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.

The winner of our greatest 22nd overall pick went to George McGinnis who was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1973. McGinnis experienced much of his success in the ABA as he was a two time ABA Champion, was named ABA playoff MVP in 1973 and was the ABA regular season MVP in 1975. With McGinnis’ crowning our run of uncovering Hall of Famers has come to an end.

We now move on in our quest as we crown our greatest 21st overall draft pick of all time. This was an interesting draft slot to research as the majority of success stories were all seen in the last twenty years. Previous draft slots seemed to get stronger as we went back through the 1980’s and 1970’s; this draft slot saw nobody of significance from those decades.

You might have guessed, but given the lack of depth to the draft classes, there is no Hall of Famer to be found here at the 21st overall spot. In fact we can’t say with any certainty that there will be one as no one player has yet assured himself of such an honour.

Of the seven players who were drafted 21st overall and who made a mark in the Association; three of them were drafted by the Phoenix Suns. Two of these draft picks were used on point guards, despite the fact that the Suns already had reigning MVP Steve Nash running the point.

Despite having the league’s best player under contract the Suns still used their first-round picks in both 2005 and 2006 on floor generals. Neither player who was drafted in these spots ever suited up for the Suns; however, one of them will be crowned as our greatest 21st draft pick.

Here are a few players who made the initial cut. Ryan Anderson now of the New Orleans Pelicans was a New Jersey Net draft day pick back in 2008. 2005 saw the Suns select Nate Robinson then promptly send him packing off the New York along with Quentin Richardson in exchange for Kurt Thomas.

2003 saw the Atlanta Hawks select the French born international star Boris Diaw and although Diaw played two seasons in Atlanta he reached his prominence once he was traded to Phoenix. Staying with the Valley of the Sun theme, in 1995 the Suns grabbed the versatile Michael Finley out of the University of Wisconsin with their selection. Ironically enough Finley experienced his best years with the Dallas Mavericks where he was teamed with the aforementioned Steve Nash.

In 2006 the Suns drafted the first point guard in the year’s draft class and that selection was none other than Rajon Rondo. Rondo never played for Phoenix as he was sent packing along with Brian Grant for the Cleveland Cavaliers first-round pick in the 2007 draft. Incidentally that player turned out to be Alando Tucker who despite breaking former Wisconsin Badger and Phoenix Sun, Michael Finley’s career school scoring record; he managed a measly 51 career games in the Association.

Rondo on the other hand has gone on to win an NBA Championship, be a four time All-Star and a four time All-NBA Defensive Team member. Rondo twice led the league in assists per game and most triple-doubles during the season; he has also set four new Boston Celtic franchise records.

Rondo is the first of the new-era players to crack our countdown and despite having played less than seven full seasons of NBA ball; he was the easy choice for eDraft’s greatest 21st overall draft pick of all-time.