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NBA Draft 2016: Every team’s most underrated pick ever

By Brad Rowland

Feb 27, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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BOSTON – APRIL 23: Antoine Walker #8 of the Boston Celtics looks on against the Indiana Pacers in Game one of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2005 NBA Playoffs at Fleet Center on April 23, 2005 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeated the Pacers 102-82. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2005 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON – APRIL 23: Antoine Walker #8 of the Boston Celtics looks on against the Indiana Pacers in Game one of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2005 NBA Playoffs at Fleet Center on April 23, 2005 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeated the Pacers 102-82. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2005 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Boston Celtics: Antoine Walker, No. 6 pick, 1996 NBA Draft

For good reason, Larry Bird and Paul Pierce get most of the love when it comes to great Celtics draft picks and there are plenty of other players who would rank ahead of Walker on such a list. That isn’t what this breakdown is, though, and we are shining light on the work of Antoine Walker in Boston.

Walker isn’t exactly in the mix for any conversation surrounding “great Celtics”, but he was very, very good during his time in Boston. No one would mistake Walker for a highly efficient player (especially in his day), but the versatile and talented forward averaged 20.6 points and 8.7 rebounds per game over eight years with the Celtics, and that is nothing to take for granted.

When Walker departed from Boston, the seas would soon open for Paul Pierce (his more famous teammate) to help bring a title to the Celtics alongside Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, and that probably does not help Walker’s overall legacy. Still, he was an excellent offensive force for nearly a decade, and while it is hard to find “underrated” players for a team like this, Antoine Walker fits that bill quite nicely.

Next: Brooklyn Nets

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