NBA Draft Lottery: Kobe Bryant & the 50 Greatest Lottery Steals in NBA History
When the Atlanta Hawks selected Marvin Williams second overall in 2005, the franchise paved the way for the Utah Jazz and New Orleans Hornets to pull off two of the biggest draft coups in NBA history.
The weighted lottery wasn't installed in the league until 1990, so the players on this list will span the last 21 professional seasons.
Even some of the best talent evaluators in the league swung and missed on some big-name impact players, so let's take a glance at which clubs came out with the best return on investment.
50. Anthony Randolph, Power Forward
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Drafted: 2008, No. 14
Randolph might be on his third team since entering the league, but in an NBA where athleticism reigns supreme, Randolph has a very bright future ahead of him.
His work ethic and attitude may be holding him back from living up to his potential, which is unfortunate considering that his ceiling is sky-high.
49. Brandon Jennings, Point Guard
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Drafted: 2009, No. 10
Jennings might have caused his draft stock to slip after a subpar tenure in Europe before entering the NBA, but there's no doubt he deserved to be taken much higher than the 10 spot.
He's going to need to learn how to shoot the ball with increased efficiency, but he has demonstrated promising growth in his first two seasons as the starting point guard.
48. Eddie Jones, Shooting Guard
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Drafted: 1994, No. 10
One of the most underrated contributors of all time, Jones enjoyed a prolific career that many guards can only aspire toward achieving.
His greatness for the Lakers was overshadowed by a shooting guard who took the reigns after him, but there will be no forgetting his electric play alongside Elden Campbell and Nick Van Exel.
47. Allan Houston, Shooting Guard
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Drafted: 1993, No. 11
Houston will be forever embedded in the legacy of the New York franchise, and for good reason considering how successful he was in his career with the team.
Although he isn't talked about as one of the more storied players in his era, injuries toward the end of his career put a damper on his prior achievements.
46. Nene Hilario, Center
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Drafted: 2002, No. 7
What could have been for Knicks fans...
After he was selected by New York and immediately shipped to Denver, Nene has blossomed into one of the most reliable centers in the league and a standout contributor for the Nuggets.
Meanwhile, the Knickerbockers continue to look for a capable starting center.
45. Lamar Odom, Power Forward
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Drafted: 1999, No. 4
I'll bet that the Clippers wish they never would've given up on Lamar Odom.
Maddeningly inconsistent throughout the beginning of his career, LO's maturation as one of the game's most versatile players puts him at the forefront of his draft class.
44. Rasheed Wallace, Power Forward
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Drafted: 1995, No. 4
Sheed might not have impressed many fans in Boston with his subpar play, but ask any Detroit or Portland fan how they feel about him and you'd get a totally different answer.
A banger down low and a threat from the outside, there aren't many players in the same mold as Wallace anymore.
43. Joakim Noah, Center
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Drafted: 2007, No. 9
The Bulls surprised a lot of people when they selected Noah at ninth overall back in 2007, but the front office clearly knew exactly what they were doing.
Noah has stepped in and assumed the starting center role with a force, largely outplaying any and all expectations that any held for him before he entered the league.
42. Vin Baker, Power Forward
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Drafted: 1993, No. 8
Baker's career may have finished on a sour note, but the early portion of his playing days were so solid that I can't figure out why he doesn't receive more attention.
He averaged a double-double twice in his career, and was scoring at an electric pace when power forwards weren't supposed to be the main source of offense.
41. Steve Smith, Shooting Guard
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Drafted: 1991, No. 5
Steve Smith is better known these days for his work as an analyst for NBA TV, but he was the type of shooting guard that aspiring players should model their repertoire after.
He never stood out as the superstar of his team, but rarely did Smitty not make a solid contribution for his squad on the floor.
40. Brook Lopez, Center
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Drafted: 2008, No. 10
Lopez's rebounding woes remain somewhat of a mystery, but there's no doubt that he should've been selected much higher than he was based on his offensive output.
One of the best scoring centers currently in the NBA, Lopez gets a pass on the traditional rebounding numbers that a big man should have if he can fill it up to the tune of 20-plus per night.
39. Gary Payton, Point Guard
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Drafted: 1990, No. 2
"The Glove" earned his nickname by being a standout defender who stuck to the opposition with more force than super glue.
Payton, along with Shawn Kemp, will be remembered as one of the more notable faces to play for the now dormant Seattle franchise.
38. Stephon Marbury, Point Guard
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Drafted: 1996, No. 4
Does anyone remember the Stephon Marbury that was one of the most dominant point guards in the league prior to his Knicks fiasco?
Starbury will always be defined by the way his career ended, which is rather sad considering all of the All-Star caliber production he enjoyed alongside Kevin Garnett in Minnesota at the onset of his career.
37. Greg Monroe, Center
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Drafted: 2010, No. 7
Monroe might have been viewed as an afterthought in the most recent NBA draft, but the Pistons were dealt a blessing when he fell to seventh overall.
After a slow start, Monroe emerged as legitimate double-double threat on a nightly basis and looks primed to be a very productive member of the Pistons' makeover as a starting member along the front line.
36. John Wall, Point Guard
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Drafted: 2010, No. 1
The Wizards won the lottery and the rights to John Wall, the consensus top overall pick.
What better way for new owner Ted Leonsis to usher in a new era for the rebuilding franchise and distance the team from a cancerous Gilbert Arenas?
35. Stephen Curry, Point Guard
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Drafted: 2009, No. 7
Stephen Curry was supposed to be a dangerous outside shooter, but prolific point guard to boot? I'm not sure that anyone had him pegged in that role.
He's already gone beyond what many expected him to accomplish in his first two NBA seasons, and now that he won't be relegated to Keith Smart's doghouse, he should produce even more.
34. Robert Horry, Power Forward
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Drafted: 1992, No. 11
Horry may not have the talent that some of the other players on this list hold, but the seven NBA championships he's got and his affinity for clutch shooting plant him firmly in the middle of this list.
The type of player that every coach would love to have on his team, Horry harnessed the type of work ethic and attitude that all NBA players should.
33. Anfernee Hardaway, Point Guard
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Drafted: 1993, No. 3
For a guy nicknamed "Penny," there was nothing cheap about Hardaway's game.
He took the NBA to a new level with his exciting moves and dynamic play from the point guard position in an era that didn't have much of it.
32. DeMarcus Cousins, Power Forward
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Drafted: 2010, No. 5
Cousins would have been a shoe-in for the second overall pick behind John Wall if he didn't have more red flags than the Chinese embassy surrounding his character.
Although he struggled at times with immaturity and attitude issues, Cousins' talent is just far too great to ignore.
31. Eric Gordon, Shooting Guard
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Drafted: 2008, No. 7
When I think about stars around the league who don't get the attention that they deserve, my mind becomes focused on the Clippers' starting shooting guard, Eric Gordon.
He stepped right into a starting role from the outset and hasn't disappointed in the slightest.
And before he struggled with injury down the stretch of the 2010-11 season, he was on the verge of a full-fledged breakout campaign.
30. Antoine Walker, Power Forward
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Drafted: 1996, No. 6
The legend of 'Toine has yet to fade.
He averaged 17.5 points per game and 9.0 rebounds per game as a rookie for the Celtics, and never looked back after that.
It's really a shame that he's had such a hard time with his personal finances, because he was one of the greatest No. 6 picks of all time.
29. Andrew Bynum, Center
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Drafted: 2005, No. 10
The Lakers drafted Bynum as a 17-year-old kid out of high school because they thought he could evolve into something special.
It looks like they were right. Despite the knee troubles that have proven to be rather cumbersome in the early part of his career, Bynum is just 23 and still has plenty of playing days ahead of him.
28. Andre Iguodala, Small Forward
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Drafted: 2004, No. 9
Iguodala wasn't anything extraordinary during his time at Arizona, so it's hard to blame any of the general managers who passed on him in the 2004 draft.
But Iggy's game evolved when he got to the Sixers, and clearly the team was able to see something in him that almost everyone else missed.
27. Rudy Gay, Small Forward
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Drafted: 2006, No. 8
If Rudy Gay was supposed to be this good, the Rockets probably never would have traded him to Memphis on draft day.
Although the Grizz made their magical postseason run without him, it became increasingly evident toward the end of their series that they could have sorely used him.
26. Tyreke Evans, Shooting Guard
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Drafted: 2009, No. 4
How did Evans slip to fourth overall for the Kings?
There's no doubt that Blake Griffin was the top-tier selection, but in a draft class that so many called the "weakest in seasons," Evans was taken after Hasheem Thabeet and just one pick before Ricky Rubio, who still hasn't played a single game in the NBA.
25. Dikembe Mutombo, Center
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Drafted: 1991, No. 4
Mutombo will be best remembered for his infamous finger-wag, which is only appropriate considering the defensive stalwart that he was.
But really, Mutombo's outstretched finger should be shaking in the direction of the decision-makers that passed him up in the draft.
24. Joe Johnson, Shooting Guard
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Drafted: 2001, No. 10
Perhaps the Boston Celtics gave up on Johnson a little too early, eh?
Joe Johnson's career didn't take off for a few seasons after he was drafted, as he truly proved to be a diamond in the rough.
Now the star of the Atlanta Hawks, he's among the very thin minority of players to ever sign a maximum contract as a 10th overall pick.
23. Blake Griffin, Power Forward
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Drafted: 2009, No. 1
The Clippers were happier when they won the NBA draft lottery than most people would be if they hit the jackpot of their state lottery.
The team had been in search for a franchise face for far too long, and although Griffin's pro career got off to a tenuous start and was ultimately delayed, the All-Star has been well worth the wait.
22. Dwight Howard, Center
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Drafted: 2004, No. 1
The top 10 players selected in the 2004 draft (in order): Howard, E. Okafor, B. Gordon, S. Livingston, D. Harris, J. Childress, L. Deng, R. Araujo, A. Iguodala, L. Jackson.
There isn't a single player on that list that even sniffs the same level of superstardom.
21. Shaquille O'Neal, Center
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Drafted: 1992, No. 1
Shaq will go down as the greatest center in the history of the game for the way he revolutionized the game.
And that's really all that needs to be said.
20. Kevin Love, Power Forward
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Drafted: 2008, No. 5
When Kevin Love was drafted out of UCLA, many thought that he went too high given his lack of highlight-style plays and athleticism.
But now, many are sitting and pondering how this kid slipped through the cracks of the draft class.
19. Carmelo Anthony, Small Forward
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Drafted: 2003, No. 3
Nuggets fans, it could have been a lot worse.
The Pistons could have taken Anthony and Denver would've most likely landed Darko Milicic.
Of course, they could've also taken Dwyane Wade.
18. Chauncey Billups, Point Guard
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Drafted: 1997, No. 3
The Celtics didn't even give Billups a full season to prove his worth, giving him a similar treatment to Joe Johnson.
But the former third overall pick has shown to be a savvy veteran that every competitive team would love to have for his ability to bring a group of guys together in the huddle.
17. Pau Gasol, Power Forward
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Drafted: 2001, No. 3
Even after Dirk Nowitzki arrived in the NBA, there was enough of a stigma against European players that Gasol actually went behind both Kwame Brown and Tyson Chandler.
I think it's fairly safe to say that Michael Jordan's legacy as a front-office man could have been a little bit better had he gone with Gasol instead of Mr. Stonehands.
16. Jason Kidd, Point Guard
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Drafted: 1994, No. 2
Jason Kidd will be remembered as one of the elite point guards of his generation.
Glenn "Big Dog" Robinson, although a fine player himself, never lived up to Milwaukee's expectations, while Kidd's been busy leaving his lasting legacy in Dallas.
15. Russell Westbrook, Point Guard
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Drafted: 2008, No. 4
Westbrook was taken fourth overall by a Thunder team that had just drafted Kevin Durant in the previous season, and fans weren't exactly thrilled with Eric Gordon still on the board.
Fortunately, he has grown into a better player than he ever showed during his time at UCLA and become one of the most talented point guards in the league.
14. Amar'e Stoudemire, Power Forward
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Drafted: 2002, No. 9
It's amazing to see how many good players fell in their respective draft classes.
But it's simply incomprehensible that Jay Williams, Mike Dunleavy Jr., Drew Gooden, Nikoloz Tskitishvili, Dajuan Wagner and Chris Wilcox were selected before him.
13. LeBron James, Small Forward
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Drafted: 2003, No. 1
Everyone might have known that LBJ was the top pick in the 2003 draft, and it's amazing to consider that the hometown Cavs won the opportunity to make him a part of the franchise.
So why is he such a steal? Darko Milicic was the next pick after James.
12. Grant Hill, Small Forward
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Drafted: 1994, No. 3
If Hill's career hadn't been derailed by injuries, he would be talked about as one of the best players of his era.
And for those people that are wondering how he can still pour it on at age 38, just take one look at a YouTube clip from his days in Detroit.
11. Vince Carter, Shooting Guard
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Drafted: 1998, N. 5
We're talking about the guy who is known for the best slam dunk of all time.
He went after Michael Olowokandi, Mike Bibby and Raef LaFrentz.
10. Tracy McGrady, Shooting Guard
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Drafted: 1997, No. 9
T-Mac was on his way to becoming the superstar of his generation until his chronic knee woes sent him to the sidelines.
And to think that he was taken after Keith Van Horn, Ron Mercer and Adonal Foyle is just downright laughable.
9. Ray Allen, Shooting Guard
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Drafted: 1996, No. 5
Jesus Shuttlesworth knows how to defy the odds.
He's 35 years old and still outplaying some of the youngest legs in the league.
Allen has a chance to be remembered as the most consistent contributor the league has seen throughout his career, as it seems that he produces for his team no matter what is going on around him.
8. Deron Williams, Point Guard
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Drafted: 2005, No. 3
Obviously D-Will is a no-brainer after the Hawks selected Marvin Williams ahead of him.
He's one of the top three point guards in the NBA and it should be interesting to see where he winds up playing in 2012.
7. Kevin Durant, Small Forward
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Drafted: 2007, No. 2
Durant could go down as the best second selection of all time if his career goes as it should.
There could be an argument for Durant to even be higher on this list considering that Portland selected size ahead of talent in Greg Oden at No. 1.
6. Paul Pierce, Small Forward
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Drafted: 1998, No. 10
Pierce went behind Robert Traylor, Larry Hughes and "White Chocolate" Jason Williams.
None of the aforementioned lottery picks are playing in the league anymore.
5. Dirk Nowitzki, Power Forward
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Drafted: 1998, No. 9
Dirk Nowitzki will be the best talent to ever grace the NBA from the European ranks.
And he was traded in a draft day deal for Tractor Traylor.
4. Chris Paul, Point Guard
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Drafted: 2005, No. 4
Like Deron Williams, Paul was drafted behind Marvin Williams and after D-Will as well!
No disrespect meant to Williams or reigning MVP Derrick Rose, but it's going to take a lot more from another player to convince me that Paul isn't the best point guard in the league.
3. Dwyane Wade, Shooting Guard
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Drafted: 2003, No. 5
The 2003 draft class was packed full of talent, but the fact that Wade slipped to fifth overall is just silly.
Just think: The Raptors or Pistons could have selected Wade ahead of Milicic or Bosh, and while the latter is now his teammate in Miami, both franchises are scuffling through a rebuilding process.
2. Kevin Garnett, Power Forward
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Drafted: 1995, No. 5
Straight from high school and flushed with talent, K.G. is a first-ballot Hall of Fame player who was drafted behind Joe Smith, Antonio McDyess, Jerry Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace.
I think it's fairly safe to say that he was the best big man to emerge from that draft class.
1. Kobe Bryant, Shooting Guard
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Drafted: 1996, No. 13
Who knew that Kobe would one day draw comparisons to the greatest basketball player of all time? Not the Charlotte Hornets.
They sent the rights to Kobe Bryant to Los Angeles in a trade for center Vlade Divac in the most lopsided swap in league history.
