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.
Our previous two selections both came out of the West Coast Conference; John Stockton and Steve Nash were both worthy of their selection as greatest 16th and 15th overall draft picks. While Stockton is already a member of the Hall of Fame, Nash is surely to be elected upon his retirement as well. We move on from those two greats and onto our analysis of the 14th overall draft slot.
This turned out to be an extremely deep draft spot as no fewer than 14 players made significant enough contributions to be worthy of some mention. Among the worthy we have some recent draftees; Patrick Patterson, Earl Clark, Al Thornton and Kris Humphries who all deserve some praise.
Going back a bit further we have another run of candidates as Luke Ridnour, Troy Murphy, Michael Dickerson and Peja Stojakovic carved out solid careers in the Association. Recent talk has Stojakovich having his jersey retired by the Sacramento Kings in the near future, which would be a nice tribute to the Serbian sharpshooter.
Two NBA All-Stars from the 1990’s are also among the group as Tim Hardaway and Dan Majerle were both drafted 15th overall. Hardaway became synonymous with the crossover as he made a living by breaking opposing guards ankles. Majerle on the other hand earned his nickname ‘Thunder Dan’ for his monster dunks; however, he later became known for his defense and three-point shooting.
Going back into the late 1970’s and early 1980’s we found three more worthy candidates in Herb Williams, Tree Rollins and Joe Bryant. Williams was an 18-year veteran in the league before his retirement in 1999. Rollins retired after his own 18-year career that saw him leave as the fourth best shot-blocker to have ever played. Bryant had a much shorter stint in the league as most of his success was achieved overseas. Bryant’s biggest and most significant contribution to the Association might be that he is the father of all-everything Kobe Bryant.
Our best in class here was also drafted in the 1980’s as the Portland Trailblazers made Clyde Drexler the 14th overall pick in the 1983 NBA Entry Draft. Clyde ‘The Glyde’ went on to have an amazing 16-year career. Drexler went on to be a ten time All-Star, an NBA Champion and an Olympic Gold Medal. He left the game with career averages of 20.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg and 5.6 apg.
Drexler had his #22 jersey retired by both the Houston Rockets and Portland Trailblazers upon retirement and he was named to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. Drexler then got his call to the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2004.
Clyde Drexler was as dominant a player in the late 80’s and 90’s as they came. Drexler led the Trailblazers to NBA prominence as the club made two NBA finals appearances and a league best record in 1990-91. Drexler later teamed with Hakeem Olajuwon in Houston and together they took the sixth seeded Rockets right to an NBA Championship.
Clyde Drexler is a Hall of Famer and a member of the 50 Greatest players. He was a terrific find for the Blazers in the 1983 draft and considering thirteen teams passed him over, he was an absolute steal. Drexler was an easy selection as eDraft’s greatest 14th overall draft pick.