NBA Draft: Every team’s best all-time selection in the lottery

Best NBA Draft Lottery pick: Brooklyn Nets, Brook Lopez

When the then-New Jersey Nets traded away point guard Jason Kidd to the Dallas Mavericks in 2008, the team was directionless on where it wanted to go as a franchise. The Nets were clearly heading into a rebuilding stage, but there seemed to be a sense of confusion on just how it wanted to move forward.

But in the 2008 NBA Draft, the Nets selected Brook Lopez with its 10th pick — and it turned out to be a decision that helped pave the way for the team’s eventual return to the playoffs. While the Nets were far from being a playoff-contending team over Lopez’s early seasons with the Nets, he became a cornerstone player that the franchise built around.

Lopez became a double-digit scorer from the very first season of his NBA career. He was much more relied on as a paint scorer due to his size at 7-0 and craftiness in the post. Even during their underwhelming seasons over the late 2000s through early 2010s, Lopez gave Nets fans a player that would continually deliver over a season.

As mentioned, the Nets eventually made the playoffs years later thanks to their acquisitions of guards Joe Johnson and Deron Williams. The Nets later went all-in with its minor championship aspirations with their blockbuster deal to acquire both Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett from the Celtics. But unfortunately for the Nets front office, Lopez missed most of the 2013-2014 season due to a foot injury, which hurt the team’s run as an eventual contnder over the season.

Due to the fact that Lopez spent nine seasons with the Nets, he currently stands in the top five in many of the team’s career stat lists. Lopez ranks in the top five all-time for the Nets franchise in points, field goals, blocks and win shares.

Brook Lopez Brooklyn Nets stats and accomplishments

• 562 games, 18.6 points, 7.1 rebounds per game
• 2009 All-Rookie, 2013 All-Star