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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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Wes Unseld, Washington Bullets
(Photo by Jerry Wachter/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Greatest draft pick in Washington Wizards history: Wes Unseld

The career of Wes Unseld is beautifully unique. It’s one that both got him into the Hall of Fame as one of the greatest players ever while also remaining quite underrated in the grand scheme of the history of the NBA. He wasn’t a traditional big-time superstar, only averaging 10.8 points a game over the course of his 13-year with a career-high 16.2 as a sophomore. However, he was phenomenal in other very important aspects of the game.

Unseld averaged 14.0 rebounds a night, falling below double-figures in just a single season. Over his first five campaigns in the NBA, the lowest amount of rebounds per game he had was still a whopping 15.9 per game. All this prowess on the glass coming from a guy who stood at just 6’7” manning the center position.

He also put up 3.9 assists per game with one of the most notable outlet-passes in league history. The five-time All-Star could fling passes downcourt with a simple flick of both wrists. Given how many rebounds he cobbled together on a nightly basis, those opportunities for easy buckets were never lacking.

Whereas a Rookie of the Year trophy would be considered quite the success for most first-year players, Unseld upped the anty during the 1968-69 season. He won Rookie of the Year honors and was named MVP in the same season by averaging 13.8 points and 18.2 rebounds per game for a 57-25 Baltimore Bullets, a 21-win increase from the season prior. He joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only player in league history to accomplish such a unique feat.

On what would then be named the Washington Bullets, Unseld would help lead his team to the only NBA title in franchise history in 1977-78, winning Finals MVP in the process.

Scoring will always be the name of the game. But there’s always going to be other things over the 48 minutes that’s necessary in order to win. Unseld thrived in those areas, a dominant rebounder and unselfish dimer, and it seemed to work out just fine for his dominant career.

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