With the 2013 NBA Entry Draft having wrapped recently and speculation already swirling as to the rankings and talent evaluations of eligible players for the 2014 draft, I thought it appropriate to look back at previous drafts and declare a winner for best draft ever.
In taking stock of previous drafts I realized that having one or two great players in a particular draft were not enough to compel my vote. Take for example the 1992 draft that saw Shaquille O’Neal go first overall. O’Neal was a great player, a surefire Hall of Famer and one of the game’s greatest centers; however, he alone drives that draft and therefore no further consideration is given to that year.
I was looking for a well-rounded draft, one with superstars, Hall of Famers either current or future and a draft that had some depth to it. I needed to see talent dispersed throughout, not just the top five picks. I also wanted to measure longevity of the players careers, impact to the league as well as name recognition among casual fans. The single biggest criteria for me was that the number one overall pick had to be a bona fide NBA superstar or legend.
To this regard I looked at each draft from each decade to declare a best of in class. I have chosen three drafts that truly stuck out among their peers in the decade. The top-three draft classes that rise to the top were from 1984, 1996 and 2003. Lets take a closer look at each and crown our eventual draft class champion.
1984 DRAFT
The 1984 draft boasts an impressive lineup of NBA legends. The first overall pick in the draft was Hakeem Olajuwon and it went on to include Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, John Stockton, Kevin Willis, Alvin Robertson, Otis Thorpe and Jerome Kersey.
Between all members of this draft they have nine different All-Stars, seven league MVP’s (Jordan with 5, Olajuwon and Barkley have one apiece), four all-star game MVP’s (Jordan with 3 and Barkley has one) and most importantly the leaders in this draft combine for an impressive nine NBA Championships (Jordan with 6, Olajuwon has 2 and Willis has 1).
This draft has nice depth to it as Stockton was taken with the 16th overall pick and Kersey was selected with the second to last pick in the second round. Jordan was passed over by Portland and went third overall while Barkley was taken fifth overall. Each of the mentioned players sustained long NBA careers and solidified their status among some of the game’s greatest players. In fact, Jordan, Olajuwon and Barkley were named to the NBA’s Greatest 50 players of All-Time and each has secured a spot in the Hall of Fame.
1996 DRAFT
This just might be my favorite draft class of all-time. The depth in this draft is unparalleled as the class boasts an impressive ten different All-Stars and four MVP’s have been handed out to three different players. The top overall selection in 1996 was the polarizing Allen Iverson who took the league by storm as a rookie and really propelled the advancement of an attacking and scoring point-guard. Iverson at his pinnacle was as popular of a player as they came and he drove the Philadelphia 76ers to the finals in 2001. Iverson was an 11-time All-Star, four-time league scoring champion and the league MVP in 2001. Iverson and his baggy shorts, short-cropped corn rows and lightning quick crossover moves were synonymous with the NBA during the late 1990’s.
Iverson was followed in the draft by Marcus Camby at number two, Shareef Abdur-Rahim at three, Stephon Marbury at four, Ray Allen at five and Antoine Walker at six. As if that stretch of talent wasn’t impressive enough; Kobe Bryant went at number 13, Peja Stojakovic at 14, Steve Nash at 15, Jermaine O’Neal at 17 and Zydrunas Ilgauskas with the 20th overall pick. When a draft can say it has arguably one of the games greatest players in Bryant and a two-time MVP recipient in Nash both go at the end of the lottery; that is depth.
With Bryant and Iverson, this draft boasts two of the best shooting guards of all-time. While neither supplants Michael Jordan, both could easily be considered top-five of all-time for the position. When everyone’s playing days are done, the Hall of Fame is likely to come calling for at least four members being Bryant, Iverson, Nash and Allen. This draft rivals the draft of 1984 in terms of talent, depth, and impact on the game.
2003 DRAFT
The draft of 2003 is still writing the history books of the NBA as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Carmelo Anthony are really just hitting their prime now. It is these four players who make this draft special as this draft lacks any superstars outside of the fifth overall pick. There are however many serviceable NBA players who come after like; Boris Diaw, Chris Kaman, Kirk Hinrich, David West, Luke Walton, Steve Blake, Zaza Pachulia, Mo Williams and Kyle Korver.
So far there have been eight different All-Star selections from this draft class, four MVP’s (all going to James) and three finals MVP’s (James twice and Wade once). Between James and Wade they have won three NBA titles in ten years and they don’t appear to be finished just yet. Time will tell how many from this class are Hall of Fame worthy, but we can count on James, Wade and likely Anthony to be inducted at some point.
AND THE WINNER IS...
After careful consideration, much deliberation and some heated arguments among friends we have agreed to disagree, as votes were scattered across the board. Some persuasive arguing did sway some votes while there was just no changing some people’s mind. In the end the big-name appeal and overall greatness of Michael Jordan propelled the draft class of 1984 to the forefront. Jordan is quite simply the greatest player of our generation and his impact on the game continues to be even after his final departure.
The indelible images of the tongue wagging dunks, post-up fade-a-ways and of course the buzzer beaters over Craig Ehlo and Byron Russell continue to be legendary. LeBron James may one day reach such status, but for now it is Jordan, Barkley, Olajuwon and Stockton that have earned the 1984 draft class the title of best draft class ever.