The 5 best NBA draft classes EVER

Is the 2003 the greatest Draft class of all-time? (Image courtesy: Ballislife.com)
Is 2003 the greatest Draft class of all-time? (Image courtesy: Ballislife.com)

Drafting well can result in the formation of a dynasty Eg: the San Antonio Spurs, and drafting badly despite years in the Lottery can wreck your team Eg: the Sacramento Kings. Some of it, however, has to do with the draft class in which you get a top pick. Over the years, we've seen good, average and bad (2000 ugh) drafts.

There haven't been too many terrific draft classes but a few have stood out, be it either the multiple All-time Greats or the sheer number of great talent drafted. Here, we rank some of those amazing draft classes.

#5 1987

Scottie Pippen and David Robinson were highlights of the 1987 Draft.
Scottie Pippen and David Robinson were highlights of the 1987 Draft.

The 1987 NBA draft saw David Robinson go 1st. Robinson was a 2-time NBA champion, the 1995 MVP and made 10 All-Star appearances. He also won a scoring title in 1994, was the 1992 DPOY and is regarded as one of the greatest Centers of all time.

Also read: The only 4 players to record a quadruple-double

Scottie Pippen went 5th and is one of the greatest defensive players in NBA history. Pippen won 6 NBA titles and was a 7-time All-Star. Reggie Miller was picked 11th and is one of the greatest shooters ever and currently ranks 2nd all-time in 3s made. Miller appeared in 5 All-Star games. Kevin Johnson was picked 7th, was one of the best PGs of his generation and appeared in 3 All-Star games.

Horace Grant, Mark Jackson, and Reggie Lewis would also make All-Star appearances. Jackson is currently 4th All-time in Assists. Reggie Lewis passed away because of a cardiac arrest when he was entering his prime at the age of 27.

#4 1985

Enter
Image Courtesy: DefineARevolution.com

1985 was the year the draft lottery system began and it sure was a loaded draft class. Patrick Ewing went 1st and is regarded as the greatest player in Knicks history. Ewing was an 11-time All-Star and is one of the best big men in league history. Karl Malone picked 13th, would end up as the 2nd leading scorer in NBA history. Malone was a 2-time MVP and made 14 All-Star appearances.

Joe Dumars picked 18th, would form one of the greatest backcourts of all time with Isiah Thomas. Dumars would make 6 All-Star appearances and won 2 NBA titles. The 7th pick, Chris Mullin was one of the greatest shooters of his generation and made 5 All-Star appearances.

Further, Xavier McDaniel, Detlef Schrempf, Charles Oakley, Terry Porter, AC Green and Michael Adams would make All-Star appearances. This draft class has a total 10 All-Stars, 2nd most on the list.

#3 2003

Enter captio
Image Courtesy: NLSC Forum

The 2003 draft class produced four of the best players in the NBA over the coming decade. LeBron James went 1st and is regarded by many as being 2nd only to Michael Jordan in NBA history. James has won 3 NBA championships, is a 13-time All-Star, won 4 MVPs and a scoring title in 2008.

Carmelo Anthony went 3rd and is one of the greatest scorers in the modern era. Melo is a 10-time All-Star and won the scoring title in 2013. Dwyane Wade who went 5th is arguably the 3rd greatest SG of all-time. Wade is a 3-time NBA champion, 12-time All-Star and won a scoring title in 2009. Chris Bosh went 4th and was an 11-time All-Star and a 2-time NBA champion.

While this class is mainly remembered for the aforementioned foursome, there were a few other All-Stars as well. Chris Kaman, David West, Josh Howard, Mo Williams and Kyle Korver would all feature at the glamour event.

#2 1984

Image
Image Courtesy: rollingstone.com

The 1984 draft could easily be number 1 for the sheer greatness of four of the players picked. Hakeem Olajuwon went 1st, he was the 1994 MVP and DPOY in 1993 and 94. Olajuwon was a 12-time All-Star, won 2 NBA titles and is undoubtedly the greatest international player in NBA history. Michael Jordan went 3rd and he'd go down as the greatest ever. Jordan won 5 MVPs, 10 scoring titles, was a 14-time All-Star and won DPOY in 1988 to go along with his 6 NBA titles.

Charles Barkley went 5th and he'd go down as one of the greatest Power Forwards ever. Barkley was an 11-time All-Star and was MVP in 1993. John Stockton picked 16th, would end up as the all-time leader in Assists and Steals in NBA history. He led the league in assists a record nine times.

Alvin Robertson, Kevin Willis, and Otis Thorpe would all make All-Star appearances and Robertson also won DPOY in 1986. I was very much tempted to put this at Number 1 but the class ahead of them was just too damn loaded.

#1 1996

Enter
Image Courtesy: Sporcle.com

While 2003 and 1984 may have some of the biggest names, 1996 is the deepest draft we've ever seen. Allen Iverson went 1st, he'd be one of the best scorers in league history, racking up 4 scoring titles. He was an 11-time All-Star and won an MVP in 2000. Kobe Bryant went 13th and would go down as one of the greatest players in NBA history. Bryant was an 18-time All-Star, MVP in 2008, won 2 scoring titles and 5 NBA titles.

Steve Nash went 15th and is one of the greatest playmakers in NBA history. Nash was an 8-time All-Star, 2-time MVP in 2005 &06 and led the league in Assists 5 times. Ray Allen went 5th and is the all-time leader in 3 pointers made. He's also a 10-time All-Star and a 2-time NBA Champion.

Shareef Abdur Rahim, Stephon Marbury, Antoine Walker, Peja Stojakovic, Jermaine O'Neal and Zydrunas Ilgauskas would all make All-Star teams. Marcus Camby was DPOY in 2007. Ben Wallace went undrafted and he would make 4 all-star teams and was a 4-time DPOY.

All in all, the 1996 draft had 11 All-Stars of whom 3 won MVP awards.

Quick Links

Edited by Yash Matange