NBA Draft: Ranking every draft class from 1996-2020

Ranking NBA Draft classes from 1995-2020: 16. 2002

Like 1997, there is a high ceiling for the 2002 class but the drop from the top is akin to your favorite rollercoaster. Yao Ming was a trailblazer and a Hall of Famer. He was named an All-Star in each of his eight seasons and posted career averages of 19.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.

Amare Stoudemire was slightly healthier than Ming but also saw the prime of his career (and title contention) derailed by injuries. When he was at his peak, he was a revelation, averaging 25.2 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 1.5 assists per game in 2007-2008. If his knees would have cooperated the Suns were close to the mountain top.

The other two All-Stars in the class, Caron Butler and Carlos Boozer, perennially played for solid playoff teams that tended to duck out early. The lone exception came when Butler was injured in 2011 and missed the Dallas Mavericks run to a championship.

The top 10 in the draft was mostly forgettable beyond Stoudemire and Ming. Jay Williams (number two) had his career ended by a traumatic motorcycle accident just after a promising rookie campaign. Mike Dunleavy Jr., Drew Gooden and Nene had long tenures as role players. Later in the draft, Tayshaun Prince (number 22) was part of the Best Five Alive Detroit Pistons that won the 2004 championship. Matt Barnes and Luis Scola were both drafted in the second round and went on to have long careers.