The 2021 NBA Draft is rapidly approaching, heralding the arrival of a new crop of stars beginning their professional journeys. With a few notable exceptions, the great majority of NBA talent has come through the amateur draft. So, if you want to identify the star's of tomorrow, this is the place to look.
Every year, pundits and talent evaluators debate over the relative depth of a draft class. Some groups are highly touted, while experts are more bearish on certain others. No less than Suns star center Deandre Ayton recently rekindled the debate, when he asserted that his 2018 class is already among the best ever.
It's tough to make snap judgements before careers have taken shape, but several decades' worth of modern draft history has afforded us plenty of perspective to at least attempt to contextualize it. Here's our look at the greatest NBA draft classes ever.
10. 1998
Vince CarterGettyWhat this class lacked in overall depth, it made up for with top-end talent, boasting several players who went on to become league greats.
One of them was one of the first heirs apparent to Michael Jordan, Vince Carter (5). Vinsanity notched 10 All-Star nods and captured the imagination of millions with his high-flying dunks throughout his epic 21-year career. The others are Dirk Nowitzki (9), a surefire future Hall of Famer, and Paul Pierce (10), whose induction was announced in 2021. That's a terrific top tier.
Elsewhere, a pair of future two-time All-Stars were taken, in Antawn Jamison (4), and second-round steal Rashard Lewis.
You'll have to dig deeper outside of those players, but several others from the early first round carved out unspectacular but respectable careers, including Mike Bibby (2), Raef LaFrentz (3), Jason "White Chocolate" Williams (7), Larry Hughes (8), and Bonzi Wells (11).
Other journeymen of yesteryear taken in the first round in '98 include first overall pick Michael Olowokandi, Al Harrington (25), Nazr Mohammed (29), Keon Clark (13), Matt Harpring (15), Robert Traylor (6), Michael Doleac (12), and Tyronn Lue (23), who of course has gone on to become a head coach in the league. Second-round notables, in addition to Lewis, include Rafer Alston and Cuttino Mobley.
9. 2018
Trae YoungGettyToo soon? Maybe, but this group is off to a very strong start.
Ayton (1) is a double-double machine, and already has a Finals appearance under his belt. Luka Doncic (3) looks like a perennial All-Star and MVP candidate, ditto Trae Young (5). Jaren Jackson Jr. (4) looked to be on his way to stardom before injuries cost him most of last season. Mikal Bridges (10), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (11), Miles Bridges (12), Michael Porter Jr. (14) and Donte DiVincenzo (17) have all produced early on, and should be around a while.
As well, while the back half of the first round has been mostly unimpressive so far -- with the exception of Robert Williams III (27) -- several useful role players were unearthed in the second round. Among them were Jalen Brunson (33), Devonte Graham (34), Mitchell Robinson (36), Jarred Vanderbilt (41), Bruce Brown (42), De'Anthony Melton (46) and Shake Milton (54).
8. 2011
Kyrie IrvingGettyThough it's only a decade ago, it's safe to say the 2011 class is an all-timer. You could easily assemble an excellent All-Star team with the best 5-6 players from this class, along with a really strong bench with some of the other notables.
Kyrie Irving has delivered on the promise that made him the top overall pick, while Kawhi Leonard (15) will go down as an all-time steal. Jimmy Butler (30), Kemba Walker (9), Klay Thompson (11), and Nikola Vucevic (16) were also strong values. Other first-round notables include Jonas Valanciunas (5), Tobias Harris (19), Enes Kanter (3), Tristan Thompson (4), Alec Burks (12), the Morris twins (Markieff 13 and Marcus 14), Iman Shumpert (17), Nikola Mirotic (23), Reggie Jackson (24), and Cory Joseph (29). The second round was also relatively fruitful, where Bojan Bogdanovic, Isaiah Thomas, Chandler Parsons, Davis Bertans and E'Twaun Moore were all selected.
There were some relative disappointments early in the first round, however, either because of ineffectiveness or injury, including Derrick Williams (2), Jan Vesely (6), Brandon Knight (8), and Jimmer Fredette (10). But, on balance, this looks like an exceedingly strong class.
7. 1999
Richard HamiltonGettyThe class of '99 is deeper than it is top-heavy, which is interesting since there was a steep falloff after the first half of the first round, and virtually no second-round standouts save for one notable exception.
The final year of the last millennium gave us a handful of All-Stars and All-NBA honorees, including Elton Brand (1), Steve Francis (2), Baron Davis (3), Lamar Odom (4), Wally Szczerbiak (6), Richard Hamilton (7), Andre Miller (8), Shawn Marion (9), and the artist formerly known as Ron Artest (16).
Andrei Kirilenko (24) was the lone standout from the late first round, and the Spurs nabbed Manu Ginobili with the next-to-last pick in the second round in what proved to be a fateful selection.
Jason Terry (10) played 18 seasons and won a title with the Mavericks, and Corey Maggette (13) averaged 16 points per game in his 13-year career.
6. 1987
David RobinsonGettyThis year marked the arrival of a handful of league fixtures -- including three future Hall of Famers. The first was David Robinson (1), who didn't actually suit up for the Spurs until 1989-90 owing to military service. The others were league icons Scottie Pippen (5) and Reggie Miller (11).
Several future All-Stars were also taken, including Kevin Johnson (7), Horace Grant (10), Mark Jackson (18), and the late Reggie Lewis (22). Other notables include future TNT analyst Kenny Smith (6), Olden Polynice (8), Derrick McKey (9), and Muggsy Bogues (12), the patron saint of pint-sized point guards. Second-rounder Sarunas Marciulionis was one of the league's first standouts imported from Europe, playing seven seasons.
5. 2009
Curry-HardenGettyIt's not an understatement to say this class helped revolutionize the sport.
James Harden (3) and Stephen Curry (7) are two of the better offensive players in recent memory, and will be remembered in part for their insane handles and prolificness behind the 3-point line. DeMar DeRozan (9) and his comparatively old-school mid-range game have a strong case to join them in the Hall of Fame someday, and Blake Griffin (1) appeared in five straight All-Star Games beginning with his rookie season. Tyreke Evans (4) was a star when healthy and engaged, and Jrue Holiday (17) is an All-Star and won an NBA title as a starter with the Bucks. Jeff Teague (24) also has an All-Star nod in his solid career.
Other notables include Ricky Rubio (5), Brandon Jennings (10), James Johnson (16), Ty Lawson (18), Darren Collison (21), Omri Casspi (23), Taj Gibson (26), DeMarre Carroll (27), and Wayne Ellington (28). Second-round notables include Jonas Jerebko, Jodie Meeks, Patrick Beverley, Danny Green, and Patty Mills.
There were some forgettable early picks, though, including Hasheem Thabeet (2), Jonny Flynn (6), and Jordan Hill (8), who carved out a seven-year career as a competent reserve big man.
4. 1985
Karl MaloneGettyYet another seminal group from the mid-1980s, the class of '85 was loaded with both superstars and depth.
Four future Hall of Famers had their names called -- technically five if you count Arvydas Sabonis, whose selection in the fourth-rounder was later invalidated owing to eligibility issues. The Big Four was composed of Patrick Ewing (1), Chris Mullin (7), Karl Malone (13), and Joe Dumars (18). All-Stars included Xavier McDaniel (4), Detlef Schrempf (8), Charles Oakley (9), AC Green (23), and Terry Porter (24), as well as third-rounder Michael Adams. Yes, the draft was seven rounds back then.
The later rounds saw the selection of several other recognizable names. Manute Bol went in the second round, while future TNT host Sam Mitchell went in the third. Future Dunk contest winner Spud Webb went in the fourth, and three-time NBA champion Mario Elie went in the seventh.
3. 2003
LeBron JamesGettyThe class of 2003 was long anticipated as the arrival of LeBron James (1), whose greatness was projected very early on. Suffice to say, he hasn't disappointed.
He'll join former Heat teammate Chris Bosh (4) in the Hall of Fame some day, as will Dwyane Wade (5). The trio of course famously joined forces in Miami, where they appeared in four Finals, winning two -- and arguably altered the course of league history in forging their own "super team."
Sandwiched between those terrific lottery picks came future 12-time All-Star Carmelo Anthony (3). Other All-Stars include Chris Kaman (6), David West (18), Josh Howard (29), and second-rounders Mo Williams and Kyle Korver.
Others who carved out long careers include Kirk Hinrich (7), T.J. Ford (8), Nick Collison (12), Luke Ridnour (14), Sasha Pavlocic (19), Dahntay Jones (20), Boris Diaw (21), Travis Outlaw (23), Carlos Delfino (25), Kendrick Perkins (27), and Leandro Barbosa (28). Luke Walton, Steve Blake and Willie Green were all taken in the second round.
2. 1984
Hakeem OlajuwonGettyAs with the class that came after it, the group of stars that entered the league in 1984 is loaded with some of the names who made the game what it is today.
Michael Jordan (3) became the Babe Ruth of his time, as dominant and synonymous with winning as he was transcendent as a cultural figure. Hakeem Olajuwon (1) was anything but a consolation prize for the Rockets, who rode The Dream to two titles during His Airness' detour into professional baseball. Charles Barkley (5) and John Stockton (16) round out a killer Hall of Fame foursome.
Other All-Stars taken in the first round include Alvin Robertson (7) and Kevin Willis (11). Several players taken in the opening round had long careers, including Sam Bowie, who showed glimpses of the promise that made him the second pick but was derailed by a series of injuries. Jordan's UNC teammate Sam "Big Smooth" Perkins played 17 seasons and had one of the sweetest shooting strokes the league ever saw. Michael Cage (17) averaged 26 minutes per game in his 15-year career.
1. 1996
Iverson-BryantGettyThe class of '96 is the stuff of legends, deservedly so. Four future Hall of Famers came off the board in the first 15 picks, along with five other All-Stars in the first round, and a handful of players who went on to fruitful careers.
What else can be said of the legendary foursome of Allen Iverson (1), Ray Allen (5), Kobe Bryant (13) and Steve Nash (15)? Neither Iverson nor Nash won an NBA title, but both have an MVP trophy (Nash has two). Bryant was arguably the closest thing to Jordan the league has seen since, and Allen retired with the most made triples in league history and two NBA titles.
Elsewhere in the lottery, Marcus Camby (2), Sharif Abdur-Rahim (3), Stephon Marbury (4) and Antoine Walker (6) all had long, productive careers. Taken in total, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better top six than this class. Add in All-Stars Peja Stojakovic (14), Jermaine O'Neal (17), and Zydrunas Ilgauskas (20), and we're really cooking with gas.
Other first-round notables include the late Lorenzen Wright (7), Kerry Kittles (8), Samaki Walker (9), Erick Dampier (10), Vitaly Potapenko (12), Tony Delk (16), John Wallace (18) and Derek Fisher (24).
More from Audacy Sports:
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NFL draft history: The best selections
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