Best NBA Draft Class of All Time: Ranking the Greatest Years
Every NBA fan loves a good debate over the best NBA draft class — and honestly, who can blame them? The draft is like the lottery, except there’s no waiting for your numbers to hit. Over the years, we’ve seen some truly stacked years with talent that left a permanent mark on the game. But let’s be real: some drafts stand head and shoulders above the rest.
The best NBA draft classes of all time aren’t just about the big names you remember. Sure, we’re talking about players who became household names, but also about the solid role players who took their chances and made something of themselves. And let’s not forget, there’s a whole side to this that’s a bit more about sports betting than we’d like to admit. After all, a good draft can make or break the futures of teams, fans, and sportsbooks everywhere.
Ranking the Greatest NBA Draft Classes
1996 NBA Draft Class
If there’s one thing we can say about the 1996 NBA draft, it produced a ridiculous number of All-Stars. Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Steve Nash, Ray Allen — just a casual list of players who went on to dominate the NBA for years. The amount of talent in this draft makes it hard to deny that it’s one of the best NBA draft classes in history. Plus, it wasn’t just about the big names at the top; this class had hidden gems like Derek Fisher and Stephon Marbury.
While sports betting enthusiasts may have been drooling over Iverson’s playstyle or Bryant’s potential in L.A., this draft class established a new era of basketball in the NBA. We saw scoring at a level we’d never seen before. And while many look back at the 1996 draft as the beginning of a new era, we can’t forget about the best non-lottery NBA players that managed to carve out careers from this class.
2003 NBA Draft Class
The 2003 NBA draft? Yeah, this class was one we couldn’t leave out. The talent on display was unreal, with LeBron James headlining the entire class. But it wasn’t just about James, though. The class also included Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Carmelo Anthony. The 2003 draft is often referred to as one of the most stacked NBA draft classes ever, and it’s easy to see why when you look at the impact these players had on the league.
But don’t sleep on the secondary players here. Sure, the focus is on the four heavy hitters mentioned above, but don’t forget about the players who were drafted later but still made significant impacts, like Kyle Korver and Mo Williams. When you look at this draft in terms of its long-term influence on the NBA, it’s clear why this is always a top contender for the best NBA draft class.
1984 NBA Draft Class
The 1984 draft wasn’t good — it was legendary. We’re talking about Michael Jordan, who is practically the basketball god. And no, it’s not just about “His Airness.” The draft also gave us players like Hakeem Olajuwon and Charles Barkley. This class set the foundation for what many consider the golden era of basketball, especially in the 1990s when the Jordan-led Chicago Bulls were unstoppable.
Remember, it wasn’t just about the obvious all-time greats; there were key role players, like John Stockton, who would become the NBA’s all-time leader in assists. While everyone’s eyes were on Jordan, guys like Stockton and Sam Perkins laid the groundwork for teams in the coming decades. So, this one is the blueprint when discussing the best NBA draft classes of all time.
2011 NBA Draft Class
If we’re talking about the best NBA draft classes of all time, the 2011 class deserves a spot. Sure, it didn’t have the headline-grabbing top picks like others, but it was loaded with surprises and future stars. First up, Kyrie Irving, the first overall pick, proved he was worth the hype, but the real gold of this draft is further down the line. Kawhi Leonard, Klay Thompson, and Jimmy Butler all turned into premier players for the teams they played for, with Leonard winning two Finals MVPs and becoming one of the most feared players in the league.
Look, this class wasn’t exactly known for producing the best undrafted NBA players, but it still produced key contributors like Kemba Walker, Nikola Vucevic, and Tobias Harris, who quickly made a name for themselves as dependable, long-term players.
The best NBA draft class? The 1996 class easily stands at the top. Considering the number of All-Stars that came out of this draft, it’s tough to argue otherwise. Adding to that, Ben Wallace is hands down the best undrafted player—four Defensive Player of the Year awards and an NBA championship? Hard to disagree there. As for the future, looking ahead, Cooper Flagg is the one to watch in 2025. His potential as a pure three-level threat is off the charts.
