Los Angeles Clippers: Top 10 NBA Draft picks of all time

BUFFALO, NY - 1975: Bob MaAdoo #11 of the Buffalo Braves receives the 1975 NBA's Most Valuable Player Award also known as the Podoloff Award during a game played in 1975 at the Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York. Copyright 1975 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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LOS ANGELES, CA – 1989: Danny Manning #25 of the Los Angeles Clippers warms up before a game in 1989 at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California. Copyright 1989 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

5. Danny Manning

Drafted: Round 1, Pick 1 (1988)
Tenure: 1988 to 1994
Position: Power Forward
Career Slash Line: .518/.177/.741
Career Averages: 34.0 MPG, 19.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.4 ORPG, 3.0 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.1 BPG
Accolades: 2x NBA All-Star

Danny Manning has a fair stake to the claim of being one of the Top 5 greatest players in college basketball history. Following his legendary college career, Manning faced high expectations when he was selected at No. 1 overall in the 1988 NBA Draft.

Some have argued that Manning didn’t live up to the hype, but it’s worth noting that he led the Clippers to a brief restoration of relevance.

Manning produced well throughout his career, but he picked it up during the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons. He averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.4 blocks, and led Los Angeles to its first two postseason appearances since 1976.

Manning’s tenure may have been brief, but ending a 16-year postseason drought is more than enough to earn a place on this list.

Manning and Ron Harper became a dynamic duo with their scoring prowess on a defensive-minded team. Together, they elevated Los Angeles to heights it hadn’t reached since the 1970s, and thus earned their place as franchise greats.

Manning was traded shortly thereafter, but his individual success resulted in team success that shouldn’t soon be forgotten.

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