We continue our eDraft exclusive look at the top NBA draft choices over the past 40 years. Our continued look back through history will determine who was the best draft selection through each slot in the draft. We don’t stop with the first overalls, we will go pick by pick, year by year to to identify the very best selections of all-time.
So far through five draft slots we have found three Hall of Famers in Dennis Johnson, Dennis Rodman and Vlade Divac; we also uncovered a future Hall of Famer in Tony Parker. Our continued analysis takes us now to the 25th slot in the draft and at this spot we find ourselves in the shallow end of the talent pool. Not a single draftee taken 25th overall has been elected to the Hall of Fame, no MVP’s have been awarded to the group and no one player led the team or was instrumental in their team winning a championship.
After compiling the data and researching the choices, one thing is clear. If your team is drafting 25th overall, hope that they do everything they can to trade the pick. Alright, let’s wade into the waters and anoint our greatest 25th overall pick.
Despite the lack of prominent superstars out of this draft slot, perhaps the brightest shining light for future success belongs with the recently drafted (2008) Nicolas Batum. Batum was originally drafted by the Houston Rockets then acquired by the Portland Trailblazers on draft day. Batum is still only 26 years old and his future definitely shines the brightest among his fellow 25th overall peers.
In addition to Batum others have enjoyed some NBA success. Tony Allen, Carlos Delfino, Gerald Wallace and Al Harrington have all had fleeting moments of NBA stardom and all have faded over time. While each has been serviceable in their careers, they haven’t been indelible to the sport by any means.
When faced with the competition, one man has managed to rise to the top of his draft class and that man is Mark Price who was drafted 25th overall by the Dallas Mavericks back in 1986. Price of course enjoyed his best years while in Cleveland as he played nine seasons with the Cavaliers.
Price was known for his sharpshooting touch as he remains as one of only six players to have shot at least 40% from three-point range, at least 50% from the field and at least 90% from the free throw line in a single season. Price’s ability to knock down shots earned him four All-Star appearances and one nomination to the All-NBA First Team.
Price never did win that elusive NBA championship; however, he did experience international success as he took home a gold medal as a member of the USA Dream Team in the 1994 Fiba World Championship. Price also had his #25 jersey retired by the Cavaliers in 1998.
Mark Price earns our honour as the best player ever to be drafted #25 overall into the NBA. Stay tuned as our countdown heats up with the ultra-competitive draftees who were taken 24th overall.