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.
We have cracked into the top five draft slots and with it we are seeing some big named players. As one would expect the majority of guys drafted this high have stuck around in the Association for varying lengths of time. Before we get into the fourth overall pick, we look back at the fifth slot where we found a rather portly and rotund power-forward from Auburn University who was drafted back in 1984 by the Philadelphia 76ers.
Of course that pick turned out to be “Sir” Charles Barkley and Barkley would go on to be one of the most feared players in the league. Barkley was a force in the Association for the better part of two decades as he averaged a double-double in every season of his career cept for his rookie season where he posted a mere 8.6 rpg. Even without a ring on his finger, Barkley was an automatic selection for the Naismith Hall of Fame as his resume did include two Olympic Gold Medals, a league MVP award, 11 All-Star appearances and a spot on the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-time Team.
In preparing for the top-five lottery slots, I fully expected to find multiple Hall of Famers and league MVP recipients dominating the list. While the fifth overall spot offered two Hall of Famers in Barkley and Scottie Pippen; the fourth overall spot offers zero Hall of Famers and no league MVP recipients. In fact, history would suggest that the fourth overall draft slot has been rather disappointing over the years as evidenced by 40 years without a yet recognized NBA legend among the ranks. Nonetheless, we forge ahead and pick crown our greatest fourth overall draft pick in spite of the shortcomings.
We shall start off in 2008 where the Seattle Supersonics drafted Russell Westbrook. Westbrook has certainly proved his worth in the Association as he was teamed with Kevin Durant to form one of the leagues best duos in Oklahoma City.
In 2003 the Toronto Raptors selected Chris Bosh with their pick and while Bosh did flourish in Toronto he ultimately left T.O. and forced a sign and trade to Miami where he is currently enjoying success as a member of “The Big Three” in South Beach.
A fellow whose name is in the media of late for all the wrong reasons happened to have been drafted fourth overall by the Los Angeles Clippers back in 1999. Lamar Odom has likely played his last game in the NBA and sadly his on-court accomplishments will forever be overshadowed by the drug use and lore of what could have been.
The Toronto Raptors make the list again here as they originally drafted Antawn Jamison back in 1998 then immediately dealt the pick to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Vince Carter. By all accounts the trade was a good one for the Raptors as Carter led them to a last-second buzzer-beating shot of advancing to an NBA Finals and winning the Eastern Conference. Carter electrified the Air Canada Centre crowd’s on a nightly basis before he too forced his way out of Toronto. Carter remains public enemy number one in Toronto as fans will not forget nor forgive Carter for the unceremonious exile that he imposed.
The 1990’s continued their strong showings as Stephon Marbury represented the 1996 draft class, Jamal Mashburn went to Dallas in 1993 and was preceded by another ex-Maverick as Jim Jackson came off the board in 1992. Getting the decade started in 1991 was none other than the “Finger Wag” himself, Dikembe Mutombo who was taken by Denver.
With so many quality draft picks representing the fourth overall draft slot and in lieu of not having a league MVP or Hall of Famer to choose from one must pick based on future accolades and success. Based on this theory the greatest fourth overall draft pick is none other than the Los Angeles Clippers Chris Paul.
Paul was originally drafted by the New Orleans Hornets back in 2005 and he has since gone onto be regarded as the league’s premier point guard. In his first eight years in the Association, Paul has laid the groundwork for a future Hall of Fame career. Paul has already amassed two Olympic Gold Medals, six All-Star nominations, one All-Star game MVP, has been named to the NBA All-Defensive Team on five occasions, twice he has led the league in assists and led the league in steals for five seasons.
Paul has already made his mark in the Association as he is the only player in league history to lead the league in assists and steals in consecutive years. If it not for the likes of LeBron James and Kevin Durant; Paul would likely have a league MVP award sitting in his display case as well.
Paul and the Clippers are hoping for a championship run this season and if Paul can post numbers in line with his career averages of 18.6 ppg, 9.8 apg, 4.4 rpg and 2.4 steals per game then the Clippers have an excellent chance of making a title run and Paul will be in-line for his first MVP award.