The 20 best NBA draft classes of all time

Michael Jordan was in this draft, which, by itself, might be enough to make it the best ever. But then there was also Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, and John Stockton, all of whom also went on to have Hall-Of-Fame careers. Role players like Sam Perkins and Kevin Willis enjoyed long careers, too.

Kobe Bryant remains one of the biggest draft steals of all time, falling down to No. 13. He wasn't passed over for scrubs, though, as guys like Allen Iverson and Ray Allen were chosen ahead of him. It was a deep draft, too: 18 of the 29 first-round picks played for at least a decade.

Players like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Bosh became the faces of the NBA for two decades (not to mention, all of them but 'Melo later played together on the Heat). It was a great draft for role players, too, as guys like David West, Kyle Korver, Boris Diaw, and Chris Kaman were valuable pieces who played for a long time.

Robinson was a natural first pick, even if he took two seasons off to finish his military service. Beyond him, Scottie Pippen, Reggie Miller, Kevin Johnson, and Horace Grant were also among the best players of their generation. There was even some talent as late as rounds 4 and 6, as Chris Dudley and Šarūnas Marčiulionis both stuck around for lengthy careers.

The '09 class was full of solid role players who helped define the 2010s and beyond in their own ways. More importantly, though, there were guys like Stephen Curry and James Harden, MVPs who changed how the game was played. Stars like Blake Griffin, DeMar DeRozan, and Jrue Holiday were among the more exciting and/or successful players of their time.

There was a real international flavor to the 1998 draft, most notably via Germany's Dirk Nowitzki and Nigeria's Michael Olowokandi. Players like Paul Pierce and Vince Carter also became some of the league's biggest stars, while guys like Antawn Jamison and Rashard Lewis were excellent assets for a long time.

Three of the best big men of the '90s (Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing, and Charles Oakley) all went in the first round here. There was also supreme guard/forward talent, such as Terry Porter, Joe Dumars, and Chris Mullin. A lot of these players went on to power some highly successful teams.

Pete Maravich was a college phenom at LSU, so his venture over to the NBA was anticipated. He wasn't the only '70s star picked that year; there were also Dave Cowens, Bob Lanier, Tiny Archibald, and Dan Issel. Also, talk about a diamond in the rough: In the 14th round, with the 207th pick, Detroit selected Randy Smith, who didn't play for them but went on to enjoy a 12-season career that included two All-Star nods.

Kevin Garnett was the first player in two decades to be drafted out of high school. That worked out: He was a league MVP and a generation-defining player. Stars like Rasheed Wallace, Jerry Stackhouse, and Antonio McDyess also ruled the league for years to come.

Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson all found themselves playing key roles on championship teams, cementing the stars of the 2011 class as very successful. Notably, the final picks of both the first and second rounds clearly overachieved relative to their draft positions: Jimmy Butler became a multi-time All-Star and a go-to in the clutch, while Isaiah Thomas did the same and became a folk hero in Boston.

These players aren't quite at the point where their legacies are set in stone yet, but so far, so good. Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell, and Bam Adebayo are some of the league's most coveted stars, while guys like De'Aaron Fox and Lauri Markkanen have emerged as top-tier guys, too. This will be an interesting one to look back on in a few years.

This young class has already achieved some big-time milestones. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has won an MVP trophy, and Luka Dončić has come close. Trae Young and Jalen Brunson are two of the league's strongest floor generals. Guys like Donte DiVincenzo, Grayson Allen, and Mitchell Robinson are already trusted veterans.

What ended up being the biggest moment of this draft famously happened during a Taco Bell commercial: The Nuggets drafted Nikola Jokić, who would later win multiple MVP trophies, in the second round. As for those who were expected to be the top of the pack, Joel Embiid is an MVP-level guy when healthy, while Julius Randle and Zach LaVine have also developed into All-Stars.

Derrick Rose became the youngest MVP ever in just his third season, and Russell Westbrook averaged a triple-double over the course of a season multiple times. Guys like Kevin Love, Brook Lopez, and DeAndre Jordan were the best big men the league had to offer. 2008 was a good year.

Manu Ginóbili and Shawn Marion had specific roles in the NBA that ultimately allowed them to enjoy long and fruitful careers. Players like Baron Davis and Lamar Odom added versatility and flash, while Ron Artest was a lockdown defender. Other drafts from the '90s get more attention, but this class was underrated.

A couple of great point guards emerged from this draft. Chris Paul is one of the best ever, while at his peak, Deron Williams was one of the league's greatest. A couple of other All-Stars were born here, too, including Andrew Bynum, Danny Granger, and David Lee.

Dwight Howard was simply the most physically dominant big men of his era. Al Jefferson was quietly a 20-and-10 guy for a long time, too. Meanwhile, guys like Luol Deng and Jameer Nelson had long careers, and Andre Iguodala later picked up a Finals MVP trophy.

Not every pick in the lottery was a home run, but a lot of them were. Anthony Davis has had a career worthy of being the No. 1 pick, while other top-10 guys like Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal, and Andre Drummond have been stars. Further down the list, Draymond Green, Khris Middleton, and Harrison Barnes have been key pieces of championship squads.

Ben Simmons was the headline of this draft, but further down the list, some other players have eclipsed him. Jaylen Brown and Pascal Siakam developed into All-NBA players, while Brandon Ingram, Jamal Murray, and Domantas Sabonis have also become reliable stars. Reliable veterans like Buddy Hield, Ivica Zubac, and Malik Beasley made this a strong draft overall.

This was perhaps the biggest draft in Boston Celtics history. They drafted Tom Heinsohn in the first round and landed K.C. Jones in the second, and traded for first-round pick Bill Russell. These players were part of the core that carried the Celtics to overwhelming dominance in the '60s, during which they won nine out of the ten championships.