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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 Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves
Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves. (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /

18. player. 86. . Power Forward. Farragut Career Academy (IL), 1995 (No. 5). Kevin Garnett

Greatest NBA Draft picks in league history: Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves

Seen by many as the trail blazer for NBA players skipping college and going straight from high school, Kevin Garnett was the National Player of the Year as a high school player. The 6-foot-11 power forward was taken No. 5 overall in the 1995 NBA Draft, the first player drafted out of high school in 20 years.

Garnett would play 14 seasons for the Minnesota Timberwolves, establishing franchise records in every relevant category during his time there. In 2004, he was named the league’s Most Valuable Player. Garnett was a 10-time NBA All Star and an eight-time All-NBA selection, in addition to making eight All-Defensive teams.

The Timberwolves have existed as a franchise for 30 years, and they have made the postseason just one time without Garnett. Only four times have they ever cracked 50 wins, all four times led by Garnett.

Not only is he the career leader in win shares, but his 139.8 nearly triples that of the next player, Kevin Love. Whatever success the Timberwolves’ franchise ever had was on account of Garnett.