Which is the best NBA draft class of all time? A top 10 list

The NBA draft is one of the most anticipated annual events in the National Basketball Association. It involves teams drafting players to join them in their fight to be at the top of the league season after season. Building a squad that can compete and wins trophies is essential to be considered the best NBA draft class in history.

Each year there is always a new bunch of stars being drafted into the NBA, and some of them grow to be legends despite pressure from fans due to high expectations. As a basketball coach, knowing what the team needs while picking stars has always been vital to building a successful squad.

Top 10 best NBA draft classes of all time

Most professional basketball players that are legends today were selected in the best NBA draft classes of all time. The pick can turn a team going through difficulties into a title-contending franchise.

According to various online analysts, here is a list of the top 10 best NBA draft classes in history, featuring some of the best players in each case.

10. 1992

The 1992 NBA draft class is considered one of the deepest in history. It had great players, such as Shaquille O’Neal, who was drafted first overall by the Orlando Magic.

Shaq later joined the Lakers and won four NBA titles, three Finals MVP awards, the NBA MVP award 2000, and 15 All-Star selections.

The renowned former basketballer became a member of the Hall of Fame in 2016, a distinction he shared with the second and third-round picks, Alonzo Mourning and Christian Laettner.

9. 2001

Aside from being one of the best NBA draft classes since 2000, the 2001 NBA draft was loaded with outstanding talent. It included famous and legendary basketballers such as Kwame Brown, one of the biggest busts of all time, All-Stars Tyson Chandler, and Pau Gasol.

During his time with the Lakers, Gasol won two championships, and while with the Spurs, Tony Parker, the overall 28th pick, won four titles. The draft also included Joe Johnson, Zach Randolph, Gerald Wallace, and Gilbert Arenas.

8. 1999

The 1999 picks did not have consensus superstars but were also not short of recognisable and rich talent. In the class, Shawn Marion is the only one who earned more than three All-Star appearances.

However, Elton Brand was among the first to be selected by the Chicago Bulls. The renowned legend earned an All-Star selection with Steve Francis, Wally Szczerbiak, Baron Davis, and Andrei Kirilenko.

The class’ surprise was Manu Ginobili, the second last pick, who went on and became a two-time All-Star, winning four championships, and in 2022 he became a member of the Hall of Fame.

7. 2009

Being one of the best recent NBA draft classes in the list, the 2009 picks featured the greatest basketball players in history, such as Blake Griffin, DeMar DeRozan, James Harden, and Stephen Curry, the world’s most excellent NBA three-point shooter of all time.

The Memphis Grizzlies were unfortunate since. While trying to draft a position needed in the second pick, they drafted center Hasheem Thabeet, one of the biggest busts in the league’s history.

Although the 2009 draft lacked depth, Curry and Harden won the Most Valuable Player award, while Jrue Holiday and Jeff Teague earned All-Star appearances.

6. 1998

In the 1998 picks, Michael Olowokandi was in the first group to be selected but was one of the biggest busts. On the other hand, Nowitzki, one of the class' most significant successes, earned an MVP award in 2007 despite being selected ninth.

Among the top 10 picks were Vince Carter, Antawn Jamison, Nowitzki, and Paul Pierce. They scored over 20,000 points in the NBA and became superstars. Pierce and Nowitzki won an NBA championship while playing for Celtics and Mavericks, respectively.

5. 1987

In the 1987 draft, David Robinson was the first pick, while Scottie Pippen and Reggie Miller were the fifth and eleventh, respectively. The three legends are members of the Hall of Fame. Miller and Robinson are among the most outstanding single franchise players ever.

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Robinson ranks among the most significant shot blockers of all time in the basketball arena, and on the other hand, Miller is considered one of the best three-point shooters in history. Along with Horace Grant and Michael Jordan, Pippen won three NBA championships.

4. 1985

Since the 1985 draft came before the class of 1984, it needs to be addressed. It featured legendary players with extraordinary talents, such as Patrick Ewing and Karl Malone, who paired up and earned 25 All-Star appearances.

Other legends from the years' pick included Xavier McDaniel, Detlef Schrempf, Chris Mullin, and Charles Oakley have earned ten All-Star appearances combined.

Joe Dumars and Isiah Thomas formed one of the most formidable backcourt combinations. They went on to win championships back-to-back for Detroit and consequently created the biggest NBA rivalry with the Chicago Bulls.

3. 2003

The 2003 draft had phenomenal talent and is considered one of the best classes in the National Basketball Association's history. It featured the most famous basketballers, including LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwyane Wade, all drafted in the top five.

James, Bosh, and Wade teamed up with the Miami Heat and bagged the 2012 and 2013 championships. Chris Kaman, Josh Howard, Mo Williams, and Davis West were the class All-Stars, while Kyle Korver was one of the greatest three-point shooters ever.

2. 1984

The 1984 selection had the greatest NBA player of all time, Michael Jordan, who was picked third overall after Hakeem Olajuwon, one of the best defenders to grace the basketball court. Although Sam Bowie was selected third overall, he was among the biggest NBA draft busts ever.

Jordan, Olajuwon, Barkley, and Stockton combined forces and took home eight championships, 45 All-NBA teams, 47 All-Star games, 7 MVP awards, and are all inducted into the Hall of Fame.

1. 1996

Finally, the 1996 class is the best of all time. It featured great basketball players such as Allen Iverson, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Marcus Camby, Stephon Marbury, Antoine Walker, Ray Allen, and Kobe Bryant, among other picks.

From the 1996 squad, Derek Fisher pulled up one of the best plays in the National Basketball Association's history with 0.4 Shot.

Kobe is among the best shooting guards of all time and a two-time MVP. The legend has won five NBA titles with the Lakers and is an 18-time All-Star. Ray Allen was also ranked among the greatest ever three-point shooters.

Best NBA draft classes since 2010

Several of the best classes have risen to stardom and produced massive talents in the basketball arena since 2010. The 2018 class stands out as one of the best NBA draft classes in the 2010s, with the best players such as L Doncic, T Young, and D Ayton.

What is the most underrated draft class in the NBA?

Although it has the most Hall of Famers than any other class, the 1970 class is the most underrated in history. It featured Bob Lanier, who was selected first overall, Pete Maravich, Dave Cowens, Calvin Murphy, and Nate Archibald, among others.

Who was the number one overall in the 1998 draft?

Michael Olowokandi was the number one overall pick in the 1998 draft from the mid-major University of the Pacific. He later became one of the biggest busts in the National Basketball Association's history.

Was the 2000 NBA draft the worst in history?

Although there are best and worst NBA draft classes in history, the 2000 class deserves to be considered the worst since few players from its selection went on and extended their careers in the league.

For a draft to be regarded as the best NBA draft class in history, it should have players that are not only the best on the court but can also win trophies. It is a challenging task to pick players since it requires one to understand the team's needs and determine what is missing for it to become a championship contender.

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