The history of top 5 picks in the NBA Draft: Legends, All-Stars, and busts

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The history of top 5 picks in the NBA Draft: 1996-2005

The next decade of selections is something of a mixed bag. While the overall numbers for the class (14.75 points, 5.88 assists, and 3.28 rebounds per game) are roughly in line with what the two previous generations have shown, the accolades poured in for some of the draft classes.

For instance, 2003 is rightfully considered one of the greatest draft classes of all time. One of the retired players (Chris Bosh) has already made it into the Hall of Fame. While this does not stand out among some of the classes of the past, three of the other top four picks are complete shoe-ins to join Bosh, cementing this class as a shining example of how well a draft can go.

Unfortunately, not all of the drafts saw this much success. Yao Ming was the top pick in 2002, but he was the only member of the top five who even made an All-Star game. At least he was able to make multiple All-Stars and All-NBA teams on the way to the Hall of Fame.

In 2000, only Kenyon Martin would make an All-Star appearance, and that was his highest accolade. Sometimes it is about the luck of the situation or just making the right choice, but there was evidence throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s that just because you picked high did not mean you would pick correctly.

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