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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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Greatest draft pick in Sacramento Kings history: Oscar Robertson

The 1960s were a weird time for the NBA. The talent pool wasn’t as deep, the number of teams stood below double-digits and the game lacked fundamental rules of today’s league like the three-second violation and 3-point line.

It’s because of this interesting era that some truly remarkable stats were put up by some of the game’s best at the time. One of those players? Oscar Robertson, whose all-around game stood the test of time until just recently.

The Big O’s claim to fame occurred during the 1961-62 season, just his second in the league at age 23. He averaged a triple-double for an entire season with 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists per game. Say what you want about the competition. Say what you want about the pace of play during that time. It wasn’t an accident that it took until Russell Westbrook in 2016-17 to accomplish the same feat.

Robertson wasn’t simply a one-hit wonder, though. In a decade’s worth of seasons with what was then the Cincinnati Royals, he put up 29.3 points, 10.3 assists and 8.5 rebounds per game. He was an All-Star in each and every one of those campaigns, an 11-time All-NBA selection and was named league MVP during the 1963-64 season.

Westbrook’s three consecutive triple-double seasons have diminished Robertson’s accomplishments if only just a bit. What was once rarified air is now slightly more crowded. Still, there’s something to be said for being the first to accomplish any feat of historical significance.

Robertson gets passed up a lot when discussing the games greatest floor generals, likely due to the watered-down era in which he dominated. That isn’t really his fault, though. One can’t choose the time in which they exist. All they can do is go and play their best against whoever may oppose them. Due to that fact, Oscar Robertson was put into the Hall of Fame and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in league history.

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