Career WAR and PAB by Player (1993-2025)

Player	Career WAR	Seasons
Raef LaFrentz	20.20	4
Frank Mason	19.34	4
Nick Collison	19.22	4
Wayne Simien	18.95	4
Perry Ellis	18.35	4
Sherron Collins	16.72	4
Paul Pierce	14.82	3
Marcus Morris	14.81	3
Mario Chalmers	14.23	3
Marcus Garrett	13.61	4
Devonte’ Graham	13.57	4
Kirk Hinrich	12.99	4
Keith Langford	12.93	4
Jalen Wilson	12.91	4
Cole Aldrich	12.77	3
Drew Gooden	12.74	3
Jacque Vaughn	12.34	4
Devon Dotson	11.21	2
Ochai Agbaji	10.90	4
Scot Pollard	10.76	4
Thomas Robinson	10.76	3
Hunter Dickinson	10.45	2
Brandon Rush	10.31	3
Udoka Azubuike	10.21	4
Jeff Withey	10.16	4
Jerod Haase	9.92	3
Kenny Gregory	9.89	4
Markieff Morris	9.60	3
K.J. Adams	9.39	4
Dajuan Harris	8.88	5
Darnell Jackson	8.75	4
Wayne Selden	8.66	3
Christian Braun	8.57	3
Tyshawn Taylor	8.40	4
Aaron Miles	8.36	4
Ryan Robertson	8.33	4
Eric Chenowith	8.26	4
Steve Woodberry	8.18	2
Darrell Arthur	8.13	2
Travis Releford	7.99	4
Sasha Kaun	7.72	4
Greg Ostertag	7.68	3
David McCormack	7.13	4
Kevin McCullar	6.76	2
Julian Wright	6.33	2
Dedric Lawson	6.18	1
Landen Lucas	5.64	4
Ben McLemore	5.49	1
Russell Robinson	5.32	4
Andrew Wiggins	5.11	1
Billy Thomas	5.07	4
Nick Bradford	4.97	4
Svi Mykhailiuk	4.77	4
Richard Scott	4.64	2
Elijah Johnson	4.43	4
Rex Walters	4.43	1
Jeff Boschee	4.12	4
Josh Jackson	4.04	1
Adonis Jordan	3.82	1
Malik Newman	3.76	1
Xavier Henry	3.74	1
Joel Embiid	3.70	1
Tyrel Reed	3.66	4
Zeke Mayo	3.48	1
Gradey Dick	3.23	1
Kelly Oubre	3.06	1
Jeff Graves	2.96	2
Patrick Richey	2.52	2
Kevin Young	2.50	2
Sean Pearson	2.38	4
Brannen Greene	2.14	3
Eric Pauley	2.11	1
Lagerald Vick	2.03	4
Mario Little	1.99	2
Darrin Hancock	1.92	1
J.R. Giddens	1.90	2
Remy Martin	1.76	1
Lester Earl	1.71	3
Isaiah Moss	1.63	1
Flory Bidunga	1.59	1
C.J. Giles	1.56	2
Greg Gurley	1.46	3
Cliff Alexander	1.37	1
Tarik Black	1.26	1
Naadir Tharpe	1.02	3
Josh Selby	0.90	1
Jalen Coleman-Lands	0.89	1
Johnny Furphy	0.88	1
Silvio De Sousa	0.69	2
David Padgett	0.55	1
Andrew White	0.55	2
Brady Morningstar	0.55	4
K.J. Lawson	0.49	1
Chris Zerbe	0.49	2
Carlton Bragg	0.46	2
Ashante Johnson	0.45	2
Nick Proud	0.43	1
Alex Galindo	0.41	1
Tyon Grant-Foster	0.39	1
Michael Lee	0.38	4
Rodrick Stewart	0.34	3
Dwight Coleby	0.29	1
T.J. Pugh	0.24	4
Luke Axtell	0.21	2
Rylan Griffen	0.20	1
Conner Teahan	0.17	4
Ernest Udeh	0.16	1
David Coit	0.16	1
Micah Downs	0.15	1
Tyrone Appleton	0.12	1
Justin Cross	0.12	1
Joel Branstrom	0.11	2
Jeremy Case	0.08	4
Conner Frankamp	0.05	1
Omar Wilkes	0.05	1
Jeff Carey	0.02	4
Todd Kappelmann	0.02	2
James Sosinski	0.01	1
Will Thengvall	0.01	1
Chris Huey	0.00	1
Hunter Mickelson	0.00	2
C.J. Henry	-0.01	1
Merv Lindsay	-0.02	1
Latrell Jossell	-0.02	1
Chris Carter	-0.04	1
Josh Pollard	-0.04	1
Zuby Ejiofor	-0.04	1
Robert Reed	-0.05	1
Cam Martin	-0.06	1
Wilder Evers	-0.07	2
Scott Novosel	-0.08	1
Quintrell Thomas	-0.10	1
Kyle Cuffe	-0.10	1
Blake Weichbrodt	-0.10	2
Gethro Muscadin	-0.11	1
T.J. Whatley	-0.12	4
Royce Woolridge	-0.13	1
Shakeel Moore	-0.13	1
Sam Cunliffe	-0.13	1
Steve Ransom	-0.13	2
Jordan Juenemann	-0.14	4
Cheick Diallo	-0.15	1
B.J. Williams	-0.16	4
Marlon London	-0.16	2
Patrick Cassidy	-0.16	2
Tucker Vang	-0.17	1
Nicolas Timberlake	-0.17	1
Christian Moody	-0.22	4
Terry Nooner	-0.23	4
Jamari Traylor	-0.24	4
Elijah Elliott	-0.25	1
Bryce Thompson	-0.27	1
Garrett Luinstra	-0.28	1
Clay Young	-0.28	3
Zach Clemence	-0.30	3
Michael Jankovich	-0.30	5
Lewis Harrison	-0.31	2
Brett Olson	-0.31	2
Parker Braun	-0.32	1
Nick Bahe	-0.33	2
Matt Kleinmann	-0.34	4
Dillon Wilhite	-0.34	3
Jamari McDowell	-0.35	1
Brennan Bechard	-0.37	3
John Crider	-0.40	2
Brad Witherspoon	-0.41	2
Chris Teahan	-0.45	5
Chris Martin	-0.47	2
C.B. McGrath	-0.48	4
M.J. Rice	-0.48	1
Rio Adams	-0.49	1
Charlie Moore	-0.49	1
Chase Buford	-0.52	3
Evan Manning	-0.53	4
Niko Roberts	-0.57	4
Mario Kinsey	-0.57	1
Mitch Lightfoot	-0.58	5
A.J. Storr	-0.58	1
Christian Garrett	-0.63	4
Rakease Passmore	-0.70	1
Tristan Enaruna	-0.75	2
Joseph Yesufu	-0.76	2
Jelani Janisse	-0.76	2
Moulaye Niang	-0.77	3
Calvin Rayford	-0.91	3
Stephen Vinson	-0.97	4
Tyler Self	-0.97	4
Quentin Grimes	-1.08	1
Brett Ballard	-1.19	2
Elmarko Jackson	-1.22	1
Bryant Nash	-1.24	4
Bobby Pettiford	-1.25	2
Justin Wesley	-1.46	3
Jeff Hawkins	-1.51	4

Player	Career PAB	Per100 Est
Raef LaFrentz	602.09	9.56
Wayne Simien	562.14	11.40
Nick Collison	560.97	8.24
Frank Mason	479.82	6.31
Perry Ellis	469.44	7.44
Paul Pierce	421.88	7.95
Marcus Morris	403.97	8.84
Sherron Collins	400.72	5.63
Drew Gooden	385.30	8.58
Mario Chalmers	357.30	6.51
Cole Aldrich	345.19	8.52
Marcus Garrett	308.44	4.98
Jalen Wilson	306.66	5.50
Kirk Hinrich	304.84	4.16
Jacque Vaughn	291.66	4.38
Devon Dotson	284.80	7.35
Keith Langford	283.42	4.12
Scot Pollard	279.64	5.80
Thomas Robinson	279.47	8.16
Hunter Dickinson	269.99	7.39
Devonte’ Graham	268.48	3.41
Udoka Azubuike	261.53	7.35
Jerod Haase	246.40	5.12
Markieff Morris	241.41	6.55
Jeff Withey	240.36	5.92
Kenny Gregory	223.38	4.00
Steve Woodberry	216.52	6.15
Greg Ostertag	216.08	7.13
Darnell Jackson	212.28	5.85
Darrell Arthur	206.43	6.90
Brandon Rush	204.46	3.43
Ochai Agbaji	193.47	2.78
K.J. Adams	177.08	3.13
Dedric Lawson	172.46	8.37
Sasha Kaun	168.74	4.34
Christian Braun	163.93	3.25
Eric Chenowith	158.10	2.91
Ryan Robertson	150.49	2.57
Wayne Selden	148.71	2.64
Kevin McCullar	147.54	4.36
Julian Wright	145.37	4.86
David McCormack	142.05	3.48
Travis Releford	133.96	2.57
Ben McLemore	133.87	6.42
Andrew Wiggins	124.87	6.22
Rex Walters	117.23	6.51
Richard Scott	101.61	3.66
Joel Embiid	99.25	8.77
Tyshawn Taylor	97.72	1.38
Landen Lucas	96.69	2.57
Josh Jackson	94.79	5.02
Aaron Miles	93.34	1.24
Adonis Jordan	89.37	4.53
Xavier Henry	86.15	4.97
Billy Thomas	81.85	1.98
Malik Newman	74.52	3.45
Zeke Mayo	71.14	3.77
Nick Bradford	67.86	1.58
Kelly Oubre	67.71	5.12
Dajuan Harris	65.96	0.73
Gradey Dick	58.53	2.84
Jeff Graves	46.60	2.02
Darrin Hancock	39.99	3.25
Eric Pauley	36.86	2.41
Mario Little	35.66	2.80
Remy Martin	31.78	2.86
Russell Robinson	30.95	0.53
Flory Bidunga	29.76	3.07
Patrick Richey	26.92	1.05
Kevin Young	26.41	1.20
Lester Earl	24.22	1.47
Tarik Black	22.96	2.93
Cliff Alexander	22.90	2.66
Svi Mykhailiuk	22.67	0.42
Brannen Greene	21.84	1.16
C.J. Giles	21.18	1.65
Isaiah Moss	21.01	1.63
Jalen Coleman-Lands	16.03	2.84
Chris Zerbe	15.89	11.80
Nick Proud	13.96	8.31
Greg Gurley	11.53	0.70
Tyrel Reed	8.49	0.19
Silvio De Sousa	8.15	1.42
Andrew White	7.60	1.83
Josh Selby	6.29	0.68
Elijah Johnson	5.44	0.10
Tyon Grant-Foster	5.08	1.63
Dwight Coleby	3.88	1.65
Alex Galindo	3.87	0.97
Justin Cross	3.67	24.72
Ashante Johnson	3.58	0.62
K.J. Lawson	2.97	0.49
Tyrone Appleton	1.84	2.24
Joel Branstrom	1.24	1.05
Sean Pearson	0.61	0.02
James Sosinski	0.06	0.40
Will Thengvall	-0.01	-0.10
Chris Huey	-0.02	-1.29
Omar Wilkes	-1.23	-0.96
Chris Carter	-1.47	-81.38
Micah Downs	-1.68	-0.63
Robert Reed	-1.83	-20.92
Latrell Jossell	-1.88	-4.14
Merv Lindsay	-1.94	-3.96
Todd Kappelmann	-1.96	-1.58
Josh Pollard	-2.03	-8.91
Cam Martin	-2.84	-15.49
Scott Novosel	-3.84	-10.44
Kyle Cuffe	-3.98	-36.61
C.J. Henry	-3.99	-3.12
Wilder Evers	-4.34	-7.25
Gethro Muscadin	-5.36	-9.57
Blake Weichbrodt	-5.43	-5.85
David Padgett	-6.22	-0.60
Ernest Udeh	-6.41	-1.46
Royce Woolridge	-6.71	-8.72
Patrick Cassidy	-6.93	-17.73
Tucker Vang	-6.95	-24.81
Johnny Furphy	-7.52	-0.54
Zuby Ejiofor	-7.74	-3.46
Steve Ransom	-8.07	-6.99
Sam Cunliffe	-8.39	-6.48
T.J. Whatley	-8.46	-3.81
Conner Frankamp	-9.16	-2.33
Elijah Elliott	-9.85	-26.80
Jordan Juenemann	-10.16	-5.64
Garrett Luinstra	-10.42	-54.12
Quintrell Thomas	-10.42	-4.25
J.R. Giddens	-13.29	-0.45
Dillon Wilhite	-14.16	-18.38
Brett Olson	-14.17	-11.40
Cheick Diallo	-15.21	-4.30
Clay Young	-15.25	-7.92
Nick Bahe	-15.29	-8.48
Luke Axtell	-15.41	-1.44
Lewis Harrison	-15.68	-10.67
Michael Jankovich	-15.72	-8.46
Brennan Bechard	-16.31	-14.79
Hunter Mickelson	-16.39	-2.81
Brad Witherspoon	-16.44	-22.92
John Crider	-16.57	-16.62
Terry Nooner	-17.34	-4.46
Shakeel Moore	-18.02	-3.71
Rodrick Stewart	-18.30	-1.71
David Coit	-19.95	-2.17
Chris Martin	-20.02	-22.88
Jeremy Case	-20.26	-2.51
Carlton Bragg	-20.96	-1.56
Rio Adams	-21.25	-14.29
Chase Buford	-21.45	-20.43
Chris Teahan	-21.93	-10.15
Matt Kleinmann	-22.07	-6.44
Jamari McDowell	-23.30	-5.95
Evan Manning	-23.76	-12.57
Zach Clemence	-23.88	-5.05
Parker Braun	-23.89	-5.38
Niko Roberts	-23.94	-16.09
Christian Garrett	-25.09	-21.08
Rylan Griffen	-25.32	-2.17
M.J. Rice	-25.78	-8.48
Mario Kinsey	-26.22	-10.70
Bryce Thompson	-26.32	-4.42
Rakease Passmore	-30.60	-15.11
Nicolas Timberlake	-31.71	-3.47
Jelani Janisse	-33.52	-19.95
Jeff Carey	-37.13	-2.62
Tyler Self	-38.61	-23.72
Jeff Boschee	-39.46	-0.55
Charlie Moore	-40.09	-4.99
Conner Teahan	-44.97	-2.48
A.J. Storr	-46.29	-4.95
Moulaye Niang	-46.84	-6.83
C.B. McGrath	-49.94	-4.38
Stephen Vinson	-50.33	-10.27
Tristan Enaruna	-53.77	-5.46
Naadir Tharpe	-55.75	-1.67
Marlon London	-58.95	-3.21
Brett Ballard	-59.02	-11.75
Michael Lee	-62.49	-2.17
Joseph Yesufu	-63.93	-4.81
Christian Moody	-65.36	-3.05
Bobby Pettiford	-68.99	-7.94
Justin Wesley	-70.99	-9.75
Lagerald Vick	-73.99	-1.40
Elmarko Jackson	-74.52	-6.72
Quentin Grimes	-86.43	-5.01
Calvin Rayford	-87.98	-4.65
Bryant Nash	-88.18	-6.00
T.J. Pugh	-94.72	-2.50
B.J. Williams	-108.62	-2.95
Jamari Traylor	-111.52	-3.01
Jeff Hawkins	-113.17	-5.20
Mitch Lightfoot	-114.75	-3.57
Brady Morningstar	-116.05	-2.39

WAR vs. PAB

Wins Above Replacement (WAR) and PAB (Points Against Bubble) have similar concepts and therefore the lists will be similar. Both are attempting to rank the careers of all KU players since 1993 to see which Jayhawks have been the most valuable for the program. The differences stem from the benchmark player upon which value is judged. In WAR, the “replacement player” is basically an average D1 player whereas in PAB, the “bubble player” is a player whose value makes a bubble team no more or less likely to make the tournament. In other words, a bubble player is a much higher standard than a replacement player.

So why the two lists? Which list is more valid?

At the top of the list there isn’t a ton of difference as guys like Raef LaFrentz easily clear the bubble level just as they clear the replacement level. It is further down the list where this distinction matters. Take Jeff Boschee for instance. Boschee was a four-year starter who is currently 57th in career WAR but 168th in PAB. Boschee was better than a replacement player but not better than a bubble-level player for the majority of his career¹.

These are widely different rankings, leading to the follow-up question, which list is better? Well, it depends. Being a better-than-bubble player is crucial for KU to approach the success demanded of it. So we would normally lean with PAB. However, sometimes players who are not quite at bubble-level (but still solid enough to be above replacement level) are required to play heavy minutes due to roster issues or coaching decisions, and it wouldn’t be fully accurate to list these players below low-minutes-played players because of this. Boschee serves as a great example. He was certainly a below-KU-average guard given the minutes he played, particularly as an underclassman. But he was still valuable because he was better than the alternatives at his position.² This is where WAR can be a better metric.

There is a third way to measure that is present, namely Per100 (possession) against bubble value. This is the third column on the second table. This shows the value the player provided while on the court, effectively ignoring playing time. Be aware of the limitations of this measurement. One, if we sorted by this list we’d include walk-ons at the top who graded out very well in very small, unimportant minutes. Two, durability is an important feature inherent to both WAR and PAB but ignored in Per100 value. A player who generates high value per possession but does not stay healthy throughout the year may not help the team as much as someone who can play a full schedule and heavy minutes at a lower value. A four-year player with solid value (like Marcus Garrett) will provide more value to KU than an elite one-and-done (like Joel Embiid).

Both WAR and PAB are useful lists but cannot be considered in isolation. If we are looking toward the top of the list, PAB is the better measurement. It estimates how many points a player gave to Kansas above that of a bubble-player over his career. Toward the middle and bottom of the list, WAR becomes the better mark. Clearly role players with sub-bubble (but above-replacement) value are preferable to the walk-ons. Lastly, Per100 can add some more context but we must be careful to not over-emphasize this measure as it is total value, not per possession value, that is most important when determining this ranking.

1. Boschee’s only above-bubble season was his senior year in 2002. ↩︎
2. Marlon London and Jelani Janisse are examples of other backcourt players on the roster in the Boschee-era. KU’s backcourt talent depth was quite thin during Boschee’s first three seasons at Kansas. ↩︎