiate Images)

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Kenny Smith - Kenny Smith was a trusted point guard by Dean Smith at UNC from 1983-87, joining the team a year after they had won the national title. Although Smith didn't get to taste that victory, he went on to savor back-to-back NBA title wins with the Houston Rockets from 1994-95 in between a pair of three-peats by ex-college teammate Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. (Photo: North Carolina/Collegiate Images)