Phoenix Suns center DeAndre Ayton, the 2018 No. 1 overall pick, called his draft class the best in NBA history in 2021. It’s a bold statement, but not completely unfounded. After all, the draft also saw the likes of Luka Doncic, Trae Young, Mikal Bridges, Kevin Huerter, Collin Sexton, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jaren Jackson Jr., Miles Bridges, and Michael Porter Jr.
It’s too soon to say where the 2018 draft will end up in the all-time discussion, but we’re willing to throw it into one of our top 10 NBA draft classes since 1984. With Ayton’s comments in mind, we decided to rank the 10 best NBA draft classes ever. Of course, this wasn’t an easy task and there will surely be debate involved. So let’s get to it.
10. 2011
Highlights: Months before the 2011 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Clippers dumped Baron Davis’s contract to the rebuilding Cleveland Cavaliers, who agreed to the deal in exchange for receiving a first-round pick. It turned out to be the number one overall pick that year, and the Cavs landed point guard Kyrie Irving, who would eventually hit the biggest shot in franchise history in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals. The Cavs also landed Tristan Thompson, another eventual contributor on a championship team with the fourth overall pick. Other notable lottery selections in the draft who panned out include Jonas Valanciunas, Kemba Walker, and Klay Thompson. The best player in the draft, Kawhi Leonard, went 15th overall.
Surprises: Jimmy Butler went 30th in this draft class, followed by Bojan Bogdanovic at the 31st pick. Also, shoutout to Isaiah Thomas, who was famously taken as the 60th and final selection in this draft.
Busts: A three-way tie between Derrick Williams (2nd), Jan Vesley (6th), and Jimmer Fredette (10th).
9. 1999
Highlights: Another loaded lottery class. This draft doesn’t get talked about as much because there isn’t a single franchise-altering player, but it was deep, starting with Elton Brand and Steve Francis as the top two picks, followed by Baron Davis and Lamar Odom. Richard Hamilton went seventh. Andre Miller went eighth and was followed by Shawn Marion at ninth. That’s a pretty impressive top-ten list.
Surprises: In retrospect, Ron Artest at 16th was a steal. The Jazz got plenty out of Andrei Kirilenko after selecting him 24th overall. The absolute steal of the draft belonged to the Spurs, who nabbed Manu Ginobili with the 57th pick.
Busts: The Pacers took a swing with high schooler Jonathan Bender at number five, which didn’t quite pan out. Same for the Cavaliers, who went with college standout guard Trajan Langdon at 11th. Does anyone remember Aleksandar Radojevic, the 12th pick of the Toronto Raptors? Me neither.
8. 1985
Highlights: Another draft class that tends to get overlooked since it is the one after Michael Jordan’s draft and also because all anyone can talk about is whether the NBA rigged the lottery for the Knicks. This draft class gave us Patrick Ewing, Xavier McDaniel, Chris Mullin, Detlef Schrempf, and Charles Oakley in the top 10. Karl Malone was taken 13th overall by Utah, and the Detroit Pistons got Joe Dumars at 18th.
Surprises: The Blazers picked up Terry Porter with the 24th pick. This was back when the NBA Draft went seven rounds, so there are plenty of late-round gems. Sam Mitchell went 54th in the third round. Spud Webb went 87th in the fourth round. Mario Elie was a seventh-rounder.
Busts: The Clippers (I’m starting to see a pattern) took center Benoit Benjamin with the third overall pick. He was a serviceable player, but the team would have certainly been better off with any of the players listed above.
7. 1998
Highlights: The best lottery picks from the class of 1998 were Vince Carter, Paul Pierce, and Dirk Nowitzki, but the list of memorable guys from this draft includes Mike Bibby and Jason Williams.
Surprises: Rashard Lewis as a second-round pick of the Seattle Supersonics turned out just fine. Cuttino Mobley was taken 41st overall and became a great running mate alongside Steve Francis in Houston.
Busts: The Clippers selected center Michael Olowokandi first overall. He spent five seasons in Los Angeles and never averaged more than 12.3 points and 9.1 rebounds.
6. 2009
Highlights: The 2009 lottery picks were very hit-or-miss, but it’s hard to ignore the highs. Blake Griffin was a franchise player for the Los Angeles Clippers for almost a decade after going first overall. James Harden, taken third overall, and Steph Curry, taken seventh overall, are two of the best players in the league.
Surprises: Jrue Holiday was a great pick at 17th by the Philadelphia 76ers. Notable second-rounders include Patrick Beverley (42nd), Danny Green (46th), and Patty Mills (55th).
Busts: Now, about those misses. The Grizzlies took Hasheem Thabeet with the second pick. Tyreke Evans went fourth and won Rookie of the Year but is now out of the league. Minnesota Timberwolves fans probably don’t want to be reminded of Jonny Flynn going sixth, one pick ahead of Curry. The Knicks picked just after the Warriors and ended up with Jordan Hill.
5. 2018
Highlights: Luka Doncic going third overall is undoubtedly the prize of the draft. Even with the turmoil going on in Dallas right now, the Mavericks landed a franchise player. The Hawks, who drafted Doncic and traded him for the fifth pick Trae Young, are certainly not complaining either. Same for the Phoenix Suns, who must be thrilled with Ayton’s development. Throw in Jaren Jackson Jr. (4th), Collin Sexton (8th), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (11th), Miles Bridges (12th), and Michael Porter Jr. (14th), and you can see why Ayton is so bullish on his draft class.
Surprises: Donte DiVincenzo, Lonnie Walker, and Kevin Huerter were consecutive picks in the mid-first round and have all outperformed their draft position. Second-rounders include Jalen Brunson, Devonte Graham, Mitchell Robinson, Gary Trent Jr., and Bruce Brown.
Busts: It’s still early, but as of right now, the Sacramento Kings have to be regretting Marvin Bagley III at number two when Doncic and Young were available. Kevin Knox at number nine by the Knicks sticks out as well.
4. 1987
Highlights: Another absolutely deep class, including three of the best players of all time in David Robinson (1st overall), Scottie Pippen (5th), and Reggie Miller (11th). Kenny Smith, Kevin Johnson, and Horace Grant were the other lottery picks that exceeded expectations.
Surprises: Mark Jackson (18th) outperformed his draft position and a shoutout to Sarunas Marciulionis, who went 127th overall in the sixth round and had a solid NBA career with Golden State, Seattle, Sacramento, and Denver.
Busts: There weren’t any outright busts, but Dennis Hopson (third overall by the Nets) and Reggie Williams (fourth overall by the Clippers) had journeymen careers and were both taken just before Pippen.
3. 1984
Highlights: Michael Jordan going third overall is the story of the draft, but this class also gave us first-overall pick Akeem (and later Hakeem) Olajuwon, Jordan’s North Carolina teammate Sam Perkins at four, Charles Barkley at five, and John Stockton at 16. That’s an entire generation of basketball in the first round.
Surprises: If there’s any consolation from this draft for Blazers fans, Jerome Kersey went 46th overall and became one of the best small forwards in Portland history.
Busts: This belongs to the Portland Trail Blazers selecting center Sam Bowie with the second overall pick.
2. 2003
Highlights: LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade as top-five picks is pretty self-explanatory. Even though the rest of the lottery is pretty mediocre, it’s hard to argue against the top of this draft.
Surprises: The New Orleans Pelicans nabbed David West with the 18th pick. The end of the first round included Kendrick Perkins, Leandro Barbosa, and Josh Howard. Notable second-round picks include Matt Bonner, James Jones, and Mo Williams.
Busts: Two words: Darko Milicic. Also: the Clippers (again!) selected Chris Kaman sixth overall while the Knicks took Michael Sweetney with the ninth pick.
1. 1996
Highlights: Considered by many to be the best draft class ever, just look at the first six picks: Allen Iverson, Marcus Camby, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Stephon Marbury, Ray Allen, and Antoine Walker. Their pro success varied, but all of them left an impact on the game and had extended careers in the league, and in Marbury’s case: a second career in China as well. That’s before we get to Kobe Bryant (13th), Peja Stojakovic (14th), Steve Nash (15th), and Jermaine O’Neal (17th).
Surprises: I have to give a shoutout to Cavaliers legend Zydrunas Ilgauskas at 20th, and Derek Fisher, who went 24th overall.
Busts: I present to you the quartet of Samaki Walker, Erick Dampier, Todd Fuller, and Vitaly Potapenko, selected right before Bryant went 13th.
This article was originally published on complex.com.
