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NBA Draft: 30 greatest draft picks in league history

By Josh Cornelissen

Larry Bird, Boston Celtics, Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers. (Photo by Tom Herde/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Larry Bird, Boston Celtics, Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers. (Photo by Tom Herde/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /
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Kevin McHale, Boston Celtics
Kevin McHale, Boston Celtics. Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images /

18. . Power Forward. Minnesota Golden Gophers, 1980 (No. 3). Kevin McHale. 21. player

Greatest NBA Draft picks in league history: Kevin McHale, Boston Celtics

The 6-foot-10 Kevin McHale is the most accomplished player in the history of the University of Minnesota, entering the 1980 NBA Draft after an accomplished career playing in the Big 10. In one of a number of savvy moves by Boston Celtics legend Red Auerbach, Boston swapped the No. 1 overall pick for center Robert Parish and the third pick, which is used to select McHale.

Slotted in behind forwards Larry Bird and Cedric Maxwell, McHale was stuck on the bench for the first four seasons of his career. He was incredible in that role, winning NBA Sixth Man of the Year twice on a Boston team that won two titles during that span.

In 1985, Maxwell suffered a knee injury and McHale moved into the starting lineup, dropping a then-Celtics-record 56 points a few weeks later. He never relinquished the starting spot.

In total, McHale won three titles with the Celtics, making seven NBA All-Star teams and one All-NBA First Team. Six times the talented forward was named to an All-Defensive team.

Despite the frontcourt competition throughout his career, McHale totaled 113 win shares in 13 seasons with the Celtics. He retired a Celtics legend and a major value as the only player in his draft class to make it to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.