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UCLA Basketball: The 10 best men’s basketball players since 2000

By Mike Regalado

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 29: Norman Powell #4 of the UCLA Bruins celebrates after the game against the Utah Utes at Pauley Pavilion on January 29, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. UCLA won 69-59. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 29: Norman Powell #4 of the UCLA Bruins celebrates after the game against the Utah Utes at Pauley Pavilion on January 29, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. UCLA won 69-59. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 23: Jordan Farmar #1 of the UCLA Bruins rests during their Preseason NIT game against the Memphis Tigers at Madison Square Garden on November 23, 2005 in New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 23: Jordan Farmar #1 of the UCLA Bruins rests during their Preseason NIT game against the Memphis Tigers at Madison Square Garden on November 23, 2005 in New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) /

4. Jordan Farmar (2004-06)

Career Stats: 13.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 5.2 apg, 1.2 spg, FG% .410

The Ben Howland era needed warriors and his first class was full of them. Lorenzo Mata, Josh Shipp, Arron Afflalo and the spark that lit the revolution… Jordan Farmar. Like Afflalo, Farmar was the perfect Howland player as he brought grit, defense and leadership.

Farmar had the attitude that gave UCLA their tough, hard-nosed demeanor. He was not afraid to get in the face of players, on defense or in a “conversation”. Yeah, he was a bit if a trash talker, but that is what helped him lead UCLA back to prominence.

He also had one of the most important steals in recent UCLA history.

In his freshman year, he brought an energy that the rest of the team (especially the veterans) had to catch up to. He was trusted bu Howland to get the job done and that is exactly what he did. In his sophomore (and final) year, he lead UCLA to their first and only championship game since the Wooden era. Though the Bruins fell short, it shined it a light on the team and Farmar.

During the 2006 NBA Draft, he was selected as the 26th overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers. He  was with L.A. for the back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010 as a backup to Derek Fisher. He left for the New Jersey Nets after that season and has been in and out of the NBA and the Israeli league ever since. His last stint was with Sacramento in 2016.