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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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Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics. (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images) /

Small Forward. Kansas Jayhawks, 1998 (No. 10). Paul Pierce. 23. player. 18.

Greatest NBA Draft picks in league history: Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics

Many players toil away for unsuccessful teams, wanting the chance to prove themselves on the biggest stage, but unable to get there. For a decade, this was the story for Paul Pierce, until a pair of trades propelled Pierce and the Boston Celtics to contender status. For Pierce, the opportunity was all he needed, winning a title in 2008 and earning NBA Finals MVP honors in the process.

Pierce was a prolific scorer at Kansas before he was selected with the No. 10 pick of the 1998 NBA Draft. A Los Angeles Lakers fan as a kid, he ended up on the team he grew up despising, providing dramatic irony when he defeated them to win the 2008 title.

Over 15 seasons with the Celtics, Pierce made five All-NBA teams (although never the First Team), 10 NBA All-Star teams and amassed 138.4 win shares, behind only Larry Bird (145.8) and Bill Russell (163.5) in career win shares.

Pierce’s resume, while strong, does not boost him this high on the list by itself. Pierce is the 23rd greatest draft pick in NBA history because he not only gave the Celtics 15 seasons of production, but when they traded him as part of a package to the Brooklyn Nets, the Celtics got a massive return of draft assets. Pierce was able to help the Celtics during and after his time on the team.