The Top 14 NBA Draft Picks Of All Time

photo credit: Flickr / zennie62originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 640height 329B: Kobe BryantKobe fell even further than Jordan in the 1996 NBA draft. He was picked by Charlotte hornets at #13. He was traded on draft day to Los Angeles Lakers with whom he won 5 championships and earned 15 All-Star selections.

photo credit: Wikimediaoriginaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 1075height 1024C: Karl MaloneKarl Malone also slipped to the 13th spot, in 1985. Dallas Mavericks promised to take him with their #8 pick, but it wasn’t until Utah Jazz drafted him that he found a home in the NBA. Malone became the second best scorer in history of NBA, with 14 All-Star selections and 2 MVP of the regular season awards.

photo credit: nbaramblings.comoriginaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 640height 360D: Larry BirdLarry Bird was first drafted in 1978 but decided to stay in college another year to play Magic Johnson for another title. Boston Celtics drafted him at #6 that year and they managed to retain the rights till 1979 when Bird actually entered the league. Once there, he led the Celtics to three titles, one of which was in his first season.

photo credit: Flickr / Kip-koechoriginaldate 10/15/2010 6:57:13 PMheight 324width 503orientation 1camerasoftware Adobe Photoshop CS2 E: Joe DumarsJoe Dumars was one of the core parts of the 1980s Detroit Pistons Bad Boys who won two titles, while also being a 6 time All-Star and a Finals MVP in 1989 when Pistons swept Lakers and he averaged 27.3 points in the four games. How low he slipped in the 1985 draft? To number 18. Yes, Dumars slipped to #18.

photo credit: Otto Greule Jr / Getty Imagesoriginaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 1200height 900F: Tony ParkerTony Parker almost slipped out of the first round at the 2001 draft until Greg Poppovich decided to draft a 19-year old kid from France. He turned out to be the perfect piece for the new big three he was building, together with Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili. And really, Tony was an integral part of four of Spurs’ titles also earning one Finals MVP award.

photo credit: sportsblog.comoriginaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 3834height 2556G: Manu GinobiliManu Ginobili not only fell out of the first round in the 1999 Draft, but he almost fell out of the second round as well. Greg Poppovich once again showed his prowess and drafted Manu at #57. He stayed with the Spurs ever since and contributed to 4 titles, while also earning one award for the Sixth Man of the Year.

photo credit: Wikimediaoriginaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 800height 597H: Willis ReedWillis Reed was a special kind of player who used his force, his strength and his will to stand up to the likes of Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He was the crucial part of New York Knicks’ two titles and perhaps the most beloved athlete in NYC history. Willis was picked 8th at the 1964 NBA draft, making him one of the best steals ever.

photo credit: Wikimediaoriginaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 857height 598I: Clyde DrexlerClyde the Glide was a star at Houston, but for some reason, he fell as low as #14 at the 1983 draft. He was picked by the Portland Trailblazers and he became a franchise player. He turned out to be a 10 times All-Star while winning a single championship, albeit with Houston Rockets.

photo credit: rantsports.comoriginaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 640height 360J: Stephen CurryIn 2015, Stephen Curry proved to everyone that he is a real star capable of leading his team to a championship. It also became obvious that he is one of the greatest shooters that have ever played the game. Still, in 2009, the Warriors were able to get him even though they only picked at #7.

photo credit: Wikimediaflash 16cameramake Canonheight 2314camerasoftware Adobe Photoshop Cameoriginaldate 2/25/2015 3:00:25 AMwidth 3015cameramodel Canon EOS-1D XK: John StocktonJohn Stockton played for Utah Jazz for 19 seasons and he missed 22 games in his career. In his entire career. He led the Jazz to playoffs every single year for those 19 years and he had more assists and steals in his career than anyone else. And it isn’t looking like anyone will match those numbers. In 1984, he was picked at #16.

photo credit: saltcityhoops.comoriginaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 576height 324L: Dirk NowitzkiDirk Nowitzki was picked at #9 in the 1998 draft and many wondered why Dallas Mavericks chose him that high actually. Don Nelson always knew what he was doing and he struck gold with the 7’0” German. Nowitzki became a regular All-Star and he led the Mavs to two finals, winning one.

photo credit: Flickr / keithallisonoriginaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 1024height 683M: Sam JonesWe are going way back with this one, more precisely to 1957 when Sam Jones was picked at #8 by the Boston Celtics. He became an important part of the first Celtics Dynasty, always coming through when the team needed him most. Jones won 10 titles with the Celtics. Yes, 10 titles.

photo credit: Dick Raphael/NBAE / Getty Imagesoriginaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 800height 450N: Denis JohnsonSeattle Supersonics drafted Dennis Johnson with their 29th pick in 1976 (which was then a second round pick). In 1979, he led them to a title and won the Finals MVP. In 1983, Red Auerbach brought DJ to Boston where he would win two more titles and serve as a Magic Johnson-stopper.

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