Eastern Michigan University has a proud history of developing elite basketball talent that successfully advanced to professional careers in the National Basketball Association. The most famous and legendary professional alumnus is Hall of Fame scoring guard George Gervin, widely known as "Iceman," who earned multiple All-Star selections and scoring titles while cementing his legacy as one of the greatest players in basketball history. Other notable professional players who emerged from the program include Earl Boykins, who enjoyed a productive career as one of the shortest players in NBA history, along with several other historical standouts.