NBA Draft: Ranking every draft class from 1996-2020
By Corey Rausch
Ranking NBA Draft classes from 1995-2020: 4. 1999
Even though they ended up with fewer championships than the rest of the top five, the 1999 draft was loaded with championship-level talent. Manu Ginobli may have been the best of the bunch, making All-Star and All-NBA teams in mostly a bench role. He defined what it meant to be a modern sixth man for a champion and also led the golden generation of Argentinian basketball.
Ron Artest, Elton Brand, Baron Davis and Shawn Marion round out the All-NBA talent in this draft class. Artest was a champion and a Defensive Player of the Year. Shawn Marion finally added a ring to his resume with the Dallas Mavericks. The other All-Stars in the class were Wally Szczerbiak, Rip Hamilton, Steve Francis and Andrei Kirilenko. Only Hamilton ended up winning a championship as a core member of the Goin’ to Work Detroit Pistons.
Even the role players come with an extensive history. Lamar Odom was ahead of his time as a stretch big man and won Sixth Man of the Year coming off consecutive championships. Jason Terry was the champion sidekick no one expected with the Dallas Mavericks. Andre Miller was considered one of the smartest players of his time, earning himself a spot on nine different teams. History will not be quick to forget this class.