Florida State basketball: 10 best NBA careers in Seminoles history
By Josh Yourish
![Mar 22, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Florida State Seminoles guard Scottie Barnes (4) passes the ball around Colorado Buffaloes guard Keeshawn Barthelemy (11) in the second half in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Indiana Farmers Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports Mar 22, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Florida State Seminoles guard Scottie Barnes (4) passes the ball around Colorado Buffaloes guard Keeshawn Barthelemy (11) in the second half in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Indiana Farmers Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/f9348d8a99a3ed663fc16d7de78d093c19dc0daff6ebad581493bfc97f412543.jpg)
No. 2 best Florida State basketball NBA career: Sam Cassell
Florida State basketball was far from a powerhouse, but in the 1992 and 1993 NCAA Tournaments, the Seminoles were suddenly a three-seed both years. That was due in large part to Sam Cassell. In his two years at FSU, he averaged right around 18 points, four assists, and four rebounds a game. He was All-ACC both years.
The athletic 6-foot-3 guard was drafted by the Rockets, 24th overall in 1993 and he went on to play 16 years in the NBA. In his first two seasons, he was a part of championship teams as the Rockets went back-to-back in 1994 and 1995.
No other Seminole has played more games in the NBA than Cassell’s 993 and only one player has a higher career points per game than Cassell’s 15.8.
He also averaged nearly six assists a game for his career. Cassell played the best years of his career with the Milwaukee Bucks. Then in 2003-04 he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves and went on to average 19.8 points and 7.8 assists over 81 games and was named 2nd team All-NBA. That season was also his only all-star appearance.
Cassell began his career with two rings and ended it with his third as a member of the 2008 Boston Celtics.