Utah Jazz first-round draft picks have yielded both iconic players and disappointing busts. Karl Malone and John Stockton, two of the NBA's all-time best, led the Jazz against Michael Jordan in the 1990s, falling short in back-to-back years. The franchise still lacks a championship. In the 2010s, Gordon Hayward and Enes Kanter emerged as top NBA players, but couldn't push the Jazz to a title. They outperformed notable busts like Larry Knight and Luther Wright. So, which player deserves top spot for their Jazz contributions? Consider only their time with Utah when casting your vote.
About this list
- 1
Draft selection: John StocktonJohn Stockton played 16 games in 1984.
Stats.
Played 1,504 games. He averaged 13.1 points, 10.5 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.2 steals.Achievements.
John Stockton earned 10 NBA All-Star selections (1989–1997, 2000).
John Stockton made the NBA All-NBA First Team twice (1994, 1995).
John Stockton earned six NBA All-NBA Second Team nods (1988–1990, 1992, 1993, 1996).
John Stockton got three NBA All-NBA Third Team selections (1991, 1997, 1999).
John Stockton was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team five times (1989, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1997).18 - 2
Draft selection: Karl MaloneKarl Malone played 13 games in 1985.
Stats.
Played 1,434 games. He averaged 25.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 0.8 blocks.Achievements.
Karl Malone won the NBA Most Valuable Player award twice (1997, 1999).
Karl Malone received 14 NBA All-Star selections (1988–1998, 2000–2002).
Karl Malone got 11 All-NBA First Team selections (1989–1999).
Karl Malone earned two All-NBA Second Team selections (1988, 2000).
Karl Malone got one All-NBA Third Team selection in 2001.
Karl Malone was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team three times (1997–1999).
Karl Malone made the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 1988.
Karl Malone was on the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1986.16 - 3
Draft selection: Andrei KirilenkoAndrei Kirilenko played 24 games in 1999.
Stats.
Played 681 games. He averaged 12.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.0 blocks, and 1.4 steals.Andrei Kirilenko earned achievements.
Andrei Kirilenko was named to the NBA All-Star team in 2004.
Andrei Kirilenko made the NBA All-Defensive First Team in 2006.
Andrei Kirilenko earned two NBA All-Defensive Second Team nods (2004, 2005).
Andrei Kirilenko was on the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2002.13 - 4
Draft selection: Deron WilliamsDeron Williams played 3 games in 2004.
Deron Williams played stats.
Played 439 games. He averaged 17.3 points, 9.1 assists, 3.2 assists, and 1.1 steals.Deron Williams earned achievements.
Deron Williams was named to the NBA All-Star team twice (2010, 2011).
Deron Williams got two All-NBA Second Team selections (2008, 2010).
Deron Williams was on the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2006.9 - 5
Draft selection: Gordon HaywardGordon Hayward played 9 games in 2010.
Gordon Hayward played stats.
Played 516 games. He averaged 15.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.0 steals.Gordon Hayward earned achievements.
Gordon Hayward was named to the NBA All-Star team in 2017.9 - 6
Dominique Wilkins received a draft selection.Dominique Wilkins was the 3rd overall pick in 1982.
Dominique Wilkins played stats.
Dominique Wilkins never played for the Jazz.5 - 7
Draft selection: Thurl BaileyThurl Bailey played 7 games in 1983.
Thurl Bailey played stats.
Played 708 games. He averaged 14.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks.Thurl Bailey earned achievements.
Thurl Bailey was on the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1984.4 - 8
Draft selection: Dell CurryDell Curry was the 15th overall pick in 1986.
Dell Curry played stats.
Played 67 games. He averaged 4.9 points.3 - 9
Darrell Griffith received a draft selection.Darrell Griffith was the 2nd overall pick in 1980.
Darrell Griffith played stats.
Played 765 games. He averaged 16.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists.Darrell Griffith earned achievements.
Darrell Griffith was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 1981.
Darrell Griffith was on the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1981.3 - 10
Darrell Griffith received a draft selection.Darrell Griffith was the 28th overall pick in 1995.
Darrell Griffith played stats.
Played 700 games. He averaged 4.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks.1 - 11
Darrell Griffith received a draft selection.Darrell Griffith played 14 games in 2006.
Darrell Griffith played stats.
Played 266 games. He averaged 10.5 points and 2.9 rebounds.1 - 12
Darrell Griffith received a draft selection.Darrell Griffith was the 28th overall pick in 1999.
Darrell Griffith played stats.
Played 382 games. He averaged 9.6 points and 2.9 rebounds.0 - 13
Darrell Griffith received a draft selection.Darrell Griffith was the 5th overall pick in 2014.
Darrell Griffith played stats.
Played 227 games. He averaged 13.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.0 assists.0 - 14
Darrell Griffith received a draft selection.Darrell Griffith was the 28th overall pick in 1999.
Darrell Griffith played stats.
Played 231 games. He averaged 4.9 points and 3.0 rebounds.-1 - 15
Darrell Griffith received a draft selection.Darrell Griffith was the 5th overall pick in 2014.
Darrell Griffith played stats.
Played 204 games. He averaged 5.9 points and 2.3 assists.-1 - 16
Darrell Griffith received a draft selection.Darrell Griffith was the 21st overall pick in 2018.
Darrell Griffith played stats.
Played 38 games. He averaged 5.6 points.-1 - 17
Darrell Griffith received a draft selection.Darrell Griffith was the 21st overall pick in 1991.
Darrell Griffith played stats.
Played 50 games. He averaged 4.1 points.-1 - 18
Darrell Griffith received a draft selection.Darrell Griffith was the 15th overall pick in 1987.
Darrell Griffith played stats.
Played 64 games. He averaged 2.9 points.-1 - 19
Darrell Griffith received a draft selection.Darrell Griffith was the 3rd overall pick in 2011.
Darrell Griffith played stats.
Played 265 games. He averaged 9.3 points and 5.9 rebounds.-2 - 20
Darrell Griffith received a draft selection.Darrell Griffith was the 30th overall pick in 2017.
Darrell Griffith played stats.
Darrell Griffith never played for the Jazz.-2 - 21
Darrell Griffith received a draft selection.Darrell Griffith was the 12th overall pick in 2015.
Darrell Griffith played stats.
Played 151 games. He averaged 6.1 points and 3.5 rebounds.-2 - 22
Darrell Griffith received a draft selection.Darrell Griffith was the 21st overall pick in 2004.
Darrell Griffith played stats.
Darrell Griffith never played for the Jazz.-2 - 23
Darrell Griffith received a draft selection.Darrell Griffith was the 17th overall pick in 1988.
Darrell Griffith played stats.
Played 152 games. He averaged 4.3 points.-2 - 24
Darrell Griffith received a draft selection.Darrell Griffith was the 13th overall pick in 1981.
Darrell Griffith played stats.
Played 132 games. He averaged 9.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists.-3 - 25
Darrell Griffith received a draft selection.Darrell Griffith was the 24th overall pick in 2001.
Darrell Griffith played stats.
Played 113 games. He averaged 6.5 points and 3.8 assists.-3 - 26
Darrell Griffith received a draft selection.Darrell Griffith was the 12th overall pick in 2016.
Darrell Griffith played stats.
Darrell Griffith never played for the Jazz.-3 - 27
Darrell Griffith received a draft selection.Darrell Griffith was the 27th overall pick in 1997.
Darrell Griffith played stats.
Played 224 games. He averaged 4.3 points and 2.4 assists.-3 - 28
Darrell Griffith received a draft selection.Darrell Griffith was the 21st overall pick in 1989.
Darrell Griffith played stats.
Played 261 games. He averaged 9.8 points and 3.1 rebounds.Darrell Griffith earned achievements.
Darrell Griffith made the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 1990.-4 - 29
Darrell Griffith received a draft selection.Darrell Griffith was the 20th overall pick in 2009.
Darrell Griffith played stats.
Played 26 games. He averaged 5.2 points.-4 - 30
Darrell Griffith received a draft selection.Darrell Griffith was the 19th overall pick in 2003.
Darrell Griffith played stats.
Sasha Pavlovic played 79 games and averaged 4.8 points per game.-4 - 31
Draft selection:23 (2008)
Stats
Kosta Koufos played 84 games, averaging 3.3 points per game and 2.2 rebounds per game.-4 - 32
Draft selection:21 (2013)
Stats
Kosta Koufos never played for Jazz.-4 - 33
Draft selection:16 (2004)
Stats
Kosta Koufos played 68 games, averaging 5.0 points per game.-4 - 34
Draft selection:19 (1980)
Stats
Kosta Koufos played 119 games, averaging 2.9 points per game.-4 - 35
Draft selection: 19 (1999)
Stats
Quincy Lewis played 145 games, averaging 3.8 points per game.-5 - 36
Draft selection: 23 (2000)
Stats
Quincy Lewis played 222 games, averaging 5.9 points per game.-5 - 37
Draft selection:29 (1998)
Stats
Nazr Mohammed never played for Jazz.-5 - 38
Draft selection:25 (2007)
Stats
Morris Almond played 34 games, averaging 3.1 points per game.-5 - 39
Draft selection:25 (1996)
Stats
Morris Almond never played for Jazz.-5 - 40
Draft selection: 24 (2017)
Stats
Tyler Lydon played 26 games, averaging 0.9 points per game.-5 - 41
Draft selection: 18 (1993)
Stats
Luther Wright played 15 games, averaging 1.3 points per game.-5 - 42
Draft selection:14 (2004)
Stats
Kris Humphries played 129 games, averaging 3.6 points per game and 2.7 rebounds per game.-6 - 43
Draft selection: 14 (2013)
Stats
Shabazz Muhammad never played for Jazz.-6 - 44
Draft selection:11 (1978)
Stats
James Hardy played 249 games, averaging 5.7 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per game.-6 - 45
Draft selection: 19 (2002)
Stats
Ryan Humphrey never played for Jazz.-7
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