The 2009 Rookie Class Will Go Down as One of the Best Ever

Recently, I was in Foot Locker buying a new pair of shoes when I noticed that they had gotten some new NBA jerseys in. Traditionally, it's rare to see on-the-rack jerseys round here that aren't those of the superstars—your Kobe Bryants, LeBron James, Dwight Howards, etc., plus the obligatory Andrew Boguts. However, this lot seemed to have a few interesting colours so I decided to check it out.

At first I wasn't blown away by the new load—a lot of Chris Paul and Derrick Rose—but then I saw them.

Side by side, next to each other, was a Kings No.13 and a Warriors No.30.

Stephen Curry. Tyreke Evans.

Rookie jerseys. 

I've been hanging out at the same shop for years now, and this is the first time I've seen them getting in rookie jerseys since...well, since ever. (A consultation with my brother revealed that they had had a few of LeBron's rookie Cavs jerseys, but nothing since then.)

When I asked the shop assistant, he told me that they had gotten them in purely because of demand. Apparently they'd already gotten three Curry jerseys and five Evans jerseys on special order, and I knew where one of the Curry ones had gone.

At that point, I started thinking. Compared to the rest of the decade, where does this year's rookie class stack up?

Obviously 2003 is the benchmark and one of the all time great drafts—along with the Big Four, you have guys like Josh Howard, Chris Kaman, David West, Mo Williams, Mickael Pietrus, and even capable role players like Kyle Korver and Kendrick Perkins. 2004 is also up there. While only one out-and-out superstar (Dwight Howard) came from this draft, the number of solid NBA-caliber players throughout the first round almost outshines that of 2003, which did have its share of high-profile busts. Hell, if Reggie Miller 2.0. in Kevin Martin almost falls out of the first round, you know you have something there.

Of course, the three drafts that preceded 2003 did not set the bar high. 2000 has almost become a byword for a terrible draft, half the 2001 top 10 busted, and the best players of 2002 can't seem to stay fit for a full season.

2005 produced two dead-set superstars in CP3 and Deron Williams, and a few borderline guys like my boy Monta Ellis, Andrew Bynum, Danny Granger, Bogut, and David Lee. However, are there really any other guys in this draft who you would even want as your second or third option if you were building a contender? Marvin Williams was a bust, Charlie Villanueva is inconsistent, Channing Frye is a big jump shooter with no inside presence, Martell Webster is streaky as all-get-out...you see where I'm going. And 2006 proved even worse, as that draft essentially consists of Brandon Roy, Rajon Rondo, filler and busts. When two of the top five guys in the class barely belong in the NBA, you got a problem.

2007 was a step up, with Kevin Durant in particular being the best prospect to enter the NBA since Dwight Howard. However, you'd have to argue that so far, even this draft class has proved to be a class of two (and a half, cause Greg Oden still has time and potential if he can stay fit). Although with Marc Gasol improving every game, this could yet change.

2008, however, proved to be one of the stronger classes in recent memory. While Derrick Rose is the only guy who can be seen as a legitimate superstar right now, as they and their teams develop guys like O.J. Mayo, Russell Westbrook, Michael Beasley, Brook Lopez, Anthony Randolph, and Eric Gordon could well go on to make multiple All-Star appearances if form, fitness, and brains (especially in Beasley's case) hold together.

So how does 2009 stack up?

In Tyreke Evans, and Stephen Curry, you have two guys who will go on to become superstars of the game, make multiple All-Star appearances and produce the next CP3/Deron-type rivalry. (Count on it). Brandon Jennings could yet join them if he can become a bit more consistent with his shooting. And that's not even counting Blake Griffin and Ricky Rubio, who are yet to even suit up in the NBA. At worst, you have two superstars from this bunch—at best, five. That's even more than 2003.

Not only that, but you have a large bunch of guys like James Harden, Ty Lawson, Darren Collinson, DeMar DeRozan, DeJuan Blair, Omri Casspi, Jonny Flynn, Marcus Thornton, Jrue Holliday—players who should, at worst, become solid NBA-quality starters. Some, like Harden and Collison, even have the potential to become All-Stars and valuable contributors to contending teams. 

Don't be surprised if, in a few years, the talking heads start comparing the class of 2009 to the classes of 1984, 1996, and 2003.

And the jerseys? Since I already own a Curry Warriors jersey, I skipped new running shoes for 'Reke's No.13.