The best ever players at every lottery draft pick
Pick Number 11: Reggie Miller
Reggie Miller was the OG 3-point specialist. In the 90s, where 3s were still a bit of an irregularity, the UCLA sharpshooter was the outlier. Averaging around 4.7 attempts per game, Miller’s clutch shooting saved the Pacers time and time again. It also helped that he was one of the games finest trash-talkers. One moment that has immortalized Miller was his jaw-dropping 8 points in 9 seconds to down a flabbergasted New York Knicks in 1995, where he scored two 3s and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Averaging 18.2 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists, Miller’s 1389 games for the Pacers have made a compelling case for Miller to be considered the greatest Pacer of all time.
Accomplishments:
5x All-Star
3x All-NBA
Pick Number 10: Paul Pierce
Paul Pierce is a very controversial player. Despite having a lot of talent, he has damaged his reputation post-retirement through his controversial opinions. However, he was quite the player. From his rookie season until his arrival at the Clippers, Pierce never averaged below double digits in points. He also was a 10-time All-Star, and won a Finals MVP in the 07/08 season. He averaged 19.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists throughout his 19 seasons in the league and was one of the best players in the league when he was on form.
Accomplishments:
10x All-Star
4x All-NBA
1x NBA Champion
1x NBA Finals MVP
Pick Number 9: Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk Nowitzki is one of the best ever European players to grace the NBA and probably the best Maverick ever as well. Although Nowitzki was technically drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks, he never played a minute for them and his draft rights were dealt to the Mavericks along with Pat Garrity in exchange for Robert Traylor.
While Traylor was out of the league in 7 years, Nowitzki carved out the longest single-team career in the history of the NBA, lasting 21 years at the Mavs before retiring a franchise legend. Averaging 20.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists over a 1522 game NBA career, Nowitzki was one of the best big men the league had ever seen. With his wide array of shots, it was hard to predict what the big German would do next, and that made it even harder to defend him. His career reached it’s peak when he became the first European and just the fourth “international” player to win the MVP award in 2006/07.
Accomplishments:
14x All-Star
12x All-NBA
1x MVP
1x NBA Championship
1x NBA Finals MVP