The NBA Draft is a pivotal moment in the lives of young athletes, serving as the gateway to professional basketball and the chance to fulfill lifelong dreams. Throughout its storied history, certain draft classes have emerged as particularly remarkable, producing a wealth of talent that has reshaped the league.
From iconic superstars to under-the-radar gems, the best NBA draft classes have not only transformed individual franchises but have also left an indelible mark on the sport itself. Whether it’s the legendary 1984 class, which introduced Hall of Famers like Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon, or the groundbreaking 1996 class that featured the likes of Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson, each era brings its own set of unforgettable players.
While the NBA has had many incredible draft classes over the years, and it’s subjective to rank them definitively, some draft classes stand out due to the talent and impact they produced in the league. Here are 10 draft classes widely regarded as some of the best in NBA history:
10. 1969 NBA Draft
Key Players: Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), Jo Jo White
This class produced Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who is often considered one of the greatest players in NBA history. Abdul-Jabbar went on to have a hall-of-fame career which includes 6 championships (1 with Milwaukee, 5 with the LA Lakers), multiple NBA All-Star selections, while also wielding the most unstoppable offensive move in the history of the NBA – the skyhook. He also became one of the oldest players in the NBA who still contributed to his team.
Jo Jo White is also in this draft – as part of the Boston Celtics, White showcased his skills in the point guard position. In 10 years as a Celtic, White posted 18.4 PPG, 4.3 RPG, and 5.1 APG, while also nabbing two championships during the 1973-74 and 1975-76 seasons.
9. 2009 NBA Draft
Key Players: Stephen Curry, James Harden, DeMar DeRozan, Blake Griffin, Jrue Holiday
Stephen Curry has become one of the greatest players of all time and revolutionized the game, thanks to his seemingly unlimited range and his skill shooting the three ball, and continues to be a viable player even in today’s NBA picks. This resulted in 4 championships for the Golden State Warriors, which surged into one of the most popular NBA teams to date, and a sure ball hall of fame induction once he calls it a career.
Along with Curry, James Harden and Jrue Holiday were also part of the 2009 draft, and have also carved their respective paths as future Hall of Famers – Harden is one of the NBA’s prolific offensive scorers during the 2010s, making the Houston Rockets into a perennial playoff team.
Meanwhile, Jrue Holiday continues to have a solid career, being a two-time champion with the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2021-2022 season, and the Boston Celtics during the 2023-2024 season.
Other notable players in the 2009 draft include Blake Griffin and DeMar DeRozan who have standout careers and All-Star appearances, though Griffin didn’t play during the 2009-2010 season due to a season-ending injury.
DeRozan is a 6-time All-Star, and has exceptional seasons playing for the Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, and most recently, the Sacramento Kings.
8. 1979 NBA Draft
Key Players: Magic Johnson, Sidney Moncrief, Vinnie Johnson, Bill Laimbeer
This draft featured one of the greatest players of all time in Magic Johnson whose rivalry with Larry Bird defined the NBA throughout the 1980s. Their battles were legendary, as Johnson was leading the Los Angeles Lakers, while Bird was the leader of the Boston Celtics – they had 7 championships between them during the 80s, with the Lakers edging the Celtics with 4, while Boston had 3.
Meanwhile, Sidney Moncrief is one of the most versatile players during the 80s, and was a pivotal player for the Milwaukee Bucks, where he spent most of his career and won two Defensive Player of the Year awards.
On the offensive end, Vinnie Johnson was also part of this draft class, and had the nickname of the “Microwave” since he had the knack of getting pretty hot pretty fast whenever he got into the game.
The class also had solid contributors like Bill Laimbeer who played for the Detroit Pistons along with Isiah Thomas. Laimbeer was notorious for his toughness in the hardwood, with Thomas. They were part of the “Bad Boy” Pistons which won championships during the late 80s.
7. 2018 NBA Draft
Key Players: Luka Dončić, Trae Young, Jaren Jackson Jr., Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
A more recent class, but one that has already had an enormous impact, as far as most NBA betting guides would point out. Luka Dončić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Trae Young have quickly established themselves as superstars, while Jaren Jackson Jr. is making major strides as well.
Dončić is considered to be a generational talent, and his recent blockbuster trade that sent him to the LA Lakers has seemingly put the purple and gold in a great position, as far as their future is concerned.
Gilgeous-Alexander has blossomed into one of the most exciting players to watch in the current NBA. His numbers over the past two seasons have seen him be in the running for the league’s MVP, while his team, the OKC Thunder, has been playing at the highest level, earning them the top spot of the Western Conference.
Meanwhile, Young and Jackson Jr., are also making their mark in their respective teams – Trae Young has been becoming more of a facilitator for the Atlanta Hawks, which have been paying dividends for the team’s chemistry. Jackson Jr. has also been a pivotal player for the Memphis Grizzlies, as a great second or third option after Ja Morant.
6. 2011 NBA Draft
Key Players: Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Jimmy Butler, Nikola Vučević, Isaiah Thomas
A draft full of talent, headlined by Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, and Kawhi Leonard, all of whom would go on to win NBA championships and earn All-Star appearances.
Irving was the 1st overall pick for this draft, and would win 1 NBA championship with LeBron as part of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Along with James, Irving dazzled with his impeccable ball handling skills and finishing on the rim, on top of his clutch shooting.
As far as championships, Thompson holds 4 rings during his time with the Golden State Warriors. He, along with Curry, were the Splash Brothers, and lit up opponents from beyond the arc.
Jimmy Butler is another notable player in this draft class. Butler is known for being a high-calibre player who gets into another gear whenever their team makes the playoffs.
Nikola Vučević is one of the long-standing big men in this draft class. He developed his skills as a stretch 4 during his seasons in Orlando, and in Chicago.
Lastly, Isaiah Thomas was also a spark plug of a player who made the most of his time in Sacramento and Boston. Unfortunately, injuries hindered his NBA career, and his latter stages of his career saw him go from various teams.
5. 1998 NBA Draft
Key Players: Dirk Nowitzki, Paul Pierce, Vince Carter, Mike Bibby
The 1998 draft produced some incredible talents, including Dirk Nowitzki, one of the greatest power forwards ever, and Paul Pierce, a NBA Finals MVP. Vince Carter was one of the best NBA dunkers and most electrifying players of his era.
Nowitzki is considered to be one of the best European players to ever play in the NBA, and his scoring prowess netted him the MVP as well as a championship for the Dallas Mavericks against the LeBron James-powered Miami Heat.
Paul Pierce, also known as “The Truth”, was great scorer for the Boston Celtics, and his run with Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Rajon Rondo led them to win a championship against their long-time rival, the LA Lakers.
Meanwhile, Vince Carter was a walking highlight reel whenever he played. He single-handedly revived the dunk contest during the 2000 All-Star Game, where he dominated the competition, unleashing his reverse-360 windmill dunk, an alley-oop bounce between-the-legs dunk, and the “cookie jar” dunk.
Other notable players from this draft include Mike Bibby who had his start in Vancouver as part of the Grizzlies, but came to his own when he was traded to the Sacramento Kings, teaming up with Chris Webber, Peja Stojaković and making them a powerhouse during the early 2000s.
4. 1985 NBA Draft
Key Players: Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing, Chris Mullin, Detlef Schrempf
The 1985 NBA Draft featured some incredible talent that would go on to shape the league in major ways.
Patrick Ewing was the first pick, and made an impact for the New York Knicks, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest centers in NBA history. He was an 11-time All-Star and was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Over his career, he averaged 21 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game. He was the cornerstone of the New York Knicks for over a decade.
Karl Malone was selected 13th overall by the Utah Jazz. Malone went on to have an incredible career, becoming one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history. Over his 19 seasons in the league, he was a 14-time All-Star and finished as the second all-time leading scorer in NBA history (behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at the time of his retirement). Malone was a versatile scorer and rebounder, and earned two MVP awards during his career.
Chris Mullin was a 5-time All-Star, a member of the “Run TMC” trio, and one of the league’s premier shooters. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011, and was known for his smooth left-handed shot and basketball IQ.
Detlef Schrempf was a versatile forward who made 3 All-Star appearances and was a two-time Sixth Man of the Year. He played for several teams during his 16 seasons. This included the Pacers, Seattle SuperSonics, and Portland Trail Blazers.
3. 2003 NBA Draft
Key Players: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh
The 2003 NBA draft class is regarded as one of the best NBA draft class in terms of talent. LeBron James, one of the greatest players of all time, anchors this class. It also includes Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, all of whom contributed to multiple NBA championships, making this draft one of the most significant drafts to date.
LeBron James is one of the best NBA players of all time, and is still playing at an elite level after 21 seasons. He holds the record for the most points scored by an NBA player ever (41667 as of this writing), and multiple All-Star selections. James has won 4 NBA championships, and is a 4-time MVP.
Carmelo Anthony is one of the most prolific scorers in the NBA. Manning the Forward position, Anthony was a matchup nightmare on the offensive end. His most memorable runs were during his time in Denver and New York, where he showcased his offensive tools.
Dwyane Wade is one of the best shooting guards, and the best Miami Heat player. He was instrumental in bringing the first championship to the Heat during the 2005-06 season. He was explosive and highly athletic, and would garner multiple All-Star selections during his 16 years in the NBA. Infamously, he teamed up with LeBron James and Chris Bosh in Miami, forming the “Heatles”, and won 2 more championships during the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons.
Chris Bosh is also a multiple All-Star and 2-time champion. He was the third piece that put the Miami Heat over the hump and secured their championships, thanks to Bosh’s ability to stretch the floor, defense, and tenacity.
2. 1996 NBA Draft
Key Players: Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Steve Nash, Ray Allen, Jermaine O’Neal, Peja Stojaković
Historically another deep draft class, the 1996 NBA draft had Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson leading the charge. This draft class produced a number of MVPs, with the aforementioned Bryant, Iverson, and Steve Nash getting the nod during their illustrious careers.
Allen Iverson was the first overall pick, and made an impact not just on the basketball playing side of things, but also further expanding the basketball culture. The 11-time All-Star averaged 26.7 points per game in his career, winning the 2001 MVP, and also led the league in scoring and steals in two consecutive seasons.
Kobe Bryant is the heir apparent to Michael Jordan. The Black Mamba is a 5-time NBA champion, who dazzled and gave it his all as the go-to guy of the LA Lakers. Bryant played for 20 seasons, and averaged 25.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, and 4.7 APG on 44.7 FG% shooting for his career.
Other standouts like Steve Nash and Ray Allen went on to have Hall of Fame careers, making this one of the most talent-rich drafts. Steve Nash was the key element to the surging Phoenix Suns during the mid 2000s, where he got back-to-back MVP honors during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons.
Meanwhile, Ray Allen is one of the best sharpshooters in the NBA, who once held the record for the most three-pointers. Allen was also part of the big Boston Celtics team who won the championship in 2008, and with the Heat during the 2012-13 season.
1. 1984 NBA Draft
Key Players: Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, John Stockton
The 1984 NBA Draft class is often regarded as the best NBA draft class ever. Michael Jordan, the greatest of all time, headlines this group, and also featured Hall of Famers like Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, and John Stockton. This draft defined the league in the 1990s and beyond.
Michael Jordan is synonymous with basketball, defining what it meant to be an athlete at the most elite level. “His Airness” is a 6-time NBA champion, and each time the Chicago Bulls got to the finals, MJ got finals MVP every single time.
Hakeem Olajuwon is another excellent Center who won back-to-back championships for the Houston Rockets during the 1993-94 and 1994-95 season. For Center, Olajuwon was extremely quick and agile, and often used his patented “Dream Shake” to keep opposing Centers in a swivel.
Meanwhile, Charles Barkley, the Round Mound of Rebound, was also a prolific player. His time in Philadelphia showcased his unique skillset. His game ramped up even further when he got to Phoenix. Barkley used his size and mobility to impose his will on opposing players, leading him to be in the discussion as one of the best Forwards to ever play the game.
Lastly, John Stockton fits the prototypical point guard during the time. Stockton was a pass-first guard who handled the tempo for the Utah Jazz’s offense during his 19 seasons. Stockton holds the record for the most assists (17645), and steals (3603) in the NBA.
Final Thoughts
The NBA’s history is rich with iconic draft classes that have left an indelible mark on the league. From the legendary 1984 class, which produced superstars like Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon, to the 1996 class, which gave rise to Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, and Steve Nash, these drafts have shaped the very fabric of the game.
The 2003 class, headlined by LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, represents one of the most loaded groups of talent ever assembled. Similarly, the 2018 draft, with players like Luka Dončić and Trae Young, has ushered in a new generation of elite players.
Each of these classes not only featured future Hall of Famers but also demonstrated the unpredictable nature of the draft, where late-round gems sometimes rise to stardom. These classes have transformed franchises, defined eras, and set the stage for future generations of players.
From a betting standpoint, check out Betting News’ NBA player props to help you get the most out of your wagers, and be updated with the latest NBA draft news that will shape the upcoming season.