Who are the 15 best left-handed basketball players in the league right now?
Left-handers in basketball, such as in other sports and life, are a rarity. For instance, in 2021, out of 400 plus NBA players who participated in a game, only 34 were lefties. Below are some of the best left-handed basketball players of all time.
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Just like some sports like soccer has some players using their left foot, basketball is more or less the same thing, only they are more advantageous, especially when tricking an opponent. These lefties are often believed to have an advantage as their opponents often do not expect shooting action from the offhand.
The best left-handed basketball players of all time
According to various statistical analysts, here are some of the best left-handed NBA players who have dribbled that ball into goalposts without any difficulties.
15. Bob Lanier
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Even though Bob's knee issues limited his overall resume, he still managed to rank among the most famous left-handed basketball players in the league today. He garnered an average of 20 PPG and just over ten rebounds and finished his career with 19,248 points and 9,698 rebounds. Additionally, he totalled 1,100 blocks throughout his career.
| Full name | Robert Jerry Lanier Jr |
| Date of birth | 10 September 1948 |
| Place of birth | Buffalo, New York, USA |
| Age | Died on 10 May 2022 (74 years of age) |
| Nationality | American |
| Points | 19,248 |
14. Chris Mullin
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Chris Mullin is also among the great left-handed basketball players of all time. He was a 1992 Olympic Dream team member and a five-time All-star. He finished his career with a whopping 17,000 points and earned himself a spot in the Hall of Fame.
| Full name | Christopher Paul Mullin |
| Date of birth | 30 July 1963 |
| Place of birth | New York City, USA |
| Age | 59 years of age as of November 2022 |
| Nationality | American |
| Points | 17,000 |
13. Lamar Odom
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There was no way that Lamar Odom could miss a spot in the list of best left-handed basketball players ever. His athletic ability often allows him to extend well beyond the comfort zone of his opponent. Although some off-pitch issues hampered Lamar late in his career, the talented NBA player ended his career as a two-time NBA champion and the league's sixth Man of the Year in 2011.
| Full name | Lamar Joseph Odom |
| Date of birth | 6 November 1979 |
| Place of birth | Queens, New York, USA |
| Age | 43 years of age as of November 2022 |
| Nationality | American |
| Points | 13.3 |
12. Tayshaun Prince
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An alumnus of the University of Kentucky, Prince's rookie season in the NBA ended as an intriguing footnote in the record books scoring more points in the playoffs than in the regular season. The long-armed lefty stood out on the defensive side of the ball and could also shoot. During his 12-year career, he recorded a stellar tally of 11,272 points, including a championship in 2004.
| Full name | Tayshaun Durell Prince |
| Date of birth | 28 February 1980 |
| Place of birth | Compton, California, USA |
| Age | 42 years of age as of November 2022 |
| Nationality | American |
| Points | 11,272 |
11. Zach Randolph
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What is a left-hander's listicle without Zach Randolph? Most of his fans would often describe his personality and longevity as impressive. The NBA sensation ended his long career with 18,578 points and over 10,000 rebounds. In addition, he made two All-Star appearances and earned the NBA'S Most Improved Player award in 2004.
| Full name | Zachary McKenley Randolph |
| Date of birth | 16 July 1981 |
| Place of birth | Marion, Indiana, USA |
| Age | 41 years of age as of November 2022 |
| Nationality | American |
| Points | 18,578 |
10. Michael Redd
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Even though Michael Redd only played in 629 games during his 11-year career spell, he almost scored 12,000 points and averaged 19 PPG while shooting a decent 44.7% from the basketball pitch. He currently ranks among the best left-handed basketball players of all time.
| Full name | Michael Wesley Redd |
| Date of birth | 24 August 1979 |
| Place of birth | Columbus, Ohio |
| Age | 43 years of age as of November 2022 |
| Nationality | American |
| Points | 12,000 |
9. Willis Reed
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Renowned as one of the best NBA players of all time, Willis Reed spent his entire basketball career with the New York Knicks. During his career, he won two champions, earned two Finals MVPs, and was named Rookie of the Year in 1965 and the league's MVP in 1970.
| Full name | Willis Reed Jr |
| Date of birth | 25 June 1942 |
| Place of birth | Dubach, Louisiana, USA |
| Age | 80 years of age as of November 2022 |
| Nationality | American |
| Points | 2,280 |
8. David Robinson
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David Robinson is one NBA payer renowned for scoring, rebounding, suffocating defence, and his ability to manoeuvre around his defenders. Robinson is a 10-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion who won an MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. He ended his career with a total of 20,790 points.
| Full name | David Maurice Robinson |
| Date of birth | 6 August 1965 |
| Place of birth | Key West, Florida |
| Age | 57 years of age as of November 2022 |
| Nationality | American |
| Points | 20,790 |
7. Jalen Rose
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One of Michigan's Fab Five, Jalen Rose was a vital part of the Pacers' deep playoff runs in the late 90s and early 2000s. He won the team's scoring title, Reggie Miller's record, and earned him the Most Improved Player award in 2000.
| Full name | Jalen Anthony Rose |
| Place of birth | 30 January 1973 |
| Date of birth | Detroit, Michigan |
| Age | 49 years of age as of November 2022 |
| Nationality | American |
| Points | 14.3 points |
6. Bill Russell
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Bill Russel is one of the greatest of all time. And yet, Russell makes intriguing trivia for the new generations of sports fans because of his era. While most often associate Bill Russell with 11 NBA titles and a handful of MVPs, a few know he is a lefty
| Full name | William Felton Russell |
| Date of birth | 12 February 1934 |
| Place of birth | Monroe, Louisiana, USA |
| Age | Died on 31 July 2022 |
| Nationality | American |
| Points | 15.1 |
5. Ben Simmons
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Ben Simmons is among the few players on this list who are still enriching their resumes. Even though he is still battling severe injuries, he is great on defence, and it is without a doubt that he appeared on the most famous left-handed basketball players list.
| Full name | Benjamin David Simmons |
| Place of birth | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Date of birth | 20 July 1996 |
| Age | 26 years of age as of November 2022 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Points | 15.9 |
4. Damon Stoudamire
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Damon Stoudamire is renowned for earning Rookie of the Year honours in 1996 and scoring over 11,763 points throughout his career. Nicknamed the Mighty Mouse, the left-handed NBA champion played in the league for over a decade.
| Full name | Damon Lamon Stoudamire |
| Date of birth | 3 September 1973 |
| Place of birth | Portland, Oregon |
| Age | 49 years of age as of November 2022 |
| Nationality | American |
| Points | 11,763 |
3. Isaiah Thomas
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Isaiah Thomas is yet another resume that has not been lamented and considered final. Despite several health issues on his hip, it has not limited the overall greatness he was destined to achieve. Still, the two-time All-Star has scored over 9,500 points in 525 games.
| Full name | Isaiah Jamar Thomas |
| Date of birth | 17 February 1989 |
| Place of birth | Tacoma, Washington, USA |
| Age | 33 years of age as of November 2022 |
| Nationality | American |
| Points | 9,500 |
2. Nick Van Exel
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Nick Van Exel is one NBA player who played for 14 years and scored 12,658 points, averaging 14.4 PPG while shooting just under 36% from 3-point land. He still ranks among the best left-handed NBA players of all time.
| Full name | Nickey Maxwell Van Exel |
| Date of birth | 27 November 1971 |
| Place of birth | Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA |
| Age | 50 years of age as of November 2022 |
| Nationality | American |
| Points | 12,658 |
1. Lenny Wilkens
Lenny Wilkens tops the list of the best left-handed basketball players. He ended his incredible career with nine All-Star appearances, one All-Star MVP nod, and 17,772 points during the regular season.
Source: Getty Images
Profile summary
| Full name | Leonard Randolph Wilkens |
| Date of birth | 28 October 1937 |
| Place of birth | Brooklyn, New York |
| Age | 85 years of age as of November 2022 |
| Nationality | American |
| Points | 17,772 |
Is LeBron James left-handed?
LeBron James is left-handed but often shoots with his right hand. As a lefty, he has the upper hand, shooting and driving with either hand or often tricks defenders by crossing them up. He's also very effective at posting players on his left because they are not used to defending someone who goes left so often.
One fun fact about most of these best left-handed basketball players is that they are Americans. But all in all, in a sport where the majority of the players are right-handed, players who can use the offhand can easily trick defenders, and this right here is the advantage they have over the others.
READ ALSO: Ranking of the top 15 best bald NBA players to ever play basketball!
Sportbrief.com has recently published an article about 15 best bald NBA players to ever play basketball. When it comes to being the best in basketball, physique, commitment, determination, and innate desire to be the best are what separates great players from the rest of the pack. But could lack of hair also help make a great player?
Source: SportsBrief.com