The best NBA Draft pick of all time at every slot

NEW YORK - JUNE 26: LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers poses with his jersey during the 2003/2004 NBA Draft Portrait at Paramount Theatre 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. Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright 2003 NBAE (Photo by: Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK – 1998: Paul Pierce poses for a photo after being selected by the Boston Celtics at the 1998 NBA Draft in New York, New York. 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 1998 NBAE (Photo by NBA Photos/NBAE via Getty Images) /

10. Paul Pierce, 1998 NBA Draft, Boston Celtics

We reach the conclusion of the top 10 with another famous Boston Celtics player, Paul Pierce. Pierce was a McDonald’s All-American entering Kansas but over the course of his career there he didn’t really inspire much faith in teams that he would develop into the star player that he turned out to be. He was not the greatest athlete, he looked a little doughy for a wing, and his Jayhawks team underperformed at times considering their talent.

However, once he got into the NBA he proved that he knew how to put the ball in the hoop. Pierce lived off mid-range jumpers and at 6-foot-8 was often taller than the opponents guarding him, which allowed for him to rise overtop the defense and sink shot after shot. Even though Pierce’s scoring transferred to the next level, his propensity to be on teams that didn’t live up to the hype followed from Lawrence as well. His Celtics team didn’t make the playoffs until his fourth year. In his prime, they missed the postseason altogether twice from 2005-2007.

The Basketball Gods looked down upon him and sent Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to him in the summer of 2007 and that trio promptly went on to win an NBA championship. The group would get back again during the 2009-10 season but ultimately fell short. If not for that three-year run it’s possible that Pierce’s name doesn’t make it onto this list at all.

Taking into account just what Pierce did as a player you reveal a very worthy resume and the title becomes the icing on the cake. For the flaws that he possessed, Pierce was able to turn himself into someone who could one day get his jersey retired in Boston–no small honor, though there are a lot of numbers in those TD Garden rafters.

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