Denver Nuggets: Top 10 NBA Draft picks in franchise history

6. Raef LaFrentz (PF) — No. 3 pick in 1998 NBA Draft

Career stats (with the Nuggets): 222 GP, 13.2 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 1.2 APG, 2.5 BPG, 0.5 SPG, 1.2 TOV, 46.2 FG%, 69.3 FT%

A little known third overall pick in 1998, Raef LaFrentz played very well during his four and a half seasons with the Nuggets.

As a big man, he was a consistent presence in the paint, never averaging less than double figures in scoring while always grabbing around seven rebounds per game. His shot-blocking was one of the better facets of his game, only averaging less than two per game during his rookie season.

Weirdly enough, LaFrentz was also a man ahead of his time, with the ability to shoot the ball from outside at 37.6 percent shooting on 2.4 attempts per game — definitely not the high volume that today’s big men show, but the ability was there nonetheless.

It’s a shame that LaFrentz was traded in 2002, even more so because it was simply to get an unhappy Nick Van-Excel out of Denver.

Had he been able to stay with the Nuggets, LaFrentz might’ve been able to establish himself on some of Denver’s all-time leaderboards, which could’ve helped his legacy among the fans in Colorado.