UCLA Basketball Top 20 Players of All Time: No. 5

We’ve finally reached the top five in our countdown of the top 20 UCLA Bruins of all time.

When ranking the best 20 Bruins in UCLA’s history, there is no shortage of players who won National Championships under John Wooden. However, this Bruin managed to pair a National Championship win with one of the best individual peaks of any other player on this list.

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UCLA Basketball Top 20 Players of All Time: No. 5 Marques Johnson

Mar 31, 1975; San Diego, CA, USA; FILE PHOTO; UCLA Bruins forward Marques Johnson (54) shoots at the against the Kentucky Wildcats 92-85 in the 1975 NCAA Men’s Final Four to become the national champions. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

That combination of individual success in the box score and the dominant team he played on makes him an easy choice for the top-five Bruins of all time.

Johnson arrived at UCLA in the 1973-74 season and spent all four seasons in college as a Bruin. As a freshman, his impact was a bit quieter than most on this list, as he averaged only 7.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.

Jan 25, 1975; South Bend, IN, USA; FILE PHOTO; UCLA Bruins forward Marques Johnson (54) in action against the Notre Dame Irish at the Joyce Center during the 1974-75 season. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

As a sophomore, he became a starter alongside other UCLA stars of the time and helped lead the Bruins to their 10th and final NCAA championship under John Wooden. But Johnson’s career became even more impressive after Wooden retired.

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Johnson Became UCLA’s Star

After Wooden’s retirement, Johnson continued to develop into one of the greatest UCLA Bruins of all time. As a junior in 1975-76, he averaged 17.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game.

Mar 31, 1975; San Diego, CA, USA; FILE PHOTO; UCLA Bruins forward Marques Johnson (54) shoots in action against the Louisville Cardinals in the 1975 NCAA Men’s Final Four . Mandatory Credit: Malcolm…

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Publish date : 2026-09-15 13:30:00

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