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 – JUNE 25: Stephen Curry speaks with Mark Jones of ESPN after being selected #7 by the Golden State Warriors during the 2009 NBA Draft at the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden on June 25, 2009 in New York City. 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 2009 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /

7. Stephen Curry, 2009 NBA Draft, Golden State Warriors

Stephen Curry has completely revolutionized the way the game of basketball is played currently. However, when he was coming out of Davidson not many teams saw the tour-de-force of perimeter shooting that he offered having the impact it’s had. When he was taken with the seventh overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, Curry (and his family) were not happy. They were hoping that he’d last one more pick and be taken eighth by the New York Knicks. Looking back now I’m sure Curry and all others involved are extremely happy that Curry went when he did.

In 10 seasons with the Warriors, Curry has made the NBA Finals five times. Prior to drafting Curry in 2009, the Warriors franchise had been to a total of six championship series. Not only has Curry’s shooting ability made the rest of the league and younger players extend their 3-point range deeper and deeper, but he has turned Golden State from laughingstock to light-years ahead.

At Davidson, Curry was a one-man show. For the Warriors, he’s had a couple of other all-time shooters and scorers help him offensively (Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant), but it is the uniqueness of Curry that makes defenses throw their hands up in frustration as Golden State takes open shot after open shot. Teams are so locked into where Curry is at and what he’s doing — on and off the ball — at all times that the term “gravity” has been used to describe the impact that he has on an opposing defense.

What he has been able to do in a relatively short time is nothing short of impressive. There’s no ceiling to what his career holds in store for the future. An offseason of decisions might leave Golden State’s dynasty run in the balance this summer, but Curry has proven to be singularly impressive in his own right. Curry remains the lone unanimous MVP in the history of the league.

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