When you think of Kansas, corn fields, “The Wizard of Oz,” tornadoes, and great college campuses are a few things that might come to mind. However, these aren’t the only great things to come from the state. Sports (especially basketball) are taken seriously in Kansas. Thanks to the success of teams like the Kansas Jayhawks, kids grow up playing basketball and imagining they’ll someday make game-winning shots to win championships.
It’s not just the players who come from Kansas, either. It’s also the coaches. Arguably two of the top five greatest coaches in the history of college basketball, Adolph Rupp and Dean Smith, were born in the Sunflower State. While Basketball is beloved in Kansas, other sports have their time to shine there as well.
Even though they play in Missouri, the Kansas City Chiefs are beloved in Kansas. Athletes like Barry Sanders and Gale Sayers were born in Kansas before going on to have some of the greatest careers in the history of football. NBA players like Christian Braun and Dean Wade were inspired by both Kansas and Kansas State to pursue basketball starting college.
Because Kansas’s only professional sports team is Sporting Kansas City, the way young athletes look up to college players is often how they decide what sport to play – and who to eventually play for. For more sports content, click here to read about the most memorable baseball quotes.
To compile this list of sports stars from Kansas, 24/7 Tempo consulted sports-related sources. These include ESPN, NBA.com, and NFL.com.
Gale Sayers
CENTURY CITY, CA - AUGUST 12: Former NFL player Gale Sayers attends the 10th annual Harold Pump Foundation Gala at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel on August 12, 2010 in Century City, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
- Sport: Football
- Position: Running Back
- Hometown: Wichita
The NFL is filled with running backs who last one or two seasons without leaving their mark. Gale Sayers wasn’t like most running backs, though. The former Chicago Bear played from 1965 to 1971. During his career, he had six touchdowns in one game. He’s still tied with Alvin Kamara and Dub Jones for the most touchdowns by one player in one game in NFL history. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but before all that, was born in Wichita, Kansas.
Barry Sanders
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 14: Former NFL player Barry Sanders of the Detroit Lions reacts during the first half between the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions in the NFC Wild Card Playoffs at Ford Field on January 14, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
- Sport: Football
- Position: Running Back
- Hometown: Wichita
Another running back who lives in the minds of football fans around the world is Barry Sanders. The Wichita, Kansas native is a former Oklahoma State Cowboy and Detroit Lion. He became famous for his quick feet around defenders. While he never was able to reach the mountain top of winning a Super Bowl, Sanders is widely regarded as a top-five running back in history. He’s in both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Dean Wade
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 26: Dean Wade #32 of the Cleveland Cavaliers takes a three point shot during the second half of a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on January 26, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
- Sport: Basketball
- Position: Power Forward
- Hometown: Wichita
Dean Wade took his talents to Manhattan, Kansas to play college basketball at Kansas State after growing up in Wichita. He had a great four-year career in college but somehow went undrafted in the NBA. However, that didn’t deter Wade. He put in the work and has proven to be a reliable NBA player over the last five years. All five years have been with the Cleveland Cavaliers. His story reminds people that it’s not about where you get drafted, but how hard you work in your profession.
Adolph Rupp
- Sport: Basketball
- Position: Coach
- Hometown: Halstead
For most, being a college basketball coach means instability. Not for Adolph Rupp, though. He was the coach of the Kentucky Wildcats for 41 years. During that time, he won four National Championships, a total of 876 games, and has the second-highest winning percentage of any coach in history.
The Kentucky Wildcats honored Rupp by naming the arena after him. He also played a pivotal role in bringing African-Americans to Kentucky to play basketball. He was originally born in Halstead, Kansas.
Ron Baker
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - OCTOBER 19: Ron Baker #31 of the New York Knicks and Raymond Felton #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder chases a ball during the second half of a NBA game at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on October 19, 2017 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images)
- Sport: Basketball
- Position: Guard
- Hometown: Hays
Most young boys growing up in Kansas dream of playing for the Jayhawks one day. Ron Baker was just like most other boys. However, the Jayhawks didn’t see him as part of their future. Instead, Baker was forced to play at Wichita State. Things have a funny way of working out, though.
Baker was a huge reason the Shockers went on a memorable run to the 2013 Final Four. After that, Baker played professionally for the New York Knicks. Not bad for a kid from the small town of Hays, Kansas.
Christian Braun
DENVER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 2: Christian Braun #0 of the Denver Nuggets poses for a portrait during the Denver Nuggets Media Day at Ball Arena on October 2, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
- Sport: Basketball
- Position: Guard
- Hometown: Burlington
Winning is the goal for any athlete. Few have had the prolonged success that Christian Braun has. In high school, he won three state championships. He followed that up by winning the National Championship with the Kansas Jayhawks and the NBA Finals with the Denver Nuggets in back-to-back years.
He played big minutes as a rookie, showing that the big moments don’t faze him in the slightest. Only in year two, Braun has already carved out a role for himself in the NBA.
Brad Ziegler
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 12: Pitcher Brad Ziegler #29 of the Arizona Diamondbacks throws in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 12, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
- Sport: Baseball
- Position: Pitcher
- Hometown: Pratt
Professional baseball is used to having “specialists” in the bullpen. These are pitchers who are known for doing one thing and one thing well. Brad Ziegler was that pitcher for a decade in the MLB. His sidearm delivery meant he was giving up velocity, but had pinpoint accuracy. He was at one point a closer, which is the player whose task is to get the last three outs of a game. Ziegler’s reputation states that he’s great pitcher, and odds are, he’ll uphold that reputation for a long time.
Dean Smith
- Sport: Basketball
- Position: Coach
- Hometown: Emporia
Adolph Rupp isn’t the only great college basketball coach to be born in Kansas. Dean Smith brought the North Carolina Tar Heels two National Championships and eleven Final Fours during his legendary career. He grew up in Emporia, Kansas, and majored in math at the University of Kansas. Smith is also the namesake of the arena the Tar Heels currently play. He finished his career with 879 wins, which was the most at the time of his retirement.
Walter Johnson
- Sport: Baseball
- Position: Pitcher
- Hometown: Humboldt
Being a first-ballot Hall of Famer in baseball can be challenging to do, but Walter Johnson can say he did. One of the other highlights of Johnson’s career is pitching a no-hitter. This is when one pitcher throws an entire game without allowing the other team to get a hit.
Each year, there are around two or three of these. That might seem like a lot, but it’s rare and should be celebrated whenever it happens. Johnson also became a manager once his playing days were finished up.
Kyle Farnsworth
HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 05: Kyle Farnsworth #44 of the Houston Astros throws a pitch in the seventh inning of their game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Minute Maid Park on June 5, 2014 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
- Sport: Baseball
- Position: Pitcher
- Hometown: Wichita
Lasting 15 years in professional baseball is hard to do. Even though he’s thought of as a journeyman, Kyle Farnsworth made it happen. During his career, Farnsworth became known as a reliable arm on the mound. Baseball isn’t the only passion Farnsworth has, though.
When he retired, Farnsworth attempted to pursue a career as a minor league football player and has now entered bodybuilding competitions. For more sports content, click here to read about the most popular teams from Tennessee.