Purdue has quietly played a prime role in the cultivation of NBA-level talent.
The Boilermakers have only qualified for the Final Four on three occasions, the latest of which came this year. But the program has produced a fair number of NBA players, from top role players to multiple-time All-Stars.
Zach Edey is the latest Purdue star to capture headlines. But he's far from alone. And he'll hope to follow in the footsteps of his West Lafayette, Indiana, counterparts by translating his collegiate exploits to NBA longevity.
So, just what is the Boilermakers' legacy in the big leagues? The Sporting News takes a look at the best players Purdue has produced at the NBA level.
Best NBA players from Purdue
Glenn Robinson
Robinson was a Boilermaker darling, capturing National Player of the Year honors in 1993-94 after posting averages of 30.3 points and 10.1 rebounds as a junior.
Robinson played just two seasons at Mackey Arena. He was sublime in both, earning a second-team All-American nod of his exploits in 1993 before being named to the first-team All American side the following season.
Affably known as "Big Dog" for his frame and relentless presence in the paint, Robinson parlayed his collegiate success into NBA fame. The Bucks made Robinson their No. 1 draft selection in the 1995 draft. He then embarked on an 11-year NBA odyssey that saw him earn two All-Star selections.
Robinson was never one of the league's elite players. But he held his own, finishing his career with a scoring average of 20.7 points per game.
Joe Barry Carroll
Most programs haven't produced a single first overall selection. Purdue has two, one of whom was Joe Barry Carroll.
Carroll played four seasons for the Boilermakers under Fred Schaus and Lee Rose's tutelage. Carroll earned All-American honors in his final two seasons in West Lafayette, averaging 22.6 points and 9.6 rebounds during his junior and senior campaign. For his efforts, the Warriors took him with the No. 1 pick in the 1980 NBA Draft.
It might have been a slightly misguided choice, in retrospect. The Dubs dealt a pair of Hall-of-Famers — Robert Parish and the rights to Kevin McHale — for the pick they used to select Carroll.
Nevertheless, the lanky forward was fairly successful in the league. He lasted 10 years at the top level, even receiving All-Star recognition in 1987.
Carroll averaged 17.7 points and 7.7 rebounds a night over the course of his professional career.
Brad Miller
Miller enjoyed a lengthy and successful NBA career, turning out for six different franchises over the course of his 14-year career.
Miller — a Kendallville, Indiana, native — joined Gene Keady's Boilermakers after impressing at Maine Central Institute, a prep school in Maine. He spent four years with the program, posting career-best averages in scoring (17.2) and rebounding (8.8) as a senior.
After going undrafted, Miller popped up with the Hornets in 1999. He earned back-to-back All-Star Game nods in 2003 and 2004, first as a Pacer, then as a King.
Jaden Ivey
A recent addition to the list of Boilermakers alums to make the grade in the bigs, Ivey was one of college basketball's most electrifying players during his time in West Lafayette. The 6-foot-4 guard was voted a consensus All-American after averaging 17.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists for Purdue in 2021-22.
Fueled by Ivey, Edey and Trevion Williams, the Boilermakers advanced all the way to the Sweet 16 before being dispatched by No. 15 Saint Peter's. Shortly thereafter, Ivey declared for the NBA draft.
The Pistons made Ivey the fifth pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. He's enjoyed a whirlwind first two years in the Motor City, falling out of favor with Monty Williams during Detroit's historic losing run earlier this season. However, the 22-year old has shown flashes of brilliance alongside fellow Pistons youngsters Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson. He figures to be a part not just of Detroit's present, but its future, too.
Carl Landry
Landry was a longtime NBA role player, suiting up for five different franchises over the course of his nine-year NBA odyssey. The 6-foot-9 power forward spent three years with Matt Painter and the Boilermakers, earning All-Big Ten honors in 2006-07 after averaging 18.9 points per game.
The Supersonics subsequently made him one of their final second-round selections before moving to Oklahoma City and rebranding as the Thunder.
E'Twaun Moore
Much like Landry, Moore was an expert role player who lasted 10 seasons in the league, from 2011 through 2021. The sharpshooter played for five different teams during his career, including, most famously, the Pelicans. He was twice selected to the All-Big Ten team during his college days.
Terry Dischinger
Dischinger has a case for the most accomplished professional player to ever have played for Purdue. Yet his name isn't all that well-known outside of West Lafayette.
The former second-round pick was an Indiana native, growing up in Terre Haute. He was named a two-time consensus All-American while with the Boilermakers, leading the Big Ten in scoring in 1961 (28.2 points per game) and 1962 (30.3 points per game). Dischinger also has two of the most prolific scoring displays in conference history, racking up 52 and 50 points in games against Michigan State and Wisconsin, respectively.
Dischinger joined the Chicago Zephyrs (the modern-day Washington Wizards) as a rookie in 1962. He proceeded to win Rookie of the Year honors and place eighth in MVP voting after averaging 25.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.
In total, Dischinger made three All-Star games in his first three seasons in the league. He could've made more had he not foregone two years for military service from 1965-67. When he returned, he settled into a niche as a role player, never again rising to the heights of his pre-military peak.
