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 four draft slots we have found two Hall of Famers in Dennis Johnson and Dennis Rodman and one future Hall of Famer in Tony Parker. Our next stop is the 26th slot in the draft, will we be able to add another NBA legend to our growing list?

In researching this article, I came to realize that teams drafting 26th overall have had some very good fortune in the past. While every draft has it’s share of NBA flame-outs, it would seem that teams in the last decade in particular have been able to unearth some solid players in the 26th spot.

For five consecutive years in the mid-2000’s the 26th player drafted panned out, that might not seem like much of a feat, but take into account that the same cannot be said for the 1st overall picks from the same years. There is something to be said about being overlooked by 25 other teams and having to fight and scrap for every bit of playing time and respect that one gets. In review of the eligible players, one can definitely see the trend of strong, assertive and scrappiness; right up until we declare our winner that is. Here we go with eDraft’s greatest player ever drafted 26th overall.

In the first decade of the new millenium the NBA saw nine out of a possible ten players who were drafted 26th overall make it to the NBA. That is a remarkable 90% success rate; a very high percentage given that these picks come typically at the end of the first-round.

While our eventual winner is not included in this lot of players, they nonetheless bear mentioning. Quincy Pondexter in 2010, Taj Gibson in 2009, Aaron Brooks in 2007, George Hill in 2008, Jordan Farmar in 2006, Jason Maxiell in 2005, Kevin Martin in 2004, John Salmons in 2002 and Samuel Dalembert in 2001. Prior to this amazing stretch, Jerome ‘The Junkyard Dog’ Williams went in 1996, Charlie ‘The Quarterback’ Ward was taken in 1994 and Indiana’s own Steve Alford was drafted in 1987.

Our class valedictorian however was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1989 from the then known Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The fresh faced 21-year old, Vlade Divac came to America with no english but boasted an impressive international basketball resume. Divac’s international career was more illustrious than his NBA career as he earned five gold medals and one silver medal with the Yugoslavian National team.

Divac’s retired from the NBA without a championship ring as he narrowly missed out while with the Lakers. Divac’s did earn one All-Star nomination in 2001 and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1989-90. Divac’s did retire in some prestigious company though as he  is one of only six players in history to record 13,000 points 9,000 rebounds, 3,000 assists and 1,500 blocked shots in a career. The company that he keeps in this group are either already enshrined in the Hall of Fame or will be once their playing days are over; Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett are the only other players to accomplish this feat.

During Divac’s career he spent six seasons in Sacramento where he teamed with Mike Bibby, Chris Webber and Peja Stojakovic. This ensemble of talent brought notoriety and success to Sacramento and while they fell short of their championship dreams they did lead the league in wins during the 2001-02 season. For his efforts and contribution to the franchise, the Kings officially retired Divac’s jersey in 2009.

While Divac’s career was not an illustrious one by many standards, he brought flare and skill to the Association and he helped change the thinking around what a center in the league had to look like. Divac’s ballhandling and passing skills were superior to that of some point guards and while he might have lacked that grittiness and toughness he certainly made up for it with his finesse and grace. Vlade Divac’s is our best 26th overall draft choice. Stay tuned as we continue our NBA Draft rewind, next up is the hotly contested honor of being the best 25th overall pick.