Best NBA lottery picks of all-time

NEW YORK - JUNE 26: (L to R) Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Jarvis Hayes, Maciej Lampe, Kirk Hinrich, Chris Kaman, NBA Commissioneer David Stern, Darko Milicic, T.J. Ford, Zarko Cabarkapa, Dwyane Wade, Nick Collison, Reece Gaines, Mike Sweetney and LeBron James poses for a photo prior to the 2003 NBA DRAFT at the Paramount Theater at Madison Square Garden on June 26, 2003 in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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Average career Win Shares from No. 2 picks, 1985-2017: 47.4

The singular outlier here was Dan Lewis. While there’s nothing wrong with giving The Glove some love, I thought the selection over an MVP and two-times Finals MVP interesting. But he explains:

“Payton and Durant were both picked by the same team with the No. 2 pick in the year they were drafted. While Durant has gone on to be one of the best players in league history, I think Gary Payton has been one of the most influential guards in league history. It’s not just his on-court production, which has landed him in the Hall of Fame, it’s the trash talk, intense style of play, and flair he brought with Shawn Kemp that made him special. With 999 games played for the Sonics, he definitely had more of an impact with the team that drafted him than Durant, who has arguably had more success with the Warriors than with the Thunder.”

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