As the 2017 NBA Draft nears, let’s look back at your favorite team’s most revered selection. Find out the best all-time draft pick for every franchise.
This year’s edition of the NBA Draft is believed to be the deepest in recent memory. Team executives are salivating for the hearty helping of top-level prospects. Additionally, this class is littered with players expected to be solid contributors at the next level.
But maybe you don’t care about any of that. Your favorite team may not be in position to land a high-profile prospect. Instead, you’re searching for comfort as your team could select an oft-injured player who averaged four points and four rebounds during his brief collegiate career. Whether that describes you or not, take a few minutes to indulge in some blissful (or painful) nostalgia for the great draft picks of yesteryear.
Here is every NBA team’s greatest draft pick of all time.
Bill Russell is perhaps the greatest winner in all of sports history and he leads off our list. The 11-time NBA champion is revered by the majority of basketball historians for his illustrious career. Though Russell spent each of his 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics, he was drafted second overall by the St. Louis Hawks in 1956. Thus, the greatest dynasty in the history of professional hoops began with a draft-night trade.
Hall of Fame coach Red Auerbach orchestrated the swap with the Hawks, as he coveted Russell’s defensive and rebounding abilities. The Hawks agreed to trade Russell to the Celtics for Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan in return. Once the Celtics procured their missing element, they promptly won their first NBA title in 1956-57 in Russell’s rookie year. Boston defeated the very St. Louis Hawks who traded Russell to them. Russell averaged 14.7 points and 19.6 rebounds per game to anchor Boston’s lineup.
But the enormity of Bill Russell’s stature far exceeded his talents and physical gifts. Because Russell’s rise occurred amid segregation and fierce racial tension in the United States, controversy constantly swirled around him. And he never shied away from standing up against racial prejudice. Prior to the 1961-62 season, Russell and each of his African-American teammates boycotted an exhibition game in Lexington, Kentucky after they were denied service at a Kentucky hotel coffee shop.
Despite Russell’s hugely successful career in Boston, he had a contentious relationship with the local media and fanbase. Still, Russell’s impact on the Celtics franchise remains unquestioned. He won five MVP awards and posted career averages of 15.1 points and 22.5 rebounds. The Celtics’ glory began with Bill Russell, but he’s probably not the favorite son.
Who else but the 6-foot-9 product of French Lick, Indiana? The Boston Celtics drafted Larry Bird sixth overall in the 1978 NBA Draft. At the time, players could be drafted without ever renouncing their collegiate eligibility. This allowed Boston to retain Bird’s draft rights for one year while he played his final season at Indiana State. If Bird had entered the 1979 draft, he was certain to be chosen by a team ahead of Boston in the draft order. Was it a conspiracy or simply luck of the Irish?
Nonetheless, Larry Bird’s arrival in Boston transformed the Celtics into perennial contenders. Bird’s elite scoring and passing abilities made him an impossible cover. During a three-year stretch from 1984-1986, the Celtics won two NBA championships. Bird was named Finals MVP for both. He was named league MVP three consecutive years during this period.
From Bird’s fabled rivalry with Magic Johnson to his uncanny trash-talking talents, the NBA’s popularity increased substantially during his career. He was a small town boy who became the best player on one of basketball’s flagship franchises. Bird’s edgy attitude and confidence endeared him to the Boston faithful and beyond. During a 2004 interview with Jim Gray, Bird revealed how he always felt disrespected when guarded by a white player.
"I just didn’t want a white guy guarding me. Because it’s disrespect to my game.”"
Bird was selected to 12 All-Star teams, 10 All-NBA teams, and three All-Defensive teams in his 13-year career. He averaged 24.3 points, 10 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game during his playing days. Larry Bird was widely regarded as the greatest small forward in NBA history before another guy on this list came along.
Bernard King was one of the most prolific scorers in an era rife with prolific scorers. King thrived in the shadows of Julius Erving, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, and Dominique Wilkins to name a few. King used his size, athleticism, and aggression to devastate opponents. He had little trouble getting to his spots on the floor.
The New York Nets selected Bernard King seventh overall in the 1977 NBA Draft. During King’s debut season, he averaged 24.2 points and 9.5 rebounds per game to make the All-Rookie team. Yet, the Nets traded him to the Utah Jazz following his second season citing a need for more rebounding. But King only played 19 games with the Jazz during the 1979-80 season before facing felony sexual assault charges. According to a report by Peter Richmond, King pleaded to misdemeanor charge after passing several lie detector tests about the night in question.
Bernard King reached the height of his powers as a member of the New York Knicks. King led the NBA in scoring with 32.9 points per game for the 1984-85 campaign. But, King suffered a catastrophic right leg injury late in that season which jeopardized his career. The Washington Bullets gave him a chance to complete his miraculous comeback. King averaged 28.4 points, 5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game as a 34-year-old in his final full NBA season.
Bernard King was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013. He averaged 22.5 points on 51.8 percent shooting for his career. King was the subject of the 2013 ESPN 30 for 30 film, Bernie and Ernie.
Basketball fans last saw Kobe Bryant on the court uttering, “Mamba out!” Kobe had just finished dropping 60 points during a vintage performance against the Utah Jazz in his final game. It was a fitting end for Kobe’s iconic 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. One that almost began on a different coast.
The Charlotte Hornets selected Kobe Bryant 13th overall in the renowned 1996 NBA Draft. Then, the Hornets infamously traded him to the Lakers in exchange for Vlade Divac on draft night. Charlotte believed Divac filled an immediate roster need. Dave Cowens coached the Hornets at the time and recently spoke with the Boston Globe about the team’s thinking.
"“We had Glen Rice, Dell Curry, and Muggsy Bogues, some guys who could play a little bit from the backcourt, and we were looking to try to win right away. We needed to get a big."
Well, the Hornets’ philosophy ultimately worked out alright for the Lakers. Kobe Bryant quickly developed into one of the NBA’s brightest young stars. He became the youngest player ever to start an All-Star Game in 1998. More accolades poured in once Kobe became a permanent starter for the Lakers in the 1998-99 season. And by the turn of the millennium, Kobe Bryant was a certified superstar.
Kobe’s talents were undeniable but his personality was polarizing for most of his career. He was largely condemned for his famous feud with Shaquille O’Neal. Legendary coach Phil Jackson once described him as “uncoachable.” Kobe produced like few others in NBA history despite the constant criticisms.
Kobe Bryant made 18 All-Star teams, 15 All-NBA teams, 12 All-Defensive teams, and won five championships. Kobe’s career will go down as one of the most decorated of all-time.
The Chicago Bulls had only made the playoffs three times in the 10 years preceding the 1984 NBA Draft. The Bulls were coming off a season where they went 27-55 and ranked 21st in the league for attendance. Then, the plot thickened.
The Bulls selected Jordan third overall in the 1984 NBA Draft. Jordan exploded onto the national scene and invigorated the Bulls’ franchise as a rookie. He averaged 28.2 points on 51.5 percent shooting to go with 6.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 2.4 steals per game. Jordan was voted as an All-Star starter and selected to the All-NBA Second Team in his first season. And the Chicago Bulls finished ninth in attendance as their numbers spiked by 90 percent. If you didn’t witness the story, you’ve certainly heard it on a loop.
The awe of Michael Jordan’s story also lies in its missing chapters. Jordan first retired from basketball at the ripe age of 29. At that time he was the league’s leading scorer for the seventh consecutive year. The Bulls were three-time reigning NBA champions. Jordan had already collected three Finals MVP’s and two NBA MVP’s. Basketball became so easy to him that he grew bored and vanished to play minor league baseball. Please chew on that.
Jordan returned to basketball after nearly two years and reclaimed the throne. He won two more MVP’s and three more championships. When Jordan retired again in 1998 at age 35, he was still the best player on the planet. In total, he threw away at least four great seasons. Heck, the Bulls legitimately could have won eight straight championships in the 1990s.
Michael Jordan remains the greatest basketball player ever. So in the interest of recency bias, take that for data!
The old saying is a picture says a thousand words. But, writers have to get their words off so hopefully you’ll understand. The image above is a distinct depiction of what one transcendent player can mean to a team and a city. No one knows this better than the Cleveland Cavaliers and the city of Cleveland.
How often does a team get to draft the transcendent player that grew up in its backyard? About as often you winning a million dollars on a scratch-off lottery ticket. Except the Cavaliers won the 2003 NBA Draft Lottery and selected LeBron James with the top pick. It was a picture-perfect scenario.
The hype surrounding LeBron entering the NBA was unprecedented. And Cleveland in its entirety reaped the benefits of renewed relevance. LeBron quickly became the biggest draw in town as he wowed fans with size, power, acumen, and speed. He led a forgettable group of Cavaliers to the NBA Finals as a 22-year-old. LeBron ascended to the league’s elite. Then, he was gone. And his new locale was much shinier than the former.
LeBron won championships in Miami while Cleveland fell into an abyss. But the kid from Akron, Ohio returned to his roots. He propelled the Cavaliers and Cleveland’s economy to even greater heights. Almost one year ago, LeBron delivered the city its first professional sports championship in 52 years. He did the unthinkable and led the Cavaliers back from a 3-1 Finals deficit to defeat the record-setting Golden State Warriors.
LeBron James is already one of the all-time greats. And when you factor the number of lives changed by the LeBron James Family Foundation, has any athlete ever meant more to a community?
The choice here was less obvious but still fairly easy. Jason Kidd epitomized the idea of making teammates better. Kidd proved this by opting to attend California rather than a college basketball powerhouse. During Kidd’s tenure, California won 70 percent of their games in consecutive seasons for the first time since the 1959-60 season.
Jason Kidd was the premier point guard prospect in all the land. The Dallas Mavericks were the NBA’s worst team from 1991 to 1994. During that stretch, Dallas lost 200 of 246 regular season games. Luckily, fans in the area could find bliss with the Dallas Cowboys. A new hope permeated the Mavericks’ franchise when they selected Jason Kidd second overall in the 1994 NBA Draft. Unfortunately, the hope would be short lived.
The Mavericks improved to 36-46 in Kidd’s rookie season, but turmoil surfaced in their locker room thereafter. During the 1996-97 season, Dallas traded their star point guard to the Phoenix Suns. Kidd made three All-NBA First Teams as a member of the Suns. He also led the NBA in assists ever year from 1998-2001. Still, the Suns traded him to the New Jersey Nets after the 2000-01 season.
Kidd experienced great individual and team success in New Jersey. He led a young Nets team to consecutive Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003. In 2008, Kidd traded to the Dallas Mavericks. He helped the franchise that drafted him win its first NBA championship against the star-studded Miami Heat in 2011.
The current Milwaukee Bucks head coach is second all-time in total assists with 12,091. Kidd’s No. 5 jersey was retired by the Brooklyn Nets in 2013.
The images of Dikembe Mutombo lying on the court vise gripping the ball in celebration after the eighth-seeded Denver Nuggets upset the top-seeded Seattle Supersonics in the 1994 playoffs are timeless. But Mutombo falls short of greatest draft pick honors. Remember the guy who some argued over LeBron James before the 2003 NBA Draft?
Sure, go ahead and pretend you never said Carmelo Anthony was the best pro prospect leading up to that draft. Anthony averaged 22.2 points and 10 rebounds as a freshman at Syracuse and led the Orange to their first and only national championship. Still, the Cleveland Cavaliers selected LeBron first overall which has worked out alright. Denver chose Anthony third overall and was rewarded immediately. On Nov. 7, 2003, the 19-year-old rookie became the second youngest player in NBA history to score 30 points in a game.
The Nuggets finished 43-39 to grab the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs during Anthony’s first season. It was a 26-win improvement over their 2002-03 record. Anthony led the Nuggets in scoring, in addition to all rookies, with 21 points per game. But he finished second in Rookie of the Year voting to LeBron James.
Carmelo Anthony proved to be no LeBron. And that’s not an indictment. Anthony has been one of the most potent scorers in the league throughout his 14-year career. He’s currently 25th on the all-time scoring list with 24,156 total points. The biggest knock against Anthony has been his inability to be the best player on a championship team. Regardless, Carmelo Anthony is the greatest draft pick in Nuggets’ franchise history.
The Detroit Pistons fired Dick Vitale as head coach 12 games into the 1979-80 season. Detroit finished 16-66 that season. The Pistons were coming off their worst two year stretch in franchise history ahead of the 1981 NBA Draft. They lost a combined 127 games and were completely hapless. Then, they struck gold. The gold came in the form of a 6-foot-1 point guard.
The Pistons used the second overall pick in 1981 to draft Isiah Thomas. The Chicago native promptly became their best player and was named a starter in the 1982 All-Star Game as a rookie. By Thomas’ third season, Detroit led the league in attendance as fans piled into the Pontiac Silverdome to see the “Baby-Faced Assassin.” Thomas was a ferocious competitor despite having the physical appearance of the local paper boy.
One of Thomas’ crowning career moments came in defeat. He hobbled through an ankle injury to score 25 points in the third quarter of Game 6 in the 1988 NBA Finals. Thomas finished the game with 43 points, 8 assists, and 6 steals. Detroit lost the game and ultimately the series against the Los Angeles Lakers. The loss helped spawn the Pistons’ transformation into the “Bad Boys.” They devastated the NBA over the following two years with a physical and arrogant style of play. Thomas led Detroit to back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990.
Isiah Thomas played his entire career for the Detroit Pistons. The 12-time All-Star retired in 1994 with career averages of 19.2 points and 9.3 assists per game. Thomas was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000. He’s arguably the best small guard of all-time.
The Warriors’ franchise has drafted stars since the early days of the NBA. In fact, no team may have a more impressive draft resume than the Warriors. Today’s powerful version was built primarily through the draft with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. Now consider historical selections like Paul Arizin, Rick Barry, Nate Thurmond, and Robert Parish. And more modern-day selections such as Chris Mullin, Tim Hardaway, Penny Hardaway, Vince Carter, and Gilbert Arenas. As talented as all these players are, none reached the heights of Wilt Chamberlain.
The Philadelphia Warriors claimed Wilt Chamberlain as a territorial pick in the 1959 NBA Draft. They used Chamberlain’s local high school career and the absence of an NBA team in Kansas to boost their claim. Tales of Chamberlain’s feats resemble those of Greek mythology. At 7-foot-1 and 275 pounds, he was a freak of nature on the basketball court. Chamberlain’s size and brute strength engulfed opponents rendering him unstoppable.
He scored 43 points and snatched 28 rebounds in his first NBA game. Wilt averaged 37.6 points and 27 rebounds to win Rookie of the Year and league MVP. He quickly became the most dominant offensive force ever seen. Despite all his production, Chamberlain routinely fell to rival Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics in the postseason.
Wilt Chamberlain won two championships and four MVP awards in his 14-year career. But it’s his individual achievements that will forever be mind-boggling. The guy once averaged 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds per game for an entire season. You would be hard pressed to replicate that in a video game.
We aren’t likely to ever see a player eclipse Wilt Chamberlain’s production. Can you imagine seeing that level of dominance today?
Surprise! Well, not quite. Hakeem Olajuwon was the obvious choice here. The Rockets’ franchise turned 50 this past season. They have played in the NBA Finals four times in those 50 years. Olajuwon led them to three of those Finals appearances during his Hall of Fame career. He helped deliver the franchise its only two championships in the mid-90’s. And Olajuwon was one of two players selected ahead of Michael Jordan in the 1984 Draft.
The University of Houston Cougars known as “Phi Slamma Jamma” infamously lost to NC State on a game-winning dunk in the 1983 NCAA title game. Hakeem Olajuwon returned to school and averaged 16.8 points and 13.5 rebounds per game during his final year. The Houston Rockets selected the 7-foot Nigerian first overall to pair with the 7-foot-4 Ralph Sampson. And the Rockets’ won 48 games in Olajuwon’s rookie season.
Olajuwon instantly became one of the best big men in the league. He averaged at least 20 points and 10 rebounds per game each year for the first 12 years of his career. Olajuwon led the Rockets to back-to-back titles while Jordan was striking out for the Birmingham Barons.
Hakeem Olajuwon is arguably the most skilled low-post player ever to come along. He pioneered the “Dream Shake” and taught many players how to be more effective in the post. Kobe Bryant and LeBron James credited Olajuwon for advancing their arsenals. Olajuwon was a 12-time All-Star and All-NBA selection, a 2-time Defensive Player of the Year, and former league MVP.
The greatest draft pick and player in Indiana Pacers’ franchise history was not even the best player in his own home growing up. Cheryl Miller is discussed as the greatest women’s basketball player ever. And she owned her younger brother throughout their childhood. She beat him mercilessly. Yet, he grew and developed into an exceptional player that starred at UCLA in the mid-80’s.
The Pacers drafted Reggie Miller 11th overall in the 1987 NBA Draft. And they owe a debt of gratitude to his big sister for fueling his fire. Reggie Miller became a starter in his second season. Miller then averaged a career-high 24.6 points per game on 51 percent shooting from the field and 41 percent shooting from distance during the 1989-90 season. He debuted in the All-Star Game for the Eastern Conference in 1990. And by the mid-90’s, Miller was the league’s most dangerous clutch shooter.
The banner moments of Miller’s career occurred against the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden. In Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals, Miller logged 25 points in the fourth quarter to give Indiana the road win and a 3-2 series lead. More importantly, he brazenly heckled Spike Lee as he drilled shot after shot. One year later, Miller one-upped that performance by scoring eight points in nine seconds to beat the Knicks in Madison Square Garden, again.
Reggie Miller averaged 18.2 points on 39.5 percent shooting per game for his 18-year career. One he spent exclusively with the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers retired his No. 31 jersey shortly after he retired from basketball.
The Los Angeles Clippers’ franchise began as the Buffalo Braves in 1970. Six years later, the Braves used the sixth overall pick in the 1976 NBA Draft on Adrian Dantley. That draft choice still holds up as their greatest selection to date. The Clippers’ franchise has only drafted three players who have career scoring averaged of 20 or more points. Blake Griffin, Bob McAdoo, and Dantley make the short list.
Adrian Dantley made a name for himself as a potent scorer during his college career at Notre Dame. He averaged 29.5 points on 56.4 percent shooting over his final two years in South Bend. Dantley brought his uncanny scoring ability to the professional ranks immediately upon arrival. He won Rookie of the Year in 1977 after producing 20.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. In an interesting plot twist, the Braves then traded Dantley to the Indiana Pacers before the next season. The Pacers then promptly traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers after 23 games. The Lakers then traded him to the Utah Jazz ahead of the 1979-80 season.
Dantley blossomed with the Jazz. He became a perennial All-Star and one of the premier scorers in the league. From 1980 to 1984, Dantley averaged just over 30 points per game each year and led the NBA in scoring in two of those years. He also earned All-NBA Second Team honors twice during that stretch. Dantley spent time with the Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks, and Milwaukee Bucks before retiring in 1991.
Adrian Dantley is one of the greatest scorers who doesn’t get talked about enough. He averaged 24.3 points per outing on 54 percent shooting for his career. Dantley received Hall of Fame status in 2008.
No one can deny the achievements of “The Logo” Jerry West. But Magic Johnson helped take the Lakers’ franchise to new heights in the 1980’s. And considering the stroke of magic it took for the Los Angeles Lakers to get the top pick in the 1979 NBA Draft, it only buffers the following points. Magic Johnson is their greatest ever draft pick. He’s arguably their greatest player of all-time.
Johnson’s impact was felt immediately during his rookie season. The Lakers held a 3-2 series lead over the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1980 NBA Finals. They asked their rookie guard to play center in place of injured superstar big man Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. How did he do? Johnson put up 42 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists to lead the Lakers to their seventh NBA crown.
Magic became the maestro of the “Showtime Lakers” and directed one of the most devastating offensive attacks ever seen. He won five championships, three Finals MVP’s, and three league MVP’s during his illustrious career. Magic was also selected to 12 All-Star teams and 10 All-NBA teams. His rivalry with Larry Bird helped grow the NBA’s mainstream popularity. Johnson also won legions of fans with his infectious smile and marketable personality.
Magic Johnson is widely considered as the greatest point guard in NBA history. Many will tell you he’s in the conversation for greatest players ever, period. Magic’s prime playing days were cut short was he was diagnosed with HIV before the 1991-92 season. He remains one of the most beloved figures in all of basketball and currently serves as President of Basketball Operations for the Lakers.
The Memphis Grizzlies just signed Mike Conley to the richest contract by total value in NBA history. You probably saw how much fun the internet had with that. The expansion Vancouver Grizzlies used their first ever draft pick in 1995 to grab Bryant “Big Country” Reeves. They selected Shareef Abdur-Rahim third overall in 1996 and one could argue he’s the franchise’s greatest draft pick. The Grizzlies have drafted 43 players total, but only one has averaged a double-double for his career to date.
Kevin Love was drafted fifth overall out of UCLA in the 2008 draft by the Memphis Grizzlies. Love would never don a Grizzlies uniform. He was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves following the draft. Love entered the league as a more traditional low-post player. He was heavier then. He barely spent time on the perimeter. But he earned stripes as one of the NBA’s best rebounders. The 22-year-old Love dropped 20.2 points and snagged a league-best 15.2 boards per game in the 2010-11 season. He received his first All-Star nod for those efforts.
Kevin Love’s production and character came under fire because the Timberwolves were not winning with him as their leader. A trade sent him to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the summer of 2014 in exchange for Andrew Wiggins. Love initially struggled to fit in with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, but found his niche during their 2016 championship run. He averaged 19 points and 11.1 rebounds for the defending champions this season.
When you think Miami Heat there’s really one player that comes to mind. The Heat selected Dwyane Wade third overall in the 2003 NBA Draft. Wade promptly became a fan favorite in south Florida thanks to his flair and relentless slashing ability. Upon his arrival, the Heat returned to relevance after winning just 25 games during the 2002-03 season. Miami won 42 games during Wade’s rookie season and made the playoffs.
Wade posted 24.1 points, 6.8 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game and made the Eastern Conference All-Star roster in just his second season. The Heat made the 2006 NBA Finals and quickly fell into a 2-0 hole to the Dallas Mavericks. Wade led a ferocious Heat comeback as they won four straight games to capture the title. Wade’s wizardry in those Finals cemented him as one of the league’s elite. Two years later, he had the best statistical season of his career. Wade averaged a league-high 30.2 points along with 7.5 assists, 5 rebounds, and 2.2 steals during the 2008-09 season.
Dwyane Wade is the franchise’s all-time leader in total points, assists, steals, offensive and defensive win shares, games, and minutes played. Wade is an 8-time All-NBA selection and 3-time NBA champion. He’s now a male fashion connoisseur in the eyes of many. In an interview with Esquire, Wade admits he wants to be the next Tom Ford. And he has a humorous and enviable public chemistry with his wife Gabrielle Union. Life after basketball looks promising for Dwyane Wade.
If you were putting together an All-Draft lineup for each NBA team, then you should probably start with the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks have drafted the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Julius Erving, Dirk Nowitzki, Alex English, Glenn Robinson, Stephon Marbury, and Michael Redd. Not to mention their two young stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker. The Bucks’ franchise has historically drafted great talent but none greater than Abdul-Jabbar.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is also one of the more interesting personalities to come along. He made his film debut in the original Game of Death movie in 1972. He battled Bruce freaking Lee in one scene. Abdul-Jabbar is a staunch sociocultural critic and a best-selling author.
The artist born as Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. is rarely mentioned in the debates about the greatest player of all-time. But please do not be mistaken. Abdul-Jabbar’s credentials are as good or better than any other player. At 7-foot-2, he was a matchup nightmare for opponents. And then he fathered the “sky hook.” Abdul-Jabbar credits his mastery of this shot as how he became the league’s all-time leading scorer.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar found instant success in the NBA. He averaged 28.8 points and 14.5 boards to win Rookie of the Year in 1970. He made the All-NBA and All-Defensive Second Teams that year. Abdul-Jabbar led the Bucks to their first and only NBA championship in 1971. He was 23 years old at the time. His career is filled with accolades and superlatives. He is the only 6-time MVP in league history. He’s the only 19-time All-Star. The Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, and UCLA Bruins all retired Abdul-Jabbar’s No. 33 jersey.
In 1995, the Minnesota Timberwolves made Kevin Garnett the first player to be drafted out of high school since Moses Malone in 1976. Garnett was the ripe age of 19 when he took the court for his first NBA game. He scored eight points in 16 minutes of action in a loss to the Sacramento Kings back on Nov. 3, 1995. During the strike-shortened 1998-99 season, Garnett averaged 20.8 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. It was the first of nine consecutive seasons where he eclipsed averages of 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Kevin Garnett’s ferocious intensity set him apart from other superstars in the league. No one was exempt from Garnett’s tactics. He even smacked the mild-mannered Tim Duncan once. It’s no secret Garnett was not universally loved or respected by his peers, but he never changed. We could argue whether he was right or wrong all day, but he was consistent.
Garnett anchored a stifling Boston Celtics defense and took home Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2008. He finally reached the mountaintop as he helped lead the Celtics to a championship that year. His “anything is possible” postgame outburst remains a national treasure. Garnett will forever be memorable.
Kevin Garnett is a 15-time All-Star, 12-time All-Defense selection, and former league MVP. He retired in 2016 as the Timberwolves’ all-time leader in nearly every major statistical category. Garnett now hosts the popular Area 21 segment on TNT’s Inside the NBA television show.
The 6-foot North Carolina native with two first names has been considered the game’s best pure point guard for more than a decade. The national spotlight found Chris Paul while he was a senior in high school. Paul scored 61 points in a game to honor his grandfather who was murdered in his driveway that year. One point for every year of his grandfather’s life. After two stellar seasons at nearby Wake Forest, Paul declared for the 2005 NBA Draft. The then-New Orleans Hornets selected him fourth overall.
The Hornets won just 18 games during the 2004-05 season. And with former starting point guard Baron Davis out of the picture, Chris Paul immediately took the helm as a rookie. He became a full-blown superstar during the 2007-08 season and led the Hornets to franchise-best 56 wins. Paul averaged 21.1 points and led the league with 11.6 assists and 2.7 steals per game. Midway through the 2010-11 season, Paul’s career in New Orleans ended in controversy.
Chris Paul headlined a trade that would have sent him to the Los Angeles Lakers. Then-NBA Commissioner David Stern vetoed the trade citing “basketball reasons.” It was an unprecedented decision but within Stern’s power since the Hornets were owned by the NBA. Paul was ultimately traded to the Los Angeles Clippers days later and Lakers fans are still salty about it.
Chris Paul has led the Clippers’ franchise to respectability over the last several years. And throughout his career, Paul has made millions for players such as Tyson Chandler, DeAndre Jordan, and David West. He has more Win Shares than any player drafted this millennium not named LeBron James. Paul is second all-time in Win Shares per 48 minutes. Plus, the State Farm ads are pretty funny.
The New York Knicks had some championship-caliber teams for much of the 1990’s. Sadly, they had to contend with the Chicago Bulls’ dynasty. The two trips the Knicks made to the Finals in the 90’s came in Michael Jordan’s absence. But their consistency during that era brought great pride to the Big Apple. And none of it would have happened without Patrick Ewing.
The Knicks drafted Ewing first overall out of Georgetown in 1985. The big man from Kingston, Jamaica hit the ground running in the NBA. He averaged 20 points, 9 boards, and 2 blocks per game to win Rookie of the Year in 1986. Ewing anchored the Knicks on both ends of the floor. He was lethal from the low block. His face-up game and mid-range jumper was potent. He thrived in an era filled with talented big men. Although Ewing once had his shot rejected by 5-foot-3 point guard Muggsy Bogues in a game against the Charlotte Hornets.
Patrick Ewing is an 11-time All-Star selection. He also received All-NBA honors seven times. His career may have ended with the Orlando Magic, but Ewing will forever be synonymous with the Knicks. No other player in franchise history played more games in a Knicks uniform than Ewing’s 1,039. His No. 33 jersey was retired by the Knicks in 2003. Ewing averaged 21 points, 9.8 boards, and 2.4 blocks over his 17-year career. He’s the franchise’s all-time leader in points, rebounds, steals, and blocks to name a few.
Too soon? Probably. But let’s put aside the emotions and deal with the facts. Kevin Durant is already one of the all-time great scorers to grace the NBA. And he’s only 28 years old. His career climax is just now getting underway. Most people who follow the league expect Durant to go down as the second-best player ever at his position.
The Seattle Supersonics drafted Durant second overall in 2007. He was rail-thin at the time. His lack of strength was mocked after he failed to bench press 185 pounds during pre-draft evaluations. People wondered aloud whether he would be too frail to succeed in the pro ranks. More proof that scouts an analysts are not omniscient. Kevin Durant invigorated Supersonics fans during his rookie year. The 19-year-old dropped 20.3 points per night including six 30-point games and one 40-point game. Then, Durant and the Sonics were gone.
The franchise moved to Oklahoma City which is where Durant became a supernova. He led the league in scoring with 30.1 points per game as a 21-year-old. He and teammate Russell Westbrook captained a young Thunder team to the 2012 Finals. They lost the series to the Miami Heat in five games. They were seemingly on their way back to the Finals last year before blowing a 3-1 series lead over the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. Then, Durant switched sides.
Despite the fallout and sharp criticisms of his free agency decision, Kevin Durant is thriving in every facet. He’s on the verge of the first of what could be many championships for him on his new squad. Regardless of how you feel, Durant will be the best player in the world in short order.
Superman was the easy choice here. And not the one who donned the red cape during the 2008 Dunk Contest. The Orlando Magic chose Shaquille O’Neal first overall in the 1992 NBA Draft. O’Neal lived up to the Superman moniker in every way imaginable. He shattered glass backboards, tore down hoops, and played with once-in-a-generation force. Perhaps the only thing bigger than Shaq’s game was his magnetic personality. The home of Disney World seemed like the perfect fit.
As outlined in the 30 for 30 film, This Magic Moment, Shaq departed from Orlando in free agency. Upon growing tensions between him and the Orlando media, he opted to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers. Shaq teamed with Kobe Bryant to create one of the most formidable duos of all-time. The pair led the Lakers to three straight titles with Shaq winning Finals MVP each time. In addition to winning league MVP in 2000, Shaq is a 15-time All-Star, 14-time All-NBA performer, 4-time NBA champion. The Lakers organization unveiled a statue of O’Neal outside of the Staples Center earlier this year.
But we have all learned there is so much more to Shaquille O’Neal than being really good at basketball. There’s his movie roles in Blue Chips and the critically acclaimed Kazaam. Shaq also has a platinum rap album on his resume. Who could forget the freestyle Kobe diss? Some even believe him to be a member of law enforcement. Shaq’s work now includes occasional wrestling matches with Charles Barkley. He’s also not the biggest fan of JaVale McGee, who regularly starred on the wildly popular Shaqtin’ a Fool.
It’s understandable if you’re thinking “how the hell did he not choose Allen Iverson here?” We all remember what he did to Michael Jordan. His epic rant about practice is still funny. And he prevented the powerful Los Angeles Lakers from going 16-0 in the 2001 playoffs. Iverson scored 48 points to beat the Lakers in Game 1 of the Finals. You know Ty Lue remembers. But despite those credentials, Charles Barkley was a greater player than Iverson.
The Philadelphia 76ers chose Barkley fifth overall in 1984. The 6-foot-6 power forward dominated games with his scoring and rebounding abilities. He led the league with 14.6 boards per game during his third year in the league. Barkley also averaged 23 points and 5 assists that year to make his first All-Star Game appearance. He won NBA MVP for the 1992-93 season as a member of the Phoenix Suns. Barkley also led the Suns to the Finals that year behind some historic playoff performances.
Charles Barkley is undoubtedly among the best players to ever play. He ranks fifth all-time in VORP and 13th all-time in career Win Shares. Barkley is eighth all time in True Shooting Percentage. He’s also among the most controversial, even in retirement. Barkley is known for speaking candidly and defiantly on a variety of topics on Inside the NBA. He often jokes about the women in San Antonio, broaches social issues, and argues with Shaq about anything. Oh yeah, he once beat Dick Bavetta in a foot race and then awkwardly kissed him afterwards. And Barkley’s golf swing is truly one-of-a-kind.
The Phoenix Suns drafted George Gervin 40th overall in the 1974 NBA Draft. There was only one problem with this. Gervin was already an established player in the ABA. He averaged 23.4 points and 8.4 rebounds prior to the Suns drafting him. Gervin made his first ABA All-Star Game that year. So, he opted to stay and continue playing with the San Antonio Spurs.
The Spurs joined the NBA through the ABA-NBA merger in 1976. The Suns no longer owned Gervin’s draft rights and received no compensation. Gervin wasted little time ascending to the top of the NBA scoring ranks. He led the league in scoring four of his first six seasons after the merger. He was a 12-time All-Star and seven-time All-NBA selection during his career. Gervin scored 20,708 points which would rank first all-time in Suns franchise history. He scored another 5,887 points in the ABA before the merger. If you combined those point totals, Gervin’s 26,585 career points would also rank first all-time in Spurs franchise history and 14th all-time in NBA history.
George Gervin earned the nickname “Iceman” for his calm and cool demeanor on the floor. More importantly, his trademark finger roll shot added flair to his game and is what he’s most known for. Gervin described how the move came to be and boasted that he would execute it from the free throw line. Before Michael Jordan, there was George Gervin. He held the most scoring titles by a guard before Jordan. There’s only been one “Iceman” and he may be the most prolific scorer who doesn’t get enough reverence.
The Portland Trail Blazers chose Clyde Drexler 14th overall in the 1983 NBA Draft. Drexler, who was college teammates with Hakeem Olajuwon at the University of Houston, was a physical specimen. At 6-foot-7, his length and athleticism was problematic for opposing guards. After a sub par rookie campaign, Drexler had his coming out party. He averaged 17.2 points, 6 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game in his second season. He earned his first All-Star nod in 1986. Drexler then found stardom.
The Trail Blazers made the 1990 Finals behind the brilliance of Clyde Drexler. Their All-Star shooting guard put up 21.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 2.5 steals per game during their playoff run. Portland ultimately fell to the Detroit Pistons in five games, but remained in contention. Drexler led them back to the Finals in 1992. This time the Trail Blazers were defeated by the Chicago Bulls in six games. Drexler produced 24.8 points, 7.8 boards, and 5.3 assists in a losing effort in that series.
Clyde Drexler is Portland’s franchise leader in Offensive and Defensive Win Shares. He also leads them in Box Plus-Minus and Value Over Replacement Player. Drexler has scored more points, grabbed more offensive rebounds, and stolen more passes than any other player in franchise history. After losing in his first Finals appearances, Drexler won a championship in 1995 as a member of the Houston Rockets with his old college teammate.
Sure, we’ve all heard of Russell Westbrook. Westbrook averaged a triple-double this past season and is a finalist for league MVP. But for Oscar Robertson, it’s been there, done that. Robertson became the first player to average a triple-double for a season 55 years ago. He was just 23 years old. The length of time it took for someone else to accomplish the feat speaks to its astounding difficulty.
The Sacramento Kings franchise began as the Rochester Royals. The Royals moved to Cincinnati in 1957. And in 1960, the Cincinnati Royals selected Oscar Robertson first overall in the NBA Draft. The Royals used the territorial pick to grab Robertson who starred at the University of Cincinnati. Robertson instantly became a superstar. He averaged 30.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 9.7 assists as a rookie. In fact, his career averages through his first six years in the league were 30.4 points, 10 boards, and 10.7 assists per game. Despite his greatness, the Royals traded him to the Milwaukee Bucks in 1970 because Royals coach Bob Cousy was believed to be jealous of Robertson.
The trade paired Robertson with another superstar talent in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The star-studded duo promptly won the NBA championship during their first season together. Robertson is affectionately known as “Big O.” He’s the Kings’ all-time leader in points, assists, and many other categories. He also ranks 10th in NBA history for career Win Shares. Oscar Robertson’s name belongs in every discussion about the greatest players ever.
George Gervin was the first superstar in San Antonio Spurs’ history. But the greatest draft pick and greatest player in Spurs history is none other than Tim Duncan. And they turned misfortune into 24-karat gold in 1997. The Spurs were a perennial playoff team throughout the 90’s. An injury kept David Robinson out of the lineup for much of the 1996-97 season. The Spurs went 20-62 and won the Draft Lottery. They used the first overall pick to select Duncan. Duncan joined a ready-made contender. The Spurs won a combined 72 percent of their games in the three years preceding the 96-97 season.
Duncan started and played every game of his rookie year and averaged 21.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks. He won Rookie of the Year and was named All-NBA First Team. Duncan and a healthy David Robinson became the “Twin Towers.” And the Spurs resumed their winning ways. San Antonio captured its first championship during the lockout-shortened 98-99 season. Duncan was amazing in his first Finals. He produced 27.4 points, 14 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game to win Finals MVP.
Tim Duncan then went on to have a pretty good career. He won four more championships, two more Finals MVP’s, and two regular season MVP’s. Duncan is a 15-time All-Star and All-NBA selection. Duncan is the Spurs’ franchise leader in points, rebounds, blocks, field goals, and games. He also leads them in career Win Shares and Value Over Replacement Player. Few will question his status as the greatest power forward in league history.
The Toronto Raptors have only drafted 36 players in their 22-year history. The choice came down to Tracy McGrady or Chris Bosh. Though Bosh has had a better career than he gets credit for, McGrady’s peak topped his. The Raptors drafted 18-year-old McGrady ninth overall out of high school in 1997. They landed his cousin Vince Carter in a draft-day trade the very next year.
McGrady played sparingly for the Raptors until the 1999-00 season. His minutes increased to 31.2 per game that season and in turn he averaged 15.4 points and 6.3 assists. He became a free agent and cashed in on his newfound success. The Orlando Magic signed him to a six-year, $67.5 million contract. The Magic also signed Grant Hill to a seven-year deal, but injuries derailed his stint with the team. McGrady rewarded their faith and ascended to superstar status in year one of the deal. He made the Eastern Conference All-Star squad, won Most Improved Player, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team.
Tracy McGrady won back-to-back scoring crowns in 2002-03 and 03-04. At that time, there was debate on whether McGrady or Kobe Bryant was the best player in the league. Perhaps McGrady’s banner moment came when he scored 13 points in 35 seconds against the Spurs on Dec. 9, 2004. McGrady retired as seven-time All-Star and All-NBA selection in 2013. He was inducted into the 2017 Hall of Fame class.
If you lived in or around the Salt Lake City area in the 1990’s, then you may still be wishing for the good ole days. The Utah Jazz were always in the playoffs and twice competed in the NBA Finals. But their foundation was built in the late-1980’s. The Jazz drafted John Stockton 16th overall in the 1984 NBA Draft. You could argue Stockton as the greatest Jazz draft pick ever, but you will be outnumbered. And that’s because Utah drafted Karl Malone 13th overall the very next year.
Malone developed into the focal point of Utah’s offensive attack. He and Stockton combined to deploy a devastating pick-and-roll attack for nearly 20 years in the NBA. Malone averaged 25 points on nearly 52 percent shooting and 10 rebounds over his 19-year career. At 6-foot-9, and a muscular 250 pounds, he was one of the most physically imposing players of his generation. Malone led the Jazz franchise to its peak just before the new millennium.
But, the Jazz lost in the Finals in 1997 and 1998 to the Chicago Bulls. Malone played his final season at the age of 40 with the Lakers. He hoped to grab his first championship but the Lakers lost the Pistons in the 2004 Finals. Karl Malone may have been the best power forward ever if not for Tim Duncan. Malone is second all-time in career points with 36,928. He’s also third all-time for career Win Shares, trailing only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain. Malone holds a number of franchise record for the Utah Jazz who retired his No. 32 jersey in 2006.
Perhaps this choice is premature. But if you don’t like it, then try to find a better option. The Washington Wizards chose John Wall first overall in the 2010 NBA Draft. Wall continues to emerge as one of the league’s top point guards. The North Carolina native is just 26 years old, but has already made his mark on the franchise. He’s helped restore the Wizards’ fortunes after the Gilbert Arenas debacle.
John Wall was selected to the All-NBA Third Team after having a career year during the 2016-17 season. Wall averaged career highs in points (23.1), assists (10.7), steals (2.0), and field-goal percentage (.451). The Wizards fell one win shy of the Eastern Conference Finals this year, but Wall was spectacular in the playoffs. He scored 27.2 points and handed out 10.3 assists per game during the Wizards’ run. He drilled a game-winning 3-pointer to force a Game 7 in the East Semis against the Boston Celtics.
Wall already has more career assists than any player in Wizards franchise history with 4,610. He just finished his seventh season. He has the most steals in franchise history. Wall has a 20.3 Value Over Replacement Player which ranks third in team history. He’s made the All-Star game for each of the last four seasons.
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In this Golden Age of point guard play, John Wall continues to prove himself. His athleticism, speed, and play-making ability set him apart. If Wall gets more consistency with him perimeter shot, then fans in the Washington, D.C. area will be in for something special.