Best NBA Draft Classes

BEST PLAYERS:Michael Jordan, John Stockton, Charles Barkley, Hakeem Olajuwon, Otis Thorpe, Sam Perkins, Kevin Willis, Michael Cage, Jerome Kersey, Alvin Robertson, Vern Fleming, Sam Bowie

The 1984 and 2003 NBA drafts are twin events. Neither draft was the deepest, yet each produced a great player. They also produced three other players who shaped their era. Seven players from the 1984 class reached the All-Star Game. Otis Thorpe, the No. 9 pick, and Kevin Willis, the No. 11 pick, each played in only one. The top players of this class show unmatched star power. Jordan, Stockton, Barkley, and Olajuwon combined 47 All-Star Games, 45 All-NBA teams, 23 All-Defensive teams, 10 scoring titles, nine assist titles, five steal titles, three rebound titles, three block titles, eight straight NBA championships, and seven MVPs. Stockton holds the NBA career lead in assists and steals. Olajuwon is the all-time blocks king. Jordan ranks third in steals and fourth in points. He is generally considered the GOAT. The 1984 draft class left its mark across NBA history; it wrote the record books.

BEST PLAYERS:Kobe Bryant, Ray Allen, Steve Nash, Allen Iverson, Peja Stojakovic, Marcus Camby, Stephon Marbury, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Jermaine O'Neal, Derek Fisher, Erick Dampier, Antoine Walker, Kerry Kittles, Othella Harrington

The 1996 NBA draft produced the all-time three-point leader at retirement, three league MVPs, and ten picks totaling 64 All-Star Games. Ray Allen, a 10-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion, shot 2,973 triples over his 18-year career. Stephen Curry bypassed him but held the record for most threes made. Allen Iverson won the 2001 MVP in his first of two consecutive seasons where he led the NBA in both points and steals. "The Answer" was an 11-time All-Star averaging 26.7 points per game. The No. 1 pick gave Philadelphia everything, leading them to the NBA Finals. The No. 13 pick also won an MVP award; however, Kobe Bryant never played for the Charlotte Hornets that drafted him. The 18-time All-Star, two-time scoring champ, and 2008 MVP guided the Los Angeles Lakers to five titles. Steve Nash, the second two-time MVP, was the 15th overall pick. Nash did not play in the NBA Finals but won the 2005 and 2006 MVP awards and finished runner-up to Dirk Nowitzki in 2007. The leader of Phoenix's "seven seconds or less" offense led the league in assists five times, finishing his career with over 10K dimes.

BEST PLAYERS:LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Carmelo Anthony, David West, Kyle Korver, Kirk Hinrich, Boris Diaw, Mo Williams, Leandro Barbosa, Chris Kaman, Josh Howard, Kendrick Perkins, James Jones, Zaza Pachulia, Willie Green, Darko Miličić

The 2003 NBA Draft offers a top starting five. LeBron, Wade, Melo, Bosh, and Korver (for shooting) beat most other draft classes' best fives. Depth is where this draft class falters. Darko Miličić, the No. 2 pick, became a major bust. Still, four top players from a 15-year span, including three who won back-to-back titles, came from '03. David West also had a great career as a #2 scorer for the CP3 Hornets and PG-13 Pacers, then a late-career role player with the Warriors. Mo Williams even became an All-Star.

BEST PLAYERS:Stephen Curry, James Harden, Blake Griffin, DeMar DeRozan, Jrue Holiday, Jeff Teague, Taj Gibson, Darren Collison, Ty Lawson, Tyreke Evans, Brandon Jennings, Patty Mills, Ricky Rubio, Danny Green, Patrick Beverley, James Johnson, DeMarre Carroll

The 2009 draft is among the best guard drafts ever. Steph, Jrue, Teague, Collison, Lawson, Jennings, Mills, Rubio, Tyreke, and Pat Bev stand out. Only two players were taken before the No. 6 pick: Jonny Flynn, who was a massive bust, taken one pick ahead of Stephen Curry. Hasheem Thabeet went second overall, after Blake Griffin, the 6x NBA All-Star and centerpiece of the Lob City Clippers. Curry is the group's diamond, winning four NBA championships as the best player on the dynasty Warriors. DeMar DeRozan had a stellar career. Danny Green won three NBA championships as a sharpshooter on three different teams.

BEST PLAYERS:Luka Doncic, Trae Young, DeAndre Ayton, Jaren Jackson Jr., Wendell Carter Jr., Mikal Bridges, Collin Sexton, Miles Bridges, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Michael Porter Jr., Donte DiVincenzo, Kevin Huerter, Lonnie Walker IV, Grayson Allen, Anfernee Simons, Rob Williams, Mitchell Robinson, De'Anthony Melton

The 2018 draft featured top talent everywhere. Luka and Trae took the headlines as the #1 picks. Both players led their teams to a conference finals within four years of joining the NBA. Ayton and Mikal Bridges started the Phoenix Suns team that reached the 2021 NBA Finals. This class features solid bigs—Robinson, Time Lord, JJJ, Wendell Carter—and impact wings like Bridges, MPJ, DiVincenzo, Huerter, Allen, Melton, and Lonnie Walker, who looks strong for the Lakers. Guard depth is also huge with Shai, Simons, and Sexton. An amazing draft.

BEST PLAYERS:Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler, Kemba Walker, Nikola Vučević, Tobias Harris, Isaiah Thomas, Jonas Valančiūnas, Bojan Bogdanović, Reggie Jackson, Enes Kanter, Marcus Morris, Markieff Morris, Kenneth Faried, Tristan Thompson, Nikola Mirotić, Alec Burks, Chandler Parsons.

Select a starting five from these players whose names begin with 'K'. This group could win more starting fives than any other draft class in their prime. The 2011 draft produced champions. Klay Thompson was the point guard for the four-time champion Warriors. Kawhi won two championships in San Antonio and Toronto. Kyrie and Tristan won titles with LeBron on the Cavs; Kyrie hit the biggest shot in Cleveland sports history. Jimmy Butler nearly single-handedly won the 2020 NBA Bubble Finals with the Heat. He missed the 2022 NBA Finals by just three points. Kemba earned four All-Star selections. Foreign players also benefited greatly: Kanter, Vučević, Valančiūnas, Bogdanović, and Mirotić were among them.

BEST PLAYERS:Dirk Nowitzki, Paul Pierce, Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, Antawn Jamison, Mike Bibby, Cuttino Mobley, Al Harrington, Larry Hughes, Jason Williams, Bonzi Wells, Ricky Davis.

The No. 1 pick in the 1998 draft, Michael Olowokandi, became one of the...biggest busts in NBA history. This class was much better than one player. Forty-eight players scored over 20,000 points in the NBA; this draft yielded four of them. Dirk Nowitzki scored 31,560 points and ranks sixth on the all-time scoring list. The 13-time All-Star won a championship and is a Hall of Famer. Paul Pierce scored 26,397 points, and Vince Carter scored 24,868 points. Antawn Jamison scored 20,042 points; he is not yet in the HOF but averaged 18.5 points per game over a 16-year career. Rashard Lewis was a two-time All-Star and played in an NBA Finals with the Orlando Magic in 2009. Bibby, Mobley, and Williams were guards who brought flair, elevating the game to the mainstream.This class is better than one player. Forty-eight players scored at least 20,000 NBA points. This draft produced four of those players. Dirk Nowitzki (31,560 points) holds the No. 6 spot on the all-time scoring list. The 13-time All-Star won a championship. He deserves a Hall of Fame spot. Paul Pierce (26,397 points) and Vince Carter (24,868 points) should join him. Antawn Jamison (20,042 points) averaged 18.5 points per game over his 16-year career. Rashard Lewis was a two-time All-Star. He played in an NBA Finals with the Orlando Magic in 2009. Bibby, Mobley, and Williams are guards who defined the era. They brought flair that raised the game.

BEST PLAYERS:Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing, Terry Porter, Detlef Schrempf, A.C. Green, Chris Mullin, Charles Oakley, Joe Dumars, Hot Rod Williams, Tyrone Corbin, Xavier McDaniel, Wayman Tisdale, Gerald Wilkins, Spud Webb, Mario Elie, Sam Mitchell, Arvydas Sabonis, Manute Bol.

The 1985 draft class yielded three of the 90s' best big men: Karl Malone and Patrick Ewing. Michael Jordan did not win a title with any of them. Malone retired second in career points and eighth in rebounds. Patrick Ewing had a great career too. He scored at least 20 points per game in his first 13 seasons. From 1990 to 1997, he averaged at least 22 points and 10 rebounds per game for eight years straight. Terry Porter, Detlef Schrempf, Chris Mullin, and Charles Oakley were key players in the NBA but never won titles. A.C. Green won three rings, but he was at best the fourth most important player on those teams. Arvydas Sabonis joined the NBA fourteen years into his career and is a top passing big man of all time.

BEST PLAYERS:David Robinson, Reggie Miller, Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, Kevin Johnson, Mark Jackson, Derrick McKey, Armen Gilliam, Muggsy Bogues, Kenny Smith, Ken Norman, Olden Polynice, Reggie Lewis

The 1987 NBA draft brought many talented players. Coaches and general managers evaluated that potential well. Twelve of the top 13 picks played over ten years in the league. This happened less often in the 80s/90s than it does now. 1987 was the only draft in the 1980s where the team with the No. 1 pick selected the best player. The San Antonio Spurs took David Robinson, who earned an All-NBA team spot in 10 of his 14 seasons and won the 1995 MVP. Robinson, one of the best shot-blockers ever, helped the Spurs win two NBA titles. No. 11 pick Reggie Miller played all his games for his drafting team and retired with the second most three-pointers made before Steph Curry and James Harden passed him. Horace Grant was drafted by Chicago at No. 10, and they got Scottie Pippen from Seattle hours after he was selected fifth overall. They each won three rings within six years. Outside the top 12, Mark Jackson at No. 18 and Reggie Lewis at No. 22 were other great picks. Jackson has at least 10,000 career assists, ranking him among only five players. Lewis averaged over 20 points per game in two back-to-back seasons before dying at age 27 on a practice court.

BEST PLAYERS:Nikola Jokić, Joel Emiid, Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle, Aaron Gordon, Jerami Grant, Clint Capela, Marcus Smart, Jusuf Nurkić, T.J. Warren, Joe Harris, Bogdan Bogdanović, Gary Harris, Spencer Dinwiddie, Jabari Parker

Nikola Jokic won the 2022 NBA MVP race using the 2014 NBA draft class. Jokic beat Joel Embiid for his second straight NBA MVP award, boosting this class's standing. Jokic was drafted 41st overall. After the top two, talent drops off, but these players remain strong. 2022 NBA Champion Andrew Wiggins and Marcus Smart, whom Wiggins' Warriors beat in the NBA Finals, come from this class. Julius Randle earned a 2021 All-Star nod. Nurkic, Capela, and Grant all made big playoff plays. This class's starting five will definitely make noise in any all-time draft class tournament.

BEST PLAYERS: Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, Brook Lopez, Eric Gordon, Ryan Anderson, Goran Dragić, Serge Ibaka, Danilo Gallinari, Nicolas Batum, George Hill, DeAndre Jordan, Roy Hibbert.BEST PLAYERS: Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, Brook Lopez, Eric Gordon, Ryan Anderson, Goran Dragić, Serge Ibaka, Danilo Gallinari, Nicolas Batum, George Hill, DeAndre Jordan, Roy Hibbert.

Two MVPs from one draft is rare. Hindsight changes the debate on whether either award was deserved. Rose won in 2011 because the media, which votes for MVP, disliked LeBron for 'The Decision' and withheld his third MVP despite LeBron being the best player. Russell Westbrook earned MVP by becoming the second player to average a triple-double for a whole season. Love, Ibaka, and Lopez won NBA championships as the third and fourth players later in their careers. Gordon and Anderson were elite deep shooters at their peak. Jordan was a double-double machine. Dragic played elite point guard. Batum, Hill, and Hibbert all had good runs as role players.

BEST PLAYERS:BEST PLAYERS: Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell, Lonzo Ball, De'Aaron Fox, Lauri Markkanen, Dillon Brooks, Bam Adebayo, Kyle Kuzma, John Collins, Jarrett Allen, OG Anunoby, Derrick White, Josh Hart, Luke Kennard.

Jayson Tatum quickly became an elite player, helping the 2017 NBA draft class. He led the Celtics to the 2022 NBA Finals as Boston's top player and proved he wins big games. Donovan Mitchell is likely the second best player in this draft, though he has not made a playoff push, showing only regular season success. Bam made the NBA Finals as the second best player for the Miami Heat. Players like Fox, Markkanen, Collins, and Lonzo will not be number one but remain great players who could achieve more later.

BEST PLAYERS:BEST PLAYERS: Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard, Draymond Green, Bradley Beal, Khris Middleton, Harrison Barnes, Andre Drummond, Evan Fournier, Terrence Ross, Will Barton, Jae Crowder, Austin Rivers.

Damian Lillard winning Rookie of the Year over Anthony Davis in 2012-13 made a big 'wait, what?' NBA moment. This taught NBA fans about our bias toward ball-dominant guards over elite big men who get fewer touches but have equal or greater impact. This bias has helped awards voting favor the better since then. The 2012 draft class includes NBA greats. Four-time NBA Champion Draymond Green became one of the best fourth options for the Warriors dynasty. Middleton and Davis both won championships as the second-best players on their teams. Beal and Dame are legendary players in their NBA cities and earned All-Star honors multiple times. Barnes won a title; Drummond earned two All-Star selections.

BEST PLAYERS:Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Lenny Wilkens, Tom Sanders, Al Attles, Darrall Imhoff, Lee Shaffer, Jackie Moreland, Dave Budd, Willie Jones, Ben Warley

This draft saw Oscar Robertson go first and Jerry West go second. This draft ranks among the best 1-2 drafts in NBA history. Only six players from this draft played more than five seasons in the NBA. The big three—Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, and Lenny Wilkens—were all-time NBA legends. The other three players were also good. Al Attles played a role for the 1964 Warriors team that reached the NBA Finals. Imhoff earned All-Star status. Sanders won eight championships as a role player for the Celtics dynasty in the 60s. Lee Shaffer played only three seasons but earned an All-Star award.

BEST PLAYERS:Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Patrick Williams, Tyrese Haliburton, Saddiq Bey, Cole Anthony, Tyrese Maxey, Desmond Bane

Judging an NBA draft class accurately takes about ten years. The 2020 group is not the worst in history. This draft had a strange element, though: it occurred during COVID-19 quarantine and the nation's stay-at-home order affected it. Anthony Edwards was the game-changer, taking the #1 overall pick and looking like a future Hall of Famer. LaMelo Ball flashes elite brilliance. Maxey and Haliburton have become impact NBA guards. Wings like Bane and Williams fit the typical 3-and-D profile. The 2020 showing is good so far.

BEST PLAYERS:Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bob Dandridge, Jo Jo White, Bingo Smith, Lucius Allen, Fred Carter, Norm Van Lier, Steve Mix, Neal Walk, Herm Gilliam, Butch Beard, Rick Roberson, Dick Garrett, Steve Kuberski, Willie Norwood, Lee Winfield

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of thebest NBA players of all timeThe 1969 NBA draft gets some attention. While 1968 (Elvin Hayes, Wes Unseld) and 1967 (Earl Monroe, Walt Frazier) featured more impactful players, none reached the Captain's level of all-time points scored. Jo Jo White and Bob Dandridge offer little excitement, but 1969 produced 12 players playing eight seasons or more.

BEST PLAYERS:Kevin Durant, Marc Gasol, Al Horford, Mike Conley, Greg Oden, Joakim Noah, Jeff Green, Nick Young, Marco Belinelli, Jared Dudley, Glen Davis, Arron Afflalo, Carl Landry

Viewers watching the game closely saw the Oden-Durant debate. Oden played exceptionally; some called him the second Bill Russell. Then, injury ended his run. The 2007 draft featured other top players. Durant headlined as a two-time NBA champion and Finals MVP (2017, 2018). He reached basketball perfection, but his methods annoyed many fans. Marc Gasol and Mike Conley were core players for the Memphis Grizzlies' grit era. Gasol earned his first ring only after moving to Toronto. Al Horford and Joakim Noah, teammates who won back-to-back NCAA championships at Florida, were incredibly talented bigs who dominated the Bulls and Hawks, respectively.

BEST PLAYERS:Scottie Barnes, Evan Mobley, Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, Herb Jones, Jalen Suggs, Josh Giddey, Franz Wagner, Jonathan Kuminga, Davion Mitchell, Alperen Şengün, Trey Murphy III

2021 was a smart draft, loaded with exciting prospects. Barnes and Mobley are NBA natives looking for long, productive careers. Cade will be Cade, and Cade is very pleasant. Herb Jones surprised people in the second round. He quickly became a Pelicans starter in his first year. His strong defense earned pundits calls for him on the NBA All-Defensive Team, even as a rookie. Giddey is the group's top passer, though the second...best point guardfrom 2021 might be Jose Alvarado who went undrafted. Mitchell, Franz, and Suggs have been solid. Murphy, Kuminga, and Şengün are improving significantly.

BEST PLAYERS:Devin Booker, Karl-Anthony Towns, DeAngelo Russell, Kristaps Porziņģis, Terry Rozier, Kelly Oubre Jr., Montrezl Harrell, Myles Turner, Norman Powell, Josh Richardson, Bobby Portis, Richaun Holmes, Larry Nance Jr., Willie Cauley-Stein, Pat Connaughton

Devin Booker led the Phoenix Suns to the 2021 NBA Finals as the team's top player. He lost to Pat Connaughton, another 2015 draftee and Bucks role player. This marked the first sign of life for his draft class. The T-Wolves secured the top two picks from this draft, though their performance remained average year after year. The 2015 draft featured many great big men like Harrell, Zinger, Turner, Portis, Holmes, and Nance Jr.

BEST PLAYERS:Giannis Antetokounmpo, C.J. McCollum, Victor Oladipo, Rudy Gobert, Michael Carter-Williams, Dennis Schröder, Tim Hardaway Jr., Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Steven Adams

The 2013 draft featured Anthony Bennett as the number one pick, a comical selection. Bennett left the league quickly. The draft score landed at pick 15 when the Bucks got Giannis Antetokounmpo. The two-time NBA MVP, Champion, and Finals MVP boosted this class's profile. Gobert and McCollum played well. KCP won a title as a key role player for the Lakers. Adams and Hardaway Jr. offered teams strong play and good character.

BEST PLAYERS:Pete Maravich, Bob Lanier, Dave Cowens, Calvin Murphy, Tiny Archibald, Dan Issel, Rudy Tomjanovich, Sam Lacey, Jim McMillian, Randy Smith, John Johnson, Charlie Scott, Gar Heard, Geoff Petrie, George Johnson, Dennis Awtrey

Most years, at least one bust hits the top five picks. The year before this draft, Terry Driscoll and Larry Cannon took fourth and fifth spots, totaling 4.8 career win shares. The following year offered little gain; No. 4 pick Ken Durrett and No. 5 pick George Trapp made little impact. In 1970, however, all five top picks pleased their teams. Bob Lanier, Rudy Tomjanovich, Pete Maravich, Dave Cowens, and Sam Lacey each played ten seasons and scored over 10,000 points. Dan Issel, perhaps the top player from the 1970 class, was taken 122nd overall. He chose the ABA, where he dominated for six years before the NBA absorbed it. Issel became one of seven Hall of Famers from that draft.

BEST PLAYERS:Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, Darius Garland, Tyler Herro, RJ Barrett, De'Andre Hunter, Rui Hachimura, Cam Reddish, Cameron Johnson, Jordan Poole, Keldon Johnson, P.J. Washington, Kevin Porter Jr., Coby White

Zion and Ja grew up playing together in South Carolina. Both players led their teams to the Western Conference #1 spot during their young NBA careers. This 2019 NBA draft class carries most weight, featuring solid wings like Barrett, Hunter, Reddish, Johnson, Johnson, Washington, and Hachimura. Tyler Herro is the favorite player for young people. Darius Garland is an All-Star, completing this strong guard group that also includes Jordan Poole and Coby White.

BEST PLAYERS:Robert Parish, Alex English, Adrian Dantley, Dennis Johnson, John Lucas, Johnny Davis, Lonnie Shelton, Quinn Buckner, Bob Wilkerson, Mitch Kupchak, Sonny Parker, Mike Dunleavy.

The 1976 NBA draft lacks depth, but Parish, English, and Dantley form a big three. Parish won four NBA titles and earned a 9x All-Star nod. English, one of the best second-round picks ever, was an 8-time All-Star and scoring champion. He was likely the best Denver Nugget before Nikola Jokic. Dantley earned six All-Star selections and two scoring championships.

BEST PLAYERS:Bill Walton, George Gervin, Jamaal Wilkes, John Drew, Mickey Johnson, Maurice Lucas, Truck Robinson, Scott Wedman, Billy Knight, Brian Winters, Phil Smith, Campy Russell, Bobby Jones, Tom Henderson, Tom McMillen, Foots Walker, Harvey Catchings.

A dozen 1975 NBA draft players played in at least one All-Star Game. George "Iceman" Gervin stands out. Gervin was the prototype for Kevin Durant. Gervin averaged 26.2 points per game in his NBA career and won the scoring championship four times. Bill Walton is another big name. Walton took the Portland Trail Blazers to their goal in 1977 and won Finals MVP. He won another title in 1986 as a sixth man on the Celtics. Jamaal Wilkes played well, but he was not as memorable as many other talented names from this draft.

BEST PLAYERS:Manu Ginobili, Shawn Marion, Elton Brand, Richard Hamilton, Jason Terry, Andre Miller, Lamar Odom, Andrei Kirilenko, Baron Davis, Corey Maggette, Metta World Peace, Steve Francis, Wally Szczerbiak, James Posey.

Outside Manu, no first-ballot Hall of Famer appears in the 1999 draft. However, the 1999 draft brought strong career role players who helped NBA title teams. Jonathan Bender, who became one of the least successful players to move from high school, is the only exception among the top-10 picks who succeeded. Steve Francis, the No. 2 pick, might have faded after six great seasons, but he was not a failure. The 1999 draft also included Ginobili, one of the greatest second-round picks in NBA history. The second-to-last selection played a key role on four Spurs championship teams. Ginobili earned two All-Star selections. Shawn Marion was the only player in this group named All-Star more than three times, though he lacked perennial status with just four selections. Marion played a key role for the Dallas Mavericks 2011 title team, as did Jason Terry, a fellow 1999 pick. Lamar Odom won back-to-back titles as the sixth man for the Lakers, alongside Metta World Peace. Posey won two championships as a sixth man for the Heat and Celtics. Posey was less important to his teams than Rip Hamilton was for the 2004 champion/Lakers-beater Detroit Pistons. We have not yet discussed AK-47, Baron Davis, Corey Maggette, or Elton Brand, who were all defining players of their time.

BEST PLAYERS:John Havlicek, Chet Walker, Dave DeBusschere, Jerry Lucas, Zelmo Beaty, Kevin Loughery, Donnie Nelson, LeRoy Ellis, Terry Dischinger, Len Chappell, Chico Vaughn, Bud Olsen, Wayne Hightower

The 1962 class featured more players than most of the 1960s decade. The 1962 NBA draft produced seven players who scored over 10,000 career points, including John Havlicek, Chet Walker, and Jerry Lucas. Zelmo Beaty had a Hall of Fame career spanning the NBA and ABA. Dave DeBusschere led the Knicks to two titles. Donnie Nelson played a key role during the Celtics dynasty.

BEST PLAYERS:Brandon Ingram, Ben Simmons, Jaylen Brown, Buddy Hield, Jamal Murray, Pascal Siakam, Domantas Sabonis, Malcolm Brogdon, Caris LeVert, Dejounte Murray, Taurean Prince, Jakob Poeltl, Ivica Zubac, Malik Beasley

Buddy Hield leads this draft class in points scored by a comfortable margin; he is an elite scorer and rarely gets hurt. The top of this class features many Aces. Ben Simmons shows flashes of brilliance. Jaylen was key in leading the Celtics to the 2022 NBA Finals. Jamal Murray has shown he can be a good teammate to Nikola Jokic's Batman. This draft also offers good bigs like Siakam, Sabonis, and Zubac.

BEST PLAYERS:Wilt Chamberlain, Bailey Howell, Bob Ferry, Dick Barnett, Bob Boozer, Johnny Green, Rudy LaRusso, Tom Hawkins

Wilt Chamberlain holds great status. He earned 13 All-Star nods, two NBA championships, four NBA MVPs, and a Finals MVP award. He remains one of the greatest ever. Bailey Howell earned six All-Star nods and made the Hall of Fame. Bob Boozer joined him in the Hall of Fame, having won an NBA championship and earned All-Star honors. Dick Barnett had the ugliest jump shot form in history, yet he retired as an NBA champion and All-Star.

BEST PLAYERS:John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Paul George, Gordon Hayward, Eric Bledsoe, Derrick Favors, Evan Turner, Hassan Whiteside, Greg Monroe, Avery Bradley, Al-Farouq Aminu, Lance Stephenson, Patrick Patterson, Larry Sanders, Greivis Vásquez

The 2010 draft set a record. Five players from the same school entered the first round. John Wall (first), DeMarcus Cousins (fifth), Patrick Patterson (fourteenth), Eric Bledsoe (eighteenth), and Daniel Orton (twenty-ninth) all came from the University of Kentucky. Their careers show an interesting variance on a scatterplot. PG-13 is probably the best player from this draft. Hayward, Wall, and Cousins all challenged for the top spot. This draft included many good role players. Larry Sanders was the biggest 'what if?'

BEST PLAYERS:Paolo Banchero, Chet Holgrem, Jabari Smith Jr., Jaden Ivey, Keegan Murray, Bennedict Mathurin, Jalen Duren, Tari Eason, Walker Kessler, Jeremy Sochan

The best draft class ever? Maybe. It is too early to say. However, 2022 featured many good players. Paolo looks like a future All-Star. Jabari and Murray show rookie numbers. They play very naturally, so they will be hard to deny later. Ivey and Duren look like studs for the Pistons. Bennedict Mathurin is the surprise. He is threatening Rookie of the Year consideration because he plays with NBA skill.

BEST PLAYERS:Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Andrew Bogut, Andrew Bynum, David Lee, Danny Granger, Marcin Gortat, Monta Ellis, Raymond Felton, Marvin Williams, Gerald Green, Channing Frye, Nate Robinson, Jarrett Jack

Chris Paul versus Deron Williams drove the main point guard debate in the NBA for about four to five years. Time made CP3 the clear winner. Before that, Deron Williams' former teammates openly told the media he lacked it. The 2005 draft featured many strong NBA players. Andrew Bynum, the youngest player ever in an NBA game then, became a Big 3 player for the Lakers who won back-to-back titles in '09 and '10. Bogut, Lee, and Frye became NBA champions later in their careers as key rotation players in the Warriors-Cavaliers rivalry of the late 2000s. Nine of the top 10 picks in this draft played over ten years in the league and served as solid role players at least.

BEST PLAYERS:Paul Arizin, Bob Cousy, Bill Sharman, Larry Foust, George Yardley, Chuck Share, Earl Lloyd, George King, Dick Schnittker, Chuck Cooper, Bob Lavoy.

Early NBA draft days lacked big success. In a 1950 example, the No. 6 overall pick, Irwin Dambrot, chose dentistry over playing for the New York Knicks. Talent varied yearly, and the league went decades without a game-changing player. Wilt Chamberlain entered the draft in 1959; Kareem Abdul Jabbar followed in 1969. However, 1950 produced four future Hall of Famers: Arizin, Cousy, Sharman, and Yardley. Cousy and Sharman formed one of the best backcourt duos. They built the foundation for the Celtics, who won 11 of 13 NBA titles from 1957 to 1969. Larry Foust, an 8-time All-Star, almost achieved a career double-double (13.7 PPG, 9.8 RPG).

BEST PLAYERS:Dwight Howard, Emeka Okafor, Ben Gordon, Devin Harris, Luol Deng, Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston, Al Jefferson, J.R. Smith, Jameer Nelson, Josh Smith, Tony Allen, Trevor Ariza, Anderson Varejão.

Dwight Howard, an 8-time All-Star, 3-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and NBA Champion, is the gem of this draft. People called him the second coming of Shaq. Howard lived up to that nickname and took his Magic to the NBA Finals. He beat LeBron James in 2009 with an early four-out version of the modern five-out NBA play style. Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon, the second and third picks, won a national championship together as UConn teammates. The '04 draft features stud NBA players showing this era's toughness. Harris, Deng, Iguodala, and Nelson earned All-Star honors. Iggy and Livingston became key players for the Warriors.players for the WarriorsThe late 10s saw a championship dynasty. J.R. won a ring with the Cavs. Ariza won his with the Lakers.