Ranking The Ten Best NBA Drafts Of All Time

4. 2003

Future Hall of Famers: 4 (Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh)

All Stars: 8 (James, Wade, Anthony, Bosh, Chris Kaman, Mo Williams, Josh Howard, David West)

Elite Role Players: Kyle Korver, Kirk Hinrich, Boris Diaw, Kendrick Perkins, Nick Collison, Luke Ridnour, Mikael Pietrus, Leandro Barbosa, Luke Walton, Matt Bonner, Steve Blake, Keith Bogans

Busts: Darko Milicic (2nd), Mike Sweetney (9th)

This is the best draft of the last 15 years. James is most likely a top 5 all time player and Wade, Anthony, and Bosh are locks for the Hall of Fame with plenty still left in their careers. The problem with this draft is there isn’t much of a middle tier. David West has had an excellent career and remains a top flight starter, but former All Stars like Mo Williams and Chris Kaman are now bench players. Josh Howard who showed much promise to start his career, is practically out of the NBA after substance abuse and injury issues. This draft has produced a large number of prominent role players for championship level teams.

3. 1985

Hall of Famers: 5 (Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing, Joe Dumars, Chris Mullin, Arvydas Sabonis)

All Stars: 10 ( Malone, Ewing, Dumars, Mullin, Xavier McDaniel, Terry Porter, Charles Oakley, A.C. Green, Detlef Schrempf, Michael Adams)

Elite Starters: Wayman Tisdale

Elite Role Players: Hot Rod Williams, Gerald Wilkins, Mario Elie, John Battle, Spud Webb

Busts: Jon Koncak (5th), Joe Kleine (6th), Ed Pinkney (10th)

This is the great draft time forgot. It has its mix of top flight legends, 2nd tier stars, and solid starters and role players. The ’85 class lacks the pizazz of other years. Its best players were fundamental technicians that were at the forefront of the rugged late 80’s and early 90’s.Ewing didn’t have the career that was expected of him coming out of Georgetown. The Knicks were never able to surround him with enough talent. Malone was arguably the greatest power forward ever until recently surpassed by Tim Duncan. Malone consistently led the Jazz deep into the playoffs but they fell short twice in the Finals against the Bulls. Joe Dumars was one of the first prominent combo guards and paired with Isiah Thomas to form a Hall of Fame backcourt, winning two titles.

2. 1984

Hall of Famers: 4 (Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon,Charles Barkley, John Stockton)

All Stars: 7 (Jordan, Olajuwon, Barkley, Stockton, Kevin Willis, Alvin Robertson, Otis Thorpe)

Elite Starters: Sam Perkins, Vern Fleming, Michael Cage, Jerome Kersey

Elite Role Players: Jim Peterson

Busts: Sam Bowie (2nd), Mel Turpin(6th), Lancaster Gordon(8th), Leon Wood (10th)

Michael Jordan is the greatest player ever. Hakeem is one of the top 5 centers of all time. Charles Barkley was a dynamic force, and John Stockton retired as the all time leader in assists and steals. With all that being said, the overall quality of the draft top to bottom was substandard. Sam Perkins had a very good career but he was more of a complimentary piece than a franchise cornerstone. Sam Bowie, Mel Turpin, and Lancaster Gordon were busts. Alvin Robertson had a great start to his career, making 4 All Stars, and leading the league in steals 3 times while winning Defensive Player of the Year. The rest of the first round featured some decent players but not the quality of depth as other years on this list. The fact that they are this high is a testament to what Jordan and Olajuwon accomplished, winning 8 consecutive titles between them. While its best players shone bright, its not the best class ever.