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 just finished determining our best 10th overall draft pick and so now we continue our clim to number one as our next stop is the 9th pick. The selection for greatest 10th overall draft pick was a fairly easy one in hindsight as this franchise legend holds not only numerous team records, but also the distinction of having ten All-Star nominations, an NBA Championship and was named NBA Finals MVP.

Paul Pierce will eventually have his jersey retired to the rafters to be honoured alongside other Boston Celtic greats and he will undoubtedly 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.

Alright without further delay let’s get on to the task at hand and that is to determine the greatest 9th overall draft pick of all-time. There are some recent selections that could make a long-term impact on the league as this trio is off to a good start; Andre Drummond was Detroits pick in 2012, Kemba Walker was selected by Charlotte in 2011 and Joakim Noah was nabbed by the Chicago Bulls in 2007.

A couple more intriguing picks to round out the decade were Andre Iguodala who in 2004 was drafted by Philadelphia and Amar'e Stoudemire who was taken in 2002 by the Phoenix Suns. An ex-running mate of Stoudemire’s in the desert was also nabbed by the Suns back in 1999, ‘The Matrix’ Shawn Marion helped form an electrifying frontcourt in Phoenix.

A recent retiree of the Association and one whose NBA credentials are hotly debated as to his deservingness of Hall of Fame consideration was drafted 9th overall back in 1997 by the Toronto Raptors. Tracy McGrady had a nice career; however, one can’t help but wonder what could have been if not for all those nagging injuries.

In 1988 the Miami Heat selected Rony Seikaly out of Syracuse with their 9th overall pick. Seikaly would go on to be the franchises first true star player as he was a consistent two-way player. Going back a bit further we find Charles Oakley who was a draft pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1985.

Digging deep into the draft almanacs we find an offensive gem in Dale Ellis who was drafted back in 1983 by the Dallas Mavericks. Ellis is still probably best remembered for his years in Seattle where he was a dynamite catch and release shooter. Sticking with the Mavericks, their scouting department deserves some credit for the team’s early 80’s picks because in addition to Ellis in 1983, the Mavericks landed Rolando Blackman in 1981. Blackman went on to be a four time NBA All-Star and his jersey currently hangs from the rafters in the American Airlines Center.

With all these solid pro’s as competition, one man still rises to the top of the class. Drafted back in 1998 by the Milwaukee Bucks then immediately traded to Dallas along with Pat Garrity for Robert Traylor;  Dirk Nowitzki’s entrance into the NBA was anything but smooth. The trade for Dallas would be significant; however, as the franchise parlayed that one trade into two future league MVP’s and ultimately an NBA Championship.

Nowitzki is building upon a resume that already boasts of eleven All-Star nods, one NBA Championship, a NBA Finals MVP Award and a regular season NBA MVP Award as well. Nowitzki certainly has left his mark on the league and it is only a matter of time before the familiar #41 jersey is hanging alongside that of Blackman’s. Nowitzki will also undoubtedly get his call to the Hall as no regular season MVP Award recipient has not been nominated for enshrinement.

The big German was an easy selection here as eDraft’s greatest 9th overall draft pick as no other player in this draft slot has an MVP award or a Hall of Fame-type resume as of yet.