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) /

17 of 31

CHICAGO, UNITED STATES: John Stockton (top) of the Utah Jazz fights for the loose ball with Steve Kerr (bottom) of the Chicago Bulls 12 June during game five of the NBA Finals at the United Center in Chicago, IL. The Jazz won the game 83-81 but the Bulls still lead the series 3-2. AFP PHOTO/Jeff HAYNES (Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP/Getty Images) /

16. John Stockton, 1984 NBA Draft, Utah Jazz

For years, the Jazz were the team to beat in the Western Conference. Powered by the duo of John Stockton and Karl Malone (and their famed pick-and-roll) the Jazz were routinely in the NBA Finals year after year. However, much like the rest of the title contenders in the 1990s, they were unable to get over the Michael Jordan-sized bump in the road to claim a title.

Stockton attended Gonzaga in college — before they were the famous mid-major darling they’ve grown to become — and was a little-known player on the night of the 1984 NBA Draft. It worked out in Utah’s favor in the end as Stockton ended up as one of the best point guards in NBA history. Stockton’s ability to control all facets of the game made him a crucial part of the Jazz’s scheme. He was an extension of Jerry Sloan on the court.

With 15,806 assists for his career, Stockton remains the all-time leader in total assists in the NBA. The diminutive ball-handler had a knack for making the right pass at the right time and made defenses pay for the slightest mistake. Malone was often the beneficiary of these plays and the points to assist ratio between the two are nearly at two-to-one for their careers.

In today’s NBA, a player like Stockton might not be as well-received as he was during his time — point guards today are tasked with more of a scoring load than in the 1980s and 1990s. However, there is never going to be a team or coach that will pass up on a playmaker at any spot on the court. The beauty of Stockton’s game wasn’t from a nightly highlight reel montage, but in the fact that he always knew the play to make and when to make it.

Home/NBA