NBA Power Rankings: The 30 Greatest Value Draft Picks of All Time

The NBA draft is all about maximizing the value you get for you pick. Whether you're drafting at the top of the order or in the second round, the goal is to get as much back for your selection as possible. 

The 2011 NBA draft is sure to produce some good value picks. After all, players like Jordan Hamilton, JaJuan Johnson, Jimmer Fredette or any other could outperform the expectations associated with the draft pick used to select them. 

In the past, there have been quite a few players that have done so. Yes, this even includes all-time greats like Larry Bird, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. 

Read on to find out which 30 picks gave teams back the most bang for their buck. 

Recent Draft Picks That Just Missed Out

The following players are either honorable mentions or just haven't played long enough to justify an inclusion on this list yet:

Carlos Boozer (No. 34 in 2002)

Gilbert Arenas (No. 30 in 2001)

Josh Howard (No. 29 in 2003)

Rajon Rondo (No. 21 in 2006)

Danny Granger (No. 17 in 2005)

Monta Ellis (No. 40 in 2005)

30. Doc Rivers (No. 31 in 1983)

A while back, the current Boston Celtics head coach and father of incoming Duke freshman Austin Rivers was a great player himself and was drafted 31st overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 1983 NBA draft. 

Doc Rivers, a guard from Marquette, went on to play 12 seasons in the NBA and average 10.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game while making just one All-Star team. 

29. Reggie Miller (No. 11 in 1987)

Drafted by the Indiana Pacers at No. 11 in 1987, Reggie Miller would spend his entire career with the same team and become the all-time leading three-point shooter until Ray Allen came around. 

Miller made five All-Star teams and averaged 18.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game during his 18-year career. 

28. Anthony Mason (No. 53 in 1988)

Anthony Mason went down in history as the No. 53 overall selection of the 1988 NBA draft, making him the third-round pick of the Portland Trail Blazers, but the forward never even played a single minute for Portland. 

Instead, he bounced around from team to team during his 13-year career, playing for six different franchises in that time. While he'll be remembered mostly as a New York Knick and Charlotte Hornet, Mason averaged 10.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game, very respectable numbers for a third-round pick. 

27. John Drew (No. 25 in 1974)

The seventh pick in the second round of the 1974 NBA draft, John Drew was selected by the Atlanta Hawks, the team which he would spend eight of his 11 years in the league with. 

Drew made two All-Star teams while averaging 20.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game from the small forward position. 

26. Larry Nance (No. 20 in 1981)

Drafted out of Clemson by the Phoenix Suns with the 20th-overall pick of the 1981 NBA draft, Larry Nance went on to have a great career for both the Suns and the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Nance averaged 17.1 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game during his career and made three All-Star teams and three All-Defensive teams in the process. 

25. Mark Price (No. 25 in 1986)

Drafted with the first pick of the second round by the Dallas Mavericks in 1986, Mark Price was almost immediately traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers before he ever even put on a Mavs jersey at all. 

Price made four All-Star teams and averaged 15.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 6.7 assists per contest during his career. 

24. Jeff Hornacek (No. 46 in 1986)

The 46th overall pick in the 1986 NBA draft, Jeff Hornacek was even passed on once by the Phoenix Suns, who eventually took him in the second round. 

Years later, the Suns definitely don't regret selecting Hornacek as he spent six seasons with him before moving on to the Philadelphia 76ers and Utah Jazz. He retired averaging 14.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game. 

23. Calvin Murphy (No. 18 in 1970)

In 1970, the San Diego Rockets, who would soon become the Houston Rockets, picked future Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy with the first pick of the second round in that year's draft. 

Murphy rewarded the Rockets by remaining with the franchise for his entire career and averaging 17.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. 

22. Michael Redd (No. 43 in 2000)

The 43rd pick of the 2000 NBA draft, Michael Redd was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks and has spent all of his career with that team so far. 

One of the few picks from that bust-laden draft class to pan out, Redd has made one All-Star team and is averaging 20.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists so far in his career. 

21. Jack Twyman (No. 8 in 1955)

In the 1955 NBA draft, the Rochester Royals, who would later become the Cincinnati Royals, deemed Jack Twyman worthy of the No. 8 overall pick, which happened to fall in the second round. 

Despite being passed over once by every single team in the league, Twyman averaged 19.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game en route to the Hall of Fame. 

20. Hal Greer (No. 13 in 1958)

Picked 13th overall, or No. 6 in the second roundm of the 1958 NBA draft by the Syracuse Nationals, Hal Greer went on to enjoy a Hall of Fame career. 

Greer spent his entire career with the Nationals, who would become the Philadelphia 76ers while he was with them. Playing both shooting guard and small forward, he averaged 19.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game during his time in professional basketball. 

19. Dennis Rodman (No. 27 in 1986)

The greatest pound-for-pound rebounder of all time, Dennis Rodman was quite a steal for the Detroit Pistons when they drafted him in the beginning of the second round of the 1986 NBA draft. 

Rodman retired in 2000, averaging 7.3 points, 13.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game over the duration of his career.

The Worm was recently made a member of the newest Hall of Fame class, an honor he truly deserved after making two All-Star teams, winning five championships and leading the league in rebounding seven times. 

18. Joe Dumars (No. 18 in 1985)

A Hall of Famer as of 2006, Joe Dumars was drafted by the Detroit Pistons with the 18th pick of the 1985 NBA draft. 

Dumars spent all 13 seasons of his career with the Pistons, making six All-Star squads, winning two championships and averaging 16.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. 

17. Nate "Tiny" Archibald (No. 19 in 1970)

The Cincinnati Reds picked future Hall of Famer Tiny Archibald in the second round of the 1970 NBA draft with the 19th overall pick. 

Archibald, whose real name is Nate, went on to play for 13 years, averaging 18.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game in the process. 

16. Dennis Johnson (No. 29 in 1976)

He enjoyed success with the Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns and Seattle SuperSonics, but Dennis Johnson was originally drafted by Seattle with the 29th pick of the 1976 NBA draft. At the time, that pick fell in the second round. 

A recent inductee into the Hall of Fame, Johnson averaged 14.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. He also helped win three titles, one in Seattle and two in Boston. 

15. Clyde Drexler (No. 14 in 1983)

Clyde the Glide was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 14th pick of the 1983 NBA draft. He would go on to put together a Hall of Fame-worthy career, mostly with the team that selected him. 

Drexler made 10 All-Star teams and won a single championship at the end of his career with the Houston Rockets. He averaged 20.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game during his 14 seasons in the NBA. 

14. Chet Walker (No. 12 in 1962)

Drafted in the second round of the 1962 NBA draft by the Syracuse Nationals, Chet Walker went on to put together a career that is probably deserving of an inclusion in the Hall of Fame, one that does not appear to ever be forthcoming. 

Walker made seven All-Star teams and won one championship while averaging 18.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game over the course of his 13 seasons in the NBA. 

13. Tony Parker (No. 28 in 2001)

Tony Parker was selected at No. 28 in the 2001 NBA draft by the San Antonio Spurs, who just never seem to make mistakes on draft day. 

The French point guard has been a key part of three championship teams and is averaging 16.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.7 assists in his ongoing career. 

12. Steve Nash (No. 15 in 1996)

One of the greatest point guards of all time, Steve Nash was drafted by the Phoenix Suns at No. 15 in 1996. He spent a few seasons in the desert before bolting to Dallas and eventually returning to the team he was drafted by.

Still playing at a high level for the Suns, Nash is averaging 14.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game. The two-time MVP has also made six All-Star teams but is still chasing that elusive first ring. 

11. Karl Malone (No. 13 in 1985)

One of the 10 greatest players of all time, Karl Malone wasn't even drafted in the top 10 of his own draft. In 1985, the Utah Jazz watched as Malone fell all the way to them at No. 13. The Mailman would spend all but one of his 19 seasons with the Jazz.

During that time, Malone made 13 All-Star teams, won two MVP awards and averaged 25.0 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. 

10. Alex English (No. 23 in 1976)

The 23rd overall pick in the 1976 NBA draft, Alex English was a forward out of the University of South Carolina selected by the Milwaukee Bucks. He played for the Bucks and the Denver Nuggets for the vast majority of his professional career. 

English, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997, averaged 21.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game during his storied career, which saw him selected to eight All-Star teams. 

9. John Stockton (No. 16 in 1984)

The all-time leader in career assists, a record that will likely never be topped, John Stockton had to wait until the 16th pick of the 1984 NBA draft to hear his name called.

The Utah Jazz were the ones who selected him, and he rewarded them by spending the entirety of his 19-season career with them. 

Stockton, a member of the Hall of Fame, averaged 13.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 10.5 assists per game during his career. He even led the league in assists per game for nine straight years once. 

8. Larry Bird (No. 6 in 1978)

Larry Bird was taken with the sixth pick of the 1978 NBA draft, but he was still one hell of a value since he's commonly thought of as one of the six greatest players of all time. 

Bird, who was drafted by the Boston Celtics and spent his entire career there, averaged 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game during his incredible career. 

7. Maurice Cheeks (No. 36 in 1978)

Taken with the No. 36 pick in 1978 by the Philadelphia 76ers, Maurice Cheeks went on to play for 14 years in the NBA, racking up four All-Star berths and a championship in the process. 

Cheeks, who primarily played point guard, averaged 11.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game over the course of his impressive career, numbers that are brought down significantly by his subpar final seasons in the league. 

6. Julius Erving (No. 12 in 1972)

One of the true all-time greats, Julius Erving was drafted with the 12th pick of the 1972 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, although he rose to prominence in Philadelphia. 

One of the first players to help change the style of the NBA, Erving won three ABA MVPs and one NBA MVP while averaging 24.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. 

5. Manu Ginobili (No. 57 in 1999)

One of the many gems uncovered by the San Antonio organization, Manu Ginobili was drafted 57th-overall in 1999, making him the penultimate selection of the 1999 NBA draft. 

Spending all eight seasons of his still-ongoing career with the Spurs, Ginobili has won three championships and averaged 15.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. 

4. Michael Jordan (No. 3 in 1984)

Michael Jordan, who most of you know as the greatest player of all time, was drafted third overall in the 1984 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls. 

He would go on to have a fairly decent career, averaging 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. Jordan also won six championships and was selected for countless awards. 

It's tough to top Jordan as a value pick, despite the fact that only two players, Hakeem Olajuwon and Sam Bowie, were drafted in front of him. 

3. Bill Laimbeer (No. 65 in 1979)

Drafting in the third round of the 1979 NBA draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers selected Notre Dame center Bill Laimbeer with the 65th pick of the draft. He only lasted for a season and a half with the Cavs before moving on to Detroit, but he most certainly made a name for himself there. 

Laimbeer made four All-Star teams and won two championships while averaging 12.9 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.

Not a bad value at all for a third-round selection. 

2. George Gervin (No. 40 in 1974)

The Iceman was actually passed over by every single team in the league twice before he was picked at No. 40 in the third round of the 1974 NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns. 

Best known for his work with the San Antonio Spurs, George Gervin averaged 25.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. That helped him make the Hall of Fame and be selected to nine NBA All-Star teams. 

1. Kobe Bryant (No. 13 in 1996)

One of the greatest players to ever step onto a basketball court, Kobe Bryant was drafted straight out of Lower Merion High School by the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th pick of the 1996 NBA draft and then immediately traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, the team with which he's spent all of his still ongoing career. 

Bryant thus far is averaging 25.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game and he's not done yet. So far he's made 13 All-Star teams and won five championships. Both of those totals might grow before it's all said and done.