The Best NBA Draft Classes Ever

Thirteenth pick, Charlotte, and straight on to the Lakers, who had told the Hornets minutes earlier exactly who to take. That was Kobe Bryant, June 26, 1996. Phoenix used the 15th on Steve Nash, Portland the 17th on Jermaine O'Neal, the Lakers the 24th on Derek Fisher, and Charlotte came back in the second round for Malik Rose. Fifty drafts in, and the board simply would not stop giving.

Portland's second pick is the most re-examined decision the league has: Sam Bowie, taken at the Felt Forum on June 19, 1984, one slot ahead of Michael Jordan, who went third to Chicago. Houston had already opened with Akeem Olajuwon. Look past the argument, though. Utah took John Stockton 16th, and Portland itself came back in the second round for Jerome Kersey at 46.

Ping-pong balls showed up in May 1985, the Knicks won the first lottery ever held, and they spent it on Patrick Ewing out of Georgetown. The better story came twelve picks later: Utah took Karl Malone 13th on June 18, 1985. Portland kept it going with Terry Porter at 24 the same evening. Useful players a long way down the board is what puts it this high.

San Antonio used the first pick on David Robinson and then waited two years while he finished his Navy commitment. Chicago, meanwhile, took Olden Polynice eighth and sent him straight to Seattle for Scottie Pippen, who had gone fifth. Indiana had Reggie Miller at 11 and New York had Mark Jackson at 18. June 22, 1987 kept giving long after the cameras left.

Cleveland won the lottery on May 22, said out loud what it would do with the pick, and did it. Fine. Look further down June 26, 2003 instead: Miami took Dwyane Wade fifth, and New Jersey found Kyle Korver at 51. A class stacked this well at the top is usually hollow by the second round. Not this one, and the second round is why it sits here.

Vancouver hosted this one, at General Motors Place on June 24, 1998, and the first pick went to Michael Olowokandi out of mid-major Pacific. Ninth was Dirk Nowitzki, taken by Milwaukee and traded to Dallas in a multi-team deal. Seattle then used the 32nd pick, in the second round, on Rashard Lewis. A board whose best player was moved before he had played a minute.

Six teams passed before Golden State took Stephen Curry seventh, on June 25, 2009, which happened to be his father's 45th birthday. The Clippers had opened with Blake Griffin out of Oklahoma. Then Portland spent the 55th pick on Patty Mills. A first round that reads a great deal better now than the reaction did at the time, and a second round that kept producing.

March 23, 1970, early in the year and stacked. Detroit opened with Bob Lanier out of St. Bonaventure, Boston took Dave Cowens fourth, and the second round began with Calvin Murphy going 18th to San Diego. Fifteen years before the league invented a lottery, the value was already running well past the top of the board.

Two UCLA players went inside the first eleven on May 28, 1974: Bill Walton first to Portland, Keith Wilkes, later Jamaal, eleventh to Golden State. Then Phoenix spent the 40th pick on George Gervin, who ignored them and stayed in the ABA with San Antonio. Maurice Lucas went 14th. A Hall of Fame guard at 40 is what a deep board looks like. It just does not run as many names as the eight above it.

Milwaukee opened with Kent Benson on June 10, 1977, which is not why this class is here. Bernard King went seventh to the New York Nets, Jack Sikma eighth to Seattle, and the Lakers were still finding Norm Nixon at 22. Useful a long way down the board, and nobody at the top anyone would call an all-timer. That combination is worth tenth and not more.

Orlando opened at Memorial Coliseum in Portland on June 24, 1992 with Shaquille O'Neal, Charlotte followed with Alonzo Mourning, and Minnesota took Christian Laettner third. Three picks that would headline most years, and then a board that never comes close to matching them again. Top-heavy is the whole diagnosis, and on a depth ranking top-heavy is what costs you.

Cincinnati never had to use a pick on Oscar Robertson at all. They claimed him as a territorial selection, a rule that let a club forfeit its first-rounder and take any player living within fifty miles of its arena. On April 11, 1960 the Minneapolis Lakers took Jerry West second, shortly before the franchise moved to Los Angeles. Two superb guards from one thin board. Thin is the problem.