We continue our eDraft exclusive look at the top NBA draft choices over the past 40 years. Our continued look back through history will determine who was the best draft selection through each slot in the draft. We don’t stop with the first overalls, we will go pick by pick, year by year to to identify the very best selections of all-time.
As we prepare to crack into the top-ten, let’s recap our greatest 11th overall draft pick. The eleventh spot saw Hall of Famer Reggie Miller get beat out by Hall of Famer Jamaal Wilkes. We just couldn’t overlook the fact that Wilkes went on to win four NBA championships and two NCAA titles. In the end it was a close call but Jamaal Wilkes edged out the ‘Knick Killer’ Miller for eDraft’s honour as the greatest 11th overall draft pick.
Alright let’s move on and get into the top ten draft slots. As one might imagine, the better the draft spot the better the talent to choose from. The best of the best here are quite good; however, there is yet to be a Hall of Famer drafted 10th overall. Granted there will be, but for now no one has gotten the call.
We will start with three players who went in successive years; Paul George in 2010 to Indiana, Brandon Jennings in 2009 to Milwaukee and Brook Lopez in 2008 to New Jersey. Going back a bit further we find a player who has a lot to prove after missing an entire season due to knee surgery; Andrew Bynum was drafted 10th overall in 2005 by the Los Angeles Lakers but it is now in Cleveland that Bynum must prove himself.
Now on to a trio of players who find themselves now playing for the same team. The Brooklyn Nets are now the beneficiaries of Boston’s 2001 pick in Joe Johnson, Atlanta’s 1999 selection of Jason Terry and another Boston draft selection that will eventually get his call to the hall and for now will be crowned as eDraft’s greatest 10th overall pick.
Before we get to our eventual champion, there are three more players who warrant mention. The Lakers selected Eddie Jones back in 1994 and he went on to be a three time NBA all-star. In 1987 the Chicago Bulls selected Horace Grant. Grant went on to be an all-star, four times named to the All-Defensive Second Team and he won four NBA championships.
Our best in class here was drafted in 1998 by the Boston Celtics and is now a member of the Brooklyn Nets thanks to an off-season blockbuster. Paul Pierce will always be a Celtic and his legendary status in the Celtics franchise will one day be honoured with a jersey retirement. Until such time, Pierce looks to build on his already impressive playing resume. Already a 10 time NBA All-Star, a NBA Champion from 2008 and was named NBA Finals MVP.
Paul Pierce will get his call to join the ranks of the NBA elite one day as the Naismith Hall of Fame will open it’s doors for him. Pierce was easily the best player among his peers who were drafted 10th overall and that made him an easy pick for eDraft’s greatest 10th overall pick.