Top NBA Draft Picks: The 15 Most Hyped Imports of the Last 15 Drafts

With the 2009 NBA Draft positions all set, the speculation is just beginning.

Blake Griffin is the consensus No. 1 pick, but there is a ton of buzz surrounding 18-year-old Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio, who showcased his stuff for the world in the summer olympics.

The hype machine is in full overdrive. Let's take a look at the 15 most hyped imports of the last 15 years and if they were worth it all.

1996: Peja Stojakavic—No. 14 Pick

A year after Kevin Garnett made history as the first player ever drafted out of high school, Stojakovic became the highest drafted player never to play ball in the U.S. prior.

He spent two productive seasons on the bench for the Kings after he was signed in 1998. Then in his 2000-2001 campaign, Stojakovic showed why he came in with such hype, averaging 20 ppg and shooting 40 percent from three.

Since then, Stojakovic has proven to be one of the most consistent shooters in the league and continues to be one of the main pieces for New Orleans.

Worth the Hype?

Definitely. Three All-Star appearances and one Second Team All-NBA selection is what you like to see from a middle of the first round pick.

1998: Dirk Nowitzki—No. 9 Pick

Nowitzki was the kind of game-changer that GMs salivate over now. A seven-footer that can knock down threes? No way he would slip to ninth in any draft now.

Although he got off to a slow start his rookie year in the strike-shortened season, the next year, Dirk began to thrive in Don Nelson's offense and soon became one of the premier players in the NBA.

Not only that, but the feisty German even developed a mean streak in the past few seasons and has learned to use his body in the post as apposed to being just a face-up player.

Worth the Hype?

Easily. Nowitzki has enjoyed one of the most prolific careers for a foreign player, and is still competing at the highest level. His First Team All-NBA selection this year was the fourth of his career. You can't hype a career like that enough for a No. 9 pick.

1999: Andrei Kirilenko—No. 24 Pick

The youngest European player to be drafted into the NBA at 18 years of age, AK47 joined the Jazz two years later and quickly became known as one of the more complete basketball players in the NBA.

Kirilenko averaged double figures his first season in the league and also established himself as a shutdown defender with a knack for blocking shots.

However, in the last three years, with the additions of Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur and Deron Williams, Kirilenko has seen his role diminished and his frustration has been well known.

Worth the Hype?

For the No. 24 pick, I would say yes. He had a string of impressive seasons and still has the potential to play good basketball in the future. But if he continues on the path he's on now, he might not have been worth the hype.

2001: Pau Gasol—No. 3 Pick

Gasol came into the league with plenty of hype. He was an agile and athletic big man who could play facing the basket that reminded people of Nowitzki, but with less range.

He put up great numbers while toiling away in Memphis against bad team after bad team. Then he got traded to L.A., where he became the perfect complimentary player for Kobe Bryant and took the team to another level.

Worth the Hype?

While in Memphis, Gasol could never have been labeled a bust, but only with the Lakers has he blossomed into the player that everyone hoped he would become. Worth the hype and then some if he can help deliver a championship.

2002: Nene—No. 7 Pick

Just 19 when he entered the league, Nene already had an NBA-ready body. He was a dominant rebounder and shot-blocker coming as well.

Nene has been a key component of Denver's resurgence as a contender. He provides energy and the ability to finish when the playmakers get the ball into his hands.

Worth the Hype?

When he's healthy? Yes. But the Brazilian big man has been injured too often to make a definitive call. If he can stay on the court and keep producing like this, nobody will be able to label him a bust.

2002: Nikoloz Tskitishvili—No. 5 Pick

Tskitishvili was the workout wunderkind. He impressed the Nuggets enough to take him with the fifth overall pick in 2002.

However, the team soon found out that workouts don't always translate into on-the-court success. He lasted two seasons for Denver before bouncing around to four different teams over the course of the next two years.

Worth the Hype?

Not on your life. Tskitishvili is already out of the league after averaging only 2.9 ppg during his time here. That's a bust for a second round draft pick, much less the fifth overall pick.

Did I mention he was taken before Amare Stoudemire and Caron Butler? Ouch.

2002: Yao Ming—No. 1 Pick

Yao set a new standard for hype for a foreign player. A 7'6" player with athleticism and shooting touch? Ridiculous. The Rockets couldn't take him fast enough.

Yao has developed into a 20-10 guy and provides one of the biggest matchup problems for any one in the league. He also shoots over 80 percent from the line, regretful it hard to foul him.

The biggest problem Yao has had is staying on the court. This year was the first time in the past four that he has played more than 60 games in a season. When he has been on the court he's an All-Star, but only time will tell how healthy he can stay.

Worth the Hype?

You might be tempted to say no because of his injuries. But he did play in 77 games and finally got his team past the first round of the playoffs this year.

Still, in order for this No. 1 pick to be worth the hype, he should be able to get his team further in the playoffs. After all, you play to win, and your franchise guy needs to win more.

2003: Darko Milicic—No. 2 Pick

Poor Darko.

He showed amazing ability in workouts, enough so that Detroit was convinced enough to select him second overall. Unfortunately for him, it just happened to be in one of the most stacked drafts in recent history.

Darko got selected before Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. No matter if he turned into an okay player, he would be measured up against that murderer's row of talent.

Even without the comparisons, Darko has not lived up to what a second overall pick should be. Already on his third team in five years, he is a career 5.5 ppg scorer and only an average rebounder and shot-blocker for someone his size.

Worth the Hype?

Nope. In fact, this should have been the pick that scared teams off from the big European guy with promise.

Darko was the posterboy for hype over actual talent. But, as we'll see, this did nothing to dissuade teams from taking risks in hopes of finding the next Nowitzki.

2006: Andrea Bargnani—No. 1 Pick

The second import player to secure the No. 1 pick, Bargnani had a good rookie season in which he came in second in Rookie of the Year voting. He also helped lead Toronto to their first playoff appearance in five years.

Bargnani hit a sophomore slump and began to show the signs of bustdom, but in his third season he started to pick things up again, averaging 15 ppg and shooting over 40 percent from beyond the arc.

Worth the Hype?

If he keeps improving; consistency is the name of the game. Bargnani can't afford to have another season like his second. He needs to keep the momentum going.

2007: Rudy Fernandez—No. 24

Fernandez came hyped as a great shooter and someone who could rise up and throw a dunk down on you. He showed glimpses of what he could do in the Olympics for Spain and has since helped Portland become the most promising young team in the NBA.

Fernandez also set the NBA rookie record for most threes made in a season, and hit one in each of his first 20 games.

Worth the Hype?

Too soon to tell for sure, but it looks like he is. Fernandez is a dynamic player with the ability to make a game-changing play. Along with the young talent on the Blazers, he is in a great position to prove himself.

2007: Marco Belinelli—No. 18 Pick

Most analysts did not expect Belinelli to fall that far in the draft and saw him as definite lottery talent. They saw him as a gifted playmaker that would thrive in Don Nelson's run-and-gun offense.

Belinelli had a disappointing rookie campaign, only playing seven minutes a game for the Warriors. He upped his game last year for a depleted Golden State team, but so far has not been able to do anything other than shoot.

Worth the Hype?

Not unless something changes. All he does is shoot, and he doesn't even do it that well. His defense is weak, he doesn't rebound, and he averaged only 2 apg.

2007: Yi Jianlian—No. 6 Pick

When the best video evidence of your talent is shooting over chairs in workouts, chances are you're probably going to be a bust. Sad to say, that is the case for Yi.

His height, athletic ability and nationality all drew obvious comparisons to a Mr. Yao Ming, but Yi has not even come close to replicating that kind of career.

Yi has been criticized for his shoot-first mentality and there has been chatter from around New Jersey that they are trying to move him without any interested takers.

Worth the Hype?

No. Yi is just another example of teams going too nutty over workouts instead of seeing how a player does against good competition. It's doubtful he'll ever be anything other than a bench player in his career. Certainly not worth the No. 6 pick.

2008: Danilo Gallinari—No. 6 Pick

After Isaiah Thomas basically ruined the Knicks during his time there, New York's first draft pick post-Isaiah was certainly an important one. The Knicks chose Gallinari.

After playing in just one game, it was announced that Gallinari would most likely miss the rest of the season because of a back injury. He did, however, end up returning to play 28 games and managed to shoot 44 percent from three.

Worth the Hype

It remains to be seen. Injuries are never a good sign for a high draft pick, but the fact that he came back and shot the ball well is promising. Knicks fans hope he can extend his game past that and become the player that they all hope he can be.

2009: Brandon Jennings—?

Although technically not an import, Jennings passed on college basketball and decided to play professionally overseas for a year to hone his skills for the NBA.

Speed is the word that comes up with Jennings over and over. The kid is quick. He has great scoring ability, but scouts are unsure about whether his body is going to be able to handle the NBA.

Worth the Hype?

It's possible, but I personally don't think so. He's been getting handled pretty easily in Europe and that kind of thing can kill a kid's confidence and mentality.

Plus all of the pressure on being the first high schooler to forgo college and play overseas instead is going to weigh on him. I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up a huge bust.

2009: Ricky Rubio - ?

Do you see that picture? Rubio was 17 when that was taken and he was holding his own against the best players in the NBA. A pure point guard with amazing game smarts and an even better handle. I'm already drooling.

I can't emphasize enough how impressive this kid (and he IS a kid) was playing against the Redeem Team. If he can handle the daily grind of the NBA life, anything is possible.

Worth the Hype?

I say yes right now. With the way the rules are geared to help point guards, Rubio has the ability to be a combination of Steve Nash and Chris Paul.

Just. Plain. Scary.