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NBA Draft: Each team’s greatest draft pick of all-time

By Daniel Lubofsky

MIAMI - NOVEMBER 12: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat and LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers take a breather on November 12, 2009 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI - NOVEMBER 12: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat and LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers take a breather on November 12, 2009 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Greatest draft pick in Phoenix Suns history: Steve Nash

So many of the games greatest players look the part of future superstars — if only just a little bit — early on in their careers. They average over 20 points per game, win Rookie of the Year and maybe even qualify for the All-Star Game. There’s usually something that lets you know the path these youngsters are about to head down will be a fruitful one.

Steve Nash wasn’t one of those guys, far from it in fact. He was the 15th overall pick in the 1996 Draft and averaged just 6.2 points and 5.5 assists over the first two years of his career with the Phoenix Suns. A six-year stint in Dallas would help Nash breakout into an All-Star, but it was a return to the desert prior to the 2004-05 season that helped elevate him to one of the best ever at the point guard position.

In the eight years that followed, Nash would go on to average 16.3 points and 10.9 assists per game on an astounding shooting line of .510/.437/.912. It was his indescribable IQ and vision that elevated the Suns to perennial contenders in Mike D’Antonio’s famous 7 Seconds or Less Offense.

The up-tempo downsized style of play is also what helped earn Nash four consecutive All-Star appearances as well as back-to-back MVP trophies, one of only 11 players in NBA history to accomplish such a feat.

Phoenix made five appearances in the playoffs with only a single conference finals appearance to show for it. Part of that was due to bad luck in the form of suspensions and injuries. Other seasons were lost due to a run in with a superior team.

Not many would’ve been disappointed had Nash failed to carve out an impactful career. He simply didn’t have those types of expectations coming out of college in a draft featuring Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant.

Yet in a career spanning nearly two decades, he helped revolutionize the game and finished with the third most assists ever on his way to the Hall of Fame. Not too bad for a soccer-loving Canadian out of Santa Clara University.

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